Muchin's diary of recover; becoming debt free and being happy

Munchin

Hi all

So the budget is set for the rest of the month (I've even got December's sorted but more of that in Dec).

I'm going to withdraw money tomorrow and put it into 7 envelopes -

1) Entertainment - £20
2) Groceries - £15
3) Exercise - £24
4) Present - £10
5) Hotel away - £40
6) England trip - £90
7) Odds - £22.50

Aim = £221.50

I will let you know how I get on at the end of the month.

Munchin

Morning world

I have a busy day ahead and I'm up and raring to go. I have my pilates class at 11 and before that I want to clean the kitchen and living room. My nephew is doing his entrance exam today so fingers and toes crossed.

I sat with my envelopes on Thursday night putting my money in them. Mum was laughing as she said that she did that when her and dad were first married to keep track of their money. Never goes out of fashion.

Spends front - there is money still in envelopes and that is a good sign. This week I will pay £12 on my exercise classes. I'm back to taking nephews swimming (budgeted £10) and apart from some groceries that should do me the week.

I'm meeting the girls for a catch up next Friday and I'm away with OH to a nice hotel next Sunday for a few nights (he's paying:)).

Slimming world is going ok - v v slowly - but ok. My binges have all but disappeared. I never thought they would go but even a mini binge isn't a binge it's just eating a bit too much and being greedy which is normal and I can live with that.

Tomorrow's plans are just a run and potter about as OH is working.

Ok I better leave the computer and start with the kitchen:D

Munchin

Hi all

I'm sitting here with the fire on and watching Miss Marple. I love a lazy Sunday. I was up early and did a 4 mile plod which I am really pleased about. I then went to church and now it's an afternoon with the papers. Yesterday was a very busy day so today i'm just going to take it easy.

OH has given me some ideas about his Xmas presents so I'm going to look into that today.

Busy week ahead at work but then I'm only in 1 day the following week:)

Munchin

Evening everyone,

Yeah tomorrow is hump day. Envelopes are still going ok. I had to fork out £10 for xmas dinner deposit on Monday but I was also going to my circuits class that evening and I wasn't going home. Rather than going to the bank because I had no money in my purse I told the circuits teacher that I would owe him next time. It makes me realise the necessity of planning and how easy it would have been for me to take money out of my account.

I did spend £1.80 on a horrible sandwich because I didn't plan ahead to make my lunch. Tomorrow I'm out and about so having lunch with a colleague and I didn't want to turn up with my tupperware box:o

My stomach is playing up again and I think it could be the bread at lunchtime.

I'm supposed to be buying my Xmas presents but instead I keep texting OH with ideas of things I would like.:D

So tomorrow is circuits class, Thurs is swimming with nephews. Friday is going to a friends house with a bottle of wine under my arm and Sunday I'm away to a nice hotel with OH:T. I'm wishing my life away but it's nice to look forward to things.

Munchin

Evening everyone,

nephews are still alive and I didn't drown them at the pool so that was good:D

I'm only in my office one day next week so I just have to get through tomorrow.

Looking forward to the weekend and I have the red wine on standby:D

Munchin

Afternoon MSE world:D

I had such a great evening with the girls and today I'm supposed to be packing for my weekend away but instead I'm reading diaries, tinkering with my spreadsheet and planning for December.

So I get paid on wed and I have my budgets ready to go:).

It was great to have a catch up with the girls as we don't do it very often. I'm now planning to have them round my house before Xmas, so I better get planning for that:)

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get a bit of hiking in and then a day spent in the spa:D

It's a hard life:)

Munchin

Back again

I know that when the payments go out on Monday that will be the last debt repayments for 2012. So debts are now sitting like this for 2013 -

Car loan - £828 (3 payments left:))
Credit c - £652:o
CU loan - £1045.

So the plan for 2013 is to firstly clear the car loan and then the CU loan. I will pay towards the Credit card but it is interest free so it can wait until the last.

Munchin

Morning everyone,

I was supposed to be out for a run but my knee isn't 100% so putting it of until tomorrow:).

Well as it is coming to the end of the year I've been assessing my spending. I found a really useful tool on this website - bill monitor. Anyway you type in your mobile number and password and they analyse your phone bills and usage and advise you of the best. I'm stuck in this contract until Nov 2013 but basically I pay £34 a month and they say that with the usage I use I could get another contract for £6.90 a saving of £271.61 a year:eek::eek::mad:. Basically I don't use anywhere near my contract limit. I'm stuck in this contract and if I tried to cancel it would cost me £400. It's a useful tool to remember come next Nov.

I'm also sorting out my Sky as well. I'm on a basic package £26.50 which ends in Dec. My broadband deal with BT also ends in Dec. I've e-mailed Sky to see what they can offer me and then I'll try BT & Talk talk. I could do without Sky but I hope to be debt free in 6 months and my Mum & nephew wouldn't know what to do if I cancelled Sky. I will just try to get the best deal.:D

My friend always calls New Years Eve - "old years end". I feel like I'm getting things in order to finish this debt and I feel like I'm preparing for my new debt free life in 2013 but at the same time I won't be debt free until at least June. I hope that makes sense.

I'm going to hit the shower and then go buy the paper. OH is still snoring next door.:D

Munchin

Morning Mse world,

OH is going to have a stonking head when he wakes up. He sat up drinking with his mates and tried to sneak in quietly at 3:eek:.

Spent yesterday evening in pool & made appt to have nails done today. OH is paying:D

Hopefully going hiking today.

Munchin

Tomorrow is payday & for once I have more money at end of month than days- thanks to envelope system & xmas savings.

This month I have a few things to pay out apart from xmas

- [STRIKE]£9.50 Avon[/STRIKE] - it was £9
- [STRIKE]£10 club membership fee[/STRIKE]
- [STRIKE]£6 owe to friend[/STRIKE]
- £6 ish to same friend on chocs at xmas
- [STRIKE]£20 birthday present niece[/STRIKE]
- £30 birthday present/dinner friends

Xmas spending -

- OH - £150 max
- mum -£10 chocs (bought flights to England)
- nephews - £40
- rest of family - £40
- xmas dinners - £80
- uncle - £20

Total - £421.50

Obviously the plan is to come in well under this budget