Debt Destruction December!!!

tennisfanatic

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking the last few days but not felt up to posting as I didn't want to drag the mood of the board down and i was in a right grump of fedup-ness and feeling lonely/numb.

Feeling more normal today - finally decorated the tree i bought on saturday and feeling the magic of the christmas lights. Have also made homemade mincemeat which isn't cheap but smells amazing.

Have had 3 spendy days and tomorrow is also going to be spendy day. Spends in majority were planned things but as my head wasn't in right place I either kept forgetting things when i went out or didn't feel up to going to all the places i had planned to shop that day.

Not too worried about eating up my budgets as i have now got lots of batch cooking done to help out in january.

SFD 6/15
Food £108.56/£120 (includes £5.25 for foodbank and alcohol and lots of food for batch cooking)
Transport £13.05/£100
Clothes £16/£70 (new slippers and pyjamas from t3sco)
Hairdressers £38/£35
Entertainment £27.90/£30 (messed up my budgeting - might need to set a revised budget for this month as still few commitments)
Christmas £69.66/£60 (still 1 present left to get - overspend due to forgetting thiings when i sat downto write budget)
Miscellaneous £1.99/£10 (cleaning product)

plymouthscubagirl

Yippppeeeee another SFD. Thin thats 3 now.

Just done something really stupid .......and weighed myself! All I will say is it wasn't pretty. Off to drown my sorrows in a Baileys coffee ;-) x

apple_muncher

Well done clippy girl on the sugar free days. I've been doing this for about a week now, not always managing it, but feeling physically off or sore-throaty (is that a word?) soon afterwards if I do consume it. Can't do many convenience grain-based foods anyway as I need to be gluten-free, and I've found it rather liberating to have the mindset of "I don't eat that" instead of "I can't eat that". Have also lost a bit of weight - great motivating factor! Yes, I need to always plan ahead, there is no room for manoeuvre or wriggling, but I'm pretty much used to it. And let me add that I eat loads of fat! The 'proper' natural stuff: butter, coconut oil, olive oil, cream, cheeses and am still losing my own fat! Hope you enjoy your new eatingstyle. And hope my witterings here make sense to others - they're crystal clear to me!

Another NSD here as I've been at work.

Have signed up to the 2014mfw. Gulp! But dh has been offered a job starting soonish:j:j:j and I almost definitely have extra days for 8 months, so I've signed up to paying... £11,600 towards mortgage payments and we also want to save £5,200. I dom't understand spreadsheets, so will create a 'colour the boxes' type of picture, with 1 box= £100. I love colouring in!

However, we will receive no extra wages until the end of January 2014, but will have extra outgoings in Jan, so we will keep to our frugal ways!

I considered us extremely blessed to be able to have this plan! We have the mortgage because we bought a house for my mum a year ago, and not once has dh referred to this. He's a good'un indeed!!

TiptoesDB

Tennisfanatic I was just considering not posting as I feel rubbish too and then I read your post and wanted to say to you don't worry about dragging the board down, we are here to pick you up! Come and have a moan and a cry and share (if you want to, not forcing you!). Everyone goes through ups and downs... and we are here to help, but then hypocrite that I am was going to sulk and feel rubbish in silence. And still would have been if it was not for telling you not to! Its hard, and I hope you are feeling better. Enjoy your mincemeat it sounds yummy...

and Plymouthscubagirl step away from the scales!! I am too scared to get on mine. I think I have put on 2 STONE since the wedding in May! But I daren't have it confirmed. I know I need to do something about it, but I feel too de-motivated to. I need to get out of this slump. I think its been said on here before in previous months by others, but when I am not focusing on money I can be so in control with my food and exercise, but now I am budget conscious I am piling on the pounds (and stones). I don't know if its lack of ability to manage tightly more than one area of my life or because I am eating cheap, filling stodgy comfort food.... ho hum. It's got to stop though as I can't afford new clothes and I am getting too big for all my work outfits. Sigh. Can I join you in a Baileys please? Forget the coffee...

Spendy day today again as needed more meds for poorly kitkat. She's still not good at all.

abundant1972

Evening!

Thanks everyone for some great ideas on how to date and minimise spends!!! I think honesty is the best policy, and yes - offer to cook (which I can stay in control of cheaply) and be firm in my resolve!

We're defrosting the freezer later this week - so made up a few batch meals from stuff in there, which I can use up as meals for the next few days. Made up some salad pots which I can grab as a healthy snack.

