The start of the rest of my life

please-let-me-be-lucky

newleafmum wrote: »

This diary is the start of the rest of my life...and a very rich one at that (not in money sense but family, friends and freedom)

Amen to that! Money may make the world go round but the 3 F's are what make it a nice place to be!

Good luck on your journey.

PLMBL Xx

HeadAboveWater

As I read in a book the other day...

Wealth is what you're left with when all your money runs out

EDIT:
Gonna go add that to my sig actually!!!

newleafmum

Just reading the December Debt Destruction thread, do I dare join!??

I've decided to do the opposite of everyone I know this christmas. Everyone always says you can't save/diet/stay in during December because its christmas. Well I'm thinking it's the perfect time to hermit. Loads of movies on the TV, new toys for the kids, winter warming food and plenty of leftovers.

I am going to treat myself to some incredible new pjs and tuck up for the festive season. Everything costs more in December anyway.

I do wish my OH was a bit more enthusiastic like you guys, he can't seem to find the energy to think of money saving as a hobby or turn it into a challenge he just moans that he hasn't go money in his pocket to throw away on food etc. I say we're going to have 20 NSD in December and he'll say "Great whats the point in working." Oh well keep on chugging, or something.

newleafmum

Food budget in place, xmas shopping finished all bar a couple of homemade presents.

Paying all my house bills this week so everything left for December is debt money plus a bit each week to live off.

My pre new years resolution is to start the year in a clutter free home so tonight after I finish working I will be making some huge donations to charity.

I know I should sell some of it but honestly I know I won't get round to it any time soon and charity shops were such a saviour through all this hard time I would like to give back to somebody this way not just the money raised for charity but how cheeply they can buy some neccesitys.

I do have alot of my kids baby clothes to start listing as it's all next and juniour j etc and I'd like to build up some money in paypal to use on some summer bundles. Especially for my little girl she is growing like a weed!

newleafmum

Just worked out my debt free day with a snowball calculator and I'm looking at December 2014 but of course with the help of challenges and oh doing OT it will be sooner than that.

I'm having a bit of a drama because our landlord has told us they're selling in about two years and they'd love to sell to us. £13000 of debt and I don't know, 8 defaults between us plus 1 CCJ. even If we got a deposit together how would we ever get a mortgage. And how would we rent? They credit checked us to get our last home.

So I may be debt free by 2014 but I could also be home free.

SUESMITH_2

we were in just about the same position as you about 12 years ago but with much more debt, I just want to say that things can, and do get better. i look back and wonder how we survived it but we did. if someone would have said that the debt would have been sorted and we would no longer have bailiffs knocking most days i wouldn't have believed them

i save money every month so that we always have money in case anything dire happens. i have no cc debt and that makes me feel good.

good luck, i'm sure you will be fine

e4rub

Sat here with tears rolling down my cheeks. Reminded me of how my life used to be. An amazing post :D:D:D

Emily x

newleafmum

I'm so excited for the new year I can't tell you.

Today OH wasn't paid properly which is not unusual. He is paid weekly and sometimes they get it wrong and put it right next week.

Sent me into a bit of a melt down to be honest as its daughters birthday this week but I went into the kitchen and emptied the freezer and fridge onto the surface. Pulled out my pad and got to writing. Managed to whip up a serious menu for the week which means all I need to buy is cereal, milk and bread.

Fri- Cheese and Broccoli pasta. (never made a cheese sauce before but hey)
Sat- Homemade burgers and sweet potato wedges.
Sun- Roast beef with a little joint I'd been saving for such rainy day.
Mon- Spaghetti Bolognaise
Tue- Spag bol again.
Wed- Chilli from freezer (left over from this week).

Cereal for breakies, toast for lunch.

I realised as a bonus this will empty my freezer and fridge for my food delivery saturday ready for the big day.

I sat down and filled my online supermarket basket today with everything I want for christmas then went back through and deleted what I didn't need.

My luxury this christmas is a box from riverford. I've saved the pennies for it and we're getting a turkey, chipolatas, bacon, christmas pudding, two packs of mince pies, cranberry sauce, stilton, oatcakes, all the veg for christmas day. I'm so excited for it to arrive.

We actually have a mini fruit veg and meatbox delivered every week and its just fantasic. As you can see from my freezer contents above I do my best to freeze leftovers and I plan my meals based on whats in the box only shopping for the exact extras I need. We buy alot of the value range in the supermarket to go with our posh organic food and I cook everything from scratch. This is just so far from who I used to be before my son was born. Cooking was a jar of dolmio and pack of mince. I mostly eat out and of course have the credit card bills to prove it.

The riverford thing is something I haven't been doing that long, about 3 months and it's just fantastic. I'm so excited for the christmas box and I'm even more excited for my new year, new start.

This year has been the hardest yet but somehow the most productive and life changing.

You know that light at the end of the tunnel? Well I can't see the tunnel anymore.

HeadAboveWater

Aw wow!! I was almost crying at that post!! It is sooooo good to read your story! The excitement is just bubbling over and showing in your posts! I'm so excited for you too!

And I love that you've finally 'arrived' at the light

Mrs_Toast

Well done for getting your meals sorted for this week. I definitely need to do that. Thought I would subscribe to your diary as I am hopefully going to start the new year on a positive like you.

You sound very determined and organised with all your debts and I wish you every luck in 2013