Facing my fears and doing it anyway

Celticmiss

I have only gone and signed up for my first challenge..eek. I thought October being a long month might be tricky so having a challenge might just help me through:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5068674

Been toying with setting a DFD so now I have to. DFD march 2016 at the mo so will update signature.

Habibiboo

:wave:

The challenges are super helpful C*M & Apple Muncher's October one is brill, I'm all signed up there too, so here's to success for us both over there!

Thanks for your comments re my signature. I guess you're right - what I lack in money I make up for with discipline and a squirrelling nature!

Well done for meeting month 2 head on (and armed with envelopes)! Good luck! x

Celticmiss

Thank you Habibiboo. Your support is really appreciated.xx

Celticmiss

Oh dear the lurgy has got me. Feel blergh. Kids nattering to go swimming and I need to get some things from Aldee and homesick......urghhh. can't even think money today. Try and check in tomorrow.xx

Celticmiss

Hello

I have taken a day off sick today to try and mend myself. I haven't taken a day off sick in donkeys years but really want to shift this properly before the winter months.

So not at work and had a little time to pay £440.00 to CC, £75.00 to Christmas fund and £50 emergency fund. Not quite my original plan. I put £40.00 more to debt and reduced the other two amounts. I will snowflake to those two this month.

Signature updated so cc < £2500 and aiming to bring total debt < £15000 this month.

Spent yesterday when defenses low taking kids swimming and buying lunch at pool so a total spend of £14 and £51 Aldee shop. However hoping that we are sticking to meal plan and budget so should be able to stay on track.

Signed up for the October triathlon challenge so now have a DFD March 2016. This is with the snowball strategy but would love to bring that in to 2015. Hmmm must think of a plan.

okay so just going to pop over to October challenge board and refresh myself with the instructions.x

Habibiboo

:wave:

The snowballing strategy is so useful and really does help to get those totals down. March 2016 really won't be too far off once we hit 2015 but I know what you mean, psychologically bringing that DF date forward in to 2015 gives a real boost to your efforts ... I'd be exactly the same about it (am always setting myself mini goals for paying down the mortgage, otherwise success seems years away)!

The important thing to remember though is that life will happen meanwhile and if you have to slow up the pace of payments and adjust from time to time it's not a failing, it's just being sensible in your circumstances, until things improve.

I hope you're feeling better! x

Celticmiss

Hmmm Habibiboo you have the measure of me lol. I am feeling like this is said from experience and I am more that happy to take the advice. Is that a long time working with people?x

Funny when I pop my plans down in writing I do think WHAT IF?! so although the little emergency pots have started you do never know what is around the corner.

I do think without the mini challenges and MSE challenges it will feel like a drag and become difficult.

Habibiboo I am hoping if i can conquer this I will follow you to MF challenge. Although will be recruiting OH rather than going it alone.

Thank you as always i enjoy it when you pop in.x

Celticmiss

Morning

Early start and feeling a bit better today so planning to work from home.

Signature updated and realisation that I wont come under £15000 this month but I will next month.

Planning a NSD so that will be the 1st one of the month.

I did update yesterday but gremlins have whizzed off with my info and hidden it in cyber space somewhere. Brief update from yesterday is that it was very spendy with new car insurance/breakdown cover, blind for daughters room. But money back in from underpayment of salary and quidco cash back for car insurance. Car breakdown previously included in bank account so although feels very spendy it could be worse.

Now I would like to use YNAB which would be on the PC but as I do not want anyone else viewing or tinkering with it how do I get it password protected/locked etc? Can anyone help?

Will check in with October challenge today to help me along first one I plan to actively participate in.

Okay onwards and skint already but keeping the MSE faith.x

Habibiboo

:wave:

Hope your first day of the October challenge went Ok and you got that 1st NSD in.

I can't advise much on YNAB as I only had it for the free trial period (too tight to pay £30 for it when I have spreadsheets anyway)! All I can suggest is that you use the usual admin set up on the PC and have a password into your whole account on the PC so your YNAB is part of that and therefore password protected. Others who use the computer have their own password protected accounts or if they're your kids and you want to be able to monitor them on there, then set their account yourself with password etc that they can't change.

That probably doesn't help much but it's the only way I can think of on a PC, I don't know how to lock just the YNAB itself (unless doing that is a feature of the paid version of course, it makes sense for there to be extra, desired features that make it worthwhile paying for it)?

MF is a whole other quest C*M but you do right to shed the debts first ... Is OH with you on this part of the journey too?

Hope you're feeling brighter today. x

Celticmiss

Well that is all the big repayments added to the signature and just shy of beating the £15000 this month.

Thank you Habibiboo I think that sounds like a good idea just means I will need to get my IT brain into gear to sort it out. There are loads of positive comments about YNAB and quite frankly I need whatever I can to help me through this.

I was very good last month at recording but this month everything flew at me with speed so early on I simply lost the plot. I know I wasnt well either so fuzzy head did not help. At least I know if I am unwell or drinking alcohol I cannot function with money. Note to self me thinks.

Anyway anchors on a going for NSD's like they are going out of fashion this month to sort myself out.

Work wise I need to catch up after three days sick leave and the boss has agreed to me doing extra overtime for the next few months as we are so busy so that will help too. Now my MSE head is saying PLAN, PLAN, I will but not now.

Habibiboo OH not involved as I haven't declared debt. He is not affected and I can do this so for the sake of peace in our time I will leave it that way. Its a need to know basis at this point in time.

Ending on a positive another £15 dropped into Quidco account from yesterdays car insurance.x