Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

FinanciallyUnsavvy

Strike is [ strike ] [ / strike ] - there's a button somewhere on the formatting menu too!

Don't beat yourself up too much about overspending - its to be expected once in a while, and YNAB's foundations are built on budgets not being strictly stuck to anyway, so don't worry! You've done so well the rest of the month, getting the extra money to pay off the Argos debt, etc.

I totally agree though - its so easy to open the floodgates, and I'm exactly the same - one little purchase always seems to lead to more and more. But we're fairly early on in our quest to financial harmony (ha!) so we can be forgiven for the little slip-up, especially when we manage to get ourselves back on track quickly.

Keep reminding yourself of the progress you've made so far - you're doing excellent xxx

StressedSteph

Hi Kim,


Thanks for the kind words. I guess it hard to change ingrained habits immediately. Like you said, I am grateful for YNAB as it immediately flagged up the extra spends because I had to figure out where in the budget they could go and jiggle it all around as I hadn't budgeted for those mistakes.

YNAB is weird. It is almost making paying bills more fun than dealing with the un planned spends.

When I log a bill going out, I have already budgeted for that amount so it feels nice to effectively strike that one as done.

But when I find an unplanned spend on my bank statement, it causes me anxiety wondering where I can fit it in and disappointment because it is messing up my pretty budget :rotfl:.

Ok go on...I AM weird

Just been and done about 1.1/2 hours in the polytunnel, digging up weeds. I am about two thirds done now so starting to see the finish line. Will soon be time for planting, well anytime now really, but need to get it finished asap. Then I have to start on the outside beds as the grass is very quickly reclaiming the dug over areas back for itself. Lots of hard work.

Feeling abit better that I had tackled a job today, I have such a bad habit of procrastinating. Whats the difference between procrastinating or just lazy?? I can't decide what I am. I seem to have short spurts of energy and enthusiasm and then spend the rest of the time guilt tripping myself about not doing anything.

Don't like being inside my own head sometimes

StressedSteph

Just wanted to add a quick note:-


Had a break through with hubby last night when he expressed interest in looking at YNAB.

I sat him down and explained it all. I still don't think he understands enough to take over from me anytime soon, but it was nice that he wanted to get involved.

He also looked at our debts . In the past I went to extreme lengths to keep the totals hidden from him, as I was so embarrassed at the mess I had allowed to happen. Everytime he chats to me about them, I feel such a weight being lifted off me.
I explained to him how I was just waiting for the Water cheque to clear then Arg#s will be paid off in full.
Then I will pass that £50 pm amount onto the Barcl#ycard debt, so I will be paying £130 (at least) per month off on that and then that £130 will go into the next debt.

I also explained how we are tackling one half of the debt this year and will hopefully pay off the 2nd half next year. So it is only two years we have to be uber-careful, and after that we will have £800 spare cash every month, to maybe pay £400 extra off the mortgage every month and the other into savings.

Felt nice to show him how I DO have a plan, but how we need to be abit boring for the next two years and find cheapy ways to meet up with friends.


Think I am winning xx

FinanciallyUnsavvy

Oh, we are very similar :rotfl: I think YNAB is good at that - because you get SO into setting it up and getting everything perfect it becomes a bit of an obsession to keep everything that way! It's good though - I've tried so many different budget apps in the past and lost interest so quickly, so its awesome YNAB has managed to get me so obsessed. It's certainly working

I'm exactly the same, except my spurts of energy and enthusiasm are far too few! :S I do spend a lot of time beating myself up for not getting stuff done instead of just doing it!

FinanciallyUnsavvy

Oh, and EXCELLENT news about talking to your hubby about everything. That's fantastic xxx

StressedSteph

FinanciallyUnsavvy wrote: »

Oh, we are very similar :rotfl: I think YNAB is good at that - because you get SO into setting it up and getting everything perfect it becomes a bit of an obsession to keep everything that way! It's good though - I've tried so many different budget apps in the past and lost interest so quickly, so its awesome YNAB has managed to get me so obsessed. It's certainly working

I'm exactly the same, except my spurts of energy and enthusiasm are far too few! :S I do spend a lot of time beating myself up for not getting stuff done instead of just doing it!

Haha we are very similar. I am Queen of the guilt trip

Chrysalis1976

Sounds like a very busy time, don't be too disheartened about the overspending at least you are in a position where you can now look at how to manage your pots to deal with the damage.

Great that you feel more comfortable about chatting to hubby, mine is very supportive about what I'm doing but still doesn't want to know all the payments etc. not that he goes out and spends he is very good at eating from home and a lot of his computer stuff has been brought after selling something else. He doesn't remember his pin number which is a blessing I suppose!

Keep it going, once you strike off Arg*s it should give you a boost for the next one.

C x

maddiemay

Hi Steph,
Lots of busy and positive things happening your end, well done on all counts.

The strike through key is "the S with a line through it" situated at the right hand side of the lower line of fonts, formatting stuff etc. It will be great to see that debt with a line through it.

Don't let the overspend get you down too much, it is done and I am sure that if you keep your eye very closely on the ball you will be able to deal with it.:A
MM xx

mfmaybe

Hi Steph

If paying off the debts was easy, MSE wouldn't exist - or at least the diary section. It's hard, sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes it feels difficult to keep the motivation up. You are doing brilliantly though, and will get there. Fantastic that your DH is starting to show an interest. Mine is a bit different as it's not his debt, but he's beginning to see that my half of the bills needs to be as small as possible, so luckily he is getting on board. It makes a huge difference.

Keep at it and don't beat yourself up.

mizmir

Hey Steph - fantastic that you are getting your hubby on board - makes such a difference I think. You are doing brilliantly - and two years is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Another obsessive YNAber here - it certainly does motivate you. I have done something I have not done before with it - budget everything we need for the month - even though it takes me well over budget. Not sure if it is going to make me more or less motivated but we shall see. I need to concentrate on sorting out the shortfall. It is not a cash flow shortfall as we have money we could (and would usually) draw on that has been put aside for other things but it is a reality shortfall - ultimately borrowing from those things just means we are short further down the road. Increasing income is the way to go!