And so the long slog begins.....

MummyDrusilla

Well we started 2012 with £30,703.82 of debt to our names. After receiving PPI refunds and downsizing our car we have shaved this down to £27,597.25 and have reduced our DFD from July 2017 to November 2016.

I have received and banked a cheque from an insurance payout this week but am awaiting to see how much I need to keep back for expenses before throwing this at my overdraft.

But from now on, there will be no big payments and it's all about the little and often payments. It's going to be a reeeaaallllyyy long slog and I'm already feeling glum about it. So I'm creating a diary to keep myself motivated and to be able to read back on how I've done and how far we've come.

Actually that beginning figure isn't quite right - I've taken that from my snowball calculator which I created in February. I'd already paid off a lot of one of my cc's by then so will check my home records later and update the post!!!

The actual figure we started 2012 with was £31,626.81.

Chocolate_Fondant

Good luck, it looks like we're in a similar boat so I can sympathise. It does it better (I hope :beer:)

MummyDrusilla

Chocolate_Fondant wrote: »

Good luck, it looks like we're in a similar boat so I can sympathise. It does it better (I hope :beer:)

Ty. And good luck to you too. I can't complain because we have had a really good couple of months but I am in great danger of getting DFW burn out and I'm determined for the figure to keep going the right way and not get any higher.

MummyDrusilla

Nothing much to report really. Today's going to be the 1st NSD for a while. The week went by in a flurry of nappy buying after it was Real Nappy Week so I took advantage of the special offers and discounts to stock up on some essential (and not so essential) nappies and nappy items for DS. That'll do me now for a long time I think tho. I got everything I've been coveting for the last couple of months and so nappy purchases from now on will be strictly based on necessity.

I'm getting back into the ebay swing today and listing the contents of my jewellery box (bar the odd staple items).

I've also unfortunately had to put the washing machine on today. Should have put it on overnight last night but wasn't organised enough. And it's raining so I can't get the load out on the line. Hey ho :-(.

On the other hand, I did manage to slash the huge pile of paperwork that was threatening to take over the world starting with our study yesterday. So it encouraged me to sort out all the ebay stuff that I have stored in there and have taken stock of everything that hasn't sold so I can re-list. Not particularly DFW but has helped with the clutter.

MummyDrusilla

Things are getting a little squeaky-bum in the bank account but DH gets paid on Weds which *should* be ok. I have got funds elsewhere I can shift over if needs be but would prefer not to do that. If I don't have to do it, it shows that my budgeting is working - every penny is accounted for. not sure whether to leave the extra in there that I'm paying off to the OD till the end of the month or take it out at the beginning of the month as I have been doing. If I continue to do it at the beginning it leaves us with no buffer at the end of the month. But if I leave it in there, temptation is far too high to spend it. So perhaps I'm best off leaving as is for now.

Have just done the meal plan for the next 2 weeks which includes 2 batches of visitors over the 2 weekends. I've not planned extravagant meals like I would have done before. Just stock meals that crop up on our plan from time to time. I'm certain the visitors won't bat an eyelid, but it'll be very different for us not going all overboard with flash, foody meals. It's a shame but necessary.

I was very good yesterday and made a lovely pea soup with cheesy soda bread for lunch. Was delicious and plenty leftover which will keep me and DS going for the next couple of days' lunches.

Am now off to create a shopping list from my meal plan and get some yummy lunch!

MummyDrusilla

Well today's intended NSD is shaping up to be pretty expensive. The car's just gone in to the garage after it started to die during yesterday's commute to the childminder and to work. I hoped it was a bit of water in the engine (I'm totally ignorant when it comes to cars!) and would get better but it did the same on the way to pick up DS in the afternoon and an orange light flicked on on the dashboard. So an emergency phone call to the garage and they've fit us in today. Convenient as I was at home anyway and not intending to go out but I've a feeling it's going to be expensive. Thankfully I've got funds from my insurance claim money which came through last week but I was hoping to put it to the OD. Hey ho.

And last night the cat started limping and wasn't at all happy with us picking him. We think it's his front right leg and am pretty sure he's just landed on it funny so just needs to rest. We had some anti-inflammatories left over from the last time he did this so he got a dose last night at bedtime and he seemed ok this morning when he came in but I've just spotted him walking on it pretty gingerly. Will see if he improves this afternoon and if not, we'll have to go to the vets. If I've got my car back of course.

Hmph. Best sort out the food shopping I suppose.

Sammie_03

Hi
just wanted to sympathise with you on the poorly car
mine went in for an mot yesterday morning as is still in the garage :eek: luckily its a friend so should get it cheaper but still its money we havent got!!

good luck with your debt busting. xx

MummyDrusilla

Thank you Sammie 03. They really are money pits aren't they? I wish we could get by on 1 car but it just isn't feasible unfortunately.

Thankfully it's not going to be as costly as I thought. The guy at the garage warned DH before he'd seen it that he'd had the same model car of similar age with same sounding problem a couple of months ago and the bill to fix it was £2k :eek:.

However, he had a look at it yesterday, couldn't do anything with it as he didn't have the part but he says it'll not be any more than £200. Still not brilliant but better than anticipated.

Oh and the cat seems to be better. We've discovered a big lump/scab on his chest so think he's been fighting or has scratched himself on something so it's not his leg as we 1st thought. He let DH touch it last night so we think he's on the mend.

MummyDrusilla

I must start adding little DFW things we do each day to help keep me motivated.

So today:
- made a packed lunch for work
- DH is doing a load of laundry in off-peak daytime hours instead of peak evening hours.
- charged my phone at work

Sammie_03

Glad your cat is on the mend. Xx

Yes cars are money pits!! I'm looking forward to the summer when I can walk up the school but with this weather I don't like walking anywhere!!
Xx

chevalier

Hi there, welcome to the boards or welcome back whichever!

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

You might like to fill this in, to make sure you are budgeting for all you need to.

Good luck with the debt busting.
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