Our Journey to a Debt Free 2016

PinkPoppies

I can take or leave most types of alcoholic drink but wine is my weakness, love the stuff! Enjoyed my swim last night, slept like a log, and feel bright and breezy this morning Need to make the effort to go more, sometimes I just feel so exhausted by the time the children are in bed that I can't face it, but I'm always pleased when I do go.

Not much planned for today. Going to make a whopping great big batch of lasagna padded out with plenty of lentils and veg this afternoon- will hopefully fill up the freezer some more. Some of the rocket and spinach in the garden is nearly ready for picking so might be able to source a free salad to accompany our meal tonight.

Need to crack on with swagbucks if I get a chance. Started a few weeks ago and made £5 but haven't been on it for a few days. Should aim to do one survey a day.

PinkPoppies

Quick bank account check this morning and £34 skimmed off and on to the CC.

Off for a picnic in a bit, wish this grey weather would lift a bit! Did a little top up shop this morning, I think it should see us through to early next week as we have quite a bit of food left from last weekends weekly shop.

Looking forward to X Factor and an early night after a long week!

killerpeaty

I prefer populuslive to swag but the earnings aren't as regular.

Glad that the swim went well. I started to swim about a month ago, but only have gone once through ill health, you'll have to make sure I go back

Igamogam

Oh all this talk about swimming .....must get my arris into gear.......maybe tomorrow

abba1772

Hiya pink :hello:

Just read your diary and have subscribed xx

You're doing so well with the debt reductions keep it up xx

PinkPoppies

Hi all! Hope you had a nice weekend!

We ended up treating ourselves to a takeaway on Saturday night but had a fairly frugal weekend apart from that!

Need to get myself in gear for this week, might start by blitzing the house which is a tip after the weekend! Maybe I'll find some ebayables while I'm at it.

PinkPoppies

Wow, has it really been over a week since my last post?!

Managed to pay £123 off the CC this week and hopefully have another £200 on the way next week to put on.

Did a big Lidl shop today (£65). Have about £200 left to see us through the month, plus another £300 in our monthly emergency account (we try not to use it and if we can carry it over to the next pay day it gets paid off the CC). Given next weeks food is paid for I think we will get by on the £200 we have left.

Not been feeling quite as focused this week (lack of posts always telling!) but been busy with other things! Hasn't been a BAD week, just not a completely dedicated one!

Hope everyone is well!

PinkPoppies

Had a nice lazy Sunday morning browsing the DFW boards, always nice discovering more interesting and inspirational diaries to follow!

Have a chicken roasting in the oven and most of the house tidied. All school uniforms are washed, dried, and put away. Stripped all the beds, halfway through getting those laundered too so we can all snuggle down in fresh beds tonight too- simple pleasures!

Both of our children are benefiting from the new free school meals initiative at the moment and we are really feeling the benefits financially. They both mainly had packed lunches last year, with a few school dinners mixed in as a 'treat' (they love them!). Not having to buy lunchbox fodder has definitely lowered our weekly shopping bill.

Determined to have a more productive week next week while the children are in school. I'm effectively a 'stay at home mum' who earns a bit of money indulging a hobby. We are lucky that DH earns a very good wage, but with that comes very long working hours for him. One of our children has a medical condition and is regularly too unwell to attend school, so going back to employment isn't a realistic option for me. Although not the root cause of our debt it has rather scuppered our long term financial plans, of which debt in the short term featured.

Anyway, I'm not complaining, and actually feel very lucky to have the excuse to be there for my young children. Just need to spend the next week concentrating on generating some income, rather than being sat worrying about said child starting a new year group with new teachers who don't know him!

killerpeaty

Stay at home parents really have my admiration, I honestly don't think I'd be able to do it. With a job, you can leave the stresses at 5.30, that keeps me sane!

As for an undedicated week, you're allowed one every once in while- just not too often you hear!

PinkPoppies

Sometimes I really miss the routine and structure of a job (not to mention the money!) but I guess my time will come around again eventually, just need to make the best of self employment in the meantime, even if it is small scale (at the moment at least!).

Hoping to get under the £33k mark this week- fingers crossed!

Making a stir fry tonight with the left over roast chicken, nice cheap and easy meal!

Grey, dark, and miserable here this morning. Resisting the urge to put the heating on! Going to whip round the housework, get a load of washing on the airer, and then sit down to get some work done.