Daisychains Debt Destroying Destiny

Daisychain1

Wow, I've only been gone for a couple of hours and look at all these lovely messages I have.

Foxyloxy11 thanks for your advice on the snowball method. I have recently read a bit about this on the Dave Ramsey website and think its a great idea. It's certainly worked for a lot of people and this is the method I am going to use myself.

Debtfreeoneday - I really like to hear what other people roughly spend each week. It is inspiring and makes me realise I could do so much better.

Piggybankshaker (great name!) - I agree that 25% does sound like an awful lot. This should be doable this month due to the amount of food in the cupboards but I know it's going to be more of a challenge as time goes on and I start to run out of more and more things. I might have to reconsider another target amount for March depending on how we get on this month.

MFmaybe - I have to agree in not compromising on certain things due to my beliefs and ethics. I am actually considering becoming vegetarian. This is largely due to the fact that we decided to keep chickens last year and now it seems so wrong to eat chicken. We don't eat pork anyway and so might aswell give it up altogether. It will be a joint decision between me and OH as he is very much of the same view as myself and it is something we will do together.

Moneymission2015 - congratulations on taking action against the debt. I love these forums as you get so much great advice and support. It took me such a long time to buck up the courage to create my own diary but so glad I have.. I will go and search for your diary now. Feel free to take the one month at a time idea. If I can inspire someone to do something and it works for you then I am over the moon.

Must get back to the housework now

MoneyMission2015

I just worked out how to subscribe to threads so you are officially my first subscription : )

Daisychain1

I finally got around to making the soup, curried parsnip yummy. In fact it's on the hob as we speak. It's my first attempt at making it and as long as it tastes as good as the kitchen smells right now I will be more than happy. I've hopefully made enough for tonight's tea and about another 3 meals worth.

I also had the first of my food spends today. It came in at £11.86 but I got loads of fruit, veg and bits I need for lunch boxes for the week. I'm hoping with only some milk and a few small bits I should be done for this week.

Despite only writing this diary for the last two days and only concentrating on my food shopping the whole weekend has had an entirely different feel to it. It has seemed more calm and I feel more organised for the week ahead. I think this has come from a different way of thinking, using up what I already have instead of dashing here, there and everywhere just because I feel I should buy and do more and also planning my meals in advance.

I hope you all enjoy your Sunday evening. I'm off to eat my soup with some YS 9p bread rolls

debtfreeoneday

Enjoy your soup! I agree re the diary. I am so much more focused and organised when I post in mine a lot!

I have butternut squash soup to make tomorrow seen as how Mr T bought four of them today instead of two!

Daisychain1

Just a quick update.

I'm very pleased to report that last nights soup was a success with 3 extra portions for the freezer and one to take for lunch at work tomorrow. I will definitely be making it again.

Today was also very good as far as grocery shopping is concerned. I needed a few bits at the supermarket and so used my Nectar points, so only a £1.50 spend....result. Must update my signature.

Longer post to follow tomorrow. Evening all

Daisychain1

Morning all. Another cold one here this morning.

Last night I was thinking about this diary and the other ways I will reduce my spending and up my income in the months to come.

I have come up with a list of areas which I think I could tackle and challenge myself with. What do you think of it so far and can you think of anymore.

Money neutral events - this will include birthdays, Easter, babies being born, mothers/Father's Day etc (not inc Xmas). This will be done by using store vouchers, handmade gifts, raiding the penny jar, overtime at work, ebay and surveys. What are people's opinions on surveys. I have never done them before.

Christmas - this can have its own month as it's such a big event. Pretty much the same as money neutral events but also having as much Yuletide frugal fun as possible.

Travel - I need to think of ways to reduce my fuel and transport costs. Find cheapest petrol, make less journeys, walk and bike more etc.

Utilities - Again find ways to reduce the electric gas and and water bills. We are already pretty savvy with this but there are always more ways to make cutbacks.