:rudolf: Today = SFD number 7 :rudolf:

Fmess

Thriftylass your kitchen looks lovely

loveadove well done on the haircut!

tiptoesDB I am exactly the same; piling on the pounds and I'm outgrowing my work clothes Perhaps we could have some health related challenges in the January challenge NSK?

Today is SFD number 5

Did one of my tutoring jobs Also they passed on the details of a tutoring agency that would like me to sign up with them (although think this would be too much on top of the day job and two tutees)

EDIT Received £25 through P4ypal from Sw4gbucks Paid it straight off the ccard

clippy_girl

thanks apple muncher i gave it up for over 4 weeks before i went on holiday but then caved due to mini eggs :EasterBun the clean and lean book i was reading recommends all fat products as they are natural and keep you full and are not full of sugar. it says they are good for weight loss! going to start with butter i think and full fat yoghurt. i am also reading bob harpers skinny rules which i followed before and it made my tummy really flat. think it was a combination of no artificial sugars and not eating carbs after lunch (this was surprisingly easy!) :A so im back on that!

CEW

Hi All,

I have finally managed to force myself to post my first update since joining this challenge. Bit worried that I'm not doing too well but here goes:

3 SFD's to report. I never realised how difficult this is. I usually do a big shop once or twice a month and then just buy what I need as and when. It seems to be milk and maybe coffee that I seem to need to top up on. Must start to plan better.

Always tend to double up when I cook so that I can freeze at least one meal for myself and OH so this part of the challenge is going well. :T

My grocery budget for the month was originally going to be £150 but have increased this to £200 to take Xmas food into account but hoping not to use it all as I've been meal planning and we are living out of the freezer and store cupboards for the third month running. Amazing what meals you can come up with when you really want to save money :rotfl:

Current grocery spend Is £61.33/£200 which includes some Xmas goodies.

I will donate to the food bank on my next shopping trip.

Have not cancelled any celebrations as I only have a free Xmas lunch (which was yesterday and pretty dire to be honest) and an Xmas party on Friday night which again is totally free as we are allocated drink tokens (not that I drink anyway).

Still working on my DFD and goals for 2014 so will update these later.

Sorry for such a long (and probably boring) post but I will aim to add a quick update on a daily basis in future. Hoping this will help to keep me focused and on track.

Having finally posted and reading back through the post I feel I'm not doing quite as bad as I thought I was doing. Yet another reason to pot regularly.

Well done everyone and good luck for the rest of the month.

Chez x

p.s. Sorry, can't remember who posted about changing to free range / organic eggs cos they should taste better but I would say they do. I have 3 chicks that free range through the day and the eggs are absolutely fantastic :j

traveller

Hi everyone!

Karmachilovething-Thank you :T I will give that a go! Hopefully, my effort will look like a cake and not a cow pat,lol.

Thriftylass-Your kitchen looks amazing :T

Youngest son had his bag nicked at home time:mad: It was a cars one. I'm hoping it's a mistake and a child brings it back. But, since it was there all day until home time an adult may have made off with it!
Oh well, what can you do! I had another NSD today , so I think that takes my overall to 4. Tomorrow should be NSD also. I will buy my daughters card on friday as I have to spend on that day anyway!

Abundant- I am so jealous you are not bothered about holidays! I am a mess having to face next year without one! But I am coming to terms with it! Oh actually I forgot about my night in milton keyenes and 2 nights in Windsor! Not exactly Vegas, but I plan a big west coast trip for when I'm debt free.

NSK-I'm loving the inspirational spreadsheet idea. It would really spur me on to see images of what I want to achieve/where I want to go next. New Orleans looks good too

Keep up the good work everyone :T

KittyBoo_2

SFD number 6 yesterday.
Will need to go and get some petrol over the next couple of days so will try and make sure any other spending is done on the same day.
It always cheers me up when I come on here and read the posts. It must be the hardest time of year to reign in the spending and stick to our budgets.
I keep seeing little things for my Grandson but up to now, I've managed to stop myself buying them.
After watching the compulsive hoarders/cleaners last night, it inspired me to have a good fettle out of the cubby hole, pantry and clothes drawers. I cannot tell you how much stuff I've got ready for the charity shop, refuse tip and the dustbin.
I'm just waiting for my Xmas tree to arrive and I will start getting into the Christmas spirit. (not the liquid type).