A Budgeteers Continued Quest to be Debt Free & Mortgage Free By 40

DedicatedDFW

Thanks jwil I'm pretty anxious about this next assignment though and how i'm getting nowhere with it at all - i don't even know what to start on let alone where to begin

Its been a bit of a wasted day overall - not achieved much in terms of NVQ and as stated ou

Hope everyone else is good xx

DedicatedDFW

PLOTTING AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR!
MONTH 1 PROGRESS REVIEW

1, NSDS - Aim for 305 NSDs this year :eek:

OK, what i’m going to count as an NSD will notbe the same as what everyone else would count. I have numerous (essential) DD’sspread out over various days. I am not going to count the DD’s as a spend. Thewhole idea behind this challenge is to cut down on unnecessary expenditure –the DD’s are an essential payment that can’t be avoided. Other essential spendswhich will not be counted are: - the weekly food shop (although any top-upshops will be counted), petrol and train fare –essential to get me to work andthe train costs are cheaper to pay per day.

On target for this with a total of 26 in January includes today :j

2, No more than 12 bought lunches / snacks /treats in the year = a maximum of 1 a month really as a treat. This has been amajor downfall for me – a huge drain financially on money that could be used onother things: - mortgage overpayment, treats etc. It stops now! Its anunnecessary waste and with forward planning:- soups in drawer etc. There is noneed for it!

On target for this and will try and avoid the spend in feb too


3, Save all Amazon vouchers for either: gifts orlarge item – NO FRIVOLOUS SPENDING OF THESE. Complete all reasonable surveys tosave towards this and keep sig updated. If used for gifts or a large item thatsneeded then this will also help with NSD / Mortgage overpayment etc. :dance:

£30 saved and none spent :j

4, Clothing budget – i need a budget otherwisei ’ll just spend! I hope to come in way under budget. I need to remember to buyonly what i *need* but that i must love it too :smileyhea

Well within target BUT will aim for a no clothing spend feb :cool:

5, In line with the clothes budget i am tryingto avoid frittering on costume jewellery by putting the money i would havespent on an item into savings and then seeing what i have at the end of theyear – anything i have saved i can then use for a proper treat of something that is real gold

I am using this but have still bought some gorgeous costume jewellery - but less than i would have so thats good :T


6, Running Target 1000k in a year. I need to addthis to my sig so i can keep track /1000k. Ideally i’d like to smash this target!Start with 1st 5k run on the 1st. Hoping this will help1, up my fitness and therefore my health, 2, push the distance i am runningfrom 5k to 10k, 3, eventually building up to half marathon / marathon :j

A rubbish 10k achieved - must do better in FEB!! The snow and ice and assignment deadlines did not help


7, Study – complete course and apply for final module. :think:

Complete NVQ. :think:

3 TMA'S submitted - really hugely struggling on the next one - FEB submit TMA4 and start TMA5

Several hours NVQ done - FEB do 1 exam, complete and submit both workbooks put in for 1 other exam

8, Start regular savings.

Aim is for £10,000 in savings by the end of theyear. :j

Not going well - missed the savings this month as over half my wages had to be paid out on gas and electric bill, self-employed income tax and home insurance FEB - pay double and catch up

9, Overpay on the Mortgage by £20,000 by the endof the year. Currently overpaying £200 month = £2,400.

Any money made from the bay of e to be paiddirectly to this.

Any MS’s pay to this as soon as the money is inthe account.

If wages increase / new job – immediately paythe difference to this upon receipt. :j

Not going too well - only on target for regular £2400 Must make more and pay more

10, Apply for any appropriate new job – keep CV up to date and check for new job on a regular basis.

FEB update CV and go and meet someone at recruitment agency

11, List all the jobs that *need* doing on the house. Go around each room and write a list of each individual item needed andlist all items needed as in: All windows need to be replaced (large job)Utility room = (window), new vent cover etc. Then put a POA in place – thehouse needs to be alot more finished towards the end of the year as each jobbeing done, though hard at the time, will make the house much nicer to live in.

FEB - after TMA04 - get the list done!

12, 365 item declutter – to be added onto my sig/365. Make my life more streamlined and easier by getting rid of all the thingsi don’t need at a rate of 1 item a day :T

47 items totally decluttered :j

13, Keep up with date night each month :smileyhea

had 1 date night jan and another coming up in feb and a little plan to use some meal vouchers for march :j

14, Read 1 book a month – to include 1 poetrybook :cool:

Reading Game of Thrones - over half way through and am happy with this - when i'm not at uni / nvqing i'll race through these :T

15, Batch Cooking: - to make teatime cheaper andeasier. Saving money by bulking out food and not buying easy food just becauseits easy. Dingle portions can also be put into my food flask for work

