2011 Make or break time

the_harrys

My DDs are desperate for it to snow again- they keep asking if it's too late for more this Winter. I love it too - it covers a multitude of sins i.e. messy garden.

It's been a busy few days at work (hence the insomnia) but I've managed to nearly keep to my budget and even had a NSD today.

The only problem is that I feel I am wishing the time away to the next payday and the next, life is too short so I must learn to be more patient and enjoy the journey albeit with less money to spend.

Mind you, I have still had the odd mini-spending spree on special offers recently, so I now have at least 3 months supply of the following: jam, loo roll, dog food, persil, tea bags, rice and pasta, weetabix- how sad is that! At least we will be prepared in case of natural disaster and they are cheaper splurges than meals out or clothes.

pennywisepoundstupid

I'm the same i have a bout 3 months worth of pasta and noodles and as for tinned tomatoes i've lost count.

millionaire_in_training

Hmm I have about a week's worth lol. I have resisted all offers. Only thing I have extra of is washing powder and fabric conditioner as the buy was so good I couldn't let it go by. You are making good inroads into that cc debt though so that must make you feel good. Sorry you are suffering from insomnia. I was having zombie nightmares at the weekend ( I dont watch scary films) and ended up sleeping with my light on I was so scared :rotfl:. Got about 5 hours and next night I was scared to sleep so got about 3.5 hrs :eek:. Last night I hit the pillow and died. I hope you get a better sleep tonight. Take care x

the_harrys

I ended up watcing some awful thriller called diabolique, but had to switch off as it got to the really scary bit near the end so never got to find out what happened. I'm a real wimp when my OH is away

I saw on your thread that it's a free listing weekend so will dig out some stuff to list.

millionaire_in_training

I'm always a wimp!! I'm going to clear out our bookcases too and get them onto Amazon. I never read a book twice so I might as well get rid of them.

Cliff1805

All the best with clearing your debts. Im sure it is difficult for you but it is essential top stop those massive splurges. I spent about £700 in total on Christmas so I cant begin to think what it must have been like to spend £13000. When I first read it I assumed you were on a very big income but from the sound of it you were just adding it all to your debt. The best thing I have done is to get rid of credit cards altogether and to transfer all my debts to unsecured loans. I pay the same amount every month and know exactly when it will be paid off. This also allows me to put a little bit away each month (about £80) for birthdays and christmas. This will be the first christmas I can ever remember where I will have the money in the bank to pay for it. It will only be about £600 to £700 again but that will feel absolutely fantastic to me. Maybe this way wouldnt suite everyone but its working for me so far. Once again all the best.

the_harrys

Good for you, sounds like a good plan. For us we're lucky to have our 3 biggest cards all on 0% (really 3% when you take the balance transfer charge into account) so a loan would probably be more expensive for us. I would also be worried that if we got a loan we would be tempted to fill up the cards all over again- but that's just me.

I have been playing around with my snowball again - taking into account the extra payment I made off CC4 this month and if I assume I can get another 0% deal next year for only 1 card (and am paying interest on the others), our DFD comes forward to Mar 2014. That would be much better than the old one- I'll see how it goes, it might be bit optimistic yet.

millionaire_in_training

lol another snowball addict

the_harrys

It's been a busy weekend, including a fair proportion of it acting as taxi driver for DC's hectic social lives.

I have also provisionally booked a holiday for the 5 of us for August. It's in the UK (far less exotic than our last few!!) and will cost a total of £1100 excluding spends. Holidays are my real weakness and I love to have something planned to look forward to- there'll be loads of opportunity for watersports which all of us love. I've decided that I will try and make the £1100 from extras e.g. ebay, matched betting, quidco (once I work out what it involves) so I don't have to compromise the debt-busting. That works out as £184 per month so that's my target.

So off to find 10 things to put on e-bay whilst it's still free listing today!

the_harrys

Forget to add that the tax OH was owed by HMRC came through, so that's gone straight off the smallest credit card -sig updated. If only every month could be this good!