Pay off debts before Baby number 2!!

mum2one

hope you dont mind if borrow the quidco "no brainers section" need some fund raising x

MrsSmith2013

mum2one wrote: »

hope you dont mind if borrow the quidco "no brainers section" need some fund raising x

Go for it mum2one, its sometimes little things like searching for insurance quotes for a couple of pounds etc but it all mounts up! My quidco is sitting at £1044.75 since I started using it - that was 4 years ago, but its still "free" money!

crunch_time

T2rry - Thanks for the advice - I'm definitely sticking to this plan. Its not crunch time for nothing!


Mrs S - My husband is the same. He only ever looks at the spreadsheet if I show him so has no idea really. His eyes are always bigger than his stomach when it comes to what we can afford. I will definitely look at quidco. I've heard it mentioned a lot and £1000 of free money over 4 years sounds great!!!


fed up of debt - ebay is so addictive. even if you only sell things for 99p - 10 of them is nearly a tenner. Less clutter and more money. Im living by the principal of everything in my house either being beautiful or functional.


Ok little update: I looked at my credit card balance yesterday and it seemed more than I though it was and I couldn't account the extra £100 or so on there. It was very depressing. I started to go through my statement for September but couldn't match what I had bought and what I paid off.


But I checked today and its even less than I said on Monday!!!!! I'm not going to question it or try and work out why. Everything is accounted for I obviously wasn't being patient enough for things to settle. Its so true that your bank balance is a lie!!


So drum roll please, the current balance of my credit card is


£258 :J :J :J

This means with the £150 cheque clearing tomorrow and being paid next week I can definitely get this paid off by the end of next week! Hurrah!!


I'm so glad the card is out of my purse. I never used it to splurge on anything or treat myself but for when I wasn't sure how much money was in my account or the food account so would use my credit card and then pay it off with the other accounts but still (surprise surprise be over budget.


NOT ANY MORE! 'I'm not buying anything without a budget first and using cash or my cash card from now on!!


Signature updated. Roll on tomorrow for my Lidl shop and paying off £150 on the credit card!!


Crunchyxx

crunch_time

Silly emoticons!!

mum2one

that sounds a good plan with the credit card. xx

crunch_time

Morning diary!


Cheque cleared! £150 paid off credit cards!!!!!


I used £50 to clear off what is accounted for from other spends on my credit card and the other £100 to clear down some stuff left on there from the wedding we went to a few weeks ago.


I talked with husband last night about our money again. We agreed he would pay off the stag stuff at £25 a month but everything that is 'joint' will be slushed away at. we are keeping this credit card anyway for his expenses. It would just be nice to go down every month and for him to keep track of his expenses!!!


I also explained to him the whole paying nearly £700 a month on debt and how much else we could be doing if we didn't have to do this. He was shocked (which is good) and we agreed (again) to chuck everything we could at it. Feel better.


Did some knitting last night - very frugal life eh! I'm knitting a circle snood for myself.


Here is an update on my frugal challenges this week:


- mended maternity trousers so don't have to buy anymore - will do this tonight as they are currently in the wash.
- put another 3-4 things on ebay. - DONE - a few of the other bits are finishing today too.
- Find some recipes for lunches (he doesn't like too much bread and then forgets or doesn't have time to make anything) I think I will have to start making them for him if I want him to stop using his credit card or spending money - and then complaining he has no money. - Discussed with husband the sorts of things he would like - aiming to put in plan today with Lidl shop.
- Lidl vs sainsburys shop - ill let you know how it goes.... - Off to do this this am with £70 to last us till next Friday - wish me luck!!
- reinstate 30 day list. - need to do this. I need to think about where we can put it, perhaps on the fridge!!!


Off to get started now but hope you all have lovely days!!
Crunchy xx

crunch_time

Evening diaryland!


Haven't had the baby yet although its very low and making me very emotional, tired and grumpy.


I have officially given up driving now so that should save some money!!!


Still no sign of moving so all the extra £200 for the new mortgage can go on debt when husband gets paid next week. Hopefully we will be able to pay off my credit card as well as £400 off the overdraft and we will finally be under £20k!!!


I think we started this year at about £26k so this is brilliant progress especially with a new baby imminent and a house move!! So proud of us. There are of course ares where we could do better - food being one of them.


Frugal challenges update

Lidl - I did my first Lidl shop on Friday..... I filled my trolley as much as I usually do and it only came to £60 as opposed to £80 sometimes in sains but I didn't buy any toiletries or nappies etc. It took half as much time and I was presently surprised at the quality of some things. They also do organic stuff too which is a bonus. I will def continue to shop there but also dip in and out of siansburys s well.


Husband lunches - I also talked to husband about his lunches and we agreed that I will stop buying hit and miss stuff for him and he will have £10 a week out of our food budget to spend on lunch bits like soup and stuff. He is often out of the office at lest once a week so it will be about £2.50 a day which is more than enough. He can take leftovers too. I will just but stuff for toddler and I and we will see how it goes.


30 day list - this has been reinstated but this time we have a budget for it. Its mostly household items e.g. we need some more tea towels and a can opener but also to save up for things like a new microwave. I have allowed £50 in our monthly budget for this and have a savings account al; ready for it.


ebay - I have sold a few more bits on ebay totalling about £19. Just need to post them now.


Frugal challenges this week are:


- mend the maternity trousers - im just too tired in the evenings at the moment and procrastinating as hopefully wont be in them too long! HA HA!
- As far as possible use up the food we have by Saturday for another Lidl shop.


Looking forward to pay day on Friday!! Last one before baby!!


Crunchy xx

abba1772

To pay £6k in less than a year is great xx well done hopefully no too long til bubba is here xx

You've just reminded me I need to post my ebay parcels xx

crunch_time

abba1772 - thanks - I always feel I can do better though. I suppose it is really good considering!!!!!


Had a refund off the credit card from Amazon. Credit card now stands at.....


£164!!!!

Hopefully will clear it in the next week.


Ive got my final ebay parcels to post today Ive made another £20 or so - might make a few extra pence off postage.


Now have a rotten cold - just what you need when 38 weeks pregnant!!!


Hope all is good with everyone - will catch up with diaries later!!


Crunchy xx

crunch_time

Just got back from post office and can slush another £25 towards the credit card so the grand total is.....


£139!!!


Signature updated!! Roll on pay day tomorrow!


Crunchy xx