Decreasing spending - increasing happiness

Enjoying_life_more

Another goal for next year is to try and move my loan - the rate i got last June was 9% and there are some much better offers out there - i'll probably leave this until late next year when the balance will have come down a couple of thousand?

Enjoying_life_more

On the "enjoying life more" front - this is all about enjoying the things and experiences in life that don't cost money - as i said in one of my earlier posts i have brought my family up on one wage and i have had a lot of years of worrying about money and whilst I've still got debts (and the worry that goes with these) I'm in a position where if i stick to budgets they will get cleared. So I want to make sure that i don't worry too much and that I enjoy myself. Taking inspiration from another diary member I'm going to log the things I've enjoyed and am grateful for in my diary... no time like the present to start......

Today I've enjoyed spending time with my family, walking my dog and eating far too much

Mrs_Cheshire

Glad you had a good day yesterday!
Is there a possibility for you to decrease spending in some areas so you can pay off the loan and credit card so you'll have more money to save for your retirement and not pay so much in interest!

Enjoying_life_more

Mrs_Cheshire wrote: »

Glad you had a good day yesterday!
Is there a possibility for you to decrease spending in some areas so you can pay off the loan and credit card so you'll have more money to save for your retirement and not pay so much in interest!

Hi Mrs Cheshire

Yes the plan is also to try and cut down in any other area where I can. I want to try and build some savings up if possible so that when unexpected things arise I have a back up. My car is quite old and will need repairing/ replacing eventually - although I am considering going without for a while if this happens as its not essential for work.

Mrs_Cheshire

Thats one area we've always struggled with, not having a fund for yearly things such as car tax and mot and if any repairs are needed. Since going through everything with CAP we now have a fund in place for these annual costs as well as an emergency fund.

Enjoying_life_more

Mrs_Cheshire wrote: »

Thats one area we've always struggled with, not having a fund for yearly things such as car tax and mot and if any repairs are needed. Since going through everything with CAP we now have a fund in place for these annual costs as well as an emergency fund.

Do you have a diary I can read/ follow? Great to hear about your fund - I've never had an emergency fund and it will be good to have one in place for life's emergencies instead of resorting to borrowing to sort them out !

Enjoying_life_more

Had a good couple of days - drinks out with family yesterday - stuck to my budget too.

Done some sales browsing today and didn't buy a thing ! Couple of nice but blustery walks with my dog. Now i'm going to settle down for the night and read some more diaries on here, I seem to be addicted at the moment.

As I enter the new year/ new approach to finances my balances are:-
Morg 80,000
Loan 14,080
CC 1033
I will post the balances at the end of each month to show the reducing figures.

beanielou

You will soon to be under 1k on the credit card :j
& into the 13's on the loan :j

Enjoying_life_more

beanielou wrote: »

You will soon to be under 1k on the credit card :j
& into the 13's on the loan :j

thanks Beanielou - infact you've just put an idea in my head - the CC payment is 25 Direct Debit so I will pay another 9 pound from my weekly allowance to bring it under the thousand mark ! and yes the next payment on the loan should bring that well under 14 thousand.:j

Calling14

Welcome shiny new diary. Probably in a similar position to you, single, kids fled nest, dog. Get paid lot less but mortgage half size of yrs.

Good luck in your journey. I have cut back on Xmas overspending this yr, clothes,hairdressers, holidays and going out.

Can still have fun without the price tag