Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

StressedSteph

Good heavens . So surprised at all your lovely posts. Thank you all so much.

I must admit to not feeling very inspirational, I personally feel I couldn't have achieved any of this without the support of you all.

I dashed to Poole this morning to see mum and hand over her Christmas presents to the staff. Mum thought it was Easter

Dashed home, did the last bit of shopping in the local shop of bits I had forgotten and that is it. If I have forgotten anything then its tough.

Got a couple of small things left to wrap up tonight, but otherwise all done.

I might make a Chocolate mousse cake in abit and finish off making the Sherry trifle. Feeling pooped at the moment, we went to a friends house down the road last night for some Christmas drinks and it lasted longer than planned

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and will catch up with all your diaries in a minute to see how you all are.

xxxxxx

Verbatim

Merry Xmas Steph.
I'm sure you'll soon be debt free. As the added interest lessens as the debt reduces you might find that snowball picks up speed and you make it by your 40th!

bluestaff

Hi Ss,
Well iv finally read through all your dairy and would just like to say you've done brilliant, what an insparation and such a busy life to well done Steph.
Hope you have a happy Christmas you deserve it. X sue

abba1772

Merry Xmas xxxxx

dawnybabes

Hope you've had a great Christmas xxx

debtfreeoneday

You've done so well this year - am sure next year will be THE year you kick debt into touch!

kelpie35

Hello Steph :hello:

I have just spent the last couple of days reading your diary from beginning to last post.

You are a very inspirational person. Also a loving wife and mother.

I was in your shoes many years ago, so I know how you felt a year ago.

You should be so proud of yourself and all that you have achieved over this last year. :T

I am going continue watching you succeed with your remaining debt and I know you will be done with it as quickly as you possible can.

I am so pleased for you and can I wish you and your family a Happy New Year. :beer:

May you all be healthy, wealthy and wise. Take care x

StressedSteph

Morning all,

Thanks for all the amazing posts, also welcome to bluestaff and Kelpie for managing to read my whole diary, phew.....

We had a lovely if not a little normal Christmas day, I didn't feel like I had all that much time to sit and relax what with cooking the dinner and helping the children out with setting up their new toys etc, but it was lovely to not have to worry about keeping visitors happy.

On Boxing day we relaxed at home until 3.30pm then we went up to our next door farm and spent the evening with a group of friends.
We had lots of fun and only took up a bowl of sausage rolls and a bottle of wine :D.

We are all super tired this morning, we got home at 1130pm, so expect a cranky day from the kids (and me ).

Now I know what money we have in the bank after all the expenses, I need to sit down and have a YNAB overhaul. Checking that the categories do not need removing or changing. I have in the past fallen back on the "Sundries" category too often so i want to have a look back on what I dumped in that category to see where this weakness is.

I also need to have a proper think about the envelopes idea. It would mean me driving to a supermarket for food instead of online grocery deliveries, so need to set a day to do that.
We have a Sainsburys that is 8 miles away rather than driving 15 miles to Lidl, but I expect Sainsburys are not competative with lidl so I ought to drive the extra distance.

I have cancelled our New Years eve meal at the local pub. We do not have a baby sitter and if I am totally honest I am finding it a very convenient excuse to stay in . I hate New Years and all its associated expense. The meal at the pub is £18 per head + Drinks + £25-£30 babysitter fees. = Probably heading for £100 :eek:.

Don't want to spend that amount, especially on a crummy night at the village pub. Hubby will be disappointed as he likes a knees up, but this is the first year we have EVER stayed home so its about time I got to do what I would like = Nothing .

What are you all doing for new years?. I am wondering about maybe getting us something yummy for dinner and a bottle of fizz. I know its spending money but it won't be a patch on what we have saved by not going out.

Anyway, feel I have gabbled too long.

Hope you all had a great Christmas. xxx

Puzzcat

Hi steph,


Nice to see you back after the festives.. glad you all had a good time..!!


You popped over to my diary and asked about NYE... well we have a party invite to the neighbours.. umm... they are a young couple so suspect it will be quite noisy and probably not my thing so doubt I will venture in... if I do it will only be for an early glass of something...!! OH wants to go to his local and I'm more than happy to be on my own.. well with dd in the house somewhere so I expect that is what will happen.. A night down the pub is my worst nightmare and certainly not the way I want to bring in 2015... I expect like usual I will be tucked up in my bed and woken by fireworks at midnight..!!


So glad you are getting to do what you want to do this year.. you really can't beat nice food a nice bottle of wine and your own home... in my opinion anyway...!!!


With regards to the envelopes, I don't know how complicated it would be for you to pay the right amount into your bank account for the groceries so you could still do online shopping? I do this sometimes if I get a deal/voucher etc.. or if I want to do click n collect... I'm rather more towny than you mind.. so its only 1 mile to the bank and a choice of all the supermarkets... not a field to be seen....!!!


Love Puzz. x

mummytogirls

Hi Steph,

It must be the day for thinking ahead about groceries, as ive been doing the same!

My dilemma is how to budget. I cant do a set amount per week as this doesnt work for us as I go to the farmshop etc. How will you budget?

A nice meal and bottle of fizz sounds nice for NYE x