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Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting
Comments
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I agree with the swimming, i'm debating whether to cancel my kids swimming lessons just until we move. It's £180 for the both of them every ten weeks and I could be using that money elsewhere at the moment if i'm honest (removals etc!)
I wish A1di did online deliveries! I wouldn't hesitate then to get them but I know that if I haul myself out and do the shop myself I will save money (I know your nearest one is further than mine so you have a good excuse lol I don't)
I also will echo what others are saying, sort out that mortgage first! My priorities are always the roof over my head, food & energy bills then everything else xxxxxMortgage Overpayments 2024/25 - September-December, £152.46. J- £103.27, F- £115, M- £91.50, A- £100, M- £200, J- £200. J- £200. A-£200, S- £221.34. O-£200EF- £642.41/500
Total- £1783.67
Goal pay off 1% of current mortgage in 1 year. £1650
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Afternoon Steph,
Just having a quick catch up. Totally agree with what you're doing with the shopping, I have been doing the Mr A's click and collect since the start of Jan and its working really well for me. Im probably spending £15-£20 less a week by doing it this way! My cupboards aren't as overflowing mind but we have stuff in so can't complain!
Can the kids actually swim? Weve recently stopped DD1's as the next step for her was timed lessons and also swimming for County which she did not want to do. We were the same as you felt bad for doing it but the bad feelings soon pass and I love not having to spend over an hour of my Sunday there. Friday night would be even worse! If they can swim I wouldn't even lose any sleep over it. If they can't well this is something you can go back to when you're sorted.
Hope you've enjoyed half term xxMummytogirls x0 -
clearmydebts wrote: »Hi Steph,
We are just about to start a trial of YNAB. Was looking over it briefly last night. It just seems to make complete sense. Am I right in thinking that if you are in debt (like me) that any rolling money each month goes straight off the debt rather than aiming for paying for your bills with last months wages. I have to say it is a real eye opener.
I have been doing an online shop for the past couple of months and it is definitely helping me to avoid impulse buys and spending a fortune on things I don't need.
Hi clearmydebts
I am so sorry I seem to have missed you post about YNAB
If I had enough left over money at the end of the month, I would start a BANK BUFFER category.
This would do towards getting a month ahead of all my bills.
That is what YNAB also tells you to do, BUT if you have brilliant job security maybe it could be your emergency fund, or extra payments against your debts.
I don't often have that dilemma so not had much practice with it xxx0 -
Thanks for all your advice everyone.
I have cancelled the swimming direct debit. £46 per month is just too much at the moment. Hubbys work is very thin on the ground at the moment and I would sooner pay my car insurance or a more vital dd than swimming.
Neither child is a Olympic hopeful, in fact they can both swim to a degree. Also during the summer term they have swimming lessons in school so its not like they wont have any lessons at all.
MTG you are definitely right about the fuel costs. It must cost at least £5 per week in fuel if not more and then any disorganised takeaways added to that.
You are right though, I would also love to have my Friday nights back and I think the children feel the same.
I did another two treatments last night. I asked the boss if the lady that fainted paid full price for the treatment and he said he only charges her half, so I guess I will only get paid half also.
So he currently owes me for 3.1/2 treatments = £122.50.
That will go straight into the bank to go towards bill payments.
Hubby hasn't been paid yet for last week as he hasn't yet finished the job. Will hopefully be middle of next week, so I am going to try to avoid doing a food shop until then as can't really afford it.
Not much else to report really. Trying to have a low spend / NSD's a possible.
Will be glad when the children go back to school so I can get the house organised again.
Hope you are all doing well. xxx0 -
Hang on in there Steph, between you and hubby you are owed quite a lot of wages and things will feel easier when they are in the bank. I see a lot of debt diary people who worry MUCH more about the debts when they are at about the half way point I think it is the tantalising view that debt free is not that far away but not close enough to feel "just around the corner".
Couldn't agree more about the swimming lessons and claiming back Friday night, life will be much calmer without them. I was in the green house today getting the seeds started, how is the poly tunnel?0 -
Hi Steph, just catching up with your diary. Sorry to read you've been stressing out about money. As tootalluh says, it will be easier once the money is actually in the bank account. Good luck with your NSDs and fingers crossed for lots of spa bookingsMortgage 26.4.25 - £108,500 1.9.25 - £105,664.31
Mortgage overpayment savings - £7.93/£50
Mortgage overpayments so far - £800.960 -
tootallulah wrote: »Hang on in there Steph, between you and hubby you are owed quite a lot of wages and things will feel easier when they are in the bank. I see a lot of debt diary people who worry MUCH more about the debts when they are at about the half way point I think it is the tantalising view that debt free is not that far away but not close enough to feel "just around the corner".
