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

Rachiedabbler70

Hello


Thanks Mrs Cheshire for joining in - I think you are right and JackieB mentioned it as well, so I have cancelled my standing order to my mortgage and on 1st Jan I'll pay the extra £100 to my credit card.


I haven't been on here for a whole week - had a hectic working week because I had to finish all my outstanding tasks by Friday - so I stayed late every night and managed to do it:)


I think I might have overdone the hours a bit though because I have very swollen glands in my neck and most of my joints ache, so today is take it easy Saturday.:j


I now have 2 weeks off work which is brilliant and means I can cook properly, keep the house clean, catch up on the washing and spend time with the kids and family.


Have 7 people round for Christmas day, but have already done all my shopping - food, pressies, the full works.


I have slightly overspent my grocery budget - it actually includes all going out, petrol, any clothes and food, but I did buy a food steamer on offer so I'll let myself off. No need to spend any money now until Jan 2014 as my freezer, fridge and cupboards have 2 weeks worth of food in them.


I'm doing well on NSDs, think I will now exceed my 20 planned NSDs.


I have also paid a further £30 off my credit card today.:)


Have a great day everyone.

Mrs_Cheshire

Rachie glad to hear your already for Christmas. Let's just keep our fingers crossed you don't need any petrol or have any unexpected bills as,you have overspent this month.

Rachiedabbler70

I find myself up when I'm usually asleep, so been catching up on others debt free diaries.:)


Still pleased to say I'm on track - no more spends and no intention to until January - plenty of food still in and car has stayed on the drive for a few days whilst I've entertained friends and family so still nearly full tank of petrol.:) My car does around 60 miles to the gallon so I think it will last another 3 weeks before filling up again.


Paid £76.00 off a store card today and that clears the balance off - now down to one store card.:j


Got a bit of storm damage to some of the fencing round the garden so will repair them later today before the panels completely disintegrate - I have a few bits of timber knocking about so going to repair with whatever I have then paint over them in spring.


Was given a £25 gift voucher for a shop which sells food so will use that as part of my grocery shopping in January and pay £25 more off my most pressing credit card. Also was given a really nice pork joint which is going to be cooked for tea today. I will have enough left for another meal so pleased with that. Every little helps.:)


I've set myself two targets for 2014 - one to reduce my debts by £8,600 and to reduce my mortgage by £4,000. This adds up to a large amount of my income and I'll need to pay the interest on my mortgages at the same time, but I've set up a budget for the whole year and will strive to keep to it.


I do feel like I've made some really good steps in the last few weeks - no longer buy lunches at work, most days are now NSDs, started shopping in cheaper shops, mending things and thinking before I spend on anything and stopped buying takeouts. It will be these little things that will help me achieve my goals. Time to go to bed..........:D

jackieblack

Rachiedabbler70 wrote: »

I find myself up when I'm usually asleep, so been catching up on others debt free diaries.:)


Still pleased to say I'm on track - no more spends and no intention to until January - plenty of food still in and car has stayed on the drive for a few days whilst I've entertained friends and family so still nearly full tank of petrol.:) My car does around 60 miles to the gallon so I think it will last another 3 weeks before filling up again.


Paid £76.00 off a store card today and that clears the balance off - now down to one store card.:j


Got a bit of storm damage to some of the fencing round the garden so will repair them later today before the panels completely disintegrate - I have a few bits of timber knocking about so going to repair with whatever I have then paint over them in spring.


Was given a £25 gift voucher for a shop which sells food so will use that as part of my grocery shopping in January and pay £25 more off my most pressing credit card. Also was given a really nice pork joint which is going to be cooked for tea today. I will have enough left for another meal so pleased with that. Every little helps.:)


I've set myself two targets for 2014 - one to reduce my debts by £8,600 and to reduce my mortgage by £4,000. This adds up to a large amount of my income and I'll need to pay the interest on my mortgages at the same time, but I've set up a budget for the whole year and will strive to keep to it.


