December Debt Destruction!!!

NinjaSavingKat

Morning Chickadees... its freezing and generally miserable around my area today! I am drinking tea like its going out of fashion awaiting a call from the mechanic to pick up the bike. I now have collated £115 in cash for the bike and knowing there is at least one item costing £15 I do not need I have £100 ready to go. I would love it not to go over this and even if possible to remain under this amount...

However I think the little moron that sent me the invoice / email sent it without VAT.. I HATE IT when he does that. It puts me on edge and makes me really angry when they add more when I arrive... I shall keep you all posted but he is going to wind me up if that's the case.

More importantly I have found the "budget worksheet" templates and such like on my Microsoft Office pack....WHOOOP!

See you all later - I'm off to plan, plan and plan some more...:)

BigMummaF

Greek makes me think of 'arry N-field with $tavros & Loadsa Munnie :money:couldn't you put him in a white jacket & a stack of take away boxes filled with various salad ingredients :rotfl:

How much are the bike repairs Kat? It's not so much the parts as the labour round here, that makes us No2's motor is currently poorly but because it's got one of those computer thingies on the engine, all the tricks I picked up from watching Dad with our 'vintage' transport no longer work You've got to get a "mechanic" with a laptop & the right software to plug in your ciggie socket or somewhere, to tell you you've got a dodgy spark but YOU can't change it cuz if the circuit is broken, the engine will never start again :wall:

We've got rellies in/near Toronto It looks a beautiful area to be & maybe..I'll get there one day. There's so many places in Britain I'd like to see too, so I'll probably do that first...

Well. I am making progress. I've got to 10 nsds, food spends are a little more than usual but when you live on Budgets Best 362 days of the year--give or take a birthday or two--it's nice to have something a bit different to make you smile while you at this time of year-- & best of all my trousers are getting baggy round the botty The 'extra' food shouldn't be too detrimental to the exercising as it's lamb instead of turkey-we-don't-like-but-we-have-flippin-chicken-every-week, homemade trifle with sugar free jelly & custard, fruit in juice & reduced fat cream :rotfl: Drinks will be sugar free lemonade to put with the usual sugar free squash, & the one concession to the season being a pot of piccalilli for those who like it. Ooooooh....the extravagance of partying in the BMF household :snow_grin

Luckily The Offspring share very similar tastes in tv programmes, films etc so I got a really good deal on a box set & a couple of dvds, plus another fiver each on individual prezzies. Muvva is the biggest pita to buy for, but she & I will go out after crimbly to get her a nighty or something (IF she ever decides what that might be ) so I reckon I've just got the fresh stuff to get closer to the day & I'm done!

Oompa_Loompa_2

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

First off - OL ( Ooompa Loompa ) well done on the change of mind. Its about rethinking your strategy and mentality as you approach your debts and yes sometimes this means working harder than expected - but we all applied for those loans didn't we and run up the credit cards..? So we have to put in the extra work to get rid of them. EVERY little bit helps.It may mean £10 less a month goes to interest charges etc.. so no matter how much you are earning on the side it ALL has to go to your loan re-payments. have you set up something that will allow you to transfer the money straight to the loan or perhaps you have a jar somewhere that pennies go in to?

Hi!

Yeah, totally agree! I'm going to transfer it to my highest interest CC as soon as I can! Gosh, how much do you actually work every day?

abundant1972

Hi Everyone!

Thanks to you all for your kind words of support - they have helped a lot in getting me through the last few weeks. Seems like many of us are going through our own personal trials right now - just remember - they WILL pass... and better times are just around the corner... Being here and contributing to your own financial freedom is a part of changing that future...

Am on track and feeling much more settled... Am unpacked and my budget has been done. Order is restored and am amazed to see am still on track... just!

Food Budget - 38p(!) left BUT my food cupboard looks ok - though need to get back into making soups once I work out how to work the cooker and find where the pans live!!!

Spending Budget - Had a few unplanned spends (prescription of £7.65, dental check-up at £17.50) and a few online spends (totalling £15.00)... That said am still on track and have £10 still for each of my planned spend days. Cash snowball = £2.80 (whooop!) so not as big as I'd hoped - meaning my NYE celebrations have shrunk a little hehe!!!

Exercise - Has been sporadic and can't honestly say I have managed 20 minutes a day... I did go for a walk today instead of taking the car to post some letters, and am going to stop using the lifts at work I think...

Today = NSD number 9

Have a great weekend everyone!!! Am planning another NSD tomorrow...

