Ready for the challenge...roll on 2013!!!!!

brummiebabe

So , like many others, I'm thinking ahead to 2013 and am feeling re-energised to tackle my mess - and so have decided to start a new diary. Christmas, and life in general, have kind of got in the way of things recently but I've joined some challenges and am ready to get on with it!!

So where do I stand currently.....embarrasingly, my debt has gone up and now stands at £6572.25 However, there's no point dwelling on how, or why this happened......but just what I'm going to do about it!! So my plans are:

• I have joined the £2 coin saver club.....every £20 saved will be paid straight off the card
• I'm in the 20p saver club...again, every £20 will be banked and paid off my card
• I am aiming to pay off £2500 in 2013!
• Have set a realistic budget......have finally realised that this is the key!! Under-estimating has partly got me into this mess in the first place.
• To keep a spending diary
• Takeaway only once per month
• Avoid going out shopping for pleasure....all those little stops at Costa are lovely....but costly!!!!
• Any money I get for my birthday to be paid straight off my card:T

I really need to address my food shopping too, but this is something I need to think about....I've stuck at £400 per month for the last year or so, and not sure how to get it down further. I could probably try to rejoin the grocery challenge, but don't want to have too many challenges to keep track of:rotfl:as that is when I fail!!


If anyone has any other ideas....feel free to chip in!!!



Am looking forward to Christmas and will enjoy it (and my 40th birthday;)) before the start of a fresh challenge!!! Roll on 2013!!!!:beer:

brummiebabe

So have spent the evening relaxing, watching a DVD and eating Pringles (well...the Aldi version:rotfl:.) Has been a LSD today - just bought my children their usual Friday sweets (and had a sneaky bag of maltesers myself...) so spent around £2.60.

Tomorrow I may be going to do my food shopping:eek: - but it'll be later on the evening if I do. We've also got DH's friend coming over for a chinese - they don't see each other that regularly so that'll be nice....he said it'd be cheaper than going out for drinks, getting a taxi etc....

I took £50 out today and am hoping that will last us until New Year...need to start my spending diary........;)

Hope everyone is all sorted for Christmas.....I've still got some wrapping to do...but am almost done!:j

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary
Keep posting!

brummiebabe

Thanks Beanielou:)

Ended up going to Mr T's this morning as it was the only time we could fit it in.....nowhere near as bad as I anticipated and didn't spend as much as I thought I would either:T Then my neighbour (who owns a market stall) brought us 2 massive bags full of all the fruit & veg you could possibly imagine.....he's so generous! It literally filled our kitchen table and I've had to split it with my sister to avoid too much waste!!!

Also got the children a McDonalds & we've had a chinese - all out of our cash budget though.....and I can't see us needing anything else over the next few days.

Am feeling exhausted......bedtime soon I think;)

brummiebabe

Well after a terrible nights sleep I've had a fairly chilled day. It's been a NSD for me but DH & DS1 went to the club to watch the football, so we have the grand sum of £2 left:rotfl:

Have had a yummy Sunday lunch & visited relatives.....but done little else! Kids currently watching Mr Stink & I'm getting ready to tackle my ironing mountain:eek: If I leave it much longer I won't be able to get in the pantry......so would like it out of the way before Christmas.

Did some work on my spreadsheets last night but need to check them again as I was SO tired when I did them that they're probably all wrong. Have decided I am going to keep a really accurate account of what's going in/out, so that I can keep a proper track of everything!!

Intend to have a NSD tomorrow & obviously Christmas Day. Am also going to remove all my credit card details from Amazon......to avoid that easy one click ordering!!!

Plan:

Remove credit card details from Amazon
Ironing
Check spreadsheets
Wrap last few pressies
Write a list for what I need to take to sister's on Christmas Day!

