This will be the year.....

Doodles-1971

Well done on your debt busting so far

Have subscribed to your diary so I can keep up with your progress

xJOJOx_2

Have failed misery with the weekly shop! O/h took me and my list had varnished (properly the 4 year old) note to self but hide lists in future. Ended up spending £93 on shop, so doesn't really leave much too pay off loan. Did have some monthly bits on there but didn't want to spend that much. So must try and make it stretch for 2 weeks (some top ups will be needed) but need to balance it out to reach my target. I'm going to go through receipt tomorrow and see what I didn't really need, learn from mistakes.

Had a couple of sales on eBay. So tomorrow going to pool that money, count pennies jar, £20 left from last weeks money, maybe get another £20 off o/h and try to pool together a £100 to pay off loan. It will just feel like I'm making progress if I can do a payment a week. I can pull back money next week, but that will be a bonus.

On a positive note, talked o/h out off getting me a phone and into getting a dryer (no outside hanging space and fed up off clothes hanging everywhere in the house) he has also brought a new washer and new pans for me. Over the moon, really good quality ones. Been using two pans, one being a milk pan. Washer only boils washes now has well. So really made up.

Other than food shopping not spent any money so still looking good.

Being a lot more organised now. Need to do a quick clean up, iron little ones uniform, lay out clothes for morning and all set for school in the morning. At the moment her school (nursery) is a hours walk away so need to be ready. Takes a long time with baby, 4 year old and teenager.

Got a billion things to do, house to organise, list to do etc etc getting there step by step x

xJOJOx_2

Sometimes it's really hard living with my o/h, he's still stuck in the mindset that he's 21 can go work, drink 8 pints eat tea then fall asleep til the morning. He needs to realise he's In fact 34 with 3 children (2 being very young)

xJOJOx_2

Well despite a set back at the beginning of the week, I've managed to scrap a £100 to pay off my loan. £41 from my pennies jar, £10 birthday money, £20 cash left unspent from previous week and £29 from eBay sales. So that's my first payment made this year :-)

I've gutted my kitchen, living room and under the stairs this week so feeling good.

Aiming for another £100 payment next week but not quite sure how I'm going to pull it off. Shopping needs to at low as possible, hopefully I can get couple off days from stock and budget some low cost meals. Will need to get some more things on eBay, free listing this weekend so will give that a go. Best start budgeting x

its_maths_not_magic

Here's one thing that might really help you, I know it works for me at those times when temptation calls.

Start by having a goal, something you really, truly and genuinely want. Picture that goal very clearly, make it as three dimensional as possible. What does it look like? What does it smell like?

Once you have that picture, when temptation calls - you want to buy a little something or go on eBay or whatever, rather than try to fight the urge, call to mind what it is you really want. Fighting the urge never works long term. However, by picturing what you want, you take away that fight and tension. You're no longer fighting between what you 'should' do and what you want to do, because suddenly those two things become the same.

Hope that helps .

threepenny_bit

I started a diary this year too = good luck and keep reading the posts for lots of tips!

xJOJOx_2

its_maths_not_magic wrote: »

Here's one thing that might really help you, I know it works for me at those times when temptation calls.

Start by having a goal, something you really, truly and genuinely want. Picture that goal very clearly, make it as three dimensional as possible. What does it look like? What does it smell like?

Once you have that picture, when temptation calls - you want to buy a little something or go on eBay or whatever, rather than try to fight the urge, call to mind what it is you really want. Fighting the urge never works long term. However, by picturing what you want, you take away that fight and tension. You're no longer fighting between what you 'should' do and what you want to do, because suddenly those two things become the same.

Hope that helps .

Thanks for the advice, the problem is there so many things I want to achieve over time, I tried breaking it into steps, first step is to pay loan off. I have to keep telling myself, that would be another pound off the loan. I'm impressed I've avoided all the sales, normally get a few Christmas presents for next year, but learnt this year there's bargains to be had just before Christmas. All my money is going towards the loan, that's my first goal xxx

xJOJOx_2

Dincanada wrote: »

I started a diary this year too = good luck and keep reading the posts for lots of tips!

Cool I will nip in and have a read thanks x

xJOJOx_2

We'll I thought I was having a terrible week with money but now I've looked it's not too bad. Managed to scrim £70 together this week to pay off loan, now I just need to make £30 on eBay to hit my target. It would be less if I can just find the receipt for ink cartridges I bought for work (£28)

I was naughty and treated me and my daughter (age 3) to a posh cake and coffee lunch (charity one) I was baby free for day so thought I'd do something nice for older one as she's not getting as much attendion as she use too. £10.10!!! Very expensive, properly should off took her swimming or on a bike ride, but exhaustion won over head this time.

I have just set up 3 envelopes up for my weekly cash so when I get paid the amount for each categoriy goes in there, so if I don't make it too bank for a few days I can't accidentally spend it. I will have £40 in my purse for shopping and other bits and that's it!

Did much better on food shopping this week £21.10, there were some additional things I didn't really need but got for stock (want a few extra things in incase I fall short, don't want to pay local shop prices or takeaway)

£100 paid off holiday today! Yey! My direct debit for my loan comes out in next couple of days so that will be reduced by another £30ish depending on interest.

I've managed to continue being more organised and sorting things night before, keeping on top off cleaning. Things are much better now, it so nice to relax in a nice clean organised house. Still more to do, all in good time though x

foxgloves

You are doing well, JoJo. We've paid off our debts but we really need a new bathroom. I'm determined it's not going on credit, so I've just got to get myself properly over the flu, then I'm going to really work my budgets so that every little bit freed up goes in the 'new bathroom pot'. I like how you seem to be thinking in terms of £100 blocks, like 'that's another £100 gone off the debt. With how we both used to be (terrible!), we'd have stuck that bathroom straight on a credit card or loan by now, but it's a great feeling when you finally get rid of debts after a lifetime of being silly with money....sounds like you are getting that good feeling every time you make an extra payment.....& I'm determined we're going to stick to our new simple lifestyle & not start to slip backwards. Keep going, & good luck!!