Giblet's debt free journey

Coffee_Cup

Just caught up on your diary. SO pleased re your DH's new job. Heres to a less stressful life for you both.

Off to check out YNAB:)

Goldiegirl

Regarding the Kenwood - I think it's worth investing in equipment, which will save money in the long run.

At the start of the year I bought a bread maker, a slow cooker and a yoghurt maker, but it's paying dividends now

liltdiddylilt

OOooohhhH I googled the Prospero. What a delicious article it looks. I wish I had counter space. I am such a gadget-ho. I used to have an old school pasta maker, and some really sexxay matching gadgets in my old house. I don't have the room to place a chopping board now, let alone something I won't use at least half a dozen times a day. And I think you were very MSE waiting for the price to drop.

People are right, it will pay dividends. My slow cooker has come into its own with meal planning!

Have your 'blowout' and get it out of your system, then start the frugality. And don't beat yourself up, we have all done it. The relief over a solution to DH's job issues more than anything will be contributing

giblet1979

Hey KP - I think Sinister is old-ish, unless I'm thinking of the wrong one? Btw that fight scene in Cabin Fever 3 was hysterical. So bad it was good!

Hey coffee - thanks for reading and for the lovely words. YNAB is awesome - you won't regret it

Goldie - I do hope it will be worth the initial outlay. I have toyed with getting a bread maker over the years. I'm glad it has worked out well for you. When I think of how much bread I've thrown out over the years (not so much now) it would make sense to be able to make some daily...

Thanks lilt - you're right; we are relieved and don't intend to continue the 'blowout' in fact tomorrow is day 1 of super frugal as we're going to try and live on the reduced wage and see how we get on. I've got just under 1 month left of my extra hours, so will try not to count that towards the budget (instead it will go towards the plaster etc). I think extra income from the other jobs will go towards emergency fund / back up until we know what DH's wage will be on the 2 days.

As long as no unecessary spending happens, we should be ok in the first instance; will have a better idea from October onwards so keeping costs down as much as possible until then!

Have just finished watching 'The Manchurian Candidate' (very good) and trying to forget that it's nearly time for bed. I love my job, but could do with a few more days off this week. Oh well, never mind. Hope all are well and I'd best start getting ready for sleep. Night all x

girlatplay

Whew!! I'm here and all caught up I am absolutely exhausted with your life gib

Glad DH got the job. My advice is: MEAL PLAN, MEAL PLAN, MEAL PLAN. I know you know this already but I have to reinforce it. Also, I'm sure you will lose weight if you stick to the plan. It's when there is no plan that everything goes a bit wrong. That's how my life works anyway. Prepare lunch the day before or at least have it planned ready to grab in the morning (don't forget the bread ).

Are you a member of the Sealed Pot Challenge? Have a wee look
SPC

Or another good one is Payment a Day
PAD

It was the PAD challenge that helped me pay off the rest of my debt.

Right, unfortunately I have work to do. I'm at work so I suppose I should be doing work. Now that I am caught up though, it will be easier for me to keep up!

liltdiddylilt

Hello Gib,

Good planning with the extra money. I have always been so wary of my 'extra' income that I basically don't spend any of it. I never expanded my outgoings to meet my income. The reason I went into debt in the first place was that my most basic of outgoings wasn't met by my crummy income. That and a totally unhelpful ex bleeding me dry from 250 miles away. So when I moved and had the extra money, I kept on chipping away at the debt and then started to pile up the savings. Went a bit off the rails mind and spent over £1k... but back on the wagon now and it was all saved money. I have about an extra £600 per month on top of my usual outgoings and for the most part I just sit on it. That is where I haven't got the hang of YNAB yet. Putting it into different areas! It is all just bunged under a sub-cat of 'Savings' rather than emergency, christmas, home insurance etc... looks nice, but not a lot of use.

Hope work wasn't too bad. I am back tomorrow after 11 days off. Not looking forward to it, or the 2 mile walk in this monsoon. why can't we all win the lottery eh.. different weeks, or it would work out at about £1 each mind...

giblet1979

Hey,

GAP - it's not always as busy as it sounds. I'm excellent at procrastinating, and sitting around doing nothing (only spending electricity whilst sat on my backside in front of the TV). I'm not in the 'sealed pot' or 'PAD' challenges, but I will revisit them; I started the challenge where you save a pound in the first week, two in the next...till you get to fifty two pounds in the last week of the year, but when we had to move in a hurry due to family circumstances, my pot got left behind (it's safe but no more has gone in since about Feb). Hope work wasn't too bad, and I totally agree with you about the meal planning (see below...)

Hey lilt - sounds like you've always been sensible with your money, and that it was usually circumstance (and people) that made things difficult. Hats off to you; it's a good way to be.
I could happily overspend on food / restaurants / takeaways but I'm not too bad when it comes to other 'stuff'. I've never been bothered by designer things (and never would be) so that helps. Not a bags / shoes girl. I do want to have nice things in my home, but they won't have to be 'top of the range' and not necessarily new (friends have given us loads so far). Hope work, and your walk to work, isn't too bad. I didn't make it in today due to health reasons, but must make myself go tomorrow as have firm commitments that can't be easily changed. Fingers crossed for a good nights sleep and less pain / discomfort.

Meal Planning has been going quite well (although I changed my mind tonight). We had sausage and mash yesterday and I saved some onion gravy to make chicken stew; but decided on chicken pasta instead as had peppers / onions to use up. I've frozen the gravy (could go horribly wrong) and will be using that up on Thursday to make mince, onions and spuds. Tomorrow is 'spanish omelette' and Friday we are at a friends who is cooking for us (we just need to bring beer for the boys). Going to have a think about further ahead than that with DH when we do our shopping list / new month budget later in the week.

In other MSE news, NSD today as didn't go out. Should only need milk until the weekend (as have frozen pittas for lunches) and will be busy with work so no time to stray from 'super frugality'. Also managed to do a few surveys (now over £30 on Valued Opinions which will go towards Christmas!)

Hope everyone else is getting on well?

P.S. Would love to win the lottery lilt - would have to arrange to share a bit with you lovely people tho (unless it's something like a tenner, then it's all mine, lol) x

liltdiddylilt

Ah not that great with money. I can spend £27 on a takeaway for 1 granted it lasts me 3 days, but still...

I am always doing that, winning the lottery in my head and divvying up chunks for all the lovely people on here!!! Thanks for including me in yours you're on my list too... lol

giblet1979

Awesome thanks hon...you never know, we could be millionaires within the week. I'd better buy a ticket again then, lol, to do my share

Wow...making a takeaway last 3 days. I wish I had that discipline. I could make 3 days takeaway last 1.....:o x

giblet1979

NSD today and lovely 'fritatta' for tea as per meal plan

Work was a bit difficult as still suffering, but made it in, and busy tomorrow which should take my mind off it!

Won't be a NSD tomorrow as will be buying bread, milk and beer (for our tea at friend's house on Friday). Shouldn't need to get anything else tho unless there are some excellent ys items. Also did a Sainsbobs online shop last night which should come on Saturday (approx £50 so in budget, including stocking up on non-food items and plenty of meat so pleased with that).

Hope everyone else is doing well? Off to check diaries, then a bit of work before watching bake off on catch up x