End of Month Reckoning\Achievements

Brassic

Well, I know it's not quite the end of the month, but I'm feeling quite proud of myself. I logged in on this board on the 13th June, feeling pretty damn hopeless. However, with the good advice from here I have :

1) Managed to sort out a proper budget, and DFD. :cool:
2) Managed to reduce my shopping from 80+ quid a week (I found a Tescos receipt for 120 in the drawer from a few months back), to 300 for the month (maybe a couple of quid more as I'll need a couple more loaves of bread).
3) Managed to save enough from my part time work\ebay to put 100 pounds extra towards paying off our first debt - Barclaycard. Yay! :j
4) Started the ball rolling towards claiming back unfair bank charges.

Actually looking forwards to next month.

Goals for July :

1) Further budgeting changes - All money is going into one place, and everything we need will be taken out in cash and put in physical pots at the beginning of the month.
2) Going to ebay all my old horse stuff - will not be able to afford one again for at least 5 years, so I've realised I really can NOT afford to keep it.
3) Chase childminding application through so I have even more part time cash coming in.
4) Earn another £100 towards debts (and so pay off that pesky Barclaycard).
5) Don't overspend just cos it's baby's first birthday and big party (this one will be the biggest challenge. :rolleyes:
6) Keep groceries to £300 - even with party :beer:

So, anyone else want to follow suit and list achievements and goals for this month and next?

Ali-OK

Well done Brassic :T Can see you're becoming addicted too!

I'll have to go away and think about achievements and goals!

youngie

parties don't have to cost the earth to be good is it a family do or a kiddy party perhaps we can give you so ideas to keep it cheap and cheerful

In_Search_Of_Me

Thats great news! My goal for the next month is to stay on track as had a bit of a wobble last month! Have a holiday in Turkey for a week next week so want to try & not spent over 200 in the week (paif for by my ebaying & carboot!)...keep up the good work. Feels great doesent it!

scottishspendaholic

Hey Brassic,

Great idea! I'm just going to post my achievements from the last month (I'm particularly bad at recognising these) and not my goals - I'm so hectic busy just now that I'd probably rather set these weekly.

Scottishspendaholic's June achievements

(in no particular order)

*Received £884.62 in unfair bank charges from RBoS!
*Therefore paid off overdraft (£850)
*Paying off £200 exactly off my Barclaycard on Thursday
*Got new bank account with Smile and arranged salary to be paid into it - direct debits going through process of switching
*Sorted out some difficult eBay problems and buyers
*Storming on with more and more and more work at work for big project launch on 6th July
*Got a part time job (yes, I've now quit after 1 1/2 days) but still got the job in the first place!

scottishspendaholic x

Brassic

youngie wrote:

parties don't have to cost the earth to be good is it a family do or a kiddy party perhaps we can give you so ideas to keep it cheap and cheerful

It's family and a few friends. Main idea is a bbq. I ordered a bouncy castle ages ago to keep the kids happy, and got a good deal on that which I've saved for and sorted already. I'm not going to do party bags, just a balloon each with a little thing of sweets on, so it's just food to sort out - they can bring their own drink. Relatives have alread said they'd help with food too so hopefully won't be too bad

Thanks!

newleaf

In my first full month as a DFW I have:
Initiated a change of energy supplier.
Switched all my loan & cc debt to 0% by balance transfer.
Embarked on a strict budget for household shopping.
Stopped all personal spending.
Paid off almost £1,000 of my debt.
Ended the month 'in credit' for the first time in years.
Sold £150 worth of stuff on ebay.
Taken a packed lunch to work every day bar one.
Made the 3 powder laundry mix and stopped using fabric softener.
Bought (2nd hand) and read Martin's book, and lent it to a friend.
I'm rather pleased with myself too!

jessicamb

Brassic wrote:

It's family and a few friends. Main idea is a bbq. I ordered a bouncy castle ages ago to keep the kids happy, and got a good deal on that which I've saved for and sorted already. I'm not going to do party bags, just a balloon each with a little thing of sweets on, so it's just food to sort out - they can bring their own drink. Relatives have alread said they'd help with food too so hopefully won't be too bad

Thanks!

Make a hedgehog cake? They are fantastic and dead easy (& kids love them)
Or traffic light jelly and ice cream.

newleaf

I'm just bumping this, I hope no-one minds, but I thought it was a great idea for a thread and it's a shame more people didn't post on it! Come on peeps:T

Mrs_Sparkle

OK, my achievements for June:

1. Joined this board!!!
2. Switched mortgages- cost £700 in charges & survey fees but will save £145 a month and is fixed for 2 years
3. Cut grocery bill down from a shocking £400 a month to £250ish... still a bit of work to do there but I'm trying!
4. Switched to own-brand washing powder, Tesco value cheddar cheese and a few other things which I can't remember but have surely saved me £££s
5. Listed used paperbacks on Amazon- sadly none of them have sold yet but hey, I tried
6. Started sorting out clothes, shoes + jewellery to go on eBay

Goals for July:

1. List more stuff on eBay- aiming to make £200 in my Paypal account
2. Sell wedding dress (not on eBay as they go for pennies)
3. Bank what's in my change tin (counted last night- £59!!!)
4. Further grocery cutbacks- aiming for <£200 in July

Good luck everyone :-)

Sea78

Hi,
Was unsure what I had actually aciheved this month, so had to think hard about it!

These are things I think are good for me...

JUNE:

1. After survey showed up horrendous things on possible house, had a good look at finances and decided with OH to go for something less 'flash' and as a result ave fab house (fingers crossed for surveys etc.) for £30,000 less, saving loads of money!
2. Kept up with seling, sorted out lots more things to list on ebay, carried on clicking for piggy points (got first £10 voucher), cashed in ciao money (18.47) to pay off debt.
3. Due to saving for council tax, actually had the money to pay it when bill finally came!

Not so many, but am still pleased.

July:

1. Stick to grocery budget.
2. Give notice for homechoice (tv package etc.)
3. Give notice to cancel mobile
4. Actually list and sell the items on ebay that are now in the box!!

Thanks for this...

Sea xxx