Boarding the Bus of Positivity (for 24 months of travels!)

debtfreesomeday

Now a veteran to the Debt Free Diary scene, this is my fourth and final chapter in the battle to become debt free. Previous installments can be found here...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2809744
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2313539
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2809744

For those of you who don't wish to trawl through the epochs, (and I don't blame you), here's a little about me...

I'm in my 30s, married with a wonderful Ds of 9 months. We have been on this debt free journey for 3.5 years, and have managed to reduce our debt from its highest at around £35K+ to the outstanding amount of £11.5K. We have 24 months (sounds shorter than 2 years!) of loan repayments and a small-ish credit card debt left until we are debt free.

This month brings us new challenges as I have returned to work part-time, after having our son. We are also paying childcare costs of around £400 a month. Now, more than ever, I need to keep a reign on the grocery budget and the 'leftover' money we have once everything has been budgeted for as these two areas are where we usually fall flat on our faces mid way through the month and start transferring money from e-pot to e-pot in attempt to balance the budgets. BUT NO MORE!!! I have my notebook ready, my pen poised and once we get paid on Friday, will be working out then budgets in good old pen and ink (I have yet to know how much I will be paid on my part time salary). Once this is on paper, there will be NO deviating from the budgets! We now have no savings left after 9 months of maternity leave, so there is no money left to top up the main account anymore.

I am aware that I can be a negative thinker and am currently in need of a motivational boost to see us through these next [STRIKE]two years[/STRIKE] 24 months. Usually, I hate buses, but this new diary will be a vehicle filled with positivity to get us through and keep me motivated! I get very complacent and downhearted when it seems things are constantly going against us and my good intentions tend to slip. But, NOT ON THIS BUS!!!

So, I've got my 5 packets of mints ready for the trip (55p for 5 from Home Bargains!) which I'll gladly pass round, so feel free to hop aboard and join me!

DFSD

yukkibear

Good luck for the final sprint.

debtfreesomeday

Thanks YB.

A little more money made today after selling an unused printer via the notice board at work for £15. I only paid £30 for it new, so not a bad return. The inks were too costly to buy so we purchased a more economical one a while back. That's another £15 off the credit card I shall pay off tonight.

I seem to keep forgetting the login details for my online credit card banking so I keep needing to defrost my card to enter the card number which is really frustrating - I'm sure I have the right details but they keep saying it's wrong! :mad: (I should explain... our one and only credit card currently resides in the freezer, in a block of ice, so that we can't use it for impulse purchases! It works!) :rotfl:

wantabetterlife

ooohhhh shiny new diary DFSD...cant wait to read your progress on the last leg of the journey :j:j

debtfreesomeday

Thanks WABL x

Well tonight I came home to a free energy monitor on the doorstep which I applied for a few weeks back. It's sad, I know, but I'm really excited about fitting it! I was hoping to get it done tonight but that now looks unlikely. Maybe it will help prompt DH to turn the tv/lights/radio off when not using them if he sees how much it's costing him!

I also received a cheque for £50 from a family member in payment for some work I did for them recently. That's how much I paid for the materials so it will go back into the bank account and help reduce the overdraft.

Dinner tonight was a lovely homemade meal from the freezer, kindly and lovingly made for us by my Mum when she was staying with us last. She is currently poorly in hospital, yet is still taking care of us with her home cooking! There was a wonderful crumble for pudding too, of which, there is enough for tomorrow.

I have taken some homemade meals out of the freezer for Ds tomorrow. It's so much easier just popping a batch cooked portion of food from the freezer, rather than making something every day.

I have also wrapped an eBay parcel to post tomorrow. I have also sorted some of the other bits I have for eBay, deciding to give a bundle of baby clothes to a friend instead of ebaying them from pennies as she is also struggling with money and they will help out a little. The rest of the stuff I WILL list at the weekend.

As well as the ebay parcel, I also need to post a 'cheery up' package to my Mum tomorrow. I shall put the cheque in the bank and look out for ideas for the 3 remaining Christmas gifts I have to buy. I really would like to finish the Christmas gift buying now!

DFSD
X

Itsadogslife_2

Hi DFSD, nice to see your nice new shiny diary

Nice to see your positivity shining through *subscribed* :cool:

debtfreesomeday

Oooh, another passenger! Hi Itsadogslife x

A grey morning here, so the mountain of washing I have to do today will have to go in the tumble dryer. Still, it is November I guess so I can't complain!

Off to town today and then meeting some of the in laws for coffee which will be nice. Will be nice to have a bit of company, Ds is such a sociable little thing so he loves going out and seeing peole.

Right, washing is done and now in the dryer; dishwasher's on and Ds is having a nap. I'm going to try and fit that energy monitor, put the dry laundry away and get the bag ready for our trip to town whilst Ds is sleeping.

Dfsd

yukkibear

Don't put me to shame lol, I haven't done anything yet apart from the school run and drink some coffee.

LAM2011

Hi debtfreesomeday (I remember bits of the other diaries as I remember your name - its what I keep chanting to myself lol)

You have done really well so far and I wish you well for the next [STRIKE]2[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]years [/STRIKE]24 months

I have about £23k in total left and at the moment my final debt free day is looking to be Sep 2014 so a little longer than yours but I also get negative doubts and wonder if I will keep it up all the time but reading diaries like yours really keeps me motivated.

have fun with the inlaws today x

debtfreesomeday

I'm envious of you YB! I long for moments of just sitting with a hot drink in hand. I microwaved my cup of tea twice today before throwing half away as it was cold!

Hi LAM x welcome aboard!

Today went downhill fast for various reasons and has been quite stressful. Ds has been whining for most of the day too, so coffee was cut short. I'm sure his teeth are bothering him today, poor little thing.

I did manage to pay the cheque in and post the mail though. I also picked up a £10 giftcard for the penultimate Christmas gift I need to buy.

Dfsd

sugarcube84

Hi ive only recently had my LBM but i know how hard it can be going back to work after maternity leave and juggling work and childcare as well as trying to reduce your debts especially as childcare is so expensive. I went back to work in Jan after having 10 months off with my son.

Good luck clearing the rest!