Flee's debt destruction plans

Flee_2

Hello to all MSE users.

This is my first diary to try and help me curb my spending and help me organise myself a bit better.
I have used this website for the past year and am addicted. The Debt diaries are amazing and I am so inspired by what people have done and are doing.

Background
I am a 30 something Mum to two wonderful children, one aged 10 (DS) and one aged 7 (DD). I live with my partner, kids and one mischievous male Westie dog.
I separated from my husband in 2009 after a turbulent few years and am currently getting divorced. After leaving my husband, I and 2 darlings moved into private rented accommodation with no furniture and a bit of savings. So eventually we built up furniture and bits. We had money to live comfortably.

I met my partner and we clicked instantly, he met the kids and loved them. He eventually moved in with us got a job locally and then eventually after looking through finances etc, I then persuaded him to go to University locally to fulfil his dreams of working in IT.

The kids still see their Dad a couple of times a week but I am the main carer and their solid block.

I have eventually become blase with money and have been overspending over the latter part of last year. So I have decided that I am going to be savvier and save money and cut my credit cards and loans.

I am currently trying to reduce the following debt by using this website and being more careful:

HSBC CC £5070 paying back £300 per month 16.9% apr
Tesco CC £2276.25 paying back £200 16.9% apr
Car Loan £5478.72 paying back £228.28 0%apr

My divorce is also costing and is estimated to be between £2500 and £3500. I have already paid £1k of this already.

I am also looking to buy a property when I am paid out on the shared property.

Flee_2

I am also trying to lose the extra weight I have put on since becoming independant. I had gained 2 stone since leaving my ex and have currently lost half a stone since end of last year.

Well today is the start of a new me.
Got up at 7am and took my pestie dog out for a walk/run for half an hour
Came back and made breakfast for everyone and then we got ready for work and school. I worked on Saturday morning so I took Time Owed in Lieu this morning to be able to drop my darlings off at school.

Tonight we are going to have homemade fish cakes courtesy of MSE Old Style Board.

I have cut back so much on my spending and am making more of my meals from scratch.

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary
I love westies~lucky lucky you to have one.
Keep posting!

Flee_2

Thanks Beanielou.
Hello everyone reading this, I cannot believe the weather we are having atm, it is beautiful.

Well my homemade Sardine fish cakes went down very well last night, the recipe I found on here and my kids loved them even though officially they do not like sardines.
I have left broccoli soup in the slow cooker today. Nett0 had an offer of two big broccoli bunches for £1, so decided to make soup.

I feel like Delia atm, by cooking everything in advance, but it works well and we are all eating healthily.

I have parents evening tonight so had to be a quick tea. Hopefully my darlings will have good reports, though the school is not the best. I am lucky to have two intelligent kids otherwise I would be worried about them.

Hope everyone else is having a lovely day.

LAM2011

Hi Flee, good luck in your mission to knock £4,000 off your debt. I have a friend who has 3 westies - they are def cheeky chappies

gaz2180

Hi Flee, good luck! Just started my diary as well - feels good doesn't it?!

Flee_2

Well today was busy day at work and I am knackered now, not had five minutes to think. Missed my break and part of my lunch.
I took leftover broccoli soup to work and made the staff room smell of mouldy cheese. :P
I had to spend £30 on petrol, so was not a NSD today, but should last me over a week hopefully. Payday soon though on the 31st March, only 1 week away.

I am hoping the nice weather stays until the weekend too.

Flee_2

Gave in this morning and had a bacon bap after I burnt my toast. So another spend day.
I am hoping next week will be easier to not spend as I have no money left in my budget.

I have been saving and Ebaying to pay for a holiday next month and managed to save the money, but I have had to budget and cut back for this.
On the plus side I have a lovely week in Majorca to look forward to, and have really cut back on spending to try to cut down my CCs.

My main target is to pay off as much as possible on my CCs so that next year I can try for a baby with my lovely boyfriend.

Flee_2

It is weekend and I am afraid I may be spending money this weekend. A friend had a baby last week and I need to buy a present for them.
Also need to pay my childminder too. On the plus side I do not need any shopping yet.

Plan for today:
Get up and get breakfast ready
Swimming lessons with 2 darlings
Maybe see what is lurking in a charity shop
Tidy house
Make bread
Make savoury pancakes for tea
Ironing (groan)

Anyone else got any "fun" plans for the day?

Hope everyone has a good weekend and maybe the sun will come out again.

Flee_2

Had a spending weekend but this is it for the week. Bought food and went to the pub on Sunday night.
Total spend over weekend was £40.

On the plus side I had some old gold jewellery that I sold for £60 at a cash for gold shop, which is going towards my holidays and went towards some of the shopping.

I am not spending today as I am at work and resisting the urge to eat and eat.

Not feeling too good today though, I have a sore throat and feel rough. Hopefully a good nights sleep will help.

Flee_2

Morning everyone.
Woke up this morning feeling rougher than yesterday. Don't think I have recovered from all the bugs that are going round since end of last year. So exercising is taking a back seat yet again.
I bought a joint of gammon which was reduced to £4 on Sunday and that has made two yummy meals.
Tonight I think it will be something quick. Been baking bread with my breadmaker to cut down on buying 5 loaves a week. Hoping to not buy any for the next few weeks.

Have been discussing babies this weekend, and think that I am going to start trying in December this year or January next year, with the hope that I can go on maternity from August to September. I am a teacher and that would work so much better. Not sure that I could keep away for a year but would be nice to have time with my kids and baby. I also have an amazing childminder for when the baby is over 1 year old.

Any other teachers that have done this? Has anyone had 52 weeks off from work and what happens to your pay?
I presume that I get 22 weeks full and then the rest at around £123 a week, with possibly extra due to being in teaching for the last 12 weeks.
Feels like ages away before anything happens but I really need to get a grip of my finances first.

Thanks for reading.