September's Step-Up!!!

Fmess

Hi all

I'm a newbie, just lurking this month but hoping to officially be in the challenge in October. This board is giving me so much inspiration, I'm considering every penny I spend and my only spends this week have been on chocolate I am addicted so may do CFD as well as AFD in October.

My story of debt is that I was practically debt free until I bought my house 3 years ago, then overspent on furniture, carpets and DIY and once the debt started it escalated. I always buy now, pay later which I hate but it's become the norm.

My current DFD is April 2018 but hoping to reduce that to at least Jan 2017 by over payments. I'm turning 30 in 18 months and would love to be debt free by then but think that's too unrealistic?

Ive decided to mentally break my debt into manageable chunks. My first goal is to pay off £2000 by Jan 2014, would like it to be more but tax, MOT, Christmas and lots of birthdays in the next few months so need to be sensible and don't want to go into any more debt.

Btw my household is me, OH, 4 dogs, 1 cat

Thank you for reading, any advice greatly appreciated! I'll hopefully see you in Oct for the challenge.

Happybeingme

Morning,

yesterday was an sfd and I'm not expecting to spend anything over the weekend (I figured if it was miserable out I'd stay in, do some baking for the children's lunches next week and blitz the house).

Had a call from college and the course has been postponed a week and now starts on the 25th Sept ~ I'm pleased I've got another week to get sorted. Walked over 25 miles this week with school runs etc and have been feeling really tired. I just can't seem to get back into any sort of routine either?

Happybeingme

Is anyone else having problems updating their signature? I'm trying to change my sfd from 5 to 6 for the sfd yesterday but it won't let me and says the site maybe under maintenance? I can post here though ~ very strange!

Fmess

Yes I've had the same problem updating my signature, thought it was me being inept!

Happybeingme

Pleased its not just me ~ I was thinking the same thing!

andrar

I can't update my signature either?!

Anyhoos, SFD yesterday but not today as I'm off to the Cake & Bake show in London Town woohoo! I'm taking my budgeted £20 treat money plus the £10 social money I had left over from last week but only planning to spend if I see something I absolutely love.

I'm off to a cheese and pickle festival tomorrow, it's like my dream event! Also free as a perk of my job so I'll use money left over from today if I want to purchase so cheese and chutneys.

Have a good weekend everyone!

LoveaDove

O.M.Geeee,

I am super excited! I have finally downloaded my geocaching app today on my mobile! :j It has a compass and everything... I have a friend who is somewhat frugally minded and loves an adventure, so we will be setting off later to seek out the beginner one's with our packed lunches. Going to take a few treasures with me to leave if the caches are big enough!

I've also *finally* exchanged my Mr T vouchers £10 for £40 worth of days out vouchers- got 5 days wait for them to come in the post though. This will cover 2 x Adult Tickets to our superb nearby zoo, which I have not been to for a few years. You need the whole day to get around it, so it will be a great free day out! Hopefully me and OH will be visiting there in a couple of weeks with my ol' faithful packed lunch. *Nom* :T

jazzyjustlaw

2 more NSD for me. Althought on Thursday there was a small spend but that was budgeted for. I am only spending £6.00 a week on my personal spends so I should have some leftover.

I am only buying food twice a week so should have a small amount left over. I do my main shop Saturdsy and a whoopsie shop on a Wednesday. I am trying to incorporate what I have in the freezer into meals last night I made lemon and chilli Quorn linguine and had all the products in. I am making new dishes so my husband doesn't feel deprived!!!

I wish I could do this in October but it will be difficult unless of course we can keep the budgeted spend days as NSD. It's just next month I shall continue my Christmas shopping.

fyggy

Kat- I bow down to you! What you are doing is so so impressive and amazing! I hope it goes fabulously and you awaken people to MSEing, leading to some LBMs. Well done. You should be so proud of yourself.

However, I'm not sure about the new petrol rule. Just I think it opens a can of worms- if planned/budgeted petrol spends now are SFDs then what about budgeted train travel, oyster top ups, bus journeys? I am a car user. I like it counting as spending as it makes me think more about it and I often plan and then do it on the same day as a grocery shop day etc. Anyway, just my thoughts. I might be being a bore for everyone else, sorry!

In better news- this weekend is our first wedding anniversary so we've travelled up to the North East, pet! Diving today and traveling back tomorrow. Had lots of happy anni cards and to the tune of £60 in them which is going towards our deficit/CC spends

There are a lot of cat lovers on this thread, so I'll say yesterday was a little traumatic. My beloved "daughter" has done to "grandma's" to stay for 10 days whilst we're away. She's a house cat and only cat. So she was upset going over to my Mums and then she's text to say there's been a standoff between her and one of my Mums cat. Poor little thing. We go away again on Tuesday to visit my inlaws in Belfast for 6 days. Busy fortnight!

My totals-
SFDs 9/18 Halfway!
Fuel- 85/225. Lots more driving to do still. Will need to fill the tank of DHs car tomorrow =£75.
Food- same (away so can't remember exact figures, but no new spends)

Right, have a good weekend Steppers. I'm off to go and dive with seals off the Farne Islands

littleskintdragon

Thought id pop in and cheer u on....

Baby boy dragon was born tuesday afternoon, by caesarean, so im not up to much at the moment and will be back on track for october and the countdown to debt free ness