need to clear the debt once and for all

MrsGSR

So today has been another NSD, yay!
Taken DS swimming (already paid for) walked everywhere too. Had leftover chicken in a HM pitta or lunch and for tea is leftover bean stew from last night with a baked potato.
Off to a friends tonight so baking some cookies (that I made and froze) for that and will be using DHs car to get there.

wegle

Ummmmmmm..... Cookies!!!! Drool!!!

MrsGSR

So easy as well! Found them on Pinterest. I made a huge batch and just freeze the raw biscuits and cook them from frozen. Makes me feel all efficient when actually it's lazy as hell. My freezer is my friend and both are well stocked at all times.

Yay! NSD 3! Yay!

Been at work today an took my tea (left over slow cooked thai beef curry) which was yummy. Also weighing myself today I have lost 5lbs in the last few weeks just by careful meal planning and rationing of food portions and not using my car! Bonus!

Also our JA is well in credit and even with the mortgage going out tomorrow and a few bills we are still in credit. AND we have some cheques to pay in from selling old phones and refunds for stuff. The overdraft has come right down and we are feeling less panicky about it.

Also spoke to our energy company, we are still tied in at the moment but the plan is to switch as soon as our renewal letter comes in from them so we can save money.

Also since making random tiny payments to my credit card I have paid £8.11 in the last week! It's making a huge difference and it's quite fun seeing the numbers coming down and am kicking myself for only just doing it!
Still at least I'm doing it now and hopefully can have it paid off quicker then that payment can add on to the payment for my other card. DH is upping his payments and his highest card is now under £1,000 so think the sig will need to change once I have done the numbers.
Also I struggle with spreadsheets, writing it down and working out on the calculator is what works for me. Seeing numbers get smaller on credit card bills and bigger on our JA is what's spurring me on.


Another thing, we have discussed Christmas and basic budget. Due to both working in retail and having certain advantages and christmas saving clubs we know we can have a nice christmas but on a frugal level and we know what we are doing with regards to family so I'm happy thats sorted as it was stressing me out a bit.

Hoping for another NSD tomorrow, have £14.00 to last me till next Thursday. Hoping there will be enough things in for DDs lunches at school till then then.

MrsGSR

Well its been a busy few days and I have done....

5 NSD in a row! Whoop!

5 days to payday so i am hoping for another 5.
I've changed my contact at work so where I was doing 7 hours and 8 hours regular overtime I am now contracted 14 hours and get a premium for working past a certain time so I get paid more, this means I can commit to paying for more.

Since starting my DFW journey i have realised a few things.
-that we should really have just kept our joint account for mortgage and bills. I think using it for food shopping and stuff we need has been the killer for it.
-paying off even the smallest amounts builds up and why haven't I started sooner?

I still need to get DH to move one of his credit cards to a 0% one as I saw the latest bill and he is paying a ton of interest. I said to him before about changing it but he wasn't convinced despite having another 0% interest card! He says it cos he spends on it but I said he isn't bringing the balance down anymore! Argh! He is on board with it but isn't going as hardcore as me which is why I took the joint account cards away.

We have done really well with meals and I have written a shopping list for next week. I'm going to draw out £200 then use £60 in the supermarket then the rest will go in a jar for stuff like milk, fruit and veg, flour from the farm shop and other top up bits and any left gets left in the jar for next month.

I have 3 hours OT at work tonight. That will get paid next month now but I will put that towards my credit card.
Hoping to get my credit card number 1 down to £100 by December, it's at £201 now so I don't think it will be too hard. Esp if I can do the odd OT shift and all monies go to that.

This weekend I am making some bread and plan to bake a cake. Tomorrow my parents are over to help us eat this hog roast thing in the freezer (not a whole pig) I'm hoping we will have some left for a stir fry on Tuesday! Hope to make an apple sponge for pudding.

That's it for now! Motivation is still high!

wegle

Wow 5NSDs in a row!!! That's amazing!!:j:j and you're going for 5 more!?! You're a super woman!

It's so true about the small bits adding up. I paid £9.56 off my CC yesterday, I wouldn't hav bothered befor because I wouldn't think it would make a difference. But doing little bits has come to over £100 so far!

Great news about the OT, that'll be a great contribution to debt busting. I'm sure you'll have no problem getting that CC to £100 by crimbo.