:rudolf:

nannygladys

Hi everyone, another nsd so thats 9 now, really pleased and tomorrow should be one as well. DD3 is here for a quick visit so her and DGD have been making mincepies, but as they are both going to be taking a few home I will be making more next week. DD3 has really enjoyed it

On the exercise front I have been tidying the garden whilst DGD was watching a Xmas DVD so Im counting that for todays:)

Rosie my GP is now in the outside hutch and couldnt wait to get in it, I bought her in during the really cold patch we have just had, how ungrateful, must have heard about the hot water gp:rotfl:
Jxx

Marylea

Good Evening Debt Busters! Just thought I would pop by and say hello. I am impressed by all you efforts at this tempting and expensive time of year.

My debt busting today has included:
2 hours overtime at work because they were paying time and a half!
Batch Cooking, I have cooked a chicken and bean curry (but eaten half of it!) and about to start on a chicken and bean chilli (notice a pattern here?)

Do you December Debt Destroyers use Approved Food? I am a big fan of theirs (although you have to be careful because some of the prices are not so cheap). I place an order every now and then when they have enough good buys to make it worthwhile. So a large catering foil pack of cooked chicken, some tins of beans, tomatoes and some spices has made about 10 meals for less than £5.

Xmas is not so expensive for me, over the years I have reduced down the number of people I buy for, ageeing with many people, that we will just meet up for a meal or a drink :beer: rather than try and think of something to buy each other. Same with cards really, can't see the point in send cards to people I see all the time......I can wish them a Happy Xmas in person!

Bye for now

:beer:

abundant1972

Feeling more positive today and on the up!!!

Chores done, homemade soup on the hob - enough for 2 days... just got some prep for an interview this week now...

Today = NSD number 10

What to do for exercise... There's always the dreaded Reebok Step lol...

:T

PS - gonna go check out approved food website now

abundant1972

Hmmm... I created an account but it said my account does not qualify for discount... Not sure why? WIll message them...

NinjaSavingKat

Hi there everybody....

Well now just like Abundant I am feeling rather positive today! Having seen The Hobbit last night, scored 2.33 miles of walking, got to my train station to go home within 30 seconds of my train arriving. Genius!

The Hobbit is worth viewing! Superb cinematography, cast were amazing, although it is a long film! The singing from the Dwarves is so melancholic, so heart-rending and full of a longing for something they have lost it sent shivers down my spine. You will know what I mean should you choose to watch it. They fight, they strive and they are determined to get what is owed to them and what belongs to them...as we are my little Hobbits.

We must press on in the face of Orcs, face-down the perils thrown at us from Middle-Earth and claim back what is ours..Despite our financial security not quite requiring us to relinquish our life in our journey with many obstacles..we just readjust it somewhat!

So how are you all today? Its the 16th of December, we are pretty much half way through the month of DDD and Christmas Day is but a mere 9 days away?

I am doing well I think. I picked up the bike this morning after a swift call to the mechanic not assuming he would be open at all. Lo and behold he was and told me I could come round and collect Hercules. Despite the replacement bike running out of petrol half way there he collected me in his van, I paid £117.34 and went to meet a friend for tea in the little town close by.

So I had £120 set aside from one thing and another and thank the Lord it came in under that. I was chuffed and left happy.

My friend is full of ideas and has a gorgeous baby so we sat for a bit ( she bought tea and treats ) and chatted about 2013 and what we wanted to do!

Right now I am counting yesterday and today as NSD's, I have created food for work tonight, am fed and watered and about to dry my hair and sleep for a few hours before heading out again. Managed to not bother putting extra petrol in my bike and think I can get away with it for now...we shall see!

Marylea I am planning an AP order in January - one order of £20 usually lasts me about 2 months with supplementing fresh things from Mr T. Nanny I am glad Rosie is happy.. .. I love little furry creatures.. BMF you sounds like you have Christmas down to a tee so well done you..yes I think a little treat can't go amiss around this time of year especially as you are looking after so many in your house. Tell me what kind of car you have though - it sounds pretty cool ( although not where repairs are involved )..

I bid thee happy-nap time and look forward to hearing what you have all been up to! ( Abundant do 50 step-ups per leg ..:D)

Onwards and Upwards

WantToBeSE

Hi Kat (and all)
Glad you had a great time at the film last night

I am back on the wagon now, and am feeling positive about it. Its very wet and windy here today, so i havent left the house all weekend! definitely not had any exercise, apart from scrubbing the oven this morning, and doing general housework.

I reckon i wont have to spend much money inbetween now and New Year..i am just praying, wishing and hoping that New Year brings me a job, as i cant carry on like this for much longer. I have used all of the little savings i had, and dont know what i'll do if i havent got a job by the end of January. So January is going to be purely focussed on upping the job hunting, and spending NOTHING unless i need to.

I am really looking forward to Christmas, and am glad i saved for it early in the year before i became unemployed, as i dont know what i would have done if i'd had to fund that with benefits!

I need to get a move on and wrap the pressies though, as they are sitting in the cupboard calling to me! I think i'll do that once the kids are at School on Monday