A Thread for After Debt?

oldtractor

I've just done a weekly shop and am very shocked. it came to £105 . its frightening.

rising_from_the_ashes

It's really worrying how much everythings going up Old Tractor ..... is that about "normal" for you or have you seen a big jump?

Little_bit_dizzy

rising, a lazy day sounds perfect. I'm working until mid afternoon (or at least I'm sat at my computer looking on the forums, but making it look like I'm doing some work!) but after that I'm planning on lazing! DH wants to nip into town as he need a new pair of chainsaw trousers, but this is ok as they are a work expense. Good job too at £80 odd!

I've been quite productive today at work (see above comment)! I've applied for a new current account with First Direct, and an e-saver with them too (this negates the £10.00 monthly fee on the current account). Once opened I can apply for a regular saver (8% interest - thanks for the tip JG!), which I think I'll start at £25.00 pcm as this is the minimum deposit until I fill my ISA and then I'll swap to this one.

Does anyone have any ideas regarding banks which don't charge transaction fees for using debit cards abroad? I know it's probably somewhere on a Travel Board, but I thought I'd ask you clever lot first

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend - JG, how is Eliza settling in?

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry no idea on the transaction abroad use (last time I was away abroad was 1999!:o)

Even since clearing my debts it's a choice of having the pets or an "away" holiday - guess what wins hands down!;)

I'm going to start to use my credit union savings to try to save for a hol - one of my pals lives abroad and I have an open invitation to visit :Dso it would just be the flights / spending money ...... still think it'll take me at least 2 years to save up for :eek: but something to aim for!


Debating whether to get dressed & pop to A*ldi (town where I work) - I try to go after work on a Fri but everyone seems to have started doing this and it was heaving yesterday and didn't bother.

Usually still need to go to Mr A as it's the only place I can get "my" milk - but stocked up on Weds so no need this weekend ..... but I do need stuff for lunches etc next week so need to go somewhere and their cold meats etc are a lot better priced (and more interesting!)

It's about the same distance fuel wise to both .....

QueenB.

Been a busy day so far. I have been working on Januarys to do list.

1. [STRIKE]Check that mint cc is cancelled. [/STRIKE] Done
2. [STRIKE]Check one remaining cc is in date [/STRIKE](thanks rising:D) Done, it is
3. [STRIKE]Sort out tax issues with OH job.[/STRIKE] Done hopefully that will be the last of the tax issues as we seem to be having a lot recently
4. [STRIKE]reduce OH overdraft [/STRIKE]Done reduced by a third
5. [STRIKE]create spreadsheet for incomings/outgoings.[/STRIKE] Done:j
6. [STRIKE]Pay Evans storecard in full (rarely used but did so in precrimbo sales) [/STRIKE] Done
7. Sort out transfer problems with bank.
8. Order subscriptions to the two cross stitch mags I always buy.
9. Start pots for car insurance/tax
10. Do a new SOA and look for cuts
11. Look into new bank account for OH.
12. [STRIKE]Change amount saved pm[/STRIKE] (Need to put in more to reach yearly target I have set). done
13. Reach NSD target

So as you can see I have finally completed my spreadsheets:j They are so basic especially compared to so many of you spreadsheet experts but i feel good, its a start. All mine have on is outgoings, broken down into weekly/monthly/yearly. Incomings broken down the same way. Then another one for general pots (not fully complete yet as SOA will affect this) Those yearly figures are scary:eek:, especially when you add up the things you only normally think off as weekly/monthly amounts. Its certainly made OH think about things and made me more determined to reduce the food/petrol bill if possible.

Just got the phone bill today, not too high but not welcome with all the extra unexpected costs this month has already brought. So glad that we didn't go overboard at crimbo and that at least half of OH December wage is still in bank to cover these extra costs, for the most part anyway. He doesn't get paid again till just before the end of the month so I really hope no other little, or not so little things crop up:( as I don't want to eat into Febs budget.

Little_bit_dizzy

QueenB. wrote: »

Order subscriptions to the two cross stitch mags I always buy.

Thanks for the reminder QueenB, I also meant to look into this as sometimes theres good savings / free gifts to be had.

