Financially Free by 31.12.2013

Sunflower27

Hey Shelbi,

How was your weekend?

I managed to not spend too much I only spent the cash I had earnt doing some waxing so nothing was pulled out of my bank and I have a bit of cash left which I am going to pay into my credit card.... every little helps.

Pay day next week so a big chunk will come off the CC Id like to get it down to under 4K by the end of August.

Sunflower

Shelbi

Hi Sunflower, My weekend was lovely, spent it with family either visiting or having them over, which kept costs down. Its kind of a sweet plus, sitting in the garden with them catching up, even walked over to my nans with my cousin, which saved petrol but it was actually a lovely walk. I forgot how nice it can be, always take the car out of habit.

Well done on the restrictive spending & the extra income left over, that is Brilliant & you're right every little does help!!...Its funny how quickly it all add up too!..£4k debt cc by end of August will be fab!! You can so do this!!..

As for me woke up to a lovely suprise email from tfl to say that they refunded £5.40 for some operational issue, It never occurred to me to check my account to ensure im not being overcharged, tho its now on my weekly to do list...small income but was very welcome.

Have been told by HR that my student loan has been taken in full so looks like im going t have to chase them for my refund, but thats ok at least I know where the money is and it'll come back to me...

Just counting down to payday, it cant come soon enough x

Shelbi

argh typed an update & then deleted it *wails*...stupid phone.. ok round 2 in a nutshell.

paid £4 into my sealed pot, it's growing little by little.
going to attempt a nsd tomorrow.
got an email notification that my parking fines are being refunded...so that's a very welcome £195 back onto my credit card which is nice as it will eat into my car insurance which I paid on there on Tuesday....really need to update my signature & add the new debt on . I think I'll wait until after payday to give myself a clearer picture. still it also means I hit my £5 a day July challenge..I know it was unintentional but what the hey it makes me feel better...I'm just grateful & counting my blessings.

hoping to do at least 15 nsd in August.

Am off out Saturday to wet my nephews head, going to need control as the grip on my purse string which always loosens when I drink...tricky so either take cash which I dislike...what if theres an emergency? or study my bank statement which will scare me into submission...hmm could also have me reaching for a bottle...guess set cash it is!
right I'm off to bed...sorry for the essay...goodnight x

Shelbi

Aghh it happened again...another non poster, will teach me to try to get witty with it and not just post a quick reply! So have updated my signature to reflect the insurance payment and updated the monthly totals...eeek!! But its done & this debts is going to take a thorough whopping.

So today payday, I awoke smiling from ear to ear!! spent the morning admiring and enjoying being flush and the afternoon happily paying bills and allocating funds...ok happily might be a step to far but i felt satisfaction.

Firstly I paid myself put £264 into savings, a habit im trying to get into, makes me feel better than just paying everyone else. Looked at my budget did a bit of jiggery pokery. £320 has been transferred to a seperate account this is to cover my share of weekly rent & council tax payment. That way I can transfer this to my credit card as an when I use it to pay the bill.

Payment made to barclaycard was £1045 taking payments for July to £1120.09 im still -£184.95 of my new monthly payment target but im not stressing I still have until Wednesday to hit it. If worse comes to worse I can transfer my savings, Im also owed £220 from family iou's so that should cover it...oh and ive budgeted myself an extra £170 personal expenditure for the month.. this is to cover tomorrow day/nightout, hairdressers & a day out Monday to chessington with my sister, friends & their nieces (curtousy of the sun 2for1 voucher). I know its alot but I dont expect to spend it all..so anything I save will be used to strike another blow to this debt.
I just figure ive given up holidays and am cycling to work, cutting lunches, nights out to minimum but I still need some balance... these will be my only major blowouts, the rest of the month should be pretty quiet with just an afternoon tea with the girls (booked/paid on groupon in april) and an organised girls nightin/sleepover which I think will cost about £10 for snacks/wine/pizza contributions etc...

Another NSD today (excluding payments to the creditcards)...cycled in which was lovely in this weather, I had a packed lunch but a colleague brought chips & another cakes & eclairs bless them. ..does a NSD count if you spend to decrease your debt? I say it does...

I have to admit im pretty proud of myself, I actually feel like I can do this...Well thats enough from me...I hope every one has a wonderful weekend!...Im so looking forward to it...enjoy x

Shelbi

Have paid £184 to my cc, meaning I hit my target for July...only 5 more months left, also put £17 into my sealed pot, have hit my xmas pressy target. I have to admit I spent far more than I wouldve liked this weekend...still I did have a really good time & I dont do it too often (I honestly dont)..Main thing is I am still on target, I should make it through this month..no I will make it through this month without using my credit card or going overdrawn...back on the MSE wagon..still July was awesome, Hoping August will be as good, not as costly though. Another NSD for me...brought in lunch (ate it already haha) cycled in...& having a night in with a dvd &face pack (which i found in the bottom of my toiletry bag). Going to attempt to live frugally for the rest of the month, anything left over will be added to August payments...fingers crossed!!

Shelbi

Its so beautiful out...can't believe its August already...are getting shorter or im having way to much fun, have looked through my budget for August payday, figure I can make a payment of at least £1090.00 to the credit card, but wiill need to raise the shortfall of £215 to hit my target. £60 IOU & £80 odd from slc, so that will help if they come in *fingers crossed*...if not need to put my thinking cap on or look at what I can scale down on...want to clear off the NW & chip into the barclaycard a bit...:o

Paid another £4 into my sp this morning & have £15 in my purse, my aim is to make it last me the next 25days & not use my credit cards. Yesterday I took my little sister to the cinema, which was nice as our dad paid & then I got to keep the change for taking her, (cheeky fiver) every little helps. :j

Am planning on taking her to the farm, on Saturday, maybe take a picnic, its free, she'll love it & i've found that just spending time with her is the most fun thing, really uplifts me...am really looking forward to the weekend, I plan to have a fun non-spending one...dont no how that will fare out but i'm overly optimistic :rotfl:

Have also been cycling even in the rain, its actually a nice little ride, 40 mins there and back...saves £3.20 a day on trainfare, more if I held a gym membership..I now get excercise for free also cut through the park & noticed a gym course looking thing..going to make use of that... time to embrace the free-ness & get back in the black :D:D

Shelbi

Today was an intended NSD but I managed to deflate my tyre (whilst trying to pump it up) so had to travel in by train...actually turned out not to be so bad as it thunderstormed & hailstoned on my way in..so i guess it was lucky. have £16 on my oyster card so I didnt have to use my cashcard but still wanted the feel good factor of cycling in.

Really working hard to keep up a happy mojo, it just seems a little more challenging today than usual, had to call up the mortgage people to check the status of my release. Apparently they needed me to call & confirm but didnt have that on the forms:mad: & my ex is demanding I pay the admin fee:mad: I figure he gets the flat he can pay it. Though £160 is a small price to pay to be shot of him once & for all...but not so much when your trying to sort out your finances. I really dislike having to communicate with him in any way, way I see it hes had enough of my energy, time & life....9years in fact (wouldve got less time for murder)...moving on!!;)

Tonight I intend to sort out more ebay bits, have in mind my old kindle & an old satnav..wonder what else I can find, I really do have alot of old toot, going to really throw myself into this, it will give me something to do till prince charming arrives at least :rotfl: ...& the beat goes on...Happy Friday people...sorry for the rambling X

Shelbi

Happy Monday!! So this weekend was pretty cheap one, I managed to take my sis to the farm (free), enjoying tea & a film at a friends (free) and just enjoy some family time (also free). Also managed to take my mother shopping & leave my purse at home without feeling guilty, I had played chauffer after all, I didnt need anything & it ensured I didnt fot anybills & she stuck to her budget bless her. win win!

Have listed 6 items up on ebay, need to sort through my dvds & list them, I have around 300, i couldnt watch them all if i tried, least i know where some of that money went. Ill keep the ones I like the most, essentials the rest are being put up, hmm may need to wait for zero insertion fees as that might add up.

Have joined NSK August advance challenge (have a peek its good) this month & its renewed my enthusiasm, aiming for at least 20 NSD Ive so far done 3 including today. which is a great start for me I can tell you!:D Lunches are being made, my bike is getting full use where possible...pray for me!!

I opened up my Sealed pot this morning, as I was thinking If im saving approx 10% of salary I dont need to keep 2 sealed pots, I can use that to make an additional payment rather than letting the money sit there tempting me. I cut open the £1&2 pot which I thought had £50 odd in it, turns out I had £85 brill surprise. Took it to the bank & made an extra payment on my credit card... I still have a money jar of coppers & silver which I will keep adding too & cash in when I get a decent amount. Most important thing is paydown the cards.:starmod:.. Im on this:j:j

Sunflower27

Hey Shelbi,

You are doing so well. I love to log on and read your updates.

I am trying to plod along, have had unexpected things to pay for this month but hey the main thing I guess is not to give up because every little helps.

The sun is shining today and it is going to be a good day.

Shelbi

:hello:Hi Sunflower27,

Thank you!! Im trying, Its kind of distrubing to think that Im paying for things I brought years ago & probably still dont own, I just cant wait to have it all paid off & be able to keep the money for myself...

Hey you are doing great hun, things always pop up unexpected (murphy law ithink they call it) but your right just keep pushing & you will get through it,that mr murphy will go bother someone else!:beer:

It is gorgeous today, I hope it stays, yesterday I had to cycle in the rain I looked like a drown rat, to top it off had no jacket & a white tee-shirt...oh the shame!!:rotfl:_pale_ I can laugh now last night not as funny!!... Still I saved £3.20 & swerved a cold,so its all good..

Ive been reading "savings log of a 26yr old on low pay" this has motivated me like you cant believe, its worth a look... How this guy cleared 14k debt & saved 8k on minimum wage, brilliant certainly gave me a kick up the pants:rotfl:..if he can do it, we can do it:T

I know we will get there.. bit by bit for sure!!! Hope you have a fab day hun. You'e right its gonna be a good one x