Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

StressedSteph

Ooooh had another play around with YNAB (You Need a Budget) accounts programme.


It is so cool. Its too hard to explain but its like virtual envelopes, but it really concentrates your mind on where every penny from that weeks wage has to go. I really feel its going to MAKE me not want to spend any money for fear of ruining my budget screen :rotfl:.


I can't wait to get started on it. I have included EVERYTHING, even some little savings pots and a FUN money category, for hubby and I. I am trying to be more realistic with this budget, accepting that we both do need a small pot of cash for ourselves to LIVE a little as two years is a long time to starve yourself of anything.


I have also set up an Off-Budget TOTAL DEBT account, so at the end of every month I can enter how much I paid off against my debt total and see the total decrease. Unfortunately it doesn't take into account the possible interest accrued, but I have managed to get a lot of my debts interest free now so hopefully it won't alter the total too much.


Ok sermon over, just excited :T

Puzzcat

Hi ss,


Have had a look at YNAB, have you paid for the software or just trying out the free trial?


I use an online spending diary which is free for keeping track of my everyday spends.. spendingdiary.com... in case your interested.. it does reports and everything...:rotfl: I am not very techno minded it has to be said.. I still use pen and paper to balance my books!


Love Puzz.

StressedSteph

Puzzcat wrote: »

Hi ss,


Have had a look at YNAB, have you paid for the software or just trying out the free trial?


I use an online spending diary which is free for keeping track of my everyday spends.. spendingdiary.com... in case your interested.. it does reports and everything...:rotfl: I am not very techno minded it has to be said.. I still use pen and paper to balance my books!


Love Puzz.

Hi Puzzcat,

I am still on the free trial, so open to suggestions. I must admit i feel annoyed about loving a budgeting tool that is going to COST me money not save it, but thats just typical of me.

I will check out spendingdiary.com just in case this is just as good.

Thanks xxxx

Puzzcat

Unfortunately it won't be anywhere near as good as its free and only does basic things....but I like free:D

maddiemay

Hi SS

I think there is a lot to be said for the saying that the right person (thing) comes along at the right time, I saw a thread the other day that I though I would give you the heads up on as it might be helpful to you, and low and behold while I was catching up on it I see that you have found ForMyGirls thread for yourself:j

You mentioned the feeling that you have to provide whatever your family asks for, if you can fix the thought in your mind that when you can debt free "we can all have more nice things/experiences" Also have a read of this for when you are under pressure from the juniors http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2014/01/bringing-the-family-on-board-or-not/
MM x

StressedSteph

maddiemay wrote: »

Hi SS

I think there is a lot to be said for the saying that the right person (thing) comes along at the right time, I saw a thread the other day that I though I would give you the heads up on as it might be helpful to you, and low and behold while I was catching up on it I see that you have found ForMyGirls thread for yourself:j

You mentioned the feeling that you have to provide whatever your family asks for, if you can fix the thought in your mind that when you can debt free "we can all have more nice things/experiences" Also have a read of this for when you are under pressure from the juniors http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2014/01/bringing-the-family-on-board-or-not/
MM x

Thanks MaddieMay

ForMyGirls has created a fantastic thread has'nt she. I don't get all the weight loss stuff as food has always been just a fuel thing for me, my issues are with money

She talks alot of sense, I have read all her thread but feel i need to go back over the different steps and almost jot them down, as I got lost along the way.

Definately a great thread for inspiration though.
xxx

shinner

Hi you should get your online banking details around same time as the card. You don't get a card reader they don't use them i got all my paperwork etc within a wk. I never got any letters from barclays just santander.
Glad you are getting your head around spreadsheets think i could do with looking.

StressedSteph

shinner wrote: »

Hi you should get your online banking details around same time as the card. You don't get a card reader they don't use them i got all my paperwork etc within a wk. I never got any letters from barclays just santander.
Glad you are getting your head around spreadsheets think i could do with looking.

Thats interesting Shinner, can't remember though if there was a box to check on the application about online banking though???. Was worried I would then have to fill the online form in to apply for online banking which would take another 5 days?.

I hope you are right xxx

StressedSteph

Morning all, just checking in.


Well We have finished banking with B#rclays today, it was quite fitting that the last bills to go out of the account was the Interest £36 and Charges £90 from B#rclays. Fingers crossed if I can get them to stop charging me, then that will be the last time they charge me crazy prices. (or it could just be the beginning :eek:)

Hubbys wages should go into the new account this weekend and direct Debits start going out from next Tuesday.

I will just have abit of a blind week next week until I can get online with S#ntander. Fingers crossed we get the bank cards soon as well as we have no money at all at the moment . Yikes.

Will have to make sure I do not spend ANY money until I can get on line as I need to use my new YNAB budget to make sure I assign the money to bills first. I will have to be super strict from now on as I have no clue how much S#ntander charge for un-authorised overdrafts (NOT going to happen).

Feeling really optimistic this week, just can't wait to get going with the new bank and the new YNAB budget. I have high hopes that this will keep us on the straight and narrow.


Turned down two invites out this week. 1 was a trip to see Thriller in London in the Spring and the other was a meal out at an expensive restaurant next week. Can't and won't afford to do either.
In the past I would have gone to extreme lengths to find the money from somewhere so we could do it, but I am trying to be more realistic and face the fact that this year is the year for frugality. :T

mizmir

Well done on turning down these offers. I think we do need to have treats to get through all this - but we need to choose them carefully so that they can be guilt free and not add to our debts.

YNAB seems to be working for you. I am so tempted to try it - maybe I should have a play with the free trial....