Debt free by Summer 2012 (if not sooner!)

DebtFree2012

Morning diary !!!

Right, today is a good day.

I am feeling positive and on top. I can make a payment (pennies still but every little helps) to Virgin and am due a statement in the next day or so, so I am looking forward to seeing how much my mini payments will reduce the interest by. I am hoping SO much that once interest is added the balance will be less that 7k still, by pennies admittedly but even so - to see a 6 instead of a 7 will be fantastic.

Pay day on monday and skint until then so on storecupboard and freezer items until then. I need to make a note of my spendings on a weekend as I am not updating them in here so that's one to start doing.

Had futher chats re the hovel in the hills - which I have to say is a phrase I stole from hovel lady's diary which is from her fave book - didn't want that to be my claim but I fell in love with the book and her diary so much that the title suits.

The results are we have lots of planning to do as I'd love to be able to start my own business to pay for the hovel and allow me to work from home instead of the office. I have 3 years to plan it so plenty of time Luckily we agreed 3 years works out best so not jumping in, can do the things to the house we want to now and waiting for son to start school - so as said earlier it luckily ties in with debt free date which is just as well seen as no one knows about it but me n best mate!!!

In the mean time I am working on being more frugal, reducing all my outgoings which I have been doing for some time now and continuing with meal planning, cooking from scratch and general OS ways.

Next month is SO tight for me as I have to put something towards a holiday. I need to have the lowest food and petrol bill since my journey began. Considering my freezer and pantry will be empty come pay day on monday - I don't have much to work on so will need to purchase most things!

I plan on posting on the OS board once I have planned everything and asking very kindly for them to give me some hints and tips on reducing it even further!

I will be looking at my gas and electricity consumption again later today as have some data to do comparison with - hoping our useage is right down.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day (it's raining here AGAIN)

x x x

Hovel_lady

Hello!
Hope your virgin bill does say 6 not 7. You're doing really well, I'm very impressed.
Very good luck with the planning for a business - that's sounds fantastic.
The OS board has been really useful to me since my debt free journey started. I'm sure the lovely people over there will be able to help.
xxx

Winnie_in_Pooh

:j yay for feeling positive and on top!!! Keeping my fingers crossed for that 6 for you

My DH wants to start up his own business - I think its very brave, but only because I like to know when payday is :rotfl:! Having said that, they do say its the best way to make money! Do you have a business idea?

DebtFree2012

I have ideas but they flit from one to the other at the moment. It would be something I could run from/on the hovel ie to do with animals / farm shop - I need to research to see what set ups costs would be and which is more of a steady income. It may not come off but I need to know it hasn't happened because I decided that, not because I couldn't be bothered.

I can't wait to get the bill in now - bring on a 6!

Need to update my budget for next few months so will do that this afternoon.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Hi there, can I subscribe!

Youre doing brilliantly, hope you get that 6!

Winnie_in_Pooh

DebtFree2012 wrote: »

It may not come off but I need to know it hasn't happened because I decided that, not because I couldn't be bothered.

Definitely agree the best way to think about it I think!

DebtFree2012

Skint_but_Optimistic wrote: »

Hi there, can I subscribe!

Youre doing brilliantly, hope you get that 6!

Hi!

Thank you and of course! I am throwing everything I can at it - it's a weight round my neck that's slowly being taken off.

Do you have a diary?

DebtFree2012

Free lunches today for me and DH - my mum made "too much" tea as she described it, so gave me loads which I have used for packed lunches today and have salad to go with tea tonight and rice which I will use or freeze.

I put £15 petrol in, totalling £25 for this week and that should see me through until pay day on monday.

I forgot to get the metre readings whilst I was out, annoying! Will have to do that tonight.

Sold 6 eggs from our chucks at work for £1

Also I now have a new boss as of today - old one's retiring but not for a few months so what's the bets they both think they are my boss still LOL. I started as I mean to go on and asked why I am not paid the same as the others in the team (all men) who do less than me - I didn't say the latter and phrased it correctly!

Hopefully she will see where I am coming from and at least give me something to look forward to - ie goal of 6 months for rise if xyz.

I need a pair of flat shoes for work as for some reason my heels (as in kitten heels, not foot heel) are really killing me. The balls of my feet are aching all the time painfully - never had this problem before! I really don't want to have to buy a new pair of shoes though, no matter how cheap!

DebtFree2012

Tasks for the next week:

1. Up to date with washing and ironing
2. then update my clothes inventory (sad I know but helps me keep track and look different each day with minimal clothes) as when I wrot the last one I didn't account for what was in the wash!
3. Start my winter box as from the preparing for winter thread inc things like kids medicine, paracetamol, salt for ice paths and so on. Also make a list of what's required to complete that.
4. Should be number 1 really - do next month's menu plan and food shop within £100 budget - god that's not gonna happen easily.
5. Take electricity and gas readings and compare to last years (can do this online) and see if our new habits have helped at all.
6. Ring gas / elec company and try to reduce monthly payment.

I could easily add a million more things to this list but they won't get done SO this will do for now and I will update as I have done it.

Skint_but_Optimistic

DebtFree2012 wrote: »

Hi!


Do you have a diary?

I do yes, I cant manage to post a link as I am hopeless, :j It should be under threads Ive started.

It reads like a car repair manual / castle tour book.

Im going to start preparing for winter too, am off work next week and mysef and DC are trawling charity shops and going to plant some winter lettuce etc in pots.

Should be mucky fun!