My Motivational & Get Myself Organised Diary Inspired by you lot!

Primula

I’ve decided to start my own diary, been reading everyone else’s for about a year now and I am still amazed at the determination so many people have on here and how well they do. There have been many names who have inspired me on this site, too many to mention so I won’t! In the past year or so we have made many changes to our finances and find we now look at our money in a different way, all for the better, and, when we are in MSE mode we just love it (OH is completely on board), but I still find I need to keep on top of things all the time or I find it so easy to slip back into old ways and spend money frivolously again on unnecessary things like clothes, takeaways, and food – food is one thing I really need to work on, looking at other diaries and on the OS Board I am pretty sure I can cut my spends on food down a bit.

As you will see I don’t have a lot of debt but I want rid of it and ideally I’d like to have the credit card paid off before the zero percent deal ends in mid-December this year. A lot of people have said having a dairy really makes then more focussed and determined so I am hoping the same will apply to me. What I want is:-

1. To pay off the credit card as quickly as I can, followed by paying off the furniture loan.
2. To try and be organised with my meal planning, which should in theory cut down my grocery bill and then I can throw even more money at the credit card.
3. Be more organised in my housework etc. I always start off really well but then seem to get lazy and then my days off are spent doing all the usual chores around the house.
4. Save for a holiday for summer 2010. I often start saving for this but then, in a moment of weakness, dip into the account so really want to save for this from now, and leave the money in here for the intended purpose!

So……………… if you have read this far, well done and thank you! :TOur month goes from 16th of the month so our new month starts from Thursday. A lot of people do daily “To Do” lists and I think this is a great idea so plan to pinch this idea too.

Figures as at today’s date, 14 July are as follows:-

· Credit card – on zero percent until mid-December - £1,270.04
· Furniture loan – on zero percent but want it gone before the end date - £1,236.00
· Holiday fund - £2.03 in there!

I planned to keep my first post as short as possible, but it’s just impossible so this is it, I am not going to read it again and change it any more!!

P

hypno06

Welcome to diaryland :T

yukkibear

Glad you decided to start a diary, well done. I hope it'll help you get where you want to be quicker

Karen_30

Yey :j Welcome, i've subscribed so will def be popping on to keep you on motivate - like you do me

Primula

Thank you hypno, yukkibear and Karen for your welcomes, it’s quite exciting starting my own diary! LOL. Pay is in the bank a day early, whoopee. :j Did the finances last night and determined to stick to it. Plan to pay £100 paid to credit card every month so that is all set up but I aim to pay more than this. £80 into holiday fund now so that’s a good start, I just have to leave it there now! Did a shop last night of store cupboard stuff for the month so it’s just everything else I need to get and I plan to do that daily or as and when I need it. I am left with £7 per day to feed us and I know it can be done, I just hope I can do it! Oh, and I have taken on hypno’s idea and will be taking £20 out of bank now the pay is in for my own spending and will try to hang on for this as long as I possibly can! Can I bear to do my own eyebrows I wonder?!

Usually top-up my mobile £15 per month but don’t need the £15 this month so just going to top-up by £10 and the £5 is going to the credit card. Off to update my signature now!

yukkibear

See those totals are coming down already. It's amazing what a diary can do for you to help pay a bit here and there off.

Do you have a holiday destination in mind for next year yet?

Karen_30

Well done on being so oragnised! I'm hoping to update all my totals and get on top of things by end of week...you seem so organised! x

Primula

Thanks guys.
Yukkibear - no holiday destination in mind - just away anywhere really!
Karen - I wish I was organised. House is a tip and nothing organised for tea! Guess my weekend will be spent cleaning and ironing!

Couldn't get on yesterday, but got an unexpected cheque through the post yesterday for £41.54 so that paid to the credit card, now normally we would have split that and spent half each on rubbish so pleased it's away already to the cc.
Have a good weekend all.
P
x

ClootiesMum

Hi Primula,

Good luck on the debt busting - I have to say the folk on the site are brilliant & keep you well motivated

CM

savingholmes

hi primula just coming along to wish you happy new diary! I'm sure you will soon get those debts kicked into touch!

Primula

Thanks everyone for posting and wishing me well.
Got up over an hour ago to get on with the dreaded housework and foolishly put the computer on - this site is just soooo addictive. So, off to make a start now and try and get the house organised again, I have to say it feels great not spending money so just have to keep that up. Happy weekend everyone.