Journey to debt free-dom

toontastic

bindi_soup wrote: »

Toontastic - I will look into this, sounds really interesting. For the first time I've drawn out 200 for groceries, and just took cash (no card) with me so I HAD to stick to budget. And my shopping list! If it works for that, it would in theory work for everything else - I'd be nervous of leaving 0 in my account though (just in case something unexpected took me over and . I got

That's the thing though it's technically a paper zero because although you'll take money out for shopping, petrol, presents, nights out etc youll have left money in for your direct debits. Also your technically going beyond zero now anyway that's why your in the debt problem. This helps focus you so you can see where your money is going and sort out that problem if you want to get out if debt.

bindi_soup

The OH contributes half towards the food bill, I set a target of £50 a week. He does long hours and a physical job and needs a good dinner at the end of the day. 50 a week is more than enough to do a decent menu - if I plan it properly and change my supermarket! So impressed at aldi, pizza, £1 each, chicken thighs 1.99, same for drumsticks, and I used them loads

It's up to me not to overspend - I'll be happy if I come in on or under budget, and I'm hoping I've got it right the fridge will be empty by Sunday - so nothing wasted!

bindi_soup

Actions:
- Speak to nationwide, get back charges and arrange o/d repayment schedule. DONE
- arrange balance transfer card for barclays, so can clear loan then transfer to 0%. DONE
- draw cash off Barclaycard, pay off loan - wait until Friday, so minimum interest paid
- check New mbna card has balance transferred (set up and good to go) - DONE
- book contact lenses app with Tescos - DONE
- plan menu for the week, food shop under £50 - (32.69) - DONE
- change to water meter?
- reduce cost of home/life cover? Investigate.
- set nsk challenge! 20 days - DONE


That'll probably do for a minute...[/QUOTE]


Have also:
cancelled hair appointment - it doesn't need doing anyway.

bindi_soup

Musing to myself before bed - Trying to think what else I can 'trim' from my monthly expenses...

Work bonus ball lotto - only £2 a week, but over 52 weeks that's £104 a year, and I have to win at least that to break even... which I haven't. In the spirit of mse, time to go? Methinks yes.

Contact lenses booked with tescos, who have already said they can do bi-weekly lenses for £10 a month, instead of the 27.50 I pay for dailies - which my eyes don't like because I wear them too long. And it's closer. Win win!!

So without even trying very hard, I can save 27.50 a month.

Obviously loan is the whopper. Will get that sorted and paid off on Friday. That give me masses more room, with 187 a month. Total 214 extra to pay towards debts.

Gas/electric will come down in time, as the OH had a logburner installed, just before summer! Winter bill was huge, and will compare in August if there are any cheaper suppliers. Still can help myself by submitting monthly meter readings - keeping payments too high for a minute, I'm quite happy being in credit. If they've got it I can't spend it! Like a no interest saving pot. That's slightly silly thinking. Oh well - it's not for long, then I can dump credit onto my overdraft, clear it, and get another £40 a month. 254.

Still need to investigate home and personal cover, might shave a bit off them. Even a fiver off each would be a result, total extra per month 264.

We've also had hours increased at work - I think this will give me about £50 extra, but won't know for sure until last day of month.

£314 possible savings - not including anything else I manage to put aside. That's ridiculous. How long have I been wasting this much money?? Feeling very cross with myself, and guilty, I haven't done this sooner.

bindi_soup

Well it hasn't helped that the last 2 months I've accidentally paid my OH Barclaycard (which had nothing on it) instead of ny own. What a plonker. Must have picked up the wrong reference number at some point, only found out when I got a chase letter in the post tonight. What a faff sorting it out though.

Barclays have been nice about it and reimbursed the late fee for me, but it will still show up on my credit report as a late won't it?
GRRR!!!! I could kick myself - It was squeaky clean before that...

Seanymph

These things happen.

Looking at your list your pet food bill is massive - what are you feeding? Is there a way to cut that?

bindi_soup

I feed the dog wainwrights meat in the evening, and wainwrights biscuits in the morning. Cat gets Sheba sachets and James welbeloved biscuits. Rabbit excel hard feed and hay.


It probably is an area I could look at, I go to pets at home because its easy and convenient, but there maybe some cheaper alternatives that I could look at. Might look in the local pet store, see if anything doing. I don't want to feed them rubbish either though - they're my little hairy children substitutes :-) My staffy is colorant sensitive. The cat is just plain picky.


any recommendations of a good quality feeds that are easy on the budget? please don't say waag or butchers...

ShirePiskie

I've been dipping in and out of your diary and was a little startled as last I read you were looking at feeding your meat-loving OH more frugally... and then see "wainwrights meat in the evening"!! :eek:

Really should read more carefully.

All the best on your DF journey.

On_my_way

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

If you paid off the £350 overdraft, and put the remaining £650 toward the loan, you would have less than 3 months left on the loan.

Allowing for a bit of interest back (or a slight overpayment), you could probably clear the loan in July.

...DMP is not always the best thing as if you can clear debt without one you will protect your credit rating!

Horseygirl123

Hi bindi

I have five cats, two horses and eight chickens to feed. I also like to feed wild birds at my stables. The feed bill is higher than ours. I save a fortune by ordering everything off the internet. Even with postage. Two bags of James well beloved cat biscuits for instance combined weight of 20kg is less than £70 if you shop around. Far too much for the one cat owner I realise but just an example. Favourite websites are Farm and Pet Place and Zooplus. I paid about £5 when I started shopping at Zooplus which gives a discount of 5% off all orders for the year plus they give cash back.