Champagne Lifestyle Lemonade Budget (My attempts to get debt free by April 2010)

Sun_Addict

Unknown to me I've been debt free since Monday! Virgin took out their minimum payment 3 days early (a bit naughty really) so I am now debt free!:j:T:beer::):):):):j

beanielou

Great news

Sun_Addict

Was a bit shell shocked earlier about being debt free for 3 days and not knowing it. Also had a constant stream of people coming to my desk which made it difficult to post anything longer. I've taken half a day flexi so am back home now and able to post without being overlooked.

Bit naughty of Virgin to take money early but luckily I always keep a float of £100 in current account so didn't go overdrawn. Have now cancelled direct debit and written a letter closing the account. Will be cutting card up later on. :T

Still waiting for payday though to see how much my pay rise and back pay is. It won't be a massive amount though as it's only 2% and 2% of not a lot isn't a lot more! At least I'll be able to put the rest in the pot for holiday savings. Now of course I'm looking forward to next month's payday to start on my savings goals. One step at a time!

I knew something would come up to take some of extra money though - it always does. OH's van had a nail in the tyre so he had to get it fixed which meant a new tyre and then the garage said the tracking needed doing so all in all it came to £107.50:eek: Also he's been off work since last Thursday because of the weather so has earned nothing this week yet. However, he is back tomorrow now it's picked up. At least he has work for the next few weeks and something to come back to after the holiday.

Still keeping this diary for a while though until I'm ahead of myself with the spending credit card. Shouldn't take too long hopefully.

Will be adding my name to the Debt Free Roll of Honour as it's thanks to this site I'm debt free and a reformed character;)

Cbm - got my book today and it's brilliant. You might like it - it's called Vegetarian Student Cookbook and it's full of simple, very tasty sounding, cheap recipes. Can't wait to try some out. I know I'm not a student but it would suit anyone.

So happy today I can't believe it!:j

Verbatim

Congratulations SA

Enjoy your cookbook too.

Claw_back_money

What fantastic news!!!

:T:beer::T

How funny to be debt free and not even know! You're right - it is very naughty of them to take the money early - could have led to :eek: awful things :mad: so really good that you had the money in there.

How long do you think you've been non-debt free? And are you celebrating with treadmill tongiht? :dance:

Cheers
Cbm

Sun_Addict

Thanks Cbm - my debt started around 4 years ago when we booked a holiday we couldn't really afford, paid for it on the credit card and then didn't have enough money to pay for it when the bill came in. Opened a 0% interest card to transfer the balance and then it was all downhill from there. At its highest it was £5k - not very high compared to a lot of others on these threads - but fortunately I discovered this site and got it under control just in time. And no I didn't celebrate on the treadmill, I have Wednesday evenings off exercise, but will however be on the treadmill tonight!

Sun_Addict

Hi all

First day of being knowingly debt free!

Payday today and got pay rise plus 6 months back pay - not a great deal but it all helps. Now looking forward to seeing how much better off I am on a normal month. I've worked it out so actually have a rough idea, will probably only be about £22 a month better off after tax, national insurance and pension contribution but better than nothing. Now managed to save enough to cover holiday spending money. Wanted to take €500 (about £450 ish). Lanzarote can be quite expensive and we're staying in a privately owned apartment so totally self catering. We usually eat out every other night and go out every night for a drink if not for a meal.

Next payday I need to make a start on savings (what are those I ask?!). Will keep this diary until I've got ahead of myself with the spending credit card - this will mean we have the money in the bank before we put it on the card - not like at the moment when stuff is bunged on the card before we've got the money. Always had enough to clear it each month but one month we might not so this needs sorting. I won't feel I'm truly debt free until I've achieved this.

Also need to start putting money away toward Christmas and start saving for our summer holiday.

OH's work situation is looking up. The company he works for have work coming up for him. He's pretty much sorted for the next few weeks so fingers crossed things are finally showing signs of improvement. He's back at work today after 4 days off now the weather has picked up, thank goodness.

If I'm not back tomorrow have a great weekend everyone!

Swinstie73

A proper post SA to say congratulations on finally being debt free, what a feeling it must be! You need to keep a diary going, it's always nice to hear what people are up to even after debt freeness! I'll keep reading!

Claw_back_money

Good to hear that things are looking up for OH regarding work.
I look out the window at the cold grey mist and think that a bit of winter sunshine would be fantastic. Is it a week today you go - I've lost track a bit?

Cbm

Sun_Addict

Monday once again but happily this time next week I'll be in Lanzarote!:j

Been a bit spendy since payday on Friday but haven't got too over the top. Treated OH to some Clinique moisturiser as he'd run out and they had a bonus time promotion on where if you buy two things you get a free gift so I treated myself to a lipstick and got the free gift. Took me forever to choose the lipstick; it's been so long since I paid more than about £5 for one I wanted to make sure I got the colour right. Got a lovely free gift with it: make up bag, blusher, another lipstick, eyeshadow, mascara and eye make up remover. I always used to be a sucker for these free gift promotions and haven't succumbed for a very long time. Unfortunately the spending didn't stop there. Whenever I buy something for myself you can guarantee I'll buy another of the same thing soon after. I'd been after a particular colour Estee Lauder lipstick for a while but couldn't justify paying the full price £16.50 after just spending £14.50 on the Clinique one. Of course I started "just looking" on ebay and found the one I was after for £5. So you can guess the rest! I also broke my no spending on clothes/shoes/bags until 1 April by buying two t shirts for £7 from Next for my holiday. AND it gets worse - yesterday I was looking at the Grab it While you Can board on MSE when I spotted a Boots "scam". I got a No7 electrical item for half price, a No7 skincare item and the free No7 gift set they're doing at the moment for just £9.50 by using a £5 off voucher posted on the thread. The electrical item was originally £14.99 and I got it for £7.50 but they were counting the original price towards the £22 spend so I only had to spend another £7. Bargain!

I have to stop now. 1 March is a new start.

Goals for this month are:

1. Lose whatever weight I put on during my holiday (because you can bet I'll put on about 2/3lbs). I am aiming by the end of this year to be back to 4lbs under my WW goal weight (am currently 2lbs over) but planning to do it painlessly by just cutting down a little and making small changes here and there

2. No more unnecessary spending until next payday

3. Grocery budget £280 for March (includes household stuff and cat food). Should come in less than this because of holiday but still need to stock DD up with stuff as she's staying at home with the cat

4. Pay £300 off summer holiday balance

5. Make a start on "catching up" with spending CC

6. Start saving for Christmas

7. Get to grips with this having the money first before I spend it lark

Made a week's worth of chilli bean soup yesterday from my new Vegetarian Student cookbook and it's gorgeous. Also made two portions of caramelised onion and mushroom lasagne, ate one last night and have frozen the other for future use.

Sorry for the long post, got a bit carried away with myself!