A sorry state of affairs....

MrsNotAPenny

Doh! I've gone back and fixed it, for a third time! I had it written, copied it (just incase!) MSE pushed me out, pasted into a new reply and the paragraphs ran away! It's edited correctly now!

Goodness, that was harder than debt busting!x

beanielou

So very soon you will be 3 creditors down~that is just fab :j :j :j

MrsNotAPenny

Yeah very very soon!!

Barclay card, M&S and HBOS (OD2 is with them also)

beanielou wrote: »

So very soon you will be 3 creditors down~that is just fab :j :j :j

stripes

Love your diary, I'm sure you will do great in 2013 :j

MrsNotAPenny

thanks stripes I'm a bit rubbish at updating it, but it's nice to have it to see how far I've come.x

MrsNotAPenny

hello

paid £38 towards barclay card today, £18 towards littlewoods. Tomorrow Im paying £13 to m&s. Spent £7.38 of my shopping budget, nibbles for visitors, juice,milk and butter.

not much else to report, i go payg tomorrow (first time in ten years i think!)

onwards and upwards!x

MrsNotAPenny

ah, Sunday

Really enjoying being in control again, (please let it last!)

January so far

1st: NSD
2nd: £6.38 Groceries (G)
3rd: £7.32 (G)
4th: £3.75 Miscellaneous (M)
5th: NSD
6th: £6.38 Toiletries (T)
7th: £4.95 Slimming (S)

Have my ' big shop' being delivered on Tuesday £95 ish. The £6.38 I spent today brings me closely to my £100 target. leaves me £20 pw for top up groceries.

I''ve been thinking about my journey this week, where I started, the hiccups I've had and where I am now. My first soa was a total guess at what I though I was/should have been spending. Then I kept the spending diary for 3 months and it really showed me where my money was going.

I think it has taken me 2+ years to really get my light bulb going and to come up with my realistic budget. To try budgets and targets that haven't worked well for me. I know what I'm prepared to cut out/cut (weekly takeaways, a car, weekly nights out, branded food, gym, newest contracted phone) and what I am not prepared to give up (sky, kids classes, slimming club)

it's been a year since I returned the car, I've missed it once! I've actually found being car less liberating! It feels good planning our days out using public transport (the journey is the best part sometimes!) I can interact with my kids, point out animals, teach them sign posts. I don't have to worry about petrol costs, repairs,insurance, tax, mot etc . I think even when I do get back on the road it'll be used for work and shopping only. I've also made some new mummy friends, from being on the same buses, walking to and from nursery. I thought having a car was the be all and end all. I didn't see it as a luxury, I thought I needed it. In fact, I need very little.

I can see the end of the tunnel, yes even through the remaining 11.5k I still have out standing. The past two years have mainly been cutting back and keeping myself afloat. Now my income is increasing almost (ex's contribution, sofa and catalogue finance coming to an end) My utility debt is cleared, I'll be down to one overdraft in a couple of weeks and most of my debt is at 0% (for a few more months anyway)

Also feeling like I'm becoming me again. As much as I love my children I am so so glad that this will be the last full year of being at home with them (ds1 starts school next year, ds2 nursery) I am desperate to get back into employment (might have mentioned that a few times now!)

This year is for debt busting and weight loss. Next year I have a few big celebrations and I may start looking for a bit of romance (or maybe not!)

beanielou

Looking good :j

MrsNotAPenny

going to treat myself to a new MSE/DFW diary when I hit 10k

only £1,422 to go! :j

LivvyLoo_2

Hi MrsP,

Happy New Year!

Your posts sound so happy and up beat, glad its all coming together for you and you have found a budget that works.

Glad you're back in diary land too...I will be able to catch up with you and keep an eye on those spendaholic tendancies (the pot calling the kettle black ha ha).

Here's to a brilliant New Year with lots of happy times (and hopefully a lottery win).

xx