Poor but happy at 55 need to be debt free to retire!!!

Poorbuthappy55

Got sidetracked yesterday and didn't blitz bedroom had a good look round charity shops but didn't buy anything. Bit of a struggle this month because payday isn't until the end of next week!! Will have to keep rummaging in the freezer and hope OH takes me out to eat at the weekend!!

Poorbuthappy55

I've had a bit of a shock .... I've been keeping a spending diary since 1st January and I would have sworn that all my money was going on household stuff but it's not!!!!

I have been spending far too much on coffees, lunches, wool, books and other non essentials.

My personal challenge for April is to spend no more that £30 on my personal spending - I will keep a separate little purse.

The good news is that my food bills have come right down now I do a monthly online shop at around £120 and about £30 top ups which I would like to reduce.

I have limited my fuel to £50 a month. This month I had to have a £10 top up because I took my friend out on her birthday instead of buying her a present so that was sort of off set.

Poorbuthappy55

Today I'm off on a work trip back late tomorrow night. My mission is to stick within my miserly subsistence allowance so will take some lunch from home and a few snacks for both days.
When I get back I'm going to sort myself out and get ebaying!!! I really do need to bring forward that DFD.
Niggling at the back of my mind is that it's on the cards that OH will lose his job sometime this year.

Poorbuthappy55

Couple of payments done - £190 to Virgin CC and extra £1.30 to MBNA to round down by bank account balance. I do this most days and am going to try and update my diary. Most of my payments are by direct debit.

tanith

I've just read some but not all of your diary , well done for keeping up with your money saving and beating your debt. It just brought to mind a conversation I had with my brother the other day , he was telling me how he will struggle in retirement and he's envisaging not retiring until his 70's :eek: and its generally because throughout the last 20 odd years he and his family have enjoyed the high life.. cars, holidays and a holiday apartment they own (still paying for), nice house (still paying for) here in the UK , nice home etc etc etc. But now comes the time when he has all these things , his children are off hand bar one and he's realised that he now can't afford to give up work.. He had planned on retiring early but he's now nearly 60 and there is no chance of that happening while he has so much debt hanging over him. He and my SIL work full time but still take off for a month in Spain every year, one of usually 3 or 4 breaks they take each year , they eat out A LOT so as I said to him I say to you , you have had an enjoyable life thus far so don't begrudge it now the times come that you realise that having spent money and not saved it shouldn't come as a surprise that now you have debt to be paid..

Sorry I don't mean to sound as if I'm saying its your own fault but you have had the 'good life' and enjoyed it , you have wonderful memories and your camper van to show for it .

I hope your husband doesn't lose his job and that you continue to manage your debt. I'm envious of your camper van by the way.. :T

Poorbuthappy55

Hi Tanith
Thanks for your comments but unlike your brother my debt will be repaid by the time I reach state pension age and if it's not we can sell our van or downsize our house to repay. I am not complaining about the debt just trying to clear it while still enjoying my life.
I have enjoyed nearly every moment of life and I am continuing to do so in a more frugal way which gives me a great deal of pleasure.
Taxis due to take me to the station in about 15 mins so off I go.

Poorbuthappy55

My trip went quite well and I managed to stay within my subsistence allowance - but only just!

Today I am going to withdraw £30 for my personal spending and £120 for all top up shops this month. I have put in my online order and kept it under £120 but only by a few pence. This is all I am going to spend and the rest of my salary goes on direct debits and credit cards.

My debt doesn't seem to reduce very quickly so I need to find ways to raise a bit of extra cash. I did an extra 7 hours which I will be paid for at the end of April.

I'm going to check my accounts and do a bit of housework then i'm going to the library to pick up a book I ordered.

Dinner tonight will be leftover roasted butternut squash and potato chunks mixed with cooked pasta, cauliflower and cheese sauce topped with breadcrumbs and cheese. This will use up my leftovers and a cauliflower I've had for nearly a week.

A NSD yesterday. LSD today just need a few veg and bananas for the beginning of next week.

beanielou

Tea sounds good

Poorbuthappy55

Not my best Mother's Day

Poorbuthappy55

I've had my supermarket delivery today - £115.46 so about £4 under budget.

I've put £30 in 4 envelopes one for each week for my top up shops. Out of this weeks I've spent £12.42 in Aldi mostly fruit and veg and £9.22 in the pet shop. This leaves about £8 for the rest of the week hopefully only milk will be needed.
I've also put £30 in a purse for my personal spending for the month which is still intact.

Breakfast - HM bread toasted with poached eggs
Lunch - dropped scones which I made for the very first time and were really yum.
Dinner - making shephers pie with quorn mince and padding it out with chopped veg and lentils served with green beans (Aldi 49p) and savoy cabbage. I'm hoping that I can make enough for 2 dinners.

£2 in my jar that I,m using to save for a trip to London with my "girl" friends later in the year.
I've decided that any money left from the envelopes and purse will be put into another purse to go for debt rather than leaving in my everyday purse and spending.

I've now got a couple of hours to do my own thing!!