Have a good evening everyone x

brummiebabe

brummiebabe wrote: »

Plan:
[STRIKE]Remove credit card details from Amazon[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Ironing[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Check spreadsheets[/STRIKE]
Wrap last few pressies - still kids stocking fillers to do

[STRIKE]Write a list for what I need to take to sister's on Christmas Day![/STRIKE]

Had a fairly productive evening and managed to get most things done. Still have some pressies to wrap but need to get some paper today as DH used the one I'd put aside for them:mad:

Today mostly entails running errands, dropping in to see relatives and delivering presents! I love Christmas Eve though.....DD is getting SO excited it's ridiculous:rotfl:

Have checked my online banking and all is in order at the moment. My regular payment has gone to my Natwest Card this morning...this is the card that I'm tackling at the moment as the 0% rate runs out first......balance of this now stands at £880 - am hoping to clear this within 3 months and then move on to the next.........This morning the debt total stands at £6537.25:eek: May just make an extra payment of £7.25 just to round down the total:rotfl:

Right - off to get myself ready and make a start!! Have a fab Christmas everyone:xmassign::xmastree:

brummiebabe

Well it's been a mad & hectic couple of days, but a good time was had by all!! Am feeling totally exhausted now though & am looking forward to a quiet few days before New Year.

On a positive, I've had 2NSDs:j. That won't be the same tomorrow as DH's car is going in for a service - it passed it's MOT last week so should hopefully not cost too much.....we know we've got to have 2 new tyres though as they were just about legal for the MOT. I have money budgeted for this, but also need to get my car MOT'd in mid January, so need to try & keep some back for that.

We have enough food in the house to last a week or more so am hoping we can keep our spends to an absolute minimum & the debt busting can start!!:)

Am hoping the weather may improve a little tomorrow.....would be nice to get out in the fresh air for a walk.

Right think I'll head up to bed now.....hope everyone's had a peaceful, wonderful Christmas!

SilverCo

Hi brummiebabe :hello:

Like you, I'm determined to do better in 2013 and what better place than a diary to keep you on track! *subscribes*

Hope your resolve is still holding strong and look forward to reading your journey

Silver x

brummiebabe

SilverCo wrote: »

Hi brummiebabe :hello:

Like you, I'm determined to do better in 2013 and what better place than a diary to keep you on track! *subscribes*

Hope your resolve is still holding strong and look forward to reading your journey

Silver x

Thanks Silver......good luck with your journey in 2013 - have you got a diary?? Think it's a good way to try & make sure you keep on track!!!

brummiebabe

Good morning all!! Have finally been allowed a lie-in this morning but can't sleep.....isn't that just typical! I have stayed in bed though, avoiding the noise & chaos downstairs for as long as possible:)

Yesterday was rather a spendy day :eek: DH's car service was £340 & I finally relented and put £20 petrol in my car.....I was trying to last until I went back to work.....but the level was so low that i didn't fancy chancing it. Good news though is that we had the money put aside to pay for the service.

So onto today. The house needs a good tidy up & homes need to be found for presents! I shall then give the downstairs a good çlesn & possibly catch up on the soaps whilst tackling the ironing mountain.....my day sure looks fun-filled:rotfl:

I also need to check my online banking & look at my budget again. DH has announced that he's taking me out for a curry on Saturday (as an early birthday treat) so, although this shouldn't be too expensive, I need to find the money for it from somewhere!!

Am going to browse some more diaries before I finally get up to face the day. Hope everyone has a good day;)

brummiebabe

Well I haven't updated for a little while but things have been going kind of ok. Spending has been minimal, but has happened nonetheless. Am a little worried as my MOT is due next weekend, and I could do without anything needing doing:eek: If it's a basic MOT then it'll be fine - but much more & it'll be a problem!

Had a lovely day catching up with some friends yesterday for their son's birthday. However, felt really awful later as they all went onto a restaurant & I had to say no to us going:(. DS1 was really disappointed, as it's his best friend (who is visiting from abroad, where he now lives) but I couldn't justify or afford it. Did feel pretty awful though.

Today should be a NSD :T the first one of the year! My friend and her son are coming over.....so the kids should be happy!

Have been keeping up to date with my spreadsheets & online banking....let's hope it continues!,