A new debt free journey

lcc86

I've had my final interview. All in all, four jobs to hear about. I'm excited but scared. Really hope something works out for me. I've come to realise that while my career is definitely important for me, my work/life balance is more important. Any one of these jobs would give me that and still be relevant to my career aspirations, so fingers crossed something will come of one of them!!

I did spend £1.20 on parking today. I also had to buy some yogurts and milk on Sunday, and treated myself to a cheap bunch of flowers from my weekly budget

April is the first month where I've felt a bit more in control of my finances. My budget has been spot on, and I haven't lost track of any money going in or out. I usually have a tendency to mess up a little somewhere and be out by £10 or £20, so this is a good achievement! I've also kept my weekly spending down, barely spending anything but still being able to enjoy life. I've done what I've wanted to do and still have money to spare.

Between now and the end of the month I will probably need to buy a bit of fresh veg and pay for some parking. If I get any of the jobs I've applied for I'll probably include a very large glass of wine too :rotfl: but apart from that my spends look minimal. :T

lcc86

Found out yesterday I got the job which was my number one preference. Walking distance from home and decent enough salary. I'm so relieved on a personal level and also really excited as this was the most relevant career-wise and given time it could give real progression. It's something I've never done before so looking forward to the challenge in that respect too.

What does this mean for my budget? Well I can hopefully throw an extra £100 at my debt each month and not have to worry so much about astronomical fuel costs. It also means I can go home for lunch every day so no forgotten packed lunches to worry about. And I can have a MUCH better work/life balance so all in all I'm chuffed. Sad that my current venture hasn't worked out as I'd hoped but it's a lesson learned.

Spend-wise, I had to spend £5 on parking at work yesterday but will get that back in expenses. I'm also going to use a cheap car wash tonight as my car is filthy but living in a 3rd floor flat makes it nigh on impossible to wash my car myself!

lcc86

Paid £25 off my credit card this morning. Although I transferred my balance to a 0% card there was still £35 left on my other card, so now I've made that payment there's £10 left. I'm 99% sure I can clear this with what's left in my account, but will wait until next Wednesday before I get paid just in case.

I started kondoing my belongings last night after reading good things about it on this forum. I only had time to go through my clothes and shoes but still have one big bag for the charity shop and another for the bin. I know the entire process should ideally be done at one time so will put off doing any more until the weekend and then really go for it I think

lcc86

Been thinking about what I'll do with my extra income that I'll be saving by not commuting once I start my new job. I'm due to start saving for my car insurance from June so that's the first target, then I'll rebuild my emergency fund before using the money towards my debts. I feel so relieved now to be able to not worry quite as much over these things. Can't wait to amend my budget spreadsheet and have a little more to play with :rotfl: wow how exciting!

I carried on kondoing last night even though I said I'd wait lol. So far I've done clothes, shoes and books. I feel great for doing it and have made so much space! And in my house space is at a premium so this is great! I feel cleansed!! I found I need to buy some tights and light summer socks as mine were full of holes so that will be my planned spend for the weekend. OH is taking me out for dinner (his treat) as well, can't wait :j

lcc86

Bought some tights, socks and toothpaste for just over £10. Did some more kondoing last night and am about halfway through my list. It's funny how much rubbish you accumulate without even realising! :eek:

I've realised during this effort to tidy up my life that this is now about more than just the debt. While the debt is a huge cloud hanging over my head I think I'm trying to cleanse my life as a whole. I think this diary has been a lifesaver in giving me an outlet and helping me realise I'm not alone in my situation, as well as giving me some good ideas of where I can make cuts to my costs.

I've bagged up some dvds for music magpie, only £8 worth but I'll never watch them again so might as well get rid of them.

No further spending planned this weekend. Dinner tonight is being paid for by OH. I'm visiting a friend who's recently had a baby tomorrow with a gift that I got a while ago, so the only expense will be petrol.

5 days to go until payday :j

lcc86

The last few days have gone well. No spending, have cleared one credit card and made an overpayment of £8 to my 0% card. It's not much but I get paid tomorrow so might as well.

Have received my payslip and know exactly what I have to play with next month. I have enough to buy my euros for my upcoming trip to Berlin, and to start putting money aside for my car insurance, which is due in September.

Still no news on a start date for my new job yet so still having to budget loads for petrol, but at least I know the end is in sight

lcc86

Payday yesterday :j got a miniscule pay rise plus a lump sum payment for using my car for work. Bought my euros for my holiday and put some money away for my car insurance. It's not due until September but I always start early!

Most of my big direct debits have gone through today. I'm hoping this month will continue last month's good work.

Working from home today so saving on fuel. Meeting a friend for coffee after work. Plans for the rest of the weekend are to do LOADS of cooking and freeze it all and finish kondoing the house.

lcc86

Yesterday I cooked all my food for the next 3 weeks roughly and froze it. I also carried on kondoing the house, and only have a few things left to go through now. It feels so good to declutter and get rid of stuff I don't want and need, giving it to a new home where possible, and just keeping the stuff that actually serves a purpose and makes me happy.

I've also updated my signature this morning following all of my debt repayments going through for this month. Had to double check a few times but I've paid off 11% of my debt since i started this journey in December. Really proud of that. :beer: if I keep it up at this rate I should be debt free in about four years. But I do want to be debt free by some point in 2017 if possible. With the new job situation that should be possible provided nothing major throws a spanner in the works. It's great seeing it in percentages as it makes all the struggles over the last few months worthwhile to know I've already cleared so much. It's not ideal as I had vet bills which added to it but onwards and upwards.

Yesterday was a NSD. Today I might go to the pub (soft drink only) but no other spending planned. I'm also going to carry on kondoing and hopefully get it all done before the end of the bank holiday weekend. I have some expenses coming, hopefully next week, and can use that towards the debt with any luck.

lcc86

Finally finished kondoing yesterday :beer: so pleased with everything finally being where I want it and how I want it. It makes a huge difference to me to have a house I can finally call a home. It's been a long journey but it's finally done

I did go to the pub yesterday, £7 spent. Today I need to buy a few pet supplies, all budgeted for and should cost no more than £10. I'm also going to give my guinea pigs a bath, it's time for their spring clean

lcc86

A good day at work today, really went home feeling good. Also read some interesting information about depression and anxiety and have got some good ideas to be getting on with.

A no spend day again today. I need to pick up a prescription tomorrow but that's my only spend. I'm volunteering tomorrow evening which I'm really looking forward to. Will probably top up on fuel tomorrow as well as it was cheaper than normal when I drove past the petrol station tomorrow. I have a week off next week as I'm on holiday so some more money on fuel saved there.