I did remember to order a slow cooker recipe book though, Amazon 80p plus p&p

MunniMuncha

Hi All, after a marathon task of reading this thread I thought I would pop in and say hello and hopefully I can join you.

My story was that I became debt free back in 2006 (I think) through the great support and dedication of this site and have been debt free since then. The last time I visited this site was 12 months ago, but since then haven't as I didn't feel that there was a great need for it and like so many of you say I felt people would think of me as being smug on the DFW forum as I was no longer in debt (in fact didn't even register my name on the Roll of Honour). To try and keep a long story short, I have found that although on the whole I am still not in debt, my money management has taken a downward spiral and I feel that I no longer have control of my spending. So am hoping that with the help of you lovely people (and yes you have reminded me that I used to transfer over the pennies from my bank account, so thanks for that) and getting to re-start my spreadsheets then I can turn this around.

So once again, hello to you all, congratulations to Mrs JG and little Eliza and hope to stick around for a while (if that's okay?):D

Little_bit_dizzy

MunniMuncha wrote: »

To try and keep a long story short, I have found that although on the whole I am still not in debt, my money management has taken a downward spiral and I feel that I no longer have control of my spending. So am hoping that with the help of you lovely people (and yes you have reminded me that I used to transfer over the pennies from my bank account, so thanks for that) and getting to re-start my spreadsheets then I can turn this around.

Hello MunniMuncha and welcome, come on in and pull up a chair Lovely to have you join us. Well done on becoming debt free and staying there, but also on recognising that it's a marathon task trying to keep on the straight and narrow, so to speak!

I only became debt free last year, but became a bit too spend happy after a while. This thread helps me enormously, so I hope it helps you too...

samtoby

Few its taken me ages to catch up on what has been going on. Last night I went out to a works meal and did not com home until 1am! SHOCK HORROR. Thats very late for me to still be out! I drank a whole bottle of house white which was blimming lovely...although I have had a 'slight' head ache today I have got on with things.

My other half came to get me last night and he pulled up next to the bus stop where I was standing and some girl ran over and then vomited all by where I was just about to walk! I think she thought she knew him, he thought it was funny. I didn't, had to walk round it in my heels. If you knew me you would know heels are not a good combination with my feet.

Been food shopping, collected parcel, had DS hair cut and delivered Thank Yous to Ex partners Grand parents for Christmas presents. So now I have had time to sit with tea and my computer to catch up on here!

I find the only way I can stay out of debt is my spreadsheets and keeping reciepts of things I have bought that were not essential. I always use cash when buying things, it hurts me more to hand cash over.

I hope everyone is having a lovely day

rising_from_the_ashes

MunniMuncha wrote: »

To try and keep a long story short, I have found that although on the whole I am still not in debt, my money management has taken a downward spiral and I feel that I no longer have control of my spending. So am hoping that with the help of you lovely people (and yes you have reminded me that I used to transfer over the pennies from my bank account, so thanks for that) and getting to re-start my spreadsheets then I can turn this around.

Hello!:D Lovely to have you join us ..... congrats on staying DF for so long :T that's a huge achievement.

samtoby wrote: »

I find the only way I can stay out of debt is my spreadsheets and keeping reciepts of things I have bought that were not essential. I always use cash when buying things, it hurts me more to hand cash over.

Snap ... maybe I am a bit obsessive atm but it was so easy to go off track in only a couple of months ...... I'm slightly different in that I pay for nearly everything on the cc cards (only take around £30 cash out a month) as I find this stops me overspending as the mindset that it has to be paid each month seems to work with me!

Just back from A*di - for a change didn't need milk (Mr A is the only sm near that stocks it) ..... must re-start going on a Fri night on the way home from work. The difference in the price of cold meats is staggering: A*di 13 slices of chicken for £1.69 and 14 slices of ham for £1.79 (and it's nice stuff not over processed IYKWIM) compared to 2 packs for £3 in Mr A - and only 4 slices in each one!

£14.89 spent and lunches (minus bread) sorted to the end of the month with meat/chease fillings, a yoghurt and I have stock/veg to make soup for this week & next:D