I'm having a baking day too. I'm making C-R's eggless chocolate cake. In the oven right now. No hog for us though, I'm a veggie and don't think hubby could eat all that too himself! I'm sure the hound would be up for helping though! :rotfl:

Have a nice time with your parents tomorrow.

MrsGSR

wegle wrote: »

Wow 5NSDs in a row!!! That's amazing!!:j:j and you're going for 5 more!?! You're a super woman!

It's so true about the small bits adding up. I paid £9.56 off my CC yesterday, I wouldn't hav bothered befor because I wouldn't think it would make a difference. But doing little bits has come to over £100 so far!

Great news about the OT, that'll be a great contribution to debt busting. I'm sure you'll have no problem getting that CC to £100 by crimbo.

I'm having a baking day too. I'm making C-R's eggless chocolate cake. In the oven right now. No hog for us though, I'm a veggie and don't think hubby could eat all that too himself! I'm sure the hound would be up for helping though! :rotfl:

Have a nice time with your parents tomorrow.

The NSDs are more because I have no choice! Still there is a great feeling to knowing I haven't spent anything! Just realised I will go slightly overdrawn when my phone bill goes out, only by about £6 but still, annoying!

I have a recipe for a vegan chocolate cake, it may be the same but i admit I havent seen the recipe on the thread. I make it alot because it doesnt need the eggs or butter and its gorgeous.

PRINCESSX87

Wow. Well done. Your really tackling the debt aint you! Keep up the good work chick x

MrsGSR

PRINCESSX87 wrote: »

Wow. Well done. Your really tackling the debt aint you! Keep up the good work chick x

Thank you so much
I'm shattered with all the nights I've been working but it certainly seems to be paying off on the cards.

Now on NSD 7 :eek:

Only another 3 to go and i get paid and can go food shopping, pay more off the cards and see where I am at.

Although DH is onboard he hasn't had quite had his LBM, when I asked him about the credit card he just was like yeah yeah I'll sort it, so I have decided to just concentrate on working on our JA and my CCs until he has that moment.

MrsGSR

Morning,

Yesterday was a productive day since I made the decision to come off facebook and twitter (had to keep my FB profile live because I admin a few business pages) I turned all the notifications off on my phone apart from texts, alarm and phone calls and it was so peaceful and I got loads done! I'm also a lot calmer and feel happier because I have cut something from my life that gets me down.

DH and I had a long chat on sunday night where I said my anxiety had stepped up a gear and after he said I am always on my phone (like he isn't!) and it is always beeping and ringing (like his isn't!) I decided there and then to simplify things.

We aren't overly extravagant people anyway, we have never gone out and spent hundreds on clothes and electronics and "stuff" we rarely go out or away (even before having children) so it's not difficult to simplify life for us.
Last night i was in bed with a book by 9pm, I had a fab nights sleep and feel pretty good.

It's outside influences, old friends who seem to have perfect lives making us feel rubbish about our life, I figure if we removed these people from our lives then we will ultimately be happier. Life is not a competition.

Anyway, that's enough of the deep and meaningful words at such an early hour!

Yesterday was successful-
I had NSD 8! Two more to go.
The kids and I had a leftover tea last night and they ate the lot! Leftover, leftover tea for my tea at work tomorrow.
Swapped energy suppliers which will save us £14 a month. We have to pay an early leaving fee of £50 but I did it through TCB so will get £45 cashback which will cover that. Also did meter readings for the old company.
Today I'm aiming for another NSD.
Going to do the school run on foot but driving to swimming ( paid for) as going directly to a friends after, this will be the first time I have used my car since Friday.
Eating lunch at my friends which means no making or buying lunch.
Tea for DH and I involves leftover veg from sunday and spicy turkey meatballs from the freezer along with a homemade sauce and noodles.
Kids will have quorn curry (from the freezer)

MrsGSR

Just a quick post today as lots to do.
Delighted to say we have paid £396.15 in the last few weeks! What a result!
Been shopping today spent £60 and got £50 cashback for top ups. I've budgetted for £150 for the month so we will see how it goes with the £110.
Paid £26.56 from my OT money to my CC, it hasn't cleared yet so i haven't included it in that figure above.
Also owed DH money I got back from ticket of £60 that will go to his CC. He has finally moved his CC to a 0% one so that will make a difference.
Getting there,slowly but surely...