Starting the challenge 19/03/2010

Aspiration

GREAT START TO THE DAY - Had a letter from british gas that came through yesterday, thought it was another 'Please come back to us even though we're more expensive letter'... However it is a refund of £61.13.... YEAH!!!! Thats another £61 i will be paying off tomorrow!!!

Herewego

Well done thats fab news great start to the week, lets hope it continues all week

Aspiration

Herewego - Hows the present hunting going?

Had a busy few days at work at home. We had our first house crisis last night, drains blocked up and we are on a run of houses so it is not just ours. All of the house owners were outside (Which doesn't normally happen so that was good), and we all agreed to get the drains rodded and split the cost... I'm panicking at this point thinking yes it is the right thing to do, but what if there are probs with the drains under our houses ... I had been watching the new series about houses falling down and watched last week how they had cracked drains and a £5000 quote..! I'm now thinking i should check my insurance just incase, but turned out to be oil just blocking the pipes and should be approx £20 each. I'm v happy with that outcome!

Just managed to pay another £50 to a CC, so that is very good!

Awaiting for pay day now so i can reduce my debt and see that all important figure coming down...

Hows everyone else tonight????

Herewego

Xbox slim, watch, couple of tops so all sorted he came with me saves me returning unwanted gifts.
Off to 50th birthday bash this weekend and really looking forward to meeting up with old friend.
What day is payday ? Any plans for the weekend ?

Aspiration

Get paid today which is great, first sat of the month which is a result!!! Made a few payments to my CC's however need to wait for a couple to produce statements as don't want to show an overpayment then struggle to make the minimum when it re calculates.

Spent £1 today for lunch and thats it. My wife has been very thrifty and bought our dinners from asda, and then used their website and we're owed 20p back through their price comparision and they have e mailed us the coupon!!! How good is this, definitely know your getting the cheapest food!

Feeling positive, feel a lit tense with how close my outgoings are vs my salary at the moment, would feel a bit better when i have reduced the debt by about 10k just for breathing space. Still v much on the debt journey and just need to carry on fighting the cause!!!

How's everyone tonight, had a busy week???

Aspiration

Had a bad few days, with work having to travel and can't claim expenses back, extra petrol as had to go to family commitment at weekend so having a bad few days and spent budget already!!! GRRR!! A very stressed Aspiration tonight and feeling the pressure of the debt!

Herewego

Thats not great not being able to claim expenses, hope all is well with you ?

guisantes

Hi I've been reading your thread with interest, sounds like you're doing a fab job :-)

A while ago I noticed you asked about budgeting tools for the iphone. I don't know if you found one, but if not, I found one called Spend Free. I downloaded the free version, and have found it to be great.

You can set up different budgets within a budget, i.e. I have big food shop, small shops, contingency, credit card, presents, my petrol, DH's petrol, childcare, bills. You can then set up a total for each budget which will update however frequently you wish (in my case monthly) It will carry over the totals if you want, and everytime you make a purchase, you add an expense to which budget you want. I do this straight away so I always know EXACTLY where I am wherever I am, and everytime I buy something, it's a conscious decision what pot it's going to have to come out of, a good deterrant for unnecessary spending.

Hope this helps you somewhat, and keep up the good work :-) I'll subscribe and keep seeing how you're doing if that's ok?

Aspiration

Hi guys, i'm doing well, still wish debt was reduced significantly!!! I'm nearing the end of my balance transfer for my MBNA so need to start looking around for another balance transfer. I should be under the 30k mark again by next payday which will be a fab result, then to continue on the debt free journey! Sorry haven't posted for a while been wrapped up in work and not been getting days off etc which isn't great.

Guisantes thanks for the add, i have got to say definitely hard work and a constant fight!

How's everyone been?

Aspiration

Oh and looking at my signature that LLoyds card is the one that will be exterminated within the next few weeks!!! Bye Bye LLoyds CC