No more Shopping......

laurag89

I can imagine its not the best of times at the moment smiles123, in terms of starting your debt free journey.

But there never really is a great time its just making really small changes over a long period of time that will get it paid off, and keep it paid off.
Not taking your purse out is a brilliant idea!! Avoids any temptation then.

Have you have your baby already? Or not yet?

laurag89

I know Maryland Cookie, something unexpected always pops up doesn't it? But on a positive note I now have my alternator and its ready to hopefully be put into my car tomorrow. Its sooo weird not being able to get anywhere.

I think my main motivating factor is the amount in spending out per month on the debts to be honest, about four weeks ago I sat down and properly looked out what I am paying out a month to the debts and I was just absolutely shocked!!!
I could be saving/or enjoying £500 extra a month if I didn't have the debts....
Looking at it that way I know I need to get rid, Not only that but if i ended up out of work or long term sick I would be in such a bad position, all the debt payments would still need to be paid but I wouldn't have the money... I really don't want to have that stress especially if I am one of those positions. At least when the debt is gone I can build up a proper emergency fund and then start really enjoying life without using credit cards to fund it.

I get that exact same feeling on payday!!! It can't come quick enough.

How are you getting on now?

Maryland_Cookie

Hi Laura, you are an inspiration. If you did have the spare money, what would you do with it? Would it go towards your deposit?

Have you decided what you are doing for OH birthday?

Any plans for B H? We're out for dinner with some friends tomorrow night, then chilling rest of weekend, hoping for a NSD!!

Keep posting :0) xxx

laurag89

Thank you! the spare money I would probably save now to be honest towards a nice holiday or the house deposit if we are still saving by then.

Bad news about my car.... Alternator has been fitted and it still won't work... Which means it will have to go to a garage now ... Potentially more cost and the alternator may not even have been an issue in the first place. Could cry! I actually don't have the available funds to pay out! And I don't dare to add anymore to my credit card!

Now means I won't be doing much this weekend as can't spend a thing!! Luckily OH has offered to pay for us to go to the cinema and pay which is nice... And very out of character ha ha!

Still stumped about his birthday.... Nothing he wants is ever cheap.... And I physically don't have the money! So still no idea with that one!

Sounds like you have a lovely weekend planned, have a lovely time xx

laurag89

Diary Update:

So it has been a tough week to say the least, what with my car... I bought a second hand alternator and now it turns out that may not even have been the issue. I will look to sell mine if it turns out it was ok... to try and get some of the money back. My car is going into the garage on Tuesday I am just hoping it isn't anything too serious/Costly. I am worried sick about it.

No matter what happens I refuse to put it onto my credit card, I am not adding any further to my debts.... that's a firm promise I have made to myself and I fully intend to keep it, after all I am desperate to clear the debt not add to it.

Had ran out of the make-up I use, and blusher.... the old me used to use MAC, obviously that is extremely expensive and the debt busting, money saving me cannot warrant the cost of that anymore. I have switched to a brilliant BB cream which is £6 each time rather than the MAC foundation which was £25 each time.
Did some shopping around online, boots had my BB cream on buy one get one half price so I got two as I know I will use it all.... better still I used one of my boots vouchers to pay for the majority it...:) I then bought a cheapo £2.99 blusher which I actually find really good. So to re-stock my make-up i spent a grand total of £3.50 in total. I am pretty proud of that

Seeing as its Bank Holiday and me and the OH are having a quiet night in, we bought some beers for a change.... I used my Tesco Voucher for this. Off to the cinema tomorrow evening, OH is paying bless him which is really nice of him.... So my No spending is going pretty well I think!

Feeling like an official ex smoker now, the thought of actually smoking rarely crosses my mind now.... Every time I have attempted to quit before I have never got to this point, and I feel so much better. Reached that point where I wouldn't even bother to try one again, because I know how far I have come.

Fingers crossed for my car
Apart from that still feeling excited/Determined to see this debt busting through to the end. I cannot wait to be debt free!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smiles123

You are doing really, don't let your car situation get you down too much x
I stopped smoking over 2 years ago after having tonsils out. Best thing I ever did. Was weird doing it cold turkey. Think it was more my Heath worries that stopped me ever going back as I had started to get palpitations. These have dramatically reduced since stopping. The thought if doing it again makes me feel sick like i would suffocate on the smoke.
But I am not an anti smoker in any way. Other half Is a secret smoker bless him, he hides it well and he does not have many bad habits so would never call him for it.
Interesting fact I learnt today , they have phased out 20's and sell in 19's now, bey lots of people have not realised yet!!!

Yes I also had son, he is now 14 weeks, time is really going fast, dreading going back to work but will worry about that after Christmas.

What bb cream are you using?
Hope you have a lovely time at the cinema x

Maryland_Cookie

Morning Laura, hope your having a good bank holiday weekend and enjoyed the cinema - what did you see? We went to a fun day at our local pub yesterday for most of the day. I'm feeling slightly delicate this morning! But we had a great day catching up with friends.

Hope everything goes alright at the garage tomorrow, and it's not too costly.

Have a great day x

laurag89

Thanks smiles123 well done on the stopping smoking, and for such a long time too that really is a great achievement! That's good the health benefits you have received from stopping too! I haven't stopped for anywhere near as long as you but I already feel so much better for it!
I am trying my hardest not to be an anti smoker but at the moment I can't stand the smell of them it turns my stomach I just keep quiet about it.

I really hope things work out for the best with my car really don't need anymore costs! Hopefully it's something simple.

The BB cream I use is quite a cheap brand you can get in boots, it's by seventeen and it's £6 and improves skin condition aswell! I don't suffer to much with my skin condition, although it is clearing out since stopping smoking, but I find the coverage just enough for the daytime without being heavy!

laurag89

Thanks very much Maryland cookie! I am really hoping my car isn't costly I don't want to have to unfreeze my credit card!

We were going to see inbetweeners but we decided to stay in and watch a film there instead, but today we have popped our for a pub lunch.... Nice and cheap the OH paid for the meals and I paid for desert so I absolutely got the better end of the deal money wise

Too much sauce last night? Hope you feel better

laurag89

Diary Update:

So tomorrow is the dreaded day where my car goes into the garage! I am extremely lucky as my mum and OH have both said they will help me towards the cost, which is really really nice of them. I am hoping I do not have to take them up on that and can cover it myself.... but I will take them up on that over adding any further to debts!!!

This has triggered another massive light bulb moment for me, above everything I need to create an emergency fund because it can so easily happen that I could end up having no choice but to add to debt. I know I am lucky to have my mum who will help and the OH but I do not really want to rely on anyone... I should be financially stable on my own.

My plan now is to carry on paying what I am paying to debts but any small amounts left over or odd amounts in my account I will pay into my savings account/emergency fund. I am thinking of building this to £300 I do not need it too high as I do not own a home yet so the only expense could be my car!

Had a really good weekend with barely any cost Hoping my car is all fixed by Friday as myself and OH are going to Birmingham to visit my family and meet my sister for the very first time.

I do not have much else to report at the moment, aiming for a NS week besides the car....... and splitting the diesel cost to get to see the family over next weekend so should only be £20 ish pound.

I will be back to update when I have any news on my car!

Hope everybody had a lovely bank holiday.