Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

shinner

Glad you have received new cards and that your OH going to try get overtime in. Did you manage to get 123 account ? If you did try leave emergency fund in account if you can I.interest pays better in this account.

StressedSteph

mizmir wrote: »

Wow that's brilliant - makes such a difference to have your OH on board with it all - especially when he may even be able to help balance things! Bet he feels better too knowing you are sharing it with him.

Thanks Mizmir,
Think we will both benefit from this new system. Feel really happy xx

shinner wrote: »

Glad you have received new cards and that your OH going to try get overtime in. Did you manage to get 123 account ? If you did try leave emergency fund in account if you can I.interest pays better in this account.

Yes I got the 123 account. Which is fab as we get cash back from utility bills and we have a mortgage with them too.
Yes will be working out of the YNAB budgeting system which gives "Every pound a job", so it will be spent into different categories in the budget software, when actually the money is just sitting in our 123 account. Got to check whether it is better in the 123 or the Santander savings account I have just opened. I did'nt take any notice of interest rates as I have had a minus figure in my account for so many years.

Will go and have a look now xxx

StressedSteph

Ok, so the 123 account only pays 1% Interest to balances over £1000. But my esaver account pays 1% on balances over £1.

So my money will do better if I transfer it into the esaver, then as soon as I reach £2000 and above it is better back in my 123 as on balances over £2000 they pay 2%.

I am also trying to build a 1 months pay buffer in the long term to give us more financial security.

Wow never had to look up interest rates before. Although its early days, I haven't got £1 to save yet :rotfl:.


Good to know though xxx

maddiemay

so pleased for you, you and OH are now working as a team on this means you really will crack it this time, and if you have to justify expenditure to each other it should really help stop impulse buys and enable you to plan family spending.

You have got so much encouragement on here too, fantastic.:j

MM x

StressedSteph

Thanks MM


Its thanks to all of you guys that I have even changed my account and started again.


What on earth did we ever do before we found MSE xxx

debtfreeoneday

So good that hub is on board with you. Mine is too and it makes all the difference. Bank a/c seems to be going along well, so that's all good.

Good old hub doing some overtime. Have you thought about doing surveys as well to earn some extra? x

wantabetterlife

I for one definitely owe a lot to MSE...it totally changed my attitude to money, material possessions and realising what is actually important in life, there are so many great people on here, its just a pity we don't know them in real life!

StressedSteph

debtfreeoneday wrote: »

So good that hub is on board with you. Mine is too and it makes all the difference. Bank a/c seems to be going along well, so that's all good.

Good old hub doing some overtime. Have you thought about doing surveys as well to earn some extra? x

Hi DFOD
I think this is a big difference to any of my last LBM's, as in the past I always tried to tackle it on my own as I had'nt fessed up to hubby about our amount of debt. Typically as soon as i start secretly budgeting, he would start nagging for a BIG purchase that he desperately needed (Last one was a £1000 shotgun, which he has used about 3 times :mad:).
At least now he is totally in the picture, he will hopefully be a little more realistic with his wants.

I have slightly dabbled with surveys before, but I found them frustrating as I did'nt often seem to fit into the categories they wanted. I would spend 5 minutes filling in the first three pages with my information, only to then get a message saying I did'nt fit in with what they were looking for this time, so I did'nt get any credits, but they had taken lots of info about me. Quite frustrating.

I started a little craft business last September on FB, and that seems to be bringing in around £200 per month, even more if I dedicated myself to it. Think my time is probably better spent pluggung away at that. but if I have missed a trick with the surveys please let me know xx

wantabetterlife wrote: »

I for one definitely owe a lot to MSE...it totally changed my attitude to money, material possessions and realising what is actually important in life, there are so many great people on here, its just a pity we don't know them in real life!

Hi WABL,
You are so right, I wonder how many people over the years MSE has brought back from the brink of despair??. Must run into the millions such an excellent lifeline for loads of us. Nothing like feeling you are not the only idiot that can't money manage

StressedSteph

Monring Diary,

Quiet day today, Dd has a birthday party at 11am. Have been a little bit naughty, but she had a gift at Christmas of electronic drumsticks which even by the time she had gone back to school, she had'nt opened or showed any interest in. So I snaffled them away and i'm planning on wrapping those up for the birthday girls present. .
Am I a bad person ??

Hubbys golf has been cancelled and they are just having the post-Christmas meal at lunchtime. So that saves £15 :T. hubby did'nt look too enthusiastic about me reclaiming the £15 from him, but a little budget reminder and he seemed ok .

Yesterday I had the first letter from S#ntander giving me my internet access passwords, just got to wait for their second letter and then i will be able to log into the new bank account and track my budget. Can't wait.
Wages and a small payment from my FB company have gone into the new account. Got to face calling B#rclays next week to inform them of what is happenning. Haven't decided if i am brave enough yet...I might just send a letter. What do you think?

Hope you are enjoying the bit of sunshine we have today. xx

debtfreeoneday

You are so not bad for regifting a present, I've done it before.


I do a few survey sites, well three and get paid quite regularly from those. Maybe £100 - £150 per year.. But yes you're right it does take time.