We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Debt Free - am I

1235718

Comments

  • Aaleigha
    Aaleigha Posts: 615 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks Nora and yes I do think it helped that I decided I was in control - I cant help the things that happen to me but I can help how I deal with them - now to keep it up

    Sorry I was missing but please blame ee not me = box broke new one arrived and it just would not set up properly - so now I am back

    a few things to report from this month
    for the last three weeks of the month )pay day is last thursday of the month) so new week starts tomorrow

    I allowed £100 for shopping (big shop did before I started) and I still have £5.23 in my purse
    DH and I allowed £50 each for spending now Paul cost me £16 for the visit - and I bought a card for him to send to his sister (2.00) so total spends left £32 really pleased with that DH said leave it in my purse as I have hair appointments next month and anything left can go into savings at the end of the month - I have not asked him how much he has left as he says he only needs a tenner for the next month - he pays for his own cider tabaco and works lottery ticket

    now for the HUGE confession and please dont tell me how awful this is I already know this
    background
    when I was really ill my BS changed to something else and my daughter dealt with things for me - but when tidying a drawer I found two of the old books that did not say account closed - so off to BS and they said yes they are live accounts and I will get new books issued = I also have the other two made up to date - so looks like all finances are now sorted

    I am trying to clear my house of carp and its taking longer than I want it too - I am throwing out EVERYTHING I have not used in a year - some cleaning products I have I am alergic too and thought Dh would use them -but not and some are over two years old - they have gone in the bin - so more room in kitchen cupboard
    I have also folded all the dishclothes dusters etc now please answer - who needs 24 dish clothes and 8 brushes and as for the sponges with the scoury bit I have 12 of those
    as for cif cleaner I have three started ones

    now I know things are out of control but to some extent I do blame the depression and my inability to get motivated - this site is helping so much

    things will move forward

    next month I have a birthday (darling daughter) so have budgeted for that

    I have cancelled all nail appointments - I can do them myself :)

    oh I got a cot for my friends daughter from the local ebay link for just 99p bargain :)
    hot chocolate in the corner as usual - home made shortbread for those that want it :)
    Emergency fund £10,000
    Several categories with savings in
    Cars, house maintenance, birthdays
    Etc I have about 10 categories

    Really happy to be debt free after being a compulsive spender
  • Aaleigha
    Aaleigha Posts: 615 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    HappyNow wrote: »
    Argh, sorry, I worded my post badly. You hadn't missed them off - they are on there at £69 per month. My query was that this seems really high, and I wondered if you had considered having a water meter fitted as this would probably save you money.


    Monday's visits sounds much, much better and I've always wanted to watch a sniffer dog at work (although not in those circumstances obviously!). They are amazing.


    Hope things continue to go well for you, you are really making progress :)


    thanks I was thinking water metre but dont know how much that will cost - will see how much daughters bill is - to try to compare - mind you I have a bath every single day and sometimes a shower too extravagant I know but baths do help me relax my mind - so for now needed
    Emergency fund £10,000
    Several categories with savings in
    Cars, house maintenance, birthdays
    Etc I have about 10 categories

    Really happy to be debt free after being a compulsive spender
  • I thought you'd done something dreadful based on the big build up. You didn't let anything so bad happen that can't be fixed. Ease up on yourself.
    Mortgage at 01.01.14 £119,481.83:eek: today £0 Emergency fund £5.5/5.5k & £200/200 cash.:jWeight 24/02/19 14st 7lb now 11st 12lb determined to stop defining myself by my mistakes. Progress not perfection.:T100%through my 1% mortgage challenge. 100% through my pb challenge. I’m not perfect but I’m good enough for now.
  • I thought you'd done something dreadful based on the big build up. You didn't let anything so bad happen that can't be fixed. Ease up on yourself.

    thanks it felt very bad at the time BUT in one of those lost accounts I do have enough to do norfolk trip but would prefer to save for it - its just nice to have the challenge - I want to get into good habits

    off to samosa the carrier bags now :)
    Emergency fund £10,000
    Several categories with savings in
    Cars, house maintenance, birthdays
    Etc I have about 10 categories

    Really happy to be debt free after being a compulsive spender
  • Aaleigha
    Aaleigha Posts: 615 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    so today was payday (for Hubby) we had just over 400 in the bank account from last month - so half of that has been slid over to the NW account and then as from next month half the NW account on payday will move to the savings account - and every month from the main account half the excess will slide to the NW account
    this way we have (more) than enough to cover bills in the main account - easy access fund and tied in for 90 days savings (or we will have)
    Today I spent part of the day samosaing carrier bags - very theraputic - cannot believe how little room they take - but friends on fb when asked if life was to short to samosa carrier bags all thought I had totally lost the plot - but sorting out accounts means I have to sort myself and my home out too = by the end of the year I want to be on top of EVERYTHING I -looked through old photos (have non from childhood only days with Hubby) I sat and cried when I saw the beautiful confident happy person that looked back at me - so I need to find her - might not get the beauty back but will work dam*** hard on the rest
    so dinner tonight is sausage eggs and chips (sausage and eggs need to be used up)
    money from account later today will be
    £50 allowance each
    £80 for counsellor
    £50 for son
    so £250 out tonight then we are allowing £220 for shopping so £200 out for tomorrow
    just bought some puppy pads from amazon and the big expense with month will be a garden plastic cupboard - this will be used to buy dog food in bulk (6 x 12kg bags) as it will save us quite a bit of money that should last myself and my daughter about 10-12 weeks - will be more accurate when its worked out nearer the end of the stash we have now)

