Our Journey Back into the Black

ROSIEGLOW255

Well doing well so far this week. Didn't spend anything yesterday. Am going to try and spend as little as possible over the next couple of days as want some money for the weekend. Not going to help that I'm off work till next Wednesday so have a lot more time to be spending. Will try to behave through.

Just rang Barclays to get a settlement figure for my loan, I thought it would be valid for a week or something but no, going to have to ring again on the day I am ready to repay. I did an Egg balance transfer to my Barclays account last night so think the funds should be in the account on Monday so will be able to pay it off then. Will be so good to have more flexibility with repayments as that is what has been making getting debt free so hard, just seem to be treading water. While loan repayment is being made each month it's causing to have to use other borrowing to fund the shortfall in money available, so loan goes down but credit cards and overdraft go up, so total debt amount seems to constantly remain the same.

Am hoping that the mix of more flexible payments and being stricter with day to day spending will help reduce the debt at a steady, realistic rate.

Have been good at work as well as often would buy lunch every day, I am there (3 days pw), which with drinks could cost between £3 and £5 a day. That is up to £60 a month just on food at work, that's 10% of my take home pay!. So the last couple of weeks I have been taking stuff in out of the freezer and cupboards so not spending anything there. Yes it's boring but it will be worth it at end of month when I have the money still in my account. Although looking at the cupboards looks like I'll be having beans on toast for the rest of the month as not a lot else in there.

I am really trying to motivate myself. Am supposed to be cleaning house but just ended up looking on forums. I have wasted an hour already. I just don't now where the time goes once I'm on the computer. Well off to clean the bathroom, i can't put it off forever.

ROSIEGLOW255

Had such a lazy day yesterday, just couldn't get motivated. Got a feeling today will be just the same although am going to try to get more done. I think it's coz I'm off work and didn't have anything planned, with weather being so horrible didn't want to go out anywhere. Although I didn't do much I did enjoy it.

On the money saving front I only spent £2.99 on groceries yesterday which wasn't too bad. Updated budget is below:

Actual spend for 8th - 14th November 2010 (So Far)

Total Budget - £130.00

Budget/Actual

Childcare £25.75/£9.75
Groceries £60.00/£44.69
Petrol £20.00/£0.00
Bits & Bobs £24.25/£13.94

Remaining - £61.62

Bank Balance - £40.83
Cash Balance - £20.79
Total Balance - £61.62

On the money saving front oh logged in to his old lloyds account and transferred £59 that was just sitting there so paid that straight off barclaycard, the way i see it it was forgotten money so might as well just pay it off debts as won't miss it.

I am hoping to get through weekend without needing petrol so can save that £20 for general spends. According to car have approx 50 miles left in tank so that should be enough as not at work today. Also going to try not to buy any more groceries over the weekend apart from bread and milk. Did quite a big shop this week so should have enough to see me through so budget for additional groceries over weekend is £5 which would leave me £10.31 left over, then with £10.31 from general spending and £20 petrol have £40.62 to play with this weekend. Would like to have £20 of that left over at end of week to go towards next weekend. I am off on a spa day (birthday present) so am trying to save some money for oh to have a special day with dd. She wants to go to cinema to see alpha and omega and oh wants to take her to bear factory to make a hello kitty soft toy as a treat.

Well better get myself back off to bed otherwise I definitely won't be doing anything later other than sleeping all day.

ROSIEGLOW255

Well another unproductive day. Have pretty much done nothing all day, although has to be said I have thoroughy enjoyed it.

One thing I have done is looked in to changing gas/electricity supplier. It came up that a different package with scottish power would be cheaper but if we change to EDF energy would still save money and would get £100 credit on account for changing and also £80 cash back through quidco. Think will definitely switch, Scottish Power is also in credit by over £400 at mo, although there is a bill due soon, so that could well reduce down to £100 but even so would be nice to get a cheque for that once account is closed.

Actual spend for 8th - 14th November 2010 (So Far)

Total Budget - £130.00

Budget/Actual

Childcare £25.75/£25.75
Groceries £60.00/£48.86
Petrol £20.00/£0.00
Bits & Bobs £24.25/£13.94

Remaining - £41.45

Bank Balance - £36.66
Cash Balance - £ 4.79
Total Balance - £41.45