This will be the year.....

xJOJOx_2

Hi I'm starting a diary to help keep me on track. I always do well to begin with, then a few months down the line I seem to forget all the hard work and start blowing my money.

I'm determined that this year will be the year I pay off my debts and start saving for my long term goals.

I am 31 with two beautiful girls and a stepdaughter who is currently living with us for a while. I have two debts, a loan of about £2k and credit card £2k also. I am also paying for a holiday in August and have £1.4k to go.

Goals for the up coming year are;

Too pay off debts
Start saving for house deposit (no rush as in free accommodation but want to own house evenly)
Start a pot for Disney land for when the girls are older
Pay off holiday and save deposit too book for next year

I have very little outgoings at the moment so it's very doable, as long as I don't waste my money.

So I'm off too start my budget and put some things on eBay x

Eyes_wide_open

Good luck with your goals xx

gracesophia

Good luck!

xJOJOx_2

Tonight I have listed 7 items on eBay, hopefully some more tomorrow, giving myself a first goal of £50 to pay off the loan. It's so much easier using my pad to do it best Christmas present ever. Been very lucky this year, lots of nice new stuff so shouldn't need to buy anything for a while. I've asked for kitchen items for my birthday in jan, so hopefully want need to replace too many things.

Downloaded some finance apps, just need to see what best for me, will have to play with them tomorrow.

Finished knitting a scarf for next Christmas lol starting already. Wrote my present list out etc, going to make a lot of scars and hats this year! Also got points on cards etc to use up so will be getting presents with them.

Just had my weekly mat pay and still got £20 left from last week so that's gone in pot for loan.

Not a bad start but still lots more too be done!

scattymam1

Good luck jojo...like the idea of making hats and scarves for people for next Christmas, such a good idea to start now and get organised or before you know it Christmas is here again and you don't have time to make handmade stuff and end up buying...will be joining you on the handmade items, starting soon too

xJOJOx_2

scattymam1 wrote: »

Good luck jojo...like the idea of making hats and scarves for people for next Christmas, such a good idea to start now and get organised or before you know it Christmas is here again and you don't have time to make handmade stuff and end up buying...will be joining you on the handmade items, starting soon too

Yeah that happened a little this year, it was my first time making gifts (never knitted before) but everyone I had time to make one for loved them, hoping to up my skill a little and make matching arm Warner's too. I also made all my staff homemade bath kits, which didn't cost much to do, and a bar of chocolate each. Nice too say a little thank you at the end of year, the pub wouldn't be so successful if they didn't get behind me every step of the way

xJOJOx_2

So now spending again today yet!

Have too go food shopping and get some bits, so I've done my meal planner for week (will stick with it) also arranged for my sister to look after the kids and my brother in law taking me, no wasting money on taxis or giving in to the girls, and hopefully no forgetting anything as baby crying and have too stop what I'm doing.

.10p found in bathroom and put in pennies jar, going for the every little counts as I want to bust my loan ASAP. It works out every £70 I may back sooner is a additional £30 min saved. know about snowballing for a while but always paid back the easiest to pay first, but I need to stop being lazy and pick up the phone to do it!

Napped some animal slip mats off my friend and put in bath, saves me buying a bath mat as little one needs one now.

Need a lot of housy things at the moment, must write a list and source as cheap as possibly or for free

Another two listings on eBay today and two boxes off baby clothes in size order ready to list once I've organised them.

Bagged up £22 from change jar to pay in bank tomorrow and found another £20 stashed in my drawer, if i do okay on food shopping tomorrow I may be able to pay off my first £100 off loan.

Going to go over my lists for tomorrow, lay out clothes for everyone and make sure I'm set for day ahead. I truly believe if I'm more organized I'll save a lot more money xx

xJOJOx_2

Managed to sort, iron and put on eBay three bundles off baby clothes. Been putting it off all day, and finally managed to get myself in gear at 10 o clock. it's funny how I seam to want to do things when I should be thinking about bed!

Been quite a successful day, paid £50 off holiday, £55 bill money paid in for the week and all shopping done via planner, got a few extra bits like jam etc for snacks etc but nothing major and something I needed but didn't know what to get til looked. Hopefully planning snacks and that will become easier as I do it more often.

House had a good clean, recycled all cardboard from Xmas, child Ben gone in so that will go towards loan. Going to make first payment tomorrow. Keep all my receipts today so will go through tomorrow, update totals etc and figure which one off the apps will be best for me. Prepped tea for tomorrow. Manage to get new baby clothes for bargin prices today, o/h gave me cash for this and only had to add a extra £3 to it. Feeling good like I've achieved a lot today. Loads of little bits n bots I've done today on top off what I've mentioned. Should sleep well tonight :-)

mum2one

Sounds like you have done brilliantly and some good aims there xx

xJOJOx_2

Made my first loan payment of £220 yey that's £100 of interest charges saved in the long run. Gone through all my figures and going into the new year my totals will be,

Loan £1601.04
Holiday £1191.50
Credit card £1904.5

Loan first to be attacked, every time I reach £100 going knock it off. Aiming to do in 3 months. Will be tight but will be free from it

Holiday I'm paying £50 a week off it which leaves a additional £241.50 to find before due date. Will pay loan first, then clear the £241.50

Credit card last to pay as at 0 percent. Direct debit set up for min payment so no missed payments there :-) it should take 3 - 4 months to clear, hopefully 3 as no loan dds will be going out for loan so more spare cash.

Right looking at the figures I'm going to set June 31st as my target date, going be hard but can be done if I stay focussed xx

xJOJOx_2

Feeling a bit demotivated today, I think it's because I haven't been counting the pennies and watching my jar of money to pay off debt grow. In saying that I haven't spent a single penny this year :-) I think having the visual amount there motivates me more.

Learning to be thrifty a little more each day, reading suggestions and ideas. Doing a lot more myself as everything costs so much less when I do it :-)

Won't be getting the things I want for my birthday, apparently I'm having a I phone. I don't need want I would much rather have the kitchen stuff, sad I know but I'd be much happier with have pans to cook food in (mine have all vanished) oh we'll I'll make do the loan has been paid.

Pretty proud I've avoided the newlook sale, I like buying Xmas presents for my step daughter and putting away and saw some really nice stuff online, managed to fight the temptation.

I also managed to stick with my meal plan, well done me. Began writing one for next week too. Been looking through the boards for inspiration, need more low cost but filling meals. May start making some sort of meal spreadsheet to help when planning.

House is more tidier and I'm a lot more organised, not bad for starts.

Right I'm going to count some pennies out my jar, that will cheer me up :-)

Oh I need to find more free things to do with my daughter, we do parks, walks and library, might try seeing if there's any groups anywhere locally. Wouldn't mind paying a little for a club if easy to get their. For example my friends meet up every week at play gym but for me to take Keira it costs about £35 not worth it. Most it taxis fares as I don't drive and no one got room us anymore, too far too walk. But I would like to get her involved more with other children