Only had time for 1 but it was good and did help :T

16, HEALTH – a major priority. I need to keep upwith my tablets, go for appointments when they’re required and ensure i get allailments / complaints checked out. Also i need to maintain a healthy eatingregime – no more drinking during the week after a tough day in work! No more comfort buying of food (waste of money anyway!) and no more comfort eating ofjunk! Of course i will be eating cake, biscuits, chocolates still but not due to boredom / comfort eating etc. But as a treat and in moderation

Keeping up with all appointments so that's good :T


17, Spanish! I have taken a course on this andgot a self-learning book / cd. I want to have more structure to my days so iwant to introduce mini lessons – maybe 1 hour at a time working out at 40minutes learning? Must dig out learning stuff and work on timetable :cool:

Sensible decision taken to do this as an intensive course in the summer between modules :T

18, Clarinet – my MR very sweetly bought me abook to, again, help me to teach myself. Good idea to initially get myselfgoing before lessons. I don’t want him to have wasted his money and i really dowant to learn. Something that is just for me and for me to enjoy

Again starting out in summer

19, The Debt!!! Clear at £120 month and keep track e.g o/d 1500 - 120 = £1380 and i cannot go past this before the next months wages

Progress - zilch - see paying all other bills above. i need to be earning more money

DedicatedDFW

Hey everyone,

i am in a completely and utterly grouchy mood today Time to just pull my socks up, crack on with things and snap out of it I know what the problem is - its the difficulty i'm having with my next TMA - can feel the time passing and just being wasted Putting the positive thinking in play now that i will come up with the goods, maybe from the most unexpected source or its staring me in the face and i can't see it just now but i *will* come up with it and i *will* get it done in time.

In the meantime i'll do what my grandma suggested - which is to not think about it so that it will then come to me

So that todays holiday is not completely wasted i'll try and put a schedule of jobs to get sorted out today - but nothing too exhausting - i'm already shattered and that was after having a lie-in today

30mins on 2012-2013 tax return to start getting info. together for

clear 1 bag from spare room

sort leggings out

shower

pedicure

start re-housing the box of all things

Do a couple of writing activities

Complete next section of ou stuff

watch some more of the film i've been watching

Chocforever

Hi DDFW

I hope you are feeling better in yourself .

Dare I ask, have you got any good ideas for the TMA?

It is absolutely freezing here. I went out on my bike earlier on and it was a shorter trip than usual. To save a local charity some money, I agreed to post their latest members' newsletter to some local (and it turned out, not so local!) addresses so I was a post lady this morning.

I'm trying to get a few things done around the flat because it is a total mess to the point where it gets me down when I walk in from work. I have done the ironing which is a start and caught up with some correspondence so some papers can be filed or binned. There is still much to be done.

Hope you having a nice weekend x

DedicatedDFW

Hi everyone,

I hope you've all had a good weekend ? Mine has been busy and tiring so a day of mainly rest is in order today I'm still thinking about and not thinking about my next assignment it's such a toughie and i am stuck. [STRIKE]Tomorrow [/STRIKE] Monday 4th i'll make a decision and make a start :T Wish me luck please

I'm happily noticing a bit of a change in my mindset with some things - surprising how we have a LBM and then seem to have others later on. This week the heel fell off my pair of work shoes, my barely worn jacket was damaged and a pair of ear-rings broke as well. The work shoes i am not going to pay to repair - it would cost £20 :eek: and i've decided that as i don't 'love' these shoes anyway that the £20 would be better put towards a new pair at the end of the year. Not that i have the £20 put to one side of course but you know what i mean :cool: So i have selected another pair of shoes (as you may know i was just sorting these out last week) and these have become the new workwear ones. The jacket i'll live with a little disappointing but i'll repair the bit of it that i can (i think) and the rest i'll just have to cunningly hide with a scarf when worn The ear-rings i will also try and repair - i will report back on my (hopeful) success on this

The main change though was that i had a pair of shoes on yesterday and for me they weren't *quite* right with my outfit well you know what ? They were good enough and that will do I try to put the 'perfect' outfit together (goodness knows why except that i love fashion) and i don't need to - i need to relax a bit, as long as i am mostly happy and comfortable then there is no point spending any money just to try and make something only slightly better. The shoes will of course get replaced - eventually when they are too tatty or costing £20 to repair - and until then they'll do

Having been so busy and tired i hadn't organised tea for today - i just lifted an easy tea out of the freezer and noticed the drawer it came from was almost empty :T i am actually pleased as this is good progress. Sadly the bargainous find of vastly reduced meats and meals seems to have completely dried up - a reduction of 10p IMHO is not worth it when it needs to be frozen straight away - expecially as on a multi-buy deal i could buy a few bits and make a 'proper' saving So mainly eating out of cupboards / freezer is going well - i'll try and make this last as long as possible

Instead of sorting out my vast selection of tops today - as 1 day is simply not enough time i'm going to sort out 3 drawers :eek: all necessity. 1 drawer is FULL and is where all the foldy up bits go that don't go in the wardrobe - running gear, casual housewear and gardening gear (stuff relegated from day-to-day wear and is fine if it gets damaged). i can't fit everything in it that i need to which is causing untidyness which just won't do So i need to clear some things out - which will help with my de-cluttering goal and my aims to make living here easier The other 2 drawers are because i need a pair of tights for next weekend - i am *sure* i did get some but couldn't find them yesterday - if i can't find them today a trip to the shops will be in order as they are a necessity! So a good idea to take a good look first before spending any money

Whats everyone else been up to this weekend ?