I do feel like I've made some really good steps in the last few weeks - no longer buy lunches at work, most days are now NSDs, started shopping in cheaper shops, mending things and thinking before I spend on anything and stopped buying takeouts. It will be these little things that will help me achieve my goals. Time to go to bed..........:D

Well done, you're doing brilliantly
Small changes will all add up to make a big difference :dance:

Mrs_Cheshire

Well done Rachie, your doing so well!

Rachiedabbler70

Thanks JackieB and MrsC for your kinds words. It is a struggle on one salary and with two growing teens, but I've been on my own with them since they were little and we've managed so far.


Went round the shops today to see if the kids wanted to spend any Christmas money - we spent nothing between us, but it was nice to get out after the storms and we parked for free on the other side of a park and walked the remaining half mile to the shops.:)


The only thing other than a little food that I will buy next week is a new thermostat for my central heating as mine has packed in! I only need an analogue one and I'll fix it myself - probably cost around £12-£15 and will come out of my grocery budget.:D


Pork for tea was delicious and I used up some of the potatoes my Dad gave me on Christmas day. If I didn't get half of my veggies for free I would have to spend more on food, but my Dad is a great grower and helps feed many family members for a good few months of the year. I dabble a bit myself - usually grow my own tomatoes, carrots and potatoes and sometimes spring onions. For the last couple of years I've been creating my own compost as well and I think this year will be the first time I won't need to buy any - just a little fertiliser.:)


I was given a really nice windowsill herb garden at Christmas so I'm going to sow the seeds this week - basil, parsley and chives. I don't know why I went for an office job really all those years ago as I love being outside more than anything, but there you go - if I pay my debts off though I could take a career change..............:D

Rachiedabbler70

Happy New Year All


I've joined a new thread to pay off all debts by Xmas 2014 - I won't succeed as it would take more money than I can afford to pay out:eek:, however I think it is doable by Xmas 2015, so it is a large stepping stone for me and the people on the thread are really friendly and pleasant.:)


I have set myself a target to reduce my debt by £12,600. This is £4,000 more than I paid off in 2013 and my income is not going up, however I have dramatically reduced my spending and this is what I am relying upon.


By September 2014 I should have got rid of all credit and store cards, leaving me with 3 loans (including one interest free) and 2 mortgages.:D


The other thing I have done is stop using my monthly credit card and from today I am paying cash only. This means in January I will need to pay the balance and budget for cash spending so will be very tight, but worth it in the long run. I think this credit card is the main problem - I spend on it, lose track or don't consider it real money then have to pay it off. Not any more.:)


Back to payments I have paid £276 of the £12,600. The rest of my payments are not due yet so will pay as they become due. I am targeting my credit card that finishes on 5 April and have budgeted to pay £600 off it this month bringing the amount owing to £2,190.:)


I have sent an e-mail to the store card company I paid off in December and asked them to close my account. Cash, cash and only cash for me now.:D


NSD today - starting as I mean to go on.:D

Rachiedabbler70

Just a quick update - I've paid £1,001.51 of my £12,600 target so far. I'm pleased with this and it is down to just not spending unless essential.:) My credit card that needs paying by 5 April now stands at £2,190 down from £2,790 in December.:D


After 12 NSDs in a row I've done a big food shop that should last a couple of weeks except fresh items. I'll need petrol tomorrow and expect this to last the month and cost around £42.


Off to make the packed lunches for school and work tomorrow and plan tomorrow's evening meal so when I've got in after a long day there is something already prepared.:)


Happy remains of Sunday.:D

Mrs_Cheshire

Rachie, well done on making positive steps to paying things off, I feel so much better only using cash.

Rachiedabbler70

Just dropping in to report another payment to my credit card - £100. I forgot that my mobile phone attracted an auto cashback of £100 this month.:j Now paid £1,101.51 of my target £12,600 for this year (8.74% paid).


I'm loving the Pay Your Debt off by Christmas 2014 thread - it's helping keep me focussed.:)


Another NSD today.


My birthday is coming up soon and my eldest son has ordered me some seed potatoes and onion sets for planting in the garden - a brilliant pressie for me as I love growing my own veg and it will save me a few quid this Summer.:j
Off to update signature and the other thread.

Enjoy the weekend.