Aprils Fool No More!!!

kaze652

Hi,
Thanks for the words of encouragement Kat, my main problem with budgeting is I don't plan ahead. I forget so many things and then end up having to spend whereas if I was more organised I could make/ find cheaper options.
Never used to be this bad but since dd started school I never seem to have any time we leave the house at 7am and don't get back till 6pm and I'm shattered then weekends are spent playing catchup with housework, washing and keeping dd and dog occupied. When I do get organised I'm pretty good at keeping on straight and narrow, I've started to look at may budget and have calendar to write everything down on so hopefully things will be improving or at least not getting any worse.
On plus side I have cut up credit card and transferred balance to 0% card so no interest, plus have decided rest of week will be sfd's and going to leave purse at home so no temptation

stoplurking

Hi all. Been MIA For a couple of days. They were definitely nOt SFDs, am over food budget for sure, and maybe misc too. Will update figs later. Lots of excitement on here, baby girls on the way which is so lovely and starving brothers turning up for a big feed from Kat.
I don't discuss debts with friends. OH is my main confidante and supporter but only you guys know the amount of my debts.
I have a dear friend who is very comfortably off. Her hubby paid off their mortgage last month when he was 60 years and 1 month. I am not in same beautiful type property as them but have worked out I could do that too if I really pushed myself. Unthinkable before I found NSK. That's for later, after CCs cleared.
I overpay at start of month and usually end the month penniless, lol. For April I allowed myself a misc budget and it has been nice to have that. Mainly spent on treating others but I'm happy with that. Keep on debt busting, April is nearly done.

nannygladys

Hi everyone
Just a quick one from me off for a shower in a mo. Im another one who pays everything off at the start of the month I only have one CC now so pay that off straight away always with an overpayent as I want that gone before I tackle the OD, I do all my budgets on payday and draw out total amount and put into different pots ie food, petrol etc so I should know where Im up to, but this month I borrowed out of all the pots and spent some more!!! so it doesnt always work - but in the main its fine, this month has just been a disaster for me, all my own fault and now Im on damage limitation, which if it wasnt for this thread and KAT, I think I would still be spending the banks money
nannyg

kickuptheasstime

A bit fed up today - I was going to go out competing wiht my horse tonight, but I've made the decision to save the entry fee & transport costs & not go

I know it's the right thing to do - I'm trying to limit my trips out competing & for lessons, but it's my passion & I love it. It's so hard breaking habits & creating new ones, isn't it?

I know it's a luxury to most, but horses are my life (for work & play) & I will not cut them out completely. Instead I need to manage my money & activities so that I (hopefully) achieve a balance in paying debts off & living. It's just so tough. And I know that you all know that! The realisation is dawning....

I don't drink, smoke, buy clothes, or go out, and my DH calls it an addiction, and I guess that it is, but it's my only one & I cannot not pay for my horse & enjoy him.

Sorry, I'll stop now. Moan over.

KUTAT x

NinjaSavingKat

kaze652 wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for the words of encouragement Kat, my main problem with budgeting is I don't plan ahead. I forget so many things and then end up having to spend whereas if I was more organised I could make/ find cheaper options.

Thats what I am here for..:p

However can I suggest palming the little one off on someone for a few hours... sit down with three months of bank statements and listing as follows...

• Rent
• Bills - electricity, gas, council tax, water and TV license.
• Travel - petrol or rail tickets, bus tickets etc.
• Food - SM's / local corner shop / canteen at work / lunch money, cafes / restaurants / pubs and "just this once" take aways.
• "Unforseen" - house repairs / vehicle repairs / scratch cards / bottles of water at the train station etc
• Clothing - for you and the little one... tights / socks / a primark top / etc..
• Beauty - Boots / Superdrug / Tesco - that 99p body wash...

Add it all up.. see where it went. You will wince. As I did. Planning to do this today by the way - why not join me and we can cry together..;-)

kaze652

Would love to have break from dd for few hours but no support network but will work out totals over next few days and will join you at the end of the week with a 'is that where it all goes moment'

his_missus

hello all!

Been away this weekend but Hubby paid for everything with his overtime and wage increase.

Booked a hotel on the CC, thinking they would only use CC as security but they've taken payment so my CC debt stands at just over £1700 now. Need to look at finances tonight but I think we can afford to pay at least £900 off between us this month, maybe even more.

Pay day was Friday so I'm kinda on a new month. Still set my weekly spends at £100 but hoping to cut it back to £80, doable IF I focus on where/what/when I spend.

Off to catch up on you all now xxx

NinjaSavingKat

Busy day at work today - will update more tonight but am aiming for an SFD today. About 28deg in our office as the air con doesn't work so I feel like slipping into a coma... Will have to leave money managment until later too.

Onwards and Upwards...z zzz!

Siouxsie32

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Special friend???;)

No no no no no!!! Ha ha, we've been mates for about 100 years and I knew it wouldn't really cost anything. My girl friends have been a bit of a nightmare recently-our last night out (bear in mind how precious my time off and money are to me) ended before it even started with two of them having a row, one storming off and me spending the rest of the night consoling the other! Boys are easier-trip to the pub, chips on the seafront, watch a bit of telly and just having a catch up! Had fun and spent a total of £4.50!!!

Anyway, back home now and I have the night shift tonight. Quick trip to the post office first to post a book I sold on amazon that I found on the train .

Regarding budgeting, I DEFINITELY do it kat's way. I've worked out roughly how much will be in my next pay, I know exactly how much my outgoings are so I have a rough idea of how much extra I can pay towards my credit cards. If I was to use karmachilovething's method (which I admit I did for years), nothing extra would ever get paid off because I'd always find things I needed-turns out you don't need most of that stuff! I love making that extra transfer on payday, knowing that everything else is covered. Definitely try to work out a budget karmachilovething, it'll make the rest of the month much easier!

his_missus

Ok, I've caught up with you all so thougth I'd throw my 2p worth into the discussions (though I can't rememberwho started them, sorry)

Re: when to pay debt - On payday, I enter my wage, all my DDs and my monthly budget (based on my weekly budget x4 or 5) on a spreadsheet to show me how much is left. The amount left over is used to repay the CC. IF there is any left at the end of the month, I pay extra off/put into savings fund. I couldn't wait to see what was left over at the end of the month or I'd just spend willi-nilli.

Re: friends -I have one friend I talk very openly about money/salary/debt to (she has so much debt herself so we're kinda in/were in the same boat) and another I talk quite openly to.

Re: leaving the DFW board - I think some challenges are still beneficial to help maintain debt freeness. Maybe there are similar challenges on other boards but I think sometimes it helps to stick with people you've clicked with. I've never seen anyone post a comment about a DF person being on this board. Besides those who have achieved DF status should hang around to encourage the rest of us and keep telling us it's possible.

Finally re: cake for brekkie - it's only like people having a muffin for brekkie