Finally starting our debt free journey!!

caterpillarx

So after weeks of lurking and getting tips I finally feel focused and determined to clear our debt. Im hoping we can do it all by Christmas 2014 but will review after 6 months.

I'm feeling really positive and have OH on board and I'm hoping keeping a diary will help keep us on track.

The first debt I want gone is my overdraft as they charge £1 a day, it sickens me to think I've been paying this for years and haven't even thought twice about monthly charges.

Wish me luck on our journey

Piquant_2

Happy new diary! Good luck on your journey, with determination you will get there.

[Deleted User]

Good luck on your journey, you will get there, it takes time and you may 'fall off the wagon' a few times Don't beat yourself up if you do, it happens to us all.

caterpillarx

Thank you Piquant and Csarina : )

I've had a really up and down day, I'll be feeling really positive and then fear sets in. I think alot is to do with my job that I really dislike, OH does say I can leave and we would be able to manage but we wouldn't have alot of freedom and it would take ages to clear all our debt. I've decided to stay and really throw money at the debt.

I've knocked £50 off our food and petrol spends and wrote a meal plan for the week, this meant that by sticking to the list I only spent £62 on the food shop. OH got paid today so hes put £50 petrol in and we're hoping this lasts until the 10th.

Right going to read some more diarys for ideas x

caterpillarx

Well it's another lovely sunny day here, so going to try for a NSD. I think a garden/house day and then take DD to the park for an hour.

Did spend yesterday but it was on some food bits that we hadn't got on the big shop so that's £13 to add to the food budget.

Off to get DS breakfast - everyone else is still fast asleep x

pennywisepoundstupid

Morning caterpillar.

Just wanted to wish you luck on your debt free journey.

I find keeping a diary helps me stay more in control and also helps me remain focused.

Off to subscribe.

caterpillarx

Thank you Penny. I'm hoping keeping a diary will help me stay on top of everything.

I've had my first NSD of June today Yesterday went abit wrong with spends. To be honest it was part of our entertainment budget but we can't spend that much again for the rest of the month on just one day. I really want to throw all of money at my overdraft for the next 2 months so if I can any money we don't spend in our budget will go to the OD.

So yesterday we ended up going to a park that has a large paddling pool. I made a big picnic and took our own made up squash, but we spent £4 on all day parking, £4.50 on crazy golf and then £3.10 on ice cream. To be honest it was a lovely day and mostly we'd go to the local shop before and spend £15 on picnic food and drink. DD and DS loved it and both we're shattered after which is always a bonus

Today has been preschool and then a day at home. I worked out the cost of ingredients for tea tonight and it's was around £3 so very happy with that. It's definitely so much better having a meal plan, it feels like we still have lots of fresh food in, apart from we have run out of bread but I have pitta and a loaf of bread in the freezer to use until my next shop on Thursday. Looking at the calendar I'm going to do 3 more weekly shops until next pay day so if I can spend £65 a week then I'll be really happy.

I hope everyone has had a good day and managed to enjoy the sunshine.

I'm going to look into updating my signature now xx

pennywisepoundstupid

Well done on the NSD.

The sunshine is great for keeping the kids entertained, I was only saying to my OH wasn't it great when we could fill the paddling pool with water chuck in some bubble bath and empty and jugs/empty tubs and they would play happily all afternoon, sadly my 2 are too old now.

Have a good day.

caterpillarx

Hi Diary

Can't believe a weeks gone since I last posted.

Well I've had such a crazy week with one thing and another. Nothings really been spent that shouldn't have been. I'm hoping today I can start my spending diary though to keep on top of everything.

Need to go give little man his milk now before nap time, will update more later x

timetogrowup89

Hi and good luck!

I find setting monthly targets for debt helps with the not making silly spends. Ive found when I pick up things I start to think thats £5 that could bring my target for the month closer..

Have you done a soa?

caterpillarx

Hi diary

Yesterday I managed to get Fathers Day cards and 2 little gifts, I just need to get DD to make 'grandad' cards and will bake hubby a cake on sat night which DD will love doing. While I was getting cards yesterday I saw some lovely birthday cards at 25p each so I topped up on these, the only downside was they are all for girls so hoping for no male bdays soon

Last night for tea was noodles, bean sprouts, onions, peppers and homemade sauce.. So a easy tea as we didn't get home until 5.30pm.

Today should be a NSD, number 4 of the month up to now.

Thank you timetogrowup, I've been writing all spends on my calendar but going to start a little day to day diary. I've done a soa but apart from cancelling our mobiles in April nothing else needs to be changed, we cancelled sky a few months ago and have free view now. Hope your having a nice day x