    this months shopping should not need to start with our normal huge shop as we have enough cleaning products loo rolls kitchen rolls and half the meat and fish for the coming month - I am so far very pleased with this forward planning for the month

    folding the carrier bags (and the dishcloths the other day) actually gave me a sense of achievment so will do undies drawer tomorrow before I come down stairs so all bras knickers and tights will be folded to conserve space -- does this mean I can do more shopping:rotfl::rotfl:
    Emergency fund £10,000
    Several categories with savings in
    Cars, house maintenance, birthdays
    Etc I have about 10 categories

    Really happy to be debt free after being a compulsive spender
  • Aaleigha
    Aaleigha Posts: 615 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    OMG just thought we had lost our smallest dog - he is only 1.75kgs (fully grown) went to feed them all and they were all lined up as usual in the right order and when we got to the end of the line he was no where to be found 10mins before DH had gone out front to collect mail - heart attack moment - where was the little tike - sitting on box behind the sofa with a hoof - so panic over but to think I had lost one really was a shock - I am so careful and so is DH but a dog that size is often not seen
    Emergency fund £10,000
    Several categories with savings in
    Cars, house maintenance, birthdays
    Etc I have about 10 categories

    Really happy to be debt free after being a compulsive spender
  • Aaleigha wrote: »
    thanks I was thinking water metre but dont know how much that will cost - will see how much daughters bill is - to try to compare - mind you I have a bath every single day and sometimes a shower too extravagant I know but baths do help me relax my mind - so for now needed
    There's a link on the main site (can't remember where, but start with the money makeover bit of the budget planner), which takes you to a 'water calculator' where you can get an idea of whether a water meter would potentially offer you a saving. Worth doing. Plus it'll direct you to your local provider for lots of free stuff to help you conserve your water... and who doesn't love a freebie?! :D
    Aaleigha wrote: »
    Today I spent part of the day samosaing carrier bags
    Love this! I'll be trying some plastic bag samosaing to see if the therapeutic qualities are true.
    Aaleigha wrote: »
    ....so panic over but to think I had lost one really was a shock - I am so careful and so is DH but a dog that size is often not seen
    Have you seen the picture where someone has tied a balloon on a string to a tortoise's shell so they can keep an eye on him when he's 'free'? Not that I'm suggesting you tie a balloon round your iddy biddy doglet, but.... :rotfl:
  • Aaleigha wrote: »
    now for the HUGE confession and please dont tell me how awful this is I already know this
    background when I was really ill my BS changed to something else and my daughter dealt with things for me - but when tidying a drawer I found two of the old books that did not say account closed - so off to BS and they said yes they are live accounts and I will get new books issued = I also have the other two made up to date - so looks like all finances are now sorted
    Why would anyone tell you off about this?! It's not a bad thing at all. Actually, I think it's awesome - like your house has given you a little prezzie for doing so well. Besides, how many of us have discovered the odd bit of cash in an old bag or a jacket pocket?

  • Have you seen the picture where someone has tied a balloon on a string to a tortoise's shell so they can keep an eye on him when he's 'free'? Not that I'm suggesting you tie a balloon round your iddy biddy doglet, but.... :rotfl:

    that is not such a bad idea - :rotfl:
    problem is he will most likely float away on the first breeze - might tie him to the greyhound though :)
    Emergency fund £10,000
    Several categories with savings in
    Cars, house maintenance, birthdays
    Etc I have about 10 categories

    Really happy to be debt free after being a compulsive spender
  • Why would anyone tell you off about this?! It's not a bad thing at all. Actually, I think it's awesome - like your house has given you a little prezzie for doing so well. Besides, how many of us have discovered the odd bit of cash in an old bag or a jacket pocket?


    what a beautiful way of looking at the two found books

    a bit of cash in a bag or jacket or in my case my knicker drawer - is one thing but over a grand is quite another - just glad I looked at them and went in and claimed it - could have remained lost for ever

    samosaing bags is a bit like knitting =- and spinning theraputic because it is repetative
    smooth out the bag - fold long side to long side - and again them from bottom corner fold up a triangle - when at top tuck the handles in - repeat as necessary - DH came home and wanted a bag - usually inside a bag just chucked in - they were very neat in a small bag on the door hook we used for dog coats - he did ask me if my life was long enough :) it will be once I declutter it will be so good to live in a restful environment with out all the 'white noise' of the clutter around me

    need to be more organised though and do one bit at a time rather than flitting to see a whole area done will give more momentum
    Emergency fund £10,000
    Several categories with savings in
    Cars, house maintenance, birthdays
    Etc I have about 10 categories

    Really happy to be debt free after being a compulsive spender
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.