DFB35 Diary

DFB35

Small 10 overpayment to CC1 - my PADs this week and at 2390 I need to clear 390 by December to be able to clear it with the bonuses but I'm also aware that it's Christmas time and I have zero savