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

Jo_R_2

CB came through not too long ago.

Been busy ebaying the rest of my maternity clothes. Only got a couple more to sell, but the proceeds so far have meant I have been able to buy baby a musical swing and playmat without shelling out!:j

Have mainly been working on keeping this month on track so December starts out not in debt. So far so good, just going to check bank balance shortly to make sure am still on track.

Dishwasher died the other day with a loud bang and smelling of smoke:eek: Scared me half to death (and poor DS who had wandered in the kitchen when it happened) but it *seems* to have recovered according to OH and my dad. Not sure how safe it is tbh so will see how that goes.

Pinky15

Hi Jo - how are you doing? Bet you are busy with the little ones and getting ready for xmas - hope your ok x

Jo_R_2

Ooooh not been here for ages, I manage to pop on now and again but rarely have time to post atm!

Christmas went well, had a pot of money saved up from over the year which very thankful for. In retrospect could have done with a little more, I planned it for the kids Christmas presents in the main but could have done with a little more over the year for birthdays and other people's prezzies at Christmas.

Got mostly practical presents which had asked for so very pleased with those, plus some money for the kids which haven't decided how to use yet.

Worked on my SOA the other day. Things are looking rather healthy with the increase in Child Benefit and Tax Credits due to our lovely new arrival so plan to be super-efficient with finances come the New Year. Things did tail off somewhat over the last three or so months, I generally kept within budget but wasn't as rigorous as usual. OH being rather poorly a bit back and being off work impacted on our finances a bit and we still haven't quite juggled things back and forth so I am a bit short but he just needs to transfer some cash to sort that out.

Am planning to sit down with OH tomorrow to organise finances and make some targets for the upcoming year, so hoping to have some targets to post soon!

Keeping_Positive

Im not suprised the last three months were as good but to keep in budget was amazing many would have gone off track. You should be so proud of that and of course the new little bundle!

Pinky15

Good to hear from you Jo. Bet you have had a bsy xmas!!
We also should have also saved more really and will try and do so from feb - am hoping this will make a difference. Have a Happy New Year x

Jo_R_2

Well what am I doing on here at this time??!!! Fell asleep after baby woke up somewhere in the evening and so am awake now:eek:

Just popping in to say I'm still around! Not having much time to post much atm, but we have been working on sorting out our finances as we are looking to saving for a deposit "properly." This month we are keeping tabs on everything we're spending and looking at our current outgoings to see where we can cut back. OH is being quite into it I am pleased to say.

I have also started ebaying some of the clutter around the house which will go into the pot.

My strategy is to go through the finances with a fine toothcomb, check up on utilities, phones and groceries, plus day-to-day spends and see where it's all going. Next month I'll compile a workable SOA and start dedicating money to clearing off the CCs and then saving.

This is the crux of my plan - to have a strategy, an order in which to do this and a method, set realistic targets which we can "top up" with ebaying, overtime and suchlike.

Anyway bed beckons so should be back soon!

Keeping_Positive

Hope you are getting a lie in Jo

Good luck with the deposit saving. Its impossible to buy without at least 10% these days .

beanielou

Sounding good then.

Pinky15

Hi Jo - glad to hear you are well and sounding as busy as ever. x

Jo_R_2

Back again! :wave:

It's a quick one as baby is sat propped up across from me threatening to start grizzling.

March is the start of Project Save It! LOL the unofficial name for starting to save for a deposit. I have been constructing a plan (which admittedly is still in progress) and when I have assembled the details, I shall be starting a new diary.

OH is basically relinquishing financial decisions to me on a day-to-day level which is fine. We were at his mum's house last night and admiring what they have done with the house, which made it all the more "in our faces" that our house is... a dump. Okay so it's spacious and cheap... unfortunately that's about all it DOES have going for it! Oh - and it's not ours:(

It's going to be a challenge, and I need to work on some projections of how long it could take. The other thing I need to finish is a short-term plan of life events - this is designed to put into place the stages of getting to university.

Anyway better go. Not sure when I'll be on next but won't be as long as has been from last time:o