DedicatedDFW

Small and easy steps today

items worn yesterday have mostly been moved

Pots have been washed, dried and moved

And 7 - yes 7 !!! whole items have been decluttered from my little drawer - 2 making their way to the bin (out of shape and holes in :eek:) 2 making their way to the bay of e - decent condition and will hopefully sell :T and 3 making their way to the carbooty pile! Sadly i still don't have enough room for all my items It is after all only a bedside cabinet drawer - it has 2 swimming outfits in , running gear - mixture of shorts / tops etc. minimal really - shorts are for hot weather long pants for cold and i've only got 1 lot of each :cool: 1 outfit for gardening old jeans and a jumper both with holes in. I also have my throw on stuff - 3 relegated leggings and a jumper - these are for going to carbooty ( i dress warm and comfortably and in stuff i'm not bothered about messing up in muddy slippy fields so pretty hard to part with). Hmm... what to do about the lack of space...

I might... might... get a couple of the listings ready today - i *do* find it hard just to sit still

Got a message to say a little bit of money (really just a couple of pounds) from the sale of a book is on its way to my bank account so that is good news :T I probably don't have enough money in my account to cover my travel costs to work this month :eek: will have to come up with something...

Chocforever

I think we cross posted yesterday. Sending positive vibes for the TMA .

It's still freezing here so I'm curled up on the sofa with a blanket. I thought the Richard III programme might be interesting but it isn't really grabbing me. Maybe it's because it has been in the news so much that everyone knows what happens.

So I think it might be time for an early night with a good book.

DedicatedDFW

Chocforever wrote: »

Hi DDFW

I hope you are feeling better in yourself .

Dare I ask, have you got any good ideas for the TMA?

It is absolutely freezing here. I went out on my bike earlier on and it was a shorter trip than usual. To save a local charity some money, I agreed to post their latest members' newsletter to some local (and it turned out, not so local!) addresses so I was a post lady this morning.

I'm trying to get a few things done around the flat because it is a total mess to the point where it gets me down when I walk in from work. I have done the ironing which is a start and caught up with some correspondence so some papers can be filed or binned. There is still much to be done.

Hope you having a nice weekend x

Hi Chocs - so sorry i missed this yesterday. Aw thats really good of you helping the charity although :eek: to the further away addresses - i helped a local business once by leafletting for them for free :eek: i know - not the same as a charity but they were struggling so i helped out - luckily it was a lovely hot day when i did it Brr! It is so very cold - it even snowed a bit earlier :eek:

I am the same with the house - when its in a state it really affects my mood which is why i seem to rush about trying to keep on top of cleanliness etc.

TMA hmm.. i said yesterday i'd decide by today instead i've sent an enquiry to my tutor so we will see what they come back with and that will decide it Think i'm just completely panicing over the vast amount of work that needs to be done in the timescale :eek: I'll be asking everyone for positove vibes again in a few days

DedicatedDFW

Ooh what are you reading chocs ? I'd love an early night but trying to calm down a bit just now - not that i'm really het up or anything just getting a few bouts of palpitations so waiting for them to go and then i'll try and sleep (and now worry over my TMA/ work / home / bills / everything )

DedicatedDFW

Hi everyone

I did really quite well yesterday by getting my bay of e stuff all *almost* listed - it wasn't fully listed as my camera battery ran out so i've just gotta do the pics and list when its FLW

Had a bit of a LBM again yesterday 2 more actually - what's happening to me ? :think: :eek: :rotfl: These were in addition to the clothes ones I've selected a couple of bits since yesterday for the bay of e - there is no room to store them so they are making the house untidy and difficult to live in and so they will be listed and go :T This = a tidier home and more money in (once they sell hopefully ) :T

The other one was more of a subtle re-charging of the bulb basically reminding me how much i want to pay the mortgage down, live a little whilst doing so and keep my eye on the end goal (debt freedom and house move). I'm hoping these little steps will help me work towards parting with more 'things' which aren't important and making living here easier and generate income for the things that do count

Spend so far this month has been minimal on saturday i was out the whole day - from morning until midnight :eek: and needed to eat (packed lunch wasn't enough to last).

I'm looking at doing the exclusion food thing at some point - i think this will help make a big difference to my day to day life - the trouble is i've soo much food in at the moment so we need to eat through this and i need to find the money to pay for the book on this and then the money for the food - why is healthy food so dear ? :rotfl:

Ooh Chocs - did you get much done in the way of decluttering / tidying ? x