Kate's Journey

Choc-addict

Quick brief read (will catch up properly when can actually sit down!)....well blooming done to your hubby!!

I bet you can't wait for normality to set in....I dream of that life but never going to happen with my hubby (police)....I don't know what normal is anymore ;-) xxx

Kate_fixing_it

Thank you lovely people xxx we're so happy. There was a little hiccup when some ill-informed HR bod told him he had to work 3 months notice. A 20 minute search of the relevant legislation and he's set her straight and he's working 6 weeks notice (he's been there almost 7 years)

We've also discovered his IVA ends a month after he starts and we finish paying for his college course that same month so we won't notice the salary drop at all

I've also had a little luck myself, I was used quidco to get some cashback income for January. By joining a bingo website and spending £10 I'm due £30 cashback. They were VERY keen for me to keep spending and I ended up receiving £35 in bonuses! Sadly I couldn't withdraw these so kept playing and with £4 of the bonus remaining I won! ... £110.80! So I finished off the bonuses, withdrew the winnings and closed the account. I've also marked their email address as spam so there'll be no tempting "offers" sent to me and there's a bit more in my bank which has meant I could do next week's grocery shopping today and not have to brave the shops next week.

I've also been offered some paid overtime which I can do from home so provided tonight's free bar doesn't kill me I can spend tomorrow clicking away on my laptop earning whilst simultaneously snuggling up with the kids and watching all our favourite Christmas movies. It's not a job that needs much thought or concentration but there are easily 30-40 hours of work to do before 2nd January and two Sundays and a New Years Day when hubby is on a 12 hour day shift to be earning double pay. Potentially enough to completely clear a credit card on January payday

I also had my final weigh in of the year at slimming world and I'm ending the year a pound under target and over three stone lighter than I started it

I know I'm usually quite positive but right now I feel invincible and totally on top of the world. I'm certainly a lot happier and healthier than I have been in years

Kate x

beanielou

Great news on SW.
Sadly I am currently over target :eek: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Great news on the extra hours :j

Kate_fixing_it

Christmas is here in my home!

I worked nearly 6 hours yesterday to put some money in the pot and now the laptop is off until the turkey is eaten, the crackers are pulled and the Christmas soap stories have reached their climax (I only watch them at Christmas to remind myself how lucky I am!)

I've been paid today so instead of blowing all the money for January I'm allowing myself the extra £100 from the 5th tax credit payment this month (we're paid weekly but budget based on four payments a month) for the last two gifts and a bottle of gin as a festive treat for me.

I've made the decision to not go out for the yellow stickers bargains tomorrow as I always have in the past. There's nothing we actually need so why stress myself on Christmas Eve when I could be snuggling up with the family watching all manner of festive shenanigans on TV?

The ham is cooked, the turkey is defrosting, the gifts are wrapped and I am feeling full of festive cheer. I have the time to sit and indulge in a peaceful family Christmas, I've anticipated any disasters that may come and I even have a babysitter lined up so hubby and I can go out to see friends tonight.

I might not have buckets of cash to throw around but then again I never had it in the past either. This year I can relax and unwind and enjoy the season without the fear of January lurking.

It's going to be the best Christmas ever and I can see the new year on the horizon full of hope for a better future.

As I'll be pretty busy and may not get chance to say it I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas full of love and laughter.

Kate x

Kate_fixing_it

Still over a week left of the year but as payday has come early I've made the first January payment so we're on the way!

The shops were awful, there's certainly very little festive goodwill out there today so I skipped the last two shops because A: it wasn't essential, B:it was awful out there and C: I didn't want to part with any more money

I'm actually hopeful that I can snag another NSD tomorrow, not had one since last Thursday and that feels like an age ago!

The girls have turned into evil elves and are both hiding in their bedrooms, the boys are quietly killing zombies on their consoles and hubby has fled the insanity too so I'm currently sat with my very achy leg up watching the Santa Clause in peace and trying to think of reasons to not open the gin

The housework is done to an acceptable level, it's not perfect but it's adequate. There's plenty of food in and I appear to be a day early in all my planning.

There's just one little thing left to do. I need to call one of my creditors and close the account and for that I'm very grateful. In fact I may not even get irate when I'm on hold it's a storecard I forgot I had and has a zero balance. I need to do a few calculations but it's not going to be the only creditor getting a call before the year is out...

Kate x

beanielou

All looking good :j

Choc-addict

Great progress Kate!

Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas X

bungrefurb

Hi Kate I've just spent the afternoon reading your very inspiring diary. Your doing so well and it is obvious that your way of thinking has changed significantly. A big well done x

Kate_fixing_it

Thank you all and happy boxing day! What a lovely post bungrefurb, the time since my LBM and starting this diary has been life changing.

It's been a Christmas in the vein of Mary Poppins - practically perfect in every way the children were all delighted with their gifts, we've had the time and energy to play with them and up to 7pm last night I'd only had one glass of wine! A vast difference to last year when I managed to demolish the best part of FOUR bottles! I had a couple of glasses in the evening watching TV (not a soap opera in sight!) and I was tucked up in bed shortly after 9pm

Today, in the vein of change it's 1pm on Boxing day, I'm dressed (I don't usually on Boxing day) and I've spent the last hour doing a few chores and getting the washing on . I've already sat down and devised January's budget and as soon as the direct debits have cleared my account I'll be paying off another CC and making the call to close the account. It's also feasible that another balance will be cut in half before January's payday too. I'm so excited to see the balances dropping.

I had hoped I'd be declaring my twelfth NSD today. I was browsing the online sales when it hit me. There's nothing I want or need! So I logged into a CC account and made a payment instead. NSD was blown but I got a far better buzz from doing that than by buying any of the tat I don't want or need. In fact I'm still smiling about it now and I'm desperate to see the DDs go out so I can start 2014 with two less CCs, a loan total under £2k and my debt repayments total topping £2.5k.

Hubby has his contract through and it seems he'll have an expense account. However, this means he pays and is then reimbursed . We've had a chat and we're keeping the tesco CC for this. There's a more than adequate limit and we'll be earning clubcard points with each purchase. There's also the safeguard against going a bit spend-crazy as hubby will need to submit the statement with his receipts so if I use it I'll be in full view of the world so I'm actually liking this idea. I know my life and habits have changed enormously but I also know that I have to be strict with myself or I'll be off the wagon and lying in the ditch of debt before I know what happened. I'm in a good place now and the thought of going back terrifies me so this safeguard is very welcome.

There's also the added benefit that clubcard points were boosted and bought one of DD2s large gifts this year, I've no aversion to that happening again

So as the year comes to a close I'm thinking similarly to our Queen (I always watch her speech) and realising that a little time to sit back and reflect is a good and healthy thing to do. It gives me the opportunity to see things more clearly and learn from the mistakes and plan for the future. It seems she's a rather wise woman and she certainly hit a chord with me.

So I'm here, raising my cup of coffee to the past me; who has taught me so much, to the present me; that is happy and healthy and working hard and to the future me; who WILL be debt free, wiser and proud of myself and the lessons I've learned no matter how hard they were at the time.

Kate x

debtfreeoneday

Popping in here for the first time - well done you for everything you have achieved so far.. subscribing!