Freedom At 50!

southerndave

End of the month and please with progress, over £1000 reduction in the balance owed. We have spent, aside from shopping, a mere £70 during our 'no-spend' month, £40 was on an essential household repair. This week has been tougher as my wife injured herself and has been unable to work this week, so we will start Feb badly, but hope to make this up with the extra work.

We have half-term planned out with cheap and/or free activities, so hoping not to dent our plans too much.

Overall since starting in September, and acknowledging a windfall, we have cleared our debt down by £6500 over half of which has been through living economically, which is fantastic and proves what can be done. Its also helped keeping this diary and reading others to keep up morale - thanks to you all!

pixnmix_2

That's great news, Well done :T:T:T
I hope your wife gets better soon

southerndave

Thank you, appreciated.

sweetdaisy

southerndave wrote: »

We have spent, aside from shopping, a mere £70 during our 'no-spend' month, £40 was on an essential household repair.

That's brilliant - you must be very determined to get your monthly spend that low. Reducing the mortgage balance by £1,000 in one month takes some doing :T.

southerndave

Thanks Daisy, been hard work though! Thankfully our 'hobbies' are minimal and I find Jan/Feb go quick as everyone gets back to it at work. Having said that...

After the high, the low. This week has taken a dent, just totted up our figures and we have had to spend from the bank £80 for food and fuel as OH not able to work. Hopefully back to near normal next week.

southerndave

OH is now back at work, steadily as still bruised badly, but at least we should be back on plan. I managed to get extra overtime in last week so bumper pay packet this week has mitigated last week a little, but we're still behind this month's targets. We have also had some minor household expenses as a minor appliance packed up but we got a good deal on Amazon.

I have had some time off this week on leave which had to be used before the end of the leave year and was planning to do some self-employed work to double my income on the days off, but sadly all three jobs have blown out at the last minute. Nice to to have a rest but would have preferred the extra moolah!:undecided

Still selling the odd bit on eBay but these sales have slowed up this week and last and I am nearly out of de-cluttered items, so maybe take another sweep of the house later, but this little income stream is drying up and needs replacing to continue on the pace we have set ourselves - any ideas for more cash in, let me know! I had thought of boot-fairing and re-selling on eBay later in the year when the weather turns better and the fairs begin again, but could do with some extra now really.

sweetdaisy

Glad to hear that your OH is getting better and back in work.

southerndave

Thanks SD. Trying to rack my brain thinking of ways of increasing income now as I cannot think of any ways we haven't already reduced our outgoings without resorting to wearing sack-cloth and eating cut-price beans morning, noon and night........any ideas anyone?

HelenDaveKids

It does seem a constant challenge to find new ways to save money / make money. Almost get excited when know I need to renew something as opportunity to get a better deal. We too live (i think) very frugally which is challenging with children, especially as try to share that ethos without being too tight!

Have just done all my Ebay FLW and managed to relist nearly all mu allowance. Don't think anything will go for much but its clutter clearing as well.
Absolutely surveyed out! and dream of decreasing morgage numbers rather than sheep at night!

southerndave

That's absolutely where we are at right now HDK. Half term next week and I am off for a change and we have days out planned, three of them and aim to spend less than £50. I don't want my son's abiding memories of child hood to be ones of 'we can't afford that' so we try and think of exciting but cheap things to do. Its hard work though!

Hoping to try and think of some way to get extra income in to keep our momentum up, but struggling!