Upping the income - I also will spend a month trying to up my income as much as possible for one month. The same ideas as the money neutral month but this time the money will be used towards smashing the debt.

So this is the list so far. I'm still missing a few categories so please help me out. I'm quite a crazy person so all nutty ideas welcome

I hope you all have a great day. Better get ready for work. I'm sure they wouldn't be too impressed if I rocked up in my PJs :rotfl:

Daisychain1

Evening everyone :j

Tonight I did the big shop at Mr M which will last approx 14 days (except fresh bits). Bargains included 3 large boxes of cereal for £5 and lots of YS bread for the freezer. I also had to buy dishwasher tablets but they were on offer too and should last us about 3 months. In total it came to £50.59 so I still feel we are on target despite only being at the beginning of the month.

Did anyone have any thoughts regarding my previous post? I've been searching my pea sized brain today but nothing has sprung to mind.

Now I'm off to put on my PJs and snuggle up in front of the fire with my book and a cuppa.

Night all

MoneyMission2015

Hi DaisyChain


Just caught up with yesterday, some good challenges.


I've just started doing some surveys (well started in January) and I have already earned a £5 voucher for Amazon just from one site. I probably could have earned a lot more because I have had loads of survey invites, but because I've been busy doing other things I have not been able to get to the surveys before they are full. I'm going to try & set aside maybe an hour in the evening to do some surveys. I can do them while I'm watching TV so at least I won't get too bored!


I think focusing some time on Christmas is a great idea. We absolutely LOVE Christmas in my family & I always spend way too much. I will never be able to be money neutral for Christmas, but I will maybe look at setting proper budgets & try to make certain people money neutral, if that makes sense. Something for me to think about.


I've not long switched our gas & electricity provider and have already noticed a massive difference. However, I'm still chasing Scottish Power for my final bill from them & my refund because I know I was in credit with them. I've been paying the new supplier for 4 months now, so not best pleased with SP!


Have you thought of doing car boot sales? I used to sell occasional items on ebay but it's not really worth it anymore because of all the fees.


How about local selling pages on Facebook for your area? There is one set up where I live & people seem to sell quite successfully on there. I suppose the good thing with these sort of local pages is that you don't get any selling fees and all the posts I've seen have been collection only so no hassle of posting stuff.

twiggy86

Hi DaisyChain!

Sounds like you're really focussed! Meal planning and checking the cupboards is making such a difference to me! I think I could definitely cut my budget more after reading how little some people spend!

Have you heard of shopitize, checkout smart, click snap etc? If you haven't (apologies if you have) they're apps you can download and then when you go shopping you take a photo of your receipt and can get cashback (although I think you have to get to £20 for it to pay out - I'm new at it). E.g. You can get 25p cashback for 4 pints of own brand milk. Sometimes the different apps have the same products which can sometimes end up effectively free - but you cant use the same receipt for clicksnap and checkout smart. However, things I've learnt since starting using them - be careful not to buy things you don't actually need, check the supermarkets that the deals apply to, check the sizes of the products. Hope that helps and I haven't rambled complete nonsense!

Daisychain1

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday. It was such a busy day and before I knew it I was ready for my bed.

Anyway, I am pleased to report that yesterday was an NSD. I'm hoping today will be the same as I don't think I will need anything and I'm hoping tomorrow will be too. If I can achieve three in a now then it will be a miracle as it really doesn't happen that often. Perhaps a month of playing the NSD game might be a good monthly challenge.

As far as the grocery challenge is concerned I have not spent any money on food since Tuesday and can't really see I will need to until maybe Monday/Tuesday next week. Even then it will only be a top up shop.

We've had some really nice meals too. OH rustled up the tastiest beef nachos last night and tonight we will be having homemade pizza. I've just taken the dough out of the freezer and will probably have mushrooms, onions, peppers and sweet corn on top. If there us enough for packed lunch tomorrow then that would be even better.

Have a lovely day everyone