Jo_R's debt-free diary, slow and steady progress!

Jo_R_2

Further to yesterday's posting about how to rein in spending... I have been a teeny bit naughty and eaten into next month's money:o

Made a trip into town yesterday afternoon with OH and baby, and remembered I had ordered some blackout lining for DDs' bedroom curtains which I needed to pick up. Those ended up being bought along with a couple of bits from Boots I had been meaning to pick up for a while (I don't tend to visit town very often) and because of my timing of the town visit (end of month rather than closer to start) of course my current account is quite sparse.

I can balance it out but it does mean a small chunk of out June's money which I need to take heed of when doing the SOA for June.

Spoke to OH yesterday about his birthday. Seems he'd rather have that new XBox game that's come out than clothes (I was going to pick up some stuff for him at a local skate shop as they have a sale on and he's been wating some new stuff for a while now.) Kinda takes the surprise element out of it but at least it's something he knows he wants and likes, I might still get him something, or at least take him shopping so he can pick out what he likes:)

Jo_R_2

SOA provisionally done for June. Initial surplus looking to be 278.93, however there will be some adjustments to that as I desperately need more maternity clothes (hunting out some bargains on ebay at the mo.) Also trialling out DD2 doing a full day at nursery one day a week, she's having a full day this week to see how it goes and I may book her in for that day once a week until she starts school (her nursery has a holiday club.)

I'm in a position now whereby I'm starting to see an end to my debts. I'm accruing savings and am aware I could be debt-free in a year if I really stick at it and throw every spare penny at my remaining debts.


I find myself with a number of options:

1. Use all my savings to pay off a huge chunk of my debts, leaving around £800 for me to work on paying off afterwards.
2. Use some of my savings to pay off my cc, keep the rest as a backup, and work on paying off my remaining Tax Credits overpayments (which are interest-free) which total around £1900.
3. Keep all my savings, and throw all my surplus cash into snowballling, which could mean I will be debt-free in one year.
4. Keep my savings, and throw a sizeable chunk of my surplus into paying off my debts, which I estimate could leave me debt-free in anything between 18 months to 2 years.
5. Use savings to fund any surplus towards buying a new bigger car (being realistic this will probably need to happen), pay off cc, keep rest as savings then work on paying off Tax Credits overpayment.

Being brutally honest, I do like having the flexibility of 'pin' money and don't think I could be so strict as to use all my spare cash towards overpaying - I like to know there's a few extra pounds just to cover those little things you don't plan for, like running out of milk and bread, an unexpected school trip and so on, rather than having to juggle money around.

beanielou

I would keep most of your savings as back up & concentrate on paying off CC.
Just carry on paying mins to tax credits as its interest free.
Just my thoughts.
What size are you?

Pinky15

Sounds like a plan Jo - I have changed my SOA as I was finding we were paying everything off our debts and it was sooo depressing so have upped my budget a little to ensure a few treats! Have you tried Primark for maternity - I bought everything a couple of sizes bigger - they do loads of smock tops - ideal for the warmer weather!:)

Jo_R_2

Thanks guys. Beanielou I veer between a 12-14 depending on the shop, I tend to find the more high street shops like Topshop are the ones where I end up in a 14 *shrugs* Doesn't bother me too much as long as I look decent!

Pinky, I had a friend suggest about buying normal clothes a size or two bigger. I do remember doing it with a gorge pair of Topshop maternity trousers when pg with DD1, they were a size 16 passed on from my sis and wore them under the bump when I was huge and you'd never have known:) I'm a bit particular about maternity tops though, I have found that some that are a bit roomier kind of make your boobs and bump turn into one big mass if that makes any sense?:D

I somehow have got my weeks mixed up, I thought this week was the end of May week and OH's birthday was this week but it's next week, which is good because I have a bit more time to buy him his things but longer to last without many pennies. Has made me realise just how often I do pop to the shop for a couple of bits and bobs and how it mounts up so avoided it yesterday. Going to be thorough with the grocery shop which needs finishing later and make sure I include everything.

Jo_R_2

Popped to shops after dropping DD2 off at nursery, resisted the urge to buy various pretty nik naks for the conservatory (vases, little ornaments etc) which I will buy at some point but will wait until next month comes round. Felt very pleased with myself:)

Been buying some space-themed stuff for baby's room from ebay, have a small stash of money in my Paypal so any purchases coming out of that. Will be a huge saving against what it would have cost to buy things new and not spent more than 99p on any one item yet. Still got a few things to get, curtains are one so need to measure baby's bedroom window *makes mental note to dig out tape measure later*

Did spend 8.50 on dry cleaning today, got DD1's bridesmaid dress from last year cleaned as they're having a dressing up wedding-themed day tomorrow and wanted hers to look half-decent (it's had a lot of wear!) DD2's has gone for a walk but would be nice to get hers done eventually as well - can't bring myself to sell them so will keep them as mementoes as from my sister's wedding last year.

Jo_R_2

Feeling the need to do lots of lists today!!

Need one list to cover maternity clothes I want, have seen some lovely dresses on Asos.com and ebay often has them cheaper so been comparing prices. Want to get a basic wardrobe without shelling out much so going to write down what I want, prices and how many outfits I can get out of the lot.

Another list to cover bits I want for the house. This might be a work-in-progress but I can easily pick up things month-by-month anyway. I do want to make the conservatory more useable; at the mo it's a bit of a utility-room-come-spare-room which is a shame as it gets all the sun all afternoon. Just thinking a coffee table, rug and sofa (either cheapy faux leather kind or secondhand bargain) then need a CD/DVD cabinet to transfer all the CDs currently residing in the corner in an old drawer to tidy up the place LOL:o:D Plus a few little nick nacks to cheer it up, going to budget it all out and see what we can afford.

Keeping_Positive

Sound lovely Jo - dont over do it though

Sorry not been posting much work is draining me at the mo.

Jo_R_2

No worries KP - just been over to post on your thread actually:D

So, it's half term. DDs are at my parents for a few days so just me and baby at home in the day.

First day of the month, DDs seem to have gone out okay so far, but appear to be short of DDs' child maintenance money, which is probably because DDs' dad has been on hols for the last 10 days or so. Luckily it isn't a problem with DDs coming out but will chase it up at the weekend.

Need to check over SOA tonight and print it out. Just need to pop in phone/internet bill amount and work out how much to spend on maternity clothes - truthfully been putting that bit off because I need a fair few things now and worried of the expense, even by using ebay and suchlike:( Ah well.

Got the Health in Pregnancy Grant form from my midwife this morning - can't apply for another 3 weeks but will fill in the form ready for my next midwife appointment when they will sign it and I can send it off.

Need to remember to ask OH to transfer shopping money over from last week as paid for it out of my account.

Pretty quiet day, hoping to get a couple of chores done this afternoon being scrubbing the grouting in the upstairs bathroom and wiping down all the interior doors as they have gotten remarkably grubby from little hands:D Not terribly exciting but needs doing especially as have a house inspection coming up soon.

Off to have a bit of lunch, make OH's pack up for tomorrow and just remembered need to start an online shop - but must cut down on DDs' stuff as they'll be at my parents for a couple more days most likely.

Keeping_Positive

guess who forgot about half term and still ordered school juices etc! Thankfully all with generally get eaten anyways.

Know what you mean about grubby hands - our newish painted walls already have a few grey spots.

Enjoy your day - ref maternity clothes if you do a proper list and buy together then you will probably end up with a better set. Bits n bobs buying can add up with delivery charges and may not go together as well.