Mummy's attempt to budget & save.

Mummy_Moo

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Ok, so it's the 4th January and I didn't quite achieve my target of debt free by new year, but I'm really close The balance on my current account is £0 and my credit card is £36.22.

On the negative side I had a letter just before Christmas to say my gas and electricity bill is going up by £29 per month so I will be sitting down over the next couple of days and adding up all my income and outgoings (again) to make sure everything still balances. Can't change energy suppliers at the moment as I'm tied into a contract with a £100 early exit fee, but there are only a couple of months left and then I'll be looking to see if I can get a better deal.

Overall I'm feeling good. New year and fresh start, I'll be keeping you updated to make sure I stay on the straight and narrow. Can't wait to watch the savings pot build up.

innovate

A very happy New Year to you, thanks for your update, and well done! You are well in charge now - before long you'll have a packet in savings

atush

Mummy_Moo wrote: »

Thanks Mr Orchard,
I know paying off the debts with the savings makes the most sense logically, and I know I'm making no sense what so ever but I just can't bring myself to empty the savings account. But you are right, and if I haven't got myself in a considerably better position by new year then I will indeed take your advice and give myself a clean slate to begin 2013 with. Has anyone else felt nervous emptying their savings or am I just being silly?

On the plus side, I've had a fairly successful day, needed to stock up on fresh fruit for me & baby, managed to get a bunch of bananas, bag of apples, bag of pears, bag of clementines and two tins of tomato soup for £1.08 (used this week's £3.10 Healthy Start voucher). And to make it even better I also got £5 selling some old DVDs. Just need to shift some more stuff now.......

Where are you getting this all or none thing? About savings/debt?

Why not keep 200 or so of the savings, but use the rest to pay off most of the OD? Will leave you with emergency cash, but greatly reduce your interest. The pot does not have to remain intact.

And !!!!!!, sorry I know this is a family board, but you have a baby. "given' to you by a male type unit. Who is not only sponging an Ipad off you, but you are paying the bill for xtras? Can we say Doormat!!!

Next time you visit with 'baby' get the cash for child maintenance he owes and send them down to the park. then take the Ipad. You paid for it, and continue to do so. It is legally yours. Use it, or sell it on.

I feel for you, I want you to succeed. But you need a kick up the backside girl. This isn't just you playing doormat, you are now laying your baby down to take her share.

EDIT

I was so alarmed at reading this far in the thread, I just had to comment (as if it were a month ago when you posted). I was incensed that you were bing taken advantage of so.

I am so so so very happy things are now looking up. But I'd still get that Ipad you paid for and any CM he owes you!!

atush

Mummy_Moo wrote: »

Thought I'd have some pennies left over to go towards the overdraft at the end of this week, but just noticed that nappies are on offer in Tesco so I've stocked up. Needed more anyway so may as well take advantage of the discount. I did get £11 selling my old Christmas tree though (only cost me £15 a few years ago), so it has been a pretty good week so far. Question is, can I behave myself at the Christmas fair this weekend????

This I can get behind. After being ambushed at my 12 week scan and told i had twins which I could not afford, I stocked up on nappies (beginning with small sizes then going up) when they were bogof. So halved my nappy cost for the first year (which was still over 1K way back int he mid 90s).

atush

Mummy_Moo wrote: »

Hello,
Sorry I've been quiet for a while, baby and I have both had norovirus. Well all Christmas shopping is finished, the fridge is full and I've still managed to pay £36.50 off the overdraft. Also sold a few bits and pieces on eBay, made about £10, which paid for an extra Christmas present for baby.

Overdraft Balance Today - -£288.90

Well done.

atush

Mummy_Moo wrote: »

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Ok, so it's the 4th January and I didn't quite achieve my target of debt free by new year, but I'm really close The balance on my current account is £0 and my credit card is £36.22.

On the negative side I had a letter just before Christmas to say my gas and electricity bill is going up by £29 per month so I will be sitting down over the next couple of days and adding up all my income and outgoings (again) to make sure everything still balances. Can't change energy suppliers at the moment as I'm tied into a contract with a £100 early exit fee, but there are only a couple of months left and then I'll be looking to see if I can get a better deal.

Overall I'm feeling good. New year and fresh start, I'll be keeping you updated to make sure I stay on the straight and narrow. Can't wait to watch the savings pot build up.

I can't say how relieved I am at your getting yourself on track. I was so worried reading this today. :T

Mummy_Moo

Thanks for all of your messages atush. I'm very pleased to have got to where I am now, can't wait to shift that last £36! As far as the ex goes he is useless at paying the bills in his own name, let alone the iPad bill in mine. He has said he will bring me some money this weekend, I'm not holding my breath but I'll let you know. Thanks for the support

Mummy_Moo

Just set myself a couple of challenges to try and boost the debt repayment / savings for the year.

1. I've signed up for the earn £10 per day (January) challenge thread, although I've opted for a more reasonable £2.50 per day as my only additional income at the moment is coming from eBay and I haven't really got much high-value stuff to sell. Lots of things listed at the moment (some with bids ) but I won't be counting it until I've got the money and deducted any fees.

2.I'm also aiming for at least 10 No Spend Days each month. I'm on 4 for January already

Also just signed up for swagbucks but not sure if that will be a decent earner or not. I've already got a Top Cash Back account, which I had about £40 out of last year, and there is another £24 confirmed but not yet payable.

No money from the ex this weekend though. No surprise there!

Full update of account balances on Sunday.......

atush

Grab that Ipad!! it is yours, you might as well use it.

Mummy_Moo

Got some pennies from the ex!!!!! Not a lot, but every little helps

Also had a NSD yesterday, so up to 5 for this month already. Got quite a few bids on eBay items ending this weekend so it's looking good this week.

Happy Mummy