Determined this is my last debt diary

clearmydebts

abba1772 wrote: »

You can do it xx

We gave similar goals here I'm aiming to clear my credit card and by a house the other card can take care of itself as it's 0% so will tackle that once the interest accruing card is paid xx

Thanks Abba.

I am off to look at your diary so I can familiarise myself with your aims. Our goals sound very similar.

clearmydebts

starnac wrote: »

We have a drawer full of "next size up" clothes too. It's really come in handy this week. DS started school and the only thing we had to buy him was trousers as we had kept the polo shirt and jumper (both unisex) from his sister!

Good luck on your challenge. It's so easy to buy clothes for kids as they are so cute. Mind you, your two little ones are pretty cute themselves

Aw thanks Star, your kids are so cute too!

I think I have taken the next size up to an excess though. But look, what's done is done and I can put a stop to it now.

clearmydebts

Feeling pretty proud of myself today. We have been invited to 3 functions in Jan/Feb and declined them all (a 40th, evening wedding celebration and a retirement do - what a mix must be my age!). Usually we would spend at least £50 at each occasion on alcohol so we will save that. I have thought up of 3 present for each of them and again would have spend at least £35 if we were going to them but just giving a token gift now so we have saved a good amount of money as I have some Prosecco in the press and can team them up with nice but not expensive Prosecco glasses I have sourced online. So I am estimating that instead of spending £255 on the occasions I will be spending about £20.

I just need to keep my mindset like this.

Birdie85

Well done CMD :T It's hard turning down invites, but when you look at it from that point of view, it's worth it sometimes!

Stay strong on resisting the little clothes! It is difficult because they're so cute, but as long as they have enough to keep them looking neat in each size, then buying more is just silly! We have a load of stuff that Z's grown out of before even getting a chance to wear it/only getting 1 or 2 wears so I've already had the lightbulb moment about overbuying clothes for him.

I think you need to find something else to do rather than shopping. I don't mean that in a condescending way, I'm speaking from experience as an ex shopoholic! Avoid going to shopping centres on a weekend and find something else to do instead. Instead of looking at the Next website on an evening, look at Pinterest and find crafty things to do with the littlies instead. When you think you haven't got anything to wear, organise a swap with friends or try to upcycle old clothing.

clearmydebts

Birdie85 wrote: »

Well done CMD :T It's hard turning down invites, but when you look at it from that point of view, it's worth it sometimes!

Stay strong on resisting the little clothes! It is difficult because they're so cute, but as long as they have enough to keep them looking neat in each size, then buying more is just silly! We have a load of stuff that Z's grown out of before even getting a chance to wear it/only getting 1 or 2 wears so I've already had the lightbulb moment about overbuying clothes for him.

I think you need to find something else to do rather than shopping. I don't mean that in a condescending way, I'm speaking from experience as an ex shopoholic! Avoid going to shopping centres on a weekend and find something else to do instead. Instead of looking at the Next website on an evening, look at Pinterest and find crafty things to do with the littlies instead. When you think you haven't got anything to wear, organise a swap with friends or try to upcycle old clothing.

Wise words there Birdie.

We tend to do a lot with the kids at the weekends anyway but sometimes we drift into a shopping centre to go to the cinema or if there is a soft play attached. This weekend we plan to bring them swimming and will also do a beach walk or a visit to the local castle, which has a great playground. I have to admit OH is much more outdoorsy than me and while I do lots of things with them, they tend to be indoors in the heat which invariablly costs more money. Well at this time of the year anyway. During the summer we go down the beach lots as it is a 10 minute walk from the house!


Love your idea of looking for crafty things for them to do on Pinterest. I have started to cut up my house magazines to pull together ideas of how to decorate when we get a house but looking up crafty activities is great too.

I just need to keep my fingers away from any non-essential online purchases as well. I nearly ordered something for one of the above occasions yesterday but will wait until OH gets paid on Friday!

Thanks Birdie x

Birdie85

I love Pinterest because it has that feeling of scrolling through an online shop and when you Pin stuff it's like clicking 'add to cart'!

I wish there were more free indoor activities. We've been struggling with things to do as there just isn't a lot to be done with a baby in the winter. I spent the summer in the park but picnics just don't hold the same appeal right now! You're so lucky that you live near the beach, what a great place to bring up your children!

clearmydebts

Birdie85 wrote: »

I love Pinterest because it has that feeling of scrolling through an online shop and when you Pin stuff it's like clicking 'add to cart'!

I wish there were more free indoor activities. We've been struggling with things to do as there just isn't a lot to be done with a baby in the winter. I spent the summer in the park but picnics just don't hold the same appeal right now! You're so lucky that you live near the beach, what a great place to bring up your children!

It is lucky being near the beach and it's a nice one too. I grew up in the same town and although the town is dreary the beach isn't. I have fond memories that I see my kids making as well. We were brought down there everyday as children during the summer!

It's really hard trying to find indoor places in winter that don't cost a packet. Softplay, the cinema and swimming all cost a good bit. I need to get over my fear of the outdoors in winter and just wrap up I guess!

starnac

Birdie85 wrote: »

Well done CMD :T It's hard turning down invites, but when you look at it from that point of view, it's worth it sometimes!

Stay strong on resisting the little clothes! It is difficult because they're so cute, but as long as they have enough to keep them looking neat in each size, then buying more is just silly! We have a load of stuff that Z's grown out of before even getting a chance to wear it/only getting 1 or 2 wears so I've already had the lightbulb moment about overbuying clothes for him.

I think you need to find something else to do rather than shopping. I don't mean that in a condescending way, I'm speaking from experience as an ex shopoholic! Avoid going to shopping centres on a weekend and find something else to do instead. Instead of looking at the Next website on an evening, look at Pinterest and find crafty things to do with the littlies instead. When you think you haven't got anything to wear, organise a swap with friends or try to upcycle old clothing.

Wise words Birdie :T I agree with kids clothes. They hardly get any wear out of them before they grow out of things. Which is why I try to pass clothes along to someone else.

I find I get sucked into a Pinterest vortex. "i'll just have a quick look at <insert various things here>" 2 hours later I'm still on it!! Oops

clearmydebts

starnac wrote: »

Come on then - let's do it!! I am a bit afraid that I am going to lose enthusiasm as I am so close to DF so let's motivate each other :T

starnac wrote: »

Wise words Birdie :T I agree with kids clothes. They hardly get any wear out of them before they grow out of things. Which is why I try to pass clothes along to someone else.

I find I get sucked into a Pinterest vortex. "i'll just have a quick look at <insert various things here>" 2 hours later I'm still on it!! Oops

It's definitely true they get barely any wear out of things. I love passing stuff on. I have 2 suitcases of stuff upstairs for my niece but only give to my sister every 6 months or so, as I don't want to overwhelm her. I divide DS's stuff up between 3 boys younger than him. I love to see the younger ones wearing something from DD or DS!

clearmydebts

Day before payday. I'm itching to make payment but will hold off in case a direct debit needs to.come out of my account. Neither of us has an overdraft, that's deliberate on our part as we were always in it when we lived in the UK.

Am looking forward to adding money to our mortgage deposit too. It's looking v healthy but may need to be upped if the 20% deposit rule comes in. There's always something......