Back on the straight and narrow

lilian1977

Picking this up over a year later as I am currently fiscal fasting and selling stuff before the summer holidays kick in.

My current credit card balances total £4885.23 and I will need to buy a train pass come December so I could do with getting as much of this paid off as possible before then. I am on interest free promotional rates at the moment but they won't last forever. I haven't used any of them for a good few weeks and hope to continue that for the rest of the month.

So today I had a free lunch from Tampopo and a couple of free coffees, one from Waitrose and one from Starbucks as they were standing outside giving away filter coffee. Straight home from work for tea so no spending today (or yesterday).

I have sold a lipstick on Ebay - used once - you're not really meant to sell used makeup on Ebay but I managed to get it through the net (I did list it as Used). Only £2.20 but every little helps.

I hope to keep posting on here to track where I'm up to - would love to hear your comments

lilian1977

Good morning all

A NSD yesterday - I did spend £2 on a bottle of Coldpress Apple Juice as it is on a TMF offer - I won't count that as I will get it back. Another NSD planned for today as will spend my lunch break in the gym. Also have coupons from the Metro for a free 4 pack of Budweiser - will collect but no other shopping.

Got my voucher for a free burger at Handmade Burger Co in the post yesterday so will use that on my gym-free lunchbreak next week, really looking forward to it.

Have happy MSE days all.

lilian1977

I am hoping for a NSD today - I did just give 80p to the lovely homeless lady that I pass on the way to work but I am treating that as an act of kindness rather than a spend. I didn't actually realise I had 80p in my purse so it is like it was never there now.

So today I am grateful that I have a home, enough food to eat well and a job to pay for all the things we need. Even though things are tight sometimes we can still afford holidays and days out so I am luckier than most. I've just found out I'm personally in the top 2.5% on the Global Rich List, and as a family we're in the top 0.29% which really is food for thought. If you'd like to do the same you can look here: http://www.globalrichlist.net/

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are from stores, and I will be straight home after work. Pilates at lunchtime so no spends there.

Have happy days all.

lilian1977

Hi all

Sorry I've been absent over the weekend, I find it hard to post from my phone.

I think I'm still on 4 NSDs - am going to have to really try hard if I want to get to 20 by the end of the month! I'll give it a go though.

Friday was a very low spend day - I just bought two pizzas and garlic bread from Ald1 to feed DS and his friends after school - we used to go to Wethersp00ns or the like before their youth club so at £2.40-ish this was a big saving. When the kids are at youth club we go to the pub around the corner where I would have a glass or two of wine and some houmous/pitta - I would easily spend £15/£20 on this and then usually bring the kids back for a snack, but this month I am doing Dry July so I had two soda waters (bought for me) and then went straight home with DS for my tea as I had the car parked outside. Paid £1.50 for DS youth club but they get tea there and also a craft to bring home (this time it was a concrete garden ornament decorated with gems and beads!) so it's well worth it.

On Saturday I paid £2.69 for a coffee and sausage bap in Wethersp00ns while DS was at drama class - now I'm working full time it's one of my only times to see my mum friends so it's worth it, and it's free refills. Then brought DS over for toast because he had a birthday party to go to so not worth going home. Birthday card and present were from stash at home so no spend there and he got his lunch provided.

HOWEVER - as Netto is closing down a friend and I went over to stock up in their 50% off sale - I spent £50 but managed to get enough tea/coffee/toiletries to last me a year, along with a stash of crisps, long life juice etc. Well worth a visit and it's come from the grocery budget which I've hardly touched this month due to shopping from the freezer/overflowing cupboards, so I don't mind that. Then spent the afternoon listing things on Music Magpie - over 100 CDs listed and only up to £25 Still it's money I wouldn't have had and it helps to declutter the house - although after the amount I've dropped at the charity shops/tip and the amount I've sold over the past few weeks I don't know how I have anything left!

A fairly low spend day yesterday as DS had his swimming lesson then we just came back for lunch, then he had a play date at the play centre - £4 entry and £1.40 for a tea so not too bad, and he got to see his friends from his old pre-school.

Going to have a NSD day as I'm at work and it's torrential rain so I won't be going out at lunchtime. Possibly going to the cinema tomorrow but will be 2-4-1 so not too expensive. Then going to aim for NSDs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Wish me luck!

Moneywhizz

Hi, first time reading your diary and my first thought is that you need to try living without a credit card. It seems like your main reason for having one is for your annual train ticket but it is obviously too much of a temptation and you end up putting other things on there.

Could you work out your budget and after your regular bills are paid only withdraw the cash you will need for the week and when it's gone, it's gone. If you include an amount to pay towards your credit card and an amount to save for your train pass, then your debt will reduce over time, instead of being added to. Living within your budget is the only way you will become and stay debt free.

The thing to do is make sure you include everything you spend money on and make sure that the budget balances. At least then you can see if you need to cut back or cut out certain things.

I have been debt free for more years than I can remember but I still stick to my budget and it gives the most amazing sense of freedom and control. Good luck.

lilian1977

Yes I know this is what needs to be done in future but £1000 is a lot to find for a train ticket when I'm also trying to pay down previous debts.

I already have the weekly budget, trust me, I'm not new to moneysaving or debt - it's literally just past debt that I just can't catch up with. I haven't used my credit card for months now so that's not a problem any more, I just can't pay it off my past debt and also save for the train pass - I'd need to save an additional £80 a month and I only have about £120 for the whole month spare.

So my current plan is to attempt to clear this card with the knowledge that I will also have to add my train pass to it come December - then try and literally only have to pay the £80 a month that my train pass will cost off the card next year.

Thanks for your comments

Moneywhizz

Hope it didn't sound like I was criticizing you and glad to hear that you have your budget all sorted. Good luck with paying down your card this year. It would be great if it was cleared, or almost before you buy your ticket this year.

lilian1977

Not at all, I didn't think that - it frustrates even me because I always have such good intentions to not use the credit cards haha...!

lilian1977

Sold a tshirt that I picked up in the charity shop a few weeks ago for 99p - sold for £4 so happy with that. Did the same with a sweatshirt, also picked up for 99p and sold for £8. So I have paid that off my CC

NSD yesterday, hoping for another today but DH wants to go to the cinema and I forgot to bring my bag of popcorn