Arrived at a state of reality, but positive and up for it!

Rachiedabbler70

Hi theoretica


Thanks for reading and responding.


It is £95 a month on average all year. I have 13 nephews and nieces, 4 siblings, 1 SIL, 3 parents etc and my two teens, so it all adds up during the year. My ex doesn't buy the kids anything and never has done so I make up for that as well.


It is an area where I will gradually cut down especially when my eldest is past 18, but I think I will continue to include for now and see how it goes.


We have just introduced a family rule whereby when a nephew/ niece reaches 18 that is the last financial present we give them so a few of them are heading that way soon.:j

Rachiedabbler70

Thought I'd check in as unexpectedly off work as one of my sons is sick. He wasn't well yesterday, but thought he'd pick up by today. He hasn't so the poor lad has gone really pale and not eaten for 2 days. :eek:


Good things to report today


Just paid £30 off credit card 1 (minimum payment) and £110 off credit card 2 (more than minimum). :j


Credit card 2 0% deal ends in April 2014 so this is the one I'm clearing first. Balance now stands at £3,090. 5 pay days to go and I know I can only pay £110 in December so will really have to cut down to get this one cleared.:eek:


Have started well with 3 NSDs in a row so far - Saturday, Sunday and today (can't leave the house). :j
I also worked out that all the food I have in the house will provide main meals for the next 16 days so if I underspend my grocery budget I will pay off more of credit card 2. Happy days!


Thanks for reading and enjoy your day.

Antwerpen

Well done sounds like you're having a pro active day!!

Do you take your own lunch to work? If so, can leave your bank card at home? No boredom spending then!!

Can you have a declutter and ebay any items that aren't being used? I need to do this :wall: lol

Rachiedabbler70

Hi again

I take my own lunches everyday now but didn't always before - sometimes would spend £4 on lunch and the sandwiches at work are actually rubbish.


A few weeks ago I've stopped carrying any cash to work and just keep my credit card with me in case I run out of petrol. I have forgotten my lunch a couple of times though and had no money so just decided not to eat:D. Bit extreme probably but sure it doesn't hurt once in a while.


I'm really tidy when it comes to everything at home so nothing to sell at the moment, although in the past I've tended to just give spare items to family and friends. I have a home for everything and put it away when I'm done, wash up straight after meals, make the lunches before I sit down after tea and so on. I have so little time to spare during the working week that I have to be really organised and once I sit down I can't be bothered getting back up again.


The only clutter I do have is a loft full of toys which the kids don't use anymore, but any money for them would be their's as they were presents for them.


I had a good look through all my receipts for last month yesterday and a lot of what I was spending was on food and eating out. I totalled up and I spent £130 on eating out last month which is mad.:eek: So far this month it is £22 so much better. I'm determined December will be nil - I prefer home food anyway and so do the kids.


Next update on here probably Friday evening because it is pay day:j although I will have to wait to make some payments to credit cards because they are not due until later in the month and if I pay them before the statement date they expect another payment - cheek of it!!


Thanks for reading.

jackieblack

Well done for being so positive about tackling this.

You mentioned that you overpay your mortgage by £100 per month.
IIWY I think I'd prioritise the CCs and SCs and use this £100 to get these paid off more quickly. Once they're history you'll have the extra that you've been using to pay these each month to overpay the mortgage.

Rachiedabbler70

I'm back after some really hectic days at work - ended up doing over 40 hours in 4 days (without my commute), but pay day today so paid my whole monthly credit card straight off - £1019.


I've also done a lot of Christmas shopping on line and whilst I've used my credit card (so that I earn points )- I've paid the money straight back from my bank account so no extra debt. Got some things on the Amazon Black Friday for my nephews, nieces and parents - I think they'll like what I've got and I saved over £30.


Thanks Jackieblack for the response always good to get views of others and much appreciated. I've thought about the £100 so many times and how to use it and I'm still not sure as I'm stuck on a fixed rate on my second mortgage of nearly 6% so each time I pay some off I can see the interest payment going down by a few pence a day. Think I will review again in January though as I don't want my 0% card to end up being 18% in April or to do another balance transfer really.:)


Even though I've been paid today I can't pay anything else off because the payments are due later in the month, although on Monday my mortgages and one of the loans will be paid for the month so my outstanding debt will reduce.:)


Had positive day at work despite the hours, my boss wants to recommend me for a bonus payment so if it gets agreed at the top level I might get some cash - not sure how much, but anything helps.


Have a good weekend everyone.

Rachiedabbler70

Today I've updated my signature with what I think will be my debt balances by tomorrow, when my mortgage payments go out - wanted to see what it might look like and I'm quite pleased. I've overpaid mortgage 2 by £1,000 this year and the interest has reduced by about 20p per day so £67 so far - I wouldn't have got that in a savings account.:D


I got my extra payment for the work I did in Aug/ Sept and it amounted to £193 so I am going to pay off £300 from CC instead of the £110 I'd planned. Just need to wait until payment due and I've switched utility companies so want to make sure I don't have a balance to pay in December for the old company.:)


Out for a free lunch and a nice leisurely stroll today with family so looking forward to it.


Have a good day all.

Rachiedabbler70

Evening All


What a windy day - I have half a tree upside down in my garden from the footpath on the other side of the garden fence. It's about 10 foot tall so think I might need the council to clear it (it's their tree after all:D)


Anyway - finances - just paid £300 from credit card as my bill came in today:j(I'm not jumping for joy at getting the bill by the way!)


Just need to update my signature.


Hope the weather gets better for everyone.

Rachiedabbler70

Hello


Haven't posted for over a week - too busy at work. I have however paid 2 loan payments this week - amounting to £187.22 - not overpayments but just the regular sort.:)


I'm on the grocery challenge (I include my petrol, clothes and going out money within this budget) and I'm within budget, but I have been a bit spendy so will need to make sure I stay within budget until the end of the month.


Done most of my Christmas shopping - all presents for the kids, grandparents, nephews and nieces etc just missing a small pressie for one of my sisters. I might spend a lot on Christmas but for the first time in 3 years I am paying it all in December, so no carry over of extra debt. :j


Have a nice weekend.

Mrs_Cheshire

Rachie, just been having a read through, your doing very well. I would however not overpay the mortgage for a few months, until at least april when the CC is due to end it's 0% that way you can throw another £100 at it. Then when your out of debt you'll have more to throw at the mortgage, which is probably low interest at the moment!
I've just started the process myself, although I don't have a mortgage.