Couldn't agree more about the swimming lessons and claiming back Friday night, life will be much calmer without them. I was in the green house today getting the seeds started, how is the poly tunnel?Hi Steph, just catching up with your diary. Sorry to read you've been stressing out about money. As tootalluh says, it will be easier once the money is actually in the bank account. Good luck with your NSDs and fingers crossed for lots of spa bookings
Hi tootallulah & MissT
Yes I think I definitely worry almost as much as I did at the beginning. I wouldn't be so bad if hubby ACTUALLY had work booked in, but he virtually has nothing. :eek:.
He is finishing an extension roof for half of this week then I have no clue what he is going to do.
Guess a DMP would be the solution for the debts if hubbys work dried up for a long period but that doesn't solve the mortgage etc. eeeek. Hopefully something will turn up last minute like it has in the past. Would be typical for us to trip up now after all the progress we have made.
Polytunnel is going well. Just wish it would hurry up and warm up. I have seed trays all over the house hehe
hope you are both doing well, now the children are back in school I might have time to catch up with some diaries this week xxx0 -
Morning
I have balanced YNAB against my bank statement.
Hubby will finish his current project mid week and hopefully they will be fast payers as they are friends in the village.
I have asked the Spa for The £122.50 they owe me and childrens tax credit is due in this week.
Once all that is in, I have calculated that I should be able to pay the final bills for February (Mortgage & debts).
I have managed to work the weekly food plan so that we do not need to do a food shop this week. Kids packed lunches may look interesting by the end of the week but they will survive.
Super concerned about the lack of work hubby currently has.
Not sure what on earth we will do if he has no work?. Guess I would have to go to StepChange and get the debts onto a DMP.
But still have over £2000 to find every month to pay mortgage and usual bills.
Typical just as I need to start saving money that the money actually dries up :mad:.
I have looked round the house and there is literally nothing left to sell. Nothing that is worth more than £5 and isn't used a lot by us.
I am trying not to panic. Hubby has been pretty good at finding work in the past so hopefully he will find something.
Making my last payment to Littlewoods this month which is a success out of all this doom and gloom. Will be lovely to go down to 4 debts.
I do feel quite bright in myself though and often when I feel down about something I have to do, I am managing to give myself a talking to, and tell myself that its not that bad and many people have a lot worse days than me. That is a turn around for me and I feel the Agnus Castus is working.
Off to load washing machine and get some paperwork completed.
Hope you all have a great day xx0 -
Oh Steph it's a real worry for you
. I hope something comes up.
Can I ask, does your DH have a FB page for his work? Does he look on ratedpeople.com? I know that, more and more, people rely on the internet to get tradesmen. Of course word of mouth is best (currently I need a number of tradesman and am getting very few recommendations - shame he's so far from us!); but word of mouth is a small market place. Online reviews and google searches are so important now. Google "builders in x town" or whatever and see what comes up - does his name appear? Also Google his name and just make sure nothing odd appears like a dodgy review that you might be able to challenge. Which doesn't mean I expect there to beBut you just never know.
A FB page wouldn't take much. Just keep it relatively up to date (even if it's just a quick weekly post to give an example of the work being done - "Doing a modern refresh of a bathroom this week - Glad to be working indoors" ) and give before and after pics where possible and allowed. Encourage past clients to post feedback on the site. Make sure all his contact details are there.
Hope you don't mind me chipping in, I'm just on the other side of the fence right now so know how frustrating it can be to be looking!0% card was £1126.91 / Now £1502.37
AFD March 2/15 NSD March 2/11 :T
Other debts paid since 1/1/14: £17,0050 -
Oh Steph it's a real worry for you
. I hope something comes up.
Can I ask, does your DH have a FB page for his work? Does he look on ratedpeople.com? I know that, more and more, people rely on the internet to get tradesmen. Of course word of mouth is best (currently I need a number of tradesman and am getting very few recommendations - shame he's so far from us!); but word of mouth is a small market place. Online reviews and google searches are so important now. Google "builders in x town" or whatever and see what comes up - does his name appear? Also Google his name and just make sure nothing odd appears like a dodgy review that you might be able to challenge. Which doesn't mean I expect there to beBut you just never know.
A FB page wouldn't take much. Just keep it relatively up to date (even if it's just a quick weekly post to give an example of the work being done - "Doing a modern refresh of a bathroom this week - Glad to be working indoors" ) and give before and after pics where possible and allowed. Encourage past clients to post feedback on the site. Make sure all his contact details are there.
Hope you don't mind me chipping in, I'm just on the other side of the fence right now so know how frustrating it can be to be looking!
Hi mfmaybe
Some fab ideas there. He does have a FB page, but I must admit to forgetting to do any regular updates on it
I must do that asap. xxx0
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