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

Jo_R_2

Just been doing my daily tasks and having checked my credit card online, have been having second thoughts about throwing my ebay money at a no-interest debt. The interest charged this month is nearly the same as my payment last month and it just made me sick _pale_

I might take the logical approach and leave the interest-free debts (benefit repayments) to tick over by themselves. They're doing fine, aren't huge repayments and I can concentrate on throwing my money at my credit card and loan.

Just sat here on the sofa on the laptop, girls playing, baby asleep, and waiting for my friend to come over with her little girls. We're going to playgroup in a bit (don't have to pay to get in), just debating whether to drive down or walk it...

Later on when it is all quiet and children are in bed, I am going to sit down and fill in my sparkly new diary that came in the post earlier. Feeling super organised, if only the kids would fit in and do what I want when I want them to!

Keeping_Positive

Have you used the snowball calculator yet? Its a really useful tool. Agree moneywise best to pay highest interest first however occasionally its a boost just to clear a small debt.

Jo_R_2

I did use the snowball calculator a while back, and am thinking now might be useful to fill it in now again.

Having another sit down, baby is asleep again and OH has taken the girls out in his works trucky-van-type thing as they completely love going for a drive in it bless 'em

I REALLY need to remember to transfer two weeks' worth of rent money from OH's account to mine as that's where the rent comes out of. It's a simple arrangement; I just need to get into the routine as that's what seems to cause us a lot of bother, not remembering to do it, or putting it off then forgetting, and having that week-pre-rent-day panic and scrabbling our money together. You'd think it'd be simple enough with all this modern day internet banking and the ease of transferring cash here and there but apparently I have the mind of something that forgets a lot of things, thus my increasing love of lists, calendars, notebooks, wall planners and diaries :cool::D

As well as getting organised with my diary later, I'm hoping to put a few more items on ebay. I'm not making the mistake of putting a shedload on at the same time then being completely snowed under with sold items, jiffy bags, packing slips and trying to make sure I put the right item with the right address LOL... Bit by bit, then once my slowly built up method of organisation is underway, it should all run like clockwork and should see the debts getting smaller and smaller...

Better go before OH and DDs get back. Hoping if I keep DDs up a bit later they'll sleep later in the morning - although I doubt it very much:rolleyes:

Jo_R_2

It's a lovely sunny day and here I am sat inside LOL!

No, have been up since silly o'clock with the girls, but took them to my parents and upon getting back and finding out baby was asleep in the car seat, me and OH promptly flaked out on the sofa.

Two hours later, here I am with baby still asleep, but OH has popped out to do some work for a friend, which should bring in a good £50 for the fundage. We had a silly funny conversation about how he wasn't allowed to use it for anything fun;) but it would be nice if he decided to put it towards something useful. I think it'll prob go on petrol which will mean a bit of breathing space in the budget for this month.

On the negative side, I haven't yet posted my sold ebay item or transferred the rent money. Obviously OH has to do that as it's from his account but I completely forgot to mention it earlier.

Last night I got to work on my money diary and marked out all the 'money in' days for my bank account. I gave up after that as it was nearly one o'clock in the morning and my eyes weren't staying open properly LOL:o:o

So, things to do for the rest of the weekend:

• transfer two weeks' worth of rent money from OH's account to mine
• get envelope and label up ebay sold item ready to post on Monday
• finish shopping list and go shopping tomorrow
• do laundry and get it out on the line to dry whilst it is very lovely and sunny outside
• look for pre-treatment cleaner for mum+dad's Vax as carpets desperately need cleaning and I used up the last of it when I did them last time

Jo_R_2

Jo_R wrote: »

• get envelope and label up ebay sold item ready to post on Monday - not done this yet, will do today, need to pop to Post Office to get an envelope
• finish shopping list and go shopping tomorrow - all done, just need to keep an eye on top ups during the week
• do laundry and get it out on the line to dry whilst it is very lovely and sunny outside - done - although fetching in sometime before the end of the week would be a good idea!
• look for pre-treatment cleaner for mum+dad's Vax as carpets desperately need cleaning and I used up the last of it when I did them last time - need to do this but no immediate rush

Would post more but baby crying so wil be back later!

Jo_R_2

Well didn't manage to get back to post as have been busy/tired LOL!

Am sat downstairs on my own as DDs and baby in bed, and OH not long gone up either. Have hardly seen him today as I fell asleep putting DDs to bed and only just dragged myself from the bottom of DD1's bed as otherwise I'd be woken by baby crying at 3am wanting to be fed and wouldn't know where I was or what I was doing in the middle of the night LOL!

Not done much yesterday or today so been pretty quiet. Managed to post my ebay item, need to check my ebay as two other things finished yesterday as well. Also need to check online banking and credit card online but might leave that til the morning!

OH gave me £30 from the work he did on Saturday ( we went halves on it.) It's burning a hole in my purse! I've had to spend a few pounds on miscellaneous stuff so basically have £20 and don't know what to do with it! Tempted to pay some off on my credit card, but only way to do that with cash is to go to the bank in town and don't know when going into town next. Just worried I'll end up spending it on bits and bobs rather than something *I* want to iyswim!

Keeping_Positive

How about a sealed pot? We have one for change but I tend to put extra money like the £20 in. Its all going towards holiday spending money. You could use towards xmas.

Jo_R_2

Hadn't though of that, I did ask my parents to keep an eye out for a couple of those old Roses chocolates big glass jars to keep DDs' pennies in so I might do those and a sealed pot for myself - I actually read that thread a few days ago.

So, where am I with things at the mo?

The last few days have been pretty hectic! Have been making the most of the lovely weather by getting outside as much as poss with DD2 and making a start on tidying the house by sorting out the garden (okay, so my dad sorted out the garden but ssssh!)

I say this because OH has arranged three viewings with a local lettings agency on Saturday. We've been looking for a while but not seen anywhere that's really floated our boat... However baby won't be this little for too long so we're looking for somewhere a little bigger and I desperately want to get as much of my deposit back as poss - particularly because OH's mum and stepdad have offered to pay the agency fees once we find somewhere so we won't have to fork out as much as we initially thought.

Today is a bit quieter, tbh moneywise I'm waiting for the 1st to roll round and then that's when we can get cracking with my money plans. I'm still checking the bank and my credit card online just to make it a daily habit, I have set up my written diary with dates in of money in (need to make notes of money out now, direct debits, standing orders and so on) and what I want to do now is sort out account 'pots' for different things such as birthdays and Christmas, emergency fund and suchlike.

The other pressing thing is my loan payment. Me and OH have been discussing (again) approaching my ex about him contributing. The loan was taken out to mainly pay off his debts when we first got together, and I realised the other day he'd had two years of no responsibility for it. That's what you get for putting loans in one name:o

Anyway, the last time me and the ex communicated about it, I forwarded the last letter I had at the time from the loan company with all the details my ex had asked for, monthly payments, interest, period remaining to pay, and that was, what, two or three months ago if not more and not heard anything more from him. So me and OH agreed we needed to approach him again about him contributing. I should say my ex has said he would think about it (how very generous of him!:rolleyes:)

lucielle

Good luck with the ex.
L

beanielou

Seconded by me.
That brings back memories:rolleyes: