A Thread for After Debt?

rising_from_the_ashes

Wow! great to see the thread picking up .... a warm welcome to LotsaLuck and mustbemad:D BiB - hope you had a lovely holiday!:)

JG ..... all I can say to your son's grasp of the value of money is .... wow!:T You've done an incredible job there and it should mean that he never finds himself in the position so many have ... dealing with debts.

LotsaLuck congrats on the money gift and well done for not diving into it the first moment you got it (like I would've been seriously tempted to do!

Mustbemade My house is in serious need to TLC too - have just set up a monthly overpayment of £45 to the household bills account which will be used to fund things as they can be afforded - and, yup, I too now look at something and go "how much? I wouldn't pay that for that!" - when the old me would've just stuck it on a card without a 2nd thought.


Annual payments I'm aiming to get my car insurance saved for by the time of next renewal (Dec - so just had to do another monthly one:o) - I did get the house insurance onto an annual payment last year (not really by choice - found a much cheaper quote but not from an insurance co I wanted to go with .... current insurers agreed to price match but only for a one off payment :eek: - which involve a raiding of the emergency fund etc and not something I want to do again! I have been putting away a monthly amount to a pot since to pay for this years'.

It's hard trying to put aside enough to switch to an annual premium as you're effectively pay double for a year IYKWIM ... but really must try to do the car insurance this year.

Most of my car expenses fall in January (tax, service & breakdown cover) so always an expensive month .... and one that usually fills me with dread. The pot is slightly down on what it should be (only started in the Autum after becoming DF) but with a couple of larger payments into it in the past couple of months & putting the service on the cc bill (so won't have to pay it until Feb), I will cover everything (and have worked out I've £15 left:) by the time Feb's payment has gone into the pot):)

QueenB.

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

QueenB Something just occured to me reading one of your posts. You are saving up for Car Insurance to pay in full, which is why you don;t have month right now because you have only a few months to get the money saved.

Are you thinking long term? Once you have paid your insurance are you planning on working out what it'll cost next year and setting aside 1/2th of the cost per month??

Once you do then within a year you should see that 'extra' money emerging and know that it can be done with what you want because everything is covered

we are thinking the same LOL, already i have worked out what my new monthly budget should be once they are paid this year, The car insurance should go down from £120 pm to £50 (thats working with a slight increase so once we renew it might even be less:j) Plus Hard as it will be to save that amount in a shortish amount of time, especially with both my sons birthdays and easter/mothers day etc in between, I won't be paying council tax Feb and March so that money will go towards the insurance and tax. I'm actually feeling excited :rotfl:

Little_bit_dizzy

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

Have you got a 'Pets' pot? one to cover routine jabs, dewormers and deflea treatments?

DH has a mate who's a vet - very handy at times, but yes I have a 'Pets Pot'.

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

Well I am doing my 4 week meal plan for 20th Jan - 16th Feb (I am being optimistic... Roo will be here by then so I can eat normally again! I've not done one in 8 months since I got sick...!) and setting up my shopping lists etc so it'll need very little tweeking (considering I won't have time with the baby here) and DH can do the shopping for me! I am so excited

Ps. I have a sweep booked for next Thursday AM! Baby Roo could be here on Friday 13th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having never had the joy of expecting, I had no idea that certain foods could make you poorly, I've heard of morning sickness but after that it's a bit of a blank.

I also have absolutely no clue what 'a sweep' entails. I would google it but that could be dodgy too!!! Dont worry, I can only imagine it's a tad too delicate to post on here so I'll ask a mate Anyhow, hurry up Roo. JulieGeorgiana, can I please have a virtual cuddle once Roo arrives? I can do nappies too, if you need a virtual hand!

QueenB. wrote: »

:j:j:j:j:j:j

I plan my shopping around 3 things, storecupboard items, vouchers/offers and the shops prices/discount times. I make a shopping list and then check out the cost of the items online before deciding where to buy them and then my shopping day is planned like a military operation

Soooo envious of your stategic approach QueenB. I'm pleased with todays shop, but there's room for me to improve...

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

have just set up a monthly overpayment of £45 to the household bills account which will be used to fund things as they can be afforded - and, yup, I too now look at something and go "how much? I wouldn't pay that for that!" - when the old me would've just stuck it on a card without a 2nd thought.

I would have done the same rising, without hesitation. My only thought would have been 'which card has got enough available credit?'

A sofa ad was on the tv the other night with a 0% deal and DH saw something he liked. I did say no, because whilst we've still got 2 dogs and a cat (and DH uses any kind of tools (pliers still in back pocket of the jeans when sitting on 2 week old leather suite, you can guess the rest :mad:)) I refuse replace the stuff we have with new as it's just a waste of time and we don't have the money right here. I've got a 'pot' though!!!

PS: rising, I love your avitar! Could be related to my BD (Big Dog) as she is currently assuming the exact same position as yours...

rising_from_the_ashes

Little_bit_dizzy wrote: »

PS: rising, I love your avitar! Could be related to my BD (Big Dog) as she is currently assuming the exact same position as yours...

Thanks .... he was very sadly called to the bridge in November and is deeply missed - he was a grand old age tho' and still full of mischief right to the end - which I guess is the best way...... It's funny as I thought I'd have to take the avatar off when I first lost him but I do find it strangely comforting to see him everytime I log on

Little_bit_dizzy

I'm so sorry to hear that rising. It's good that he was a character until the end, perhaps thats the best way to remember him. BD has an element of mischief to her too

LotsaLuck

Thank you all for your warm welcomes. I feel much more positive than I did this morning, I was feeling very miserable when I wrote that last post! Onwards and upwards..!

This is a brilliant thread, I'm feeling inspired already

xxx

AlyBaly

Evening everyone,

Not managed to sit down until now since leaving for work at 7am this morning, no wonder I a tired.

Been to Tesco and started my 2012 Christmas savers with £10. I did this last year and between my savers and points had £325 to spend at xmas. I doubled up lots of vouchers to so effectively got a few things half price , felt like they were free because I paid with vouchers. Stocked up on my diet coke, they have 8 for £1.92 !! My utility room is now full !

I feel a bit inadequate or maybe its another word, looking at what some of you great people are doing I am miles behind but I guess maybe I am expecting too much having only being DF for 3 days LOL . I do think I will have to take all this at baby steps.

AlyBaly

YIKES :eek:Apologies to all the new people joining I did not read back the thread but I have now so WELCOME . :kisses:

backinbusiness

Rising - I had a fab holiday thanks. Really great to catch up with relatives and we Scots do know how to do Hogmanay!

From a quick read through of the thread I noticed the following again and again:-

1. That some of us miss the "buzz" of debt-busting and lack a little direction once debt-free.
2. That being organised and budgeting properly and honestly is helping to keep us debt-free.
3. That some of us struggle to part with our money once debt-free (although we could) - stemming from perhaps a fear of relapse?

I certainly fall into all 3 of the above categories.
1. It's great to watch the savings mount up - but Debt Free Day was a very specific target - savings target is a bit more vague.
2. I still withdraw my weekly budget in cash - but know that I could draw more if I wish, (which leads me to . . .)
3. I stuggle to loosen the purse strings very much.

Great to see so many people sharing their experiences and good ideas.

BiB

Mort

backinbusiness wrote: »

Wow!

I went away for Hogmanay and this turned into a 9 page thread!!

Welcome one and all.

Off to unpack just now, but will come back and read through later.

Happy New Year all.

BiB x

And I thought my 11 hour binge was good!:beer: