Emerging from the dark - a dfw diary

Chrysalis1976

Evening all, I hope everyone is well too much sickness going around at the moment!

Grandad has now been moved to a care home whilst his arm heals and then should go back home hopefully with more support and a careline.

Nothing financial to report really, counting down the days until pay day as very poor I don't have enough to go out for xmas lunch at work tomorrow but I'm not too disappointed to be honest.

Work is unbearable, being treated like children and had notice of requests for voluntary redundancies I'm obviously not going to do it but the working environment is making me so more determined to get rid of the debt and do what makes me happy.

DH received a M&S voucher from his work so going to use that for a bit of food and have a few more pounds left for shopping and fuel.

I have made no overpayments to any debt this month due to the change in payments and xmas presents so I will have to up my game from next month, all a bit boring until next Monday then I need to get kids prezzies which will again be on a budget.

Just need to get through the next few working days then 2 weeks off.

C x

parsniphead

It's a funny old time of year isn't it chrysalis. I tend to find all the money things go on hold and it becomes very frustrating.

Bad news about work. A few more days then you have a nice break to look forward too.

I think one of the worst things about debt is the feeling of being trapped, so many options seem to be taken away. The debt free date will be so much more satisfying though won't it?

Have to go, sprig wants the computer....I wish he want to go to bed though.

Ali

Chrysalis1976

At home today with a poorly dd, I have managed to get some work done though and some more sorting out. Expenses were paid early so I have brought a few bits of food today, I am emptying the freezer so I can defrost it as somebody (dh) left the door open a bit and put the ice cream in the fridge! Nutter!

I have quite a few bills stacking up to be paid for next months activities so this will all be paid next week, although I will have two weeks less child care I think I will hang on to it in case of any unforseen events over the festive period.

I need to sit down and work out the income and outgoings for next month including a proper plan to pay back one of the debts, I think I may hit the Bar/Card first as I can just send over dribs and drabs on my mobile.

Need to sit with dh to look at other expenses next year including our holiday in Scotland, need to finally finish dd bedroom (poor girl) and I need a haircut

I have looked at a few bills that can be reduced next year such as my mobile and dh mobile too, will obviously do comparisons on insurances as usual.

Must put in my expenses for second job, in January and February I will have lots of events so should earn a decent amount from that.

Counting down the days!

C x

mummytogirls

Morning Chrysalis,

Have you finished for Christmas now or do you have some days to do next week?

My DD has also been unwell this week, I'm sure we live parallel lives where this illness is concerned!!!

I too am looking forward to starting again in January, driving costs down etc!! xx

Eager_Elephant

Just read your diary Chrysalis - I too have a DH that has great aspirations for spending!!

I have tried loads of different ways of budgeting and finally I think I have one that works. It does however involve 6 current accounts and numerous savings accounts but I have finally got a grip and am reducing my debt (DH and I have separate finances and he pays his debts token payments only) so I am happy with it.

I used to use excel spreadsheets but I never kept up with them - now I have a lovely pink notebook (with butterflies on) and write everything in there and I take it everywhere so if I have 5 minutes at work I can do some transfers if they are needed.

Hope DD is better now.

Chrysalis1976

mtg - yes finished yesterday I used some TOIL to take off Monday and Tuesday then not back until 5th Jan, definitely seem to be back and forward with the sickness a lot going around up here but thankfully all ok at the min. Starting the budgeting today otherwise I know it will quickly go awry!

eager_elephant thanks for your ideas, I'm going to get dh to open a basic account to transfer his weekly money in to so then he can save or spend as his little heart desires. Dd is back to her crazy self thank you.

So today I have been out to get some cleaning bits and pieces to give the house a full clean tomorrow, I did treat myself to a lovely xmas style bunch of flowers which look lovely in the hall. All direct debits have been entered into the accounts book ready for the month ahead, I'm lucky as my payday is the same as usual so don't have to spread over another week. Still quite a few things to pay for including kids xmas presents and food for the festive period so will need to try not to get carried away!

I have just had a great idea about drawing, sticking, writing our goals for the year on some large sheets of paper to remind the rest of the family exactly why we are budgeting and not to make me feel like a scrooge if I say no.

I still haven't really decided about which debt to pay off first, maybe it should be the one the charges most per month in interest this would be the barclaycard if I went down that route. There decision made!

Hope everyone will support me this year, I really need to get this debt down.

C x

mummytogirls

Im here for support Chrysalis. I have neglected my own diary as I just don't get time to post much but will be making the extra effort in 2015!!! xx

Chrysalis1976

Ah thank you, I realise that may have sounded a bit funny as I did mean from my dh and kids but your support is always welcome!

C x

Eager_Elephant

Chrysalis1976 wrote: »

eager_elephant thanks for your ideas, I'm going to get dh to open a basic account to transfer his weekly money in to so then he can save or spend as his little heart desires. Dd is back to her crazy self thank you.

DH has a spends account and a separate bill account - he used to spend all the money in the bill account and then his DD's would bounce. Now he has this separate account he has to budget properly but sometimes he gets all frivolous and spends the money meant for petrol so I move some to his savings on payday and then transfer it back when needed but he thinks he is managing well:rotfl:


I then have my own current account and then there is a seperate bill account which we both equal amounts in to.
There is another account for food shopping, we transfer money in here every month and when it's gone it's gone and then there is another account which Tax Credits go into - DH did not work for much of last year so his earnings were low and Tax Credits are based on previous years earnings so in 2015 when they review I doubt we will get any so better to live without it and pretend we don't have it. We did save quite a bit and then the washing machine went wrong so used that money.

parsniphead

Good luck with the Christmas clean chrysalis. It's something I have been trying to do for the past few days and seem to be getting nowhere.

Sounds like a good idea to get rid of the Barclaycard. The sooner it's gone the better. Dou you have a target time for it to be paid off?

Have a good Sunday.