DFW Mummy & family

Princess_nola1

Hi there,

I've been a lurker on the DFW boards and love reading others journeys, so thought I'd start to write my own. I'm a 24 year old, married new mum to DS (now aged 19 months) to lovely hubby.

I had my LBM in December 2012, where just before Christmas I was adamant that the new year would see us spending and saving responsibly. Most of December was spent reading the boards, gathering knowledge and mentally preparing myself for the challenge we faced in 2013.

As a pair, we had a total debt (not including our mortgage or car finance) of £5774.72. This may not sound a lot to most, but it's enough for us!!

I completed a Statement of Affairs, where we were shocked to find that we had spent approx £700 on groceries in one month. It was the run up to Christmas, but there's still no excuse for this huge bill!! Heplful comments were given and now we're in a much better position.

We've recently upgraded the car, which has dropped repayments by £100+ a month with a cheaper insurance group. We dropped Sky, changed our broadband and telephone provider, changed our boiler cover provider and started to shop in cheaper supermarkets with a monthly budget of £300, using the Monthly Grocery Challenge on the Old Style board as an incentive!

With the help of the "Earn £2013 in £2013" thread and the "POAMAYC in 2013" thread, we've paid off a total of £684.91 from the £5774.72. We've broken the £2000 mark on the CC that charges interest. I'm very pleased!

Thanks for reading and thank you to those who have inspired me to tackle our debts and save responsibly for our future. If I can help towards just one others LBM and DF journey, I'll be a happy bunny.

Cheers!:beer:

Mrs_Toast

Hi Princess_nola1 and welcome to being a DFW. You've made a cracking start so keep it going.

I've found writing in my diary everyday motivated and aware of what I'm spending.

Good luck xx

Princess_nola1

Thank you Mrs Toast!

I've done a big grocery shop today, but will update everything properly once DS is tucked up in bed & I have a glass of wine in my hand!!!! Poor thing has an ear infection :-(

Mrs_Toast

That sounds just like me but DS has a really bad cough. We're going on holiday on Monday so hope he improves. Hope your DS feels better soon

Princess_nola1

Thanks, Mrs Toast! Your DS too! Hope you get to enjoy your holiday, off anywhere nice?

Princess_nola1

Right, so. Grocery shop this morning took my total grocery spend from £168.99 to £235.16, by spending a whopping £66.17. I'm hoping that from this, I'll be able to stretch out a good week and a bits worth of meals, as well as making some soup for the freezer to get us through for packed lunches at work.

Unfortunately, this leaves only £64.84 in the budget to last us until 14th April. I don't see this happening. Do you?

Despite the god awful weather here, I've spent this afternoon whilst DS was napping, making my own Victoria Sponge which looks amazing. Taking it to my mum's tomorrow for a get together

Also made another £8.48 after fees and postage on eBay - decluttering is the best thing ever! Making money from stuff we don't want anymore and our house is getting tidier!!

After registering my Saturday Night Takeaway chance to win £20,000 on the Morrisons website, I'm away to drink wine with the hubby and enjoy a night of rubbish telly. Or maybe a film... Any recommendations!?

Nola x

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary!
Keep posting!

Princess_nola1

Decided on The Iron Lady. It's quite good so far!

Mrs_Toast

Morning,

The Iron Lady is a great film but it's a bit sad realising how much she has deteoriated . We are off to 'sunny' ayrshire :rotfl:and then dumfries and galloway. At least we have plenty of indoor activities planned if the weather stays like it is.

Have you considered writing a meal plan out up until payday? It saves me a fortune and as there are only 3 of us we can stretch £30 a week by eating out the freeezer and pantry. The grocery challenge on Old Style Moneysaving has a great list of cheap meals, desserts etc which come in handy some weeks :rotfl:

jo91

Congrats on having your LBM so young Princess - not meaning to be patronising, but I'm sure after reading through the diaries you have read that this is the time when many of us started to go wrong. So, well done you :T

I'm a mum to 2 DDs and have tended to overspend on groceries (it's my way of caring for my family by ensuring that they are well fed, but I realise that there are smarter ways of doing the same thing).

Keep up the good work and Mrs T's suggestion is a great one - meal planning and checking out the OS board.

Hope you both have much healthier children very soon.
Jo

Princess_nola1

Thanks Jo91, I'm wise for my years and always have been!

This weekend has been fairly quiet so far. Been to the in-laws to try and sort through my & DHs things left there as to what we want to keep, bin or sell. A fair few Uni books to get rid of, games etc. Wondering where to look at finding out how much an unopened childrens train set would sell for? Any ideas?!

Nola x