AGirlWrites: 13k to 0k in 18 Months

killerpeaty

As you pay down your debts, you'll probably find that you have more opportunities available.

Shopaholics are a pretty alien thing to me personally. I don't actually like shopping, so that might be the reason. Though I do love shoes. If the world had more shoes that I liked then I'd totally be in the same boat as you guys.

Freaking love shoes.

AGirlWrites

I wish I didn't like shopping KP, it would have saved me a lot of money in the long run.

Had a 50/50 DFW day today. I had to buy a present for my Goddaughter's birthday which cost me £17.87 and then I needed eggs which were £1.96. I wanted to get to payday on Friday without spending anything this week, but with this birthday and the lunch out tomorrow for it that I forgot I had already agreed to, the week hasn't started that well. Thankfully we just go for lunch in the local library cafe where a sandwich and pot of tea is about £3.50, so the damage could have been a lot worse.

On the plus side, I went and opened 2 basic current accounts with Natwest. I'm going to give the piggyback banking (I think it's called that?) a try to go along with my new budget. So I now have a separate account for bills, debt payments, emergency fund, gifts/medical/haircut and then my F&F account (Food and Fluffy 'Entertainment' Spends). To go along with this I have set up monthly standing orders for the set budgeted amount and i'll only keep the F&F card in my purse at all times. All the other cards i've frozen in ice in the freezer. No easy access from now on!!

I've got all my balances and running totals set up in spreadsheets in my filofax now, i'm the most organised i've ever been and i'm loving it.

Pippilongstocking

My worst card is around the same as yours - good luck! We will get there I'll pop by in diary land if that's ok see ow you're doing.

You're local library cafe sounds lovely!

AGirlWrites

Hello Pippi, good luck to you too! Do you have a diary I can follow? The library cafe is very nice. Went for lasagne, salad and french bread for £5.20 and it was really delish!

sassychick2014

Hi AGW

Sounds like you're getting things into place to start reducing the debt - it's great when the numbers start changing!

Also, loving the F&F name for your account. Did make me smile. Will be subscribing to see how you're getting on and look forward to that first signature update of paid off debt.

Good luck - and enjoy it!

Pippilongstocking

Lasagne salad and bread for 5.20 - awesome!

A diary, I do, but it's rather dull !!

I often find other folks live far more interesting than my wind and rain


I wondered what you're £100 food budget went on (grub/cleaning stuff/toiletries/pets etc) and how many for? Just me being nosy.

If you want some inspiration about crazy tasty meals you might want check out Greyng Plgrims thread.....

Have a great day tomorrow

Xx

AGirlWrites

sassychick2014 wrote: »

Hi AGW

Sounds like you're getting things into place to start reducing the debt - it's great when the numbers start changing!

Also, loving the F&F name for your account. Did make me smile. Will be subscribing to see how you're getting on and look forward to that first signature update of paid off debt.

Good luck - and enjoy it!

Thank you Sassy, I saw the 'fluffy' spending on some budget website somewhere, so i've decided to adopt it.

I too am looking forward to updating my signature, payday on Friday cannot come quick enough.

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

I wondered what you're £100 food budget went on (grub/cleaning stuff/toiletries/pets etc) and how many for? Just me being nosy.

That £100 per week does include my food shop, but it also includes any spending outside of my bills and debt repayments. So if I want to go out to eat with friends/night out, cinema, haircut, the tea club at work, etc... It all has to come out of this. Oh and that's just for me. I have no OH or children.

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

If you want some inspiration about crazy tasty meals you might want check out Greyng Plgrims thread.....

Have a great day tomorrow

Xx

I will definitely check this out, the diaries forum is new to me so i'm trying to read and catch up with as many as I can. I've started meal planning so always looking for new recipes.

I hope you have a nice day too!

XX

Raggydoll85

Hi and welcome

Wish i could through that much at my debt... I am a minor shopaholic too... I tend to go for a splurge on work clothes when i get paid... I tell myself I need.them...

I am clearing my wardrobe though so ebaying what i can to put against my wages..
I spend a lot on food as well... Trying to cut down but still spend over £150 a month. thats with the cleaning stuff and a cat.. but still just me.. i dony have a car so can't go to the cheaper places... Has to be online shopping which doesn't help but prevents random purchases lol

I'm "only" £4300 ish in debt but I don't earn loads and am studying which eats my money.. but look forward to seeing your progress as it might spur mine on LOL

Look forward to hearing more x

AGirlWrites

Wow! Had a really busy day today, went to work then I came home and did some baking and tonight i've been round to a friends house and i've only just got home. Made myself a cup of tea and settled in bed now to update my diary. I wanted to post on a few diaries i've started catching up on but haven't the time now. I'm making it a priority after work tomorrow.

So i've done some good MSE stuff last night and today. I cancelled equifax subscription, saving me £9.95 per month. I counted up my money box, had £28 in there which i'm going to bank tomorrow and put towards my Capital One card. I also asked for a bunch of credit notes i'd accumulated with my Spice membership to be refunded to me, a whopping £106 is now on its way back to my bank account.:j This is also going straight into the debt busting account. So I was really pleased with myself for those.

Tonight I have baked a banana loaf from the over ripe bananas I had left over and I made Twinks' homemade hob nobs. Both are very yummy! I do love to bake and these are two staples I make often.

I also did next weeks meal plan last night, but that might change. I've been offered a veg box for £10 from a friend who's Uncle is a greengrocer. I'm going to give it a try for one week just to see if its any good. It should be a mix of fruit, veg and salad. I'll post a picture up of it if I can work out how to on Friday. So I'll jig about with my meal plan once I know what i've got to work around.

Pay day in 2 days, it cannot come quick enough! Purely because I want to pay down my credit cards and get updating my signature. Happy days!

AGirlWrites

Hi Raggydoll, going through all my piles of stuff to sort out for a car boot sale or ebay is on my list of things to do. Just taking it all one step at a time.

Good luck with your DFW journey, I hope we can spur each other on!

X