£21,000 to pay off -but we will do it this time.

pennywisepoundstupid

Having had a few previous diaries I know that when i'm keeping a spending diary it helps me feel more in control and a bit more together, In the short time I've not been posting I've felt that things are slipping and I've dropped the balls i'm juggling.
We are well over budget for the month but I will go into this a bit more shortly.

So a little about me, I live in the north and work part time, i'm married to a lovely man who works full time and have 2 wonderful children both at primary school.
We have sat down and worked out that our debt is just over £21,000 mostly on CC and we need/want/have to pay this off, we are too old to be living payday to payday and have no savings.

So this months overspends have come from -
1) expensive family wedding, stayed over at the hotel (to keep face I suppose)
2) more heating oil needed due to this ridiculously long winter, will it ever end.
3) large plumbing bill at house we are renting out.

SO budget has been done and have worked out that after bills have been paid we are short by about £60 this month at the minute, I do have £8 coming from mysurv3Y and another £5 from ebay, I have a couple of items to list on ebay but these are only 99p items. May well end up raiding the kids piggy banks:o:(.

Next month should be easier as we will be into our second month of having tenants in our house and have this extra coming in most of this does need to go to the taxman as OH is paying off arrears:(, I have put together next months budget and we do have a little surplus but as you all know something always crops up and eats it so this will not be thrown at any debt until the end of the month if anything is left.

SO what am I doing about cutting back, well we have been through our budget, car insurance is due to be renewed OH has been checking out comparison sites and should be able to get it cheaper than our current provider , food budget has been checked out this has crept up far too much, I have done a rolling meal plan that although a little mundane will keep costs down. Getting back into home baking as I've been wasting money on shop bought treats. Also no takeaways, meals out.
Will us nectar points to buy any bits I may need between now and payday, also going to have a look at the market at the nearest town to where I live i'm sure I could buy fruit/veg there much cheaper. We are making sure we don't buy anything we don't need and looking into doing cheap/free things with the kids this will be easier if the sun ever starts shining. CH has been turned off all week and have only used it for hot water, keeping the house warm with just the wood burner. Also cancelled 2 charity DD we had one to Nspcc and one to Rspca, felt very guilty about this but at the minute children have to come first and once we are sorted I can go back to giving
charity donations.

I think this is all for now, I'm sure I had more to write down but have forgotten.

Hiddenidenity

Look forward to following

*Subscribes*

choogirl

Yay Pennywise is back, I've "missed" you xxx

pennywisepoundstupid

Choogirl, thankyou for such a lovely welcome back.

Hiddenidentity thankyou for subscribing.

Alice_in_Poorland

You can do it pwps.:) xx

pennywisepoundstupid

Thankyou AIP.

Have managed to list an item on ebay, will put other 2 items on tomorrow, off to bed shortly i'm shattered.

Eager_Elephant

Hi PWPS

I am subscribing again - glad you came back :T

I know what you mean about not keeping track - we are spending loads at the moment on things for our house and I just can't keep track properly - I keep thinking I will do a spending diary once all the big spends have gone but lets be realistic it's going to be months.

DH finishes work tomorrow and we can't manage on one income so not sure what is going to happen :eek:

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi EE thanks for posting, I know what you mean about big spends it just gets overwhelming doesn't it. Eeek to your OH finishing work, hope you manage to find a way to get through it.

Polly_Wolly_Doodle

Hurrah - you're back:j:j
It wouldn't be right, Penny's challenge without Penny!

How are the tennants? I can't spell that word!
I was the same last night went to bed reading Dave Ramsey at 9.20pm and slept the best i have for months:D.

Well done on ebay, i have a 'lovely' shirt from my Mum for my birthday that simply HAS to be listed:rotfl:.

jwil

Welcome back penny

mummytogirls

Yay youre back with a new diary. We will all with encouragement etc xx