I'm going to buy a ski lodge.......

daisystar

Evening!

Thanks for all the replies, it is so encouraging - I really didn't realise how addictive this would be

Timetogrowup89 - magazines are flippin tempting aren't they?! That's why I've got the subscription instead of going cold turkey, otherwise I'd break at some point! But just add up how much they all cost and multiply that by how often you buy them - eye opening :eek: - well the amount I bought anyway!

MrsBrownBear - thanks so much for the advice. I'm definitely going to have to update my spreadsheet game - I'm writing it all down at the moment You sound very organised, I like the idea of an account for direct debits and one for spends. At the moment I think our outgoings (to several different credit cards/loans) and our incomings (monthly salary, fortnightly-ish rent) would need to be simplified before we could do that. And we can't simplify them until we pay some off, so here we are!!
Please keep the ideas coming though - so much appreciated

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and suggestions re the tenants. Its a tricky one, me and DH have discussed it over and over so I won't go into too much detail as I start to bore myself
Assuggested - We have actually had to have a word with them before, as they had had a significant (to us) period without paying. The reply we got was along the lines of "well you can't get us out without taking us to court". Unfortunately, they are correct. As they are council tenants, even though we have a private landlord contract with them, they can stay put when served notice. The council actually advises them to do this........then what would happen is we would serve them with another type of notice....go down the court route.......etc etc. Even if they don't pay this has to be for two consecutive months before we would start with all the court faff as above.
So to conclude - apologies for the waffle - we have decided that since Jan they have paid either on time or within the week then we are going to stick with it. The rent is due tomorrow so fingers crossed!! The Fear is upon me about it right now :o:o

However Captain America if you know of any of those on time paying types........

NSJ - I am definitely going to go down the route of paying the debt as soon as the money comes in, but because this is made up of salary and rent it won't just be once a month. I think this will help as there won't be huuuuuge gaps between payments to lose momentum. Right, off now to check out and adjust my spreadsheets (notepad) to make sure I can pay out £1428pm.

Daisystar

CaptainAmerica

daisystar wrote: »

However Captain America if you know of any of those on time paying types........


Daisystar

I do sympathise with you on this point, they all start out paying in a timely manner and then gradually it slips and slips........ There are reliable people out there I'm sure.

Onwards and upwards!! :)

daisystar

Positive news of the day: The tenants paid on time!! :j:j:j
Hurrah!! We can now relax about that for the next two weeks.

In other MSE news - Operation Porridge started this morning :DReplacing cereal with porridge should shave a nice amount from the groceries budget.

That is all! Daisystar

brizzledfw

Whoop whoop to tenants!

We have done the same.partly because they are so loaded with sugar but also as they are so fl@pping pricey. The kids sometimes make a comment but have taken to it pretty well..am sure you can get the same result!

daisystar

Ah that's good to know Brizzled - today went down well so hopefully he'll still be loving it mid February!!

daisystar

Evening all! What a lovely weekend - socially speaking not weather wise obviously

Yesterday involved a trip to The Ski Show - tickets were booked for this aaaaaaggges ago at a discounted price. I did spend tho - less than £5 on yummy food. We had been all prepared too and taken a packed lunch and some snacks, but as I am currently eating for 24 (going against all midwife advice ) I became so hungry at one point I had to buy even more food!! Note for the future - take more food than I can possibly imagine ever needing, because I definitely WILL eat it.

However, I am so proud as I had to nip into the seduction trap that is The Trafford Centre for something for DS - all planned and budgeted for obvy - and I resisted EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!:A:A:A:A Yep, the J**n L***s Christmas department, the scrummy childrens clothes I passed, the fabulous toys, and the make up counters. Woooohooooo success!!!!

I am finding already I am thinking about every purchase far more than I would have before this diary, and I thought I was pretty controlled then but clearly there was always room for improvement It is definitely worth reflecting on what I haven't purchased as much as what I have. All in all a good weekend.

In big debt-busting news, I have worked out what we would have to slash the 'controllable spends' to in order to pay £1400 to debts every month, and am using this fortnight to work within this budget just to check its realistic. And its hard!! After this, I will be paying the amounts to the debt as soon as they come in and spending with whats left, as advised by NinjaSavingCat.

Right off to fill in my sig now for more motivation, then a relax with the strictly results, yay!! Have lovely evenings all.
Daisystar :)

brizzledfw

Well done on resisting the temptation!! Awesome.

I agree it's important to celebrate when you were tempted but resisted..it's a great way to change your behaviours towards money FOREVER!! Believe me I know

daisystar

Thanks Brizzled! I think this may have to be the way forward, resisting temptation as far as is humanly possible and then recording it here. Otherwise some days you feel you have nothing to show for so much effort used up on will power!!

To be honest this week is proving tough. This is my first full week of keeping the diary, living on the reduced budget and really driving the debt-busting onwards. I keep veering between feeling so happy to be taking control and a bit overwhelmed However, I am sooooooo determined and keep thinking of everyone else on here who has done so well, and that that can be me too - no one else can do this for me

So here we go with the hard work, thanks so much everyone for all the kind words so far, as dramatic as it sounds you have helped me to change my life for the better :beer:

Chrysalis1976

Well done on the start of your new life, you sound so positive and determined and if you have any down days I fully recommend getting straight on here for support.

How was the ski show, I would have loved to have gone but I'm actually in Manchester this weekend instead for a course so couldn't do two trips from North Wales!

C x

brizzledfw

daisystar wrote: »

Thanks Brizzled! I think this may have to be the way forward, resisting temptation as far as is humanly possible and then recording it here. Otherwise some days you feel you have nothing to show for so much effort used up on will power!!

To be honest this week is proving tough. This is my first full week of keeping the diary, living on the reduced budget and really driving the debt-busting onwards. I keep veering between feeling so happy to be taking control and a bit overwhelmed However, I am sooooooo determined and keep thinking of everyone else on here who has done so well, and that that can be me too - no one else can do this for me

So here we go with the hard work, thanks so much everyone for all the kind words so far, as dramatic as it sounds you have helped me to change my life for the better :beer:

This is so so true. Overwhelmed is me a lot of the time..MSE and the LBM feels like another FT job if I am honest. But as you say no one else can do this for us..so plough on we must and do.

I am just thinking that maybe, just maybe I can afford to go skiing in February if I save hard and I am DF in January..otherwise I simply can't go. It's tempting..but we just can't. We got ourselves into this and have to get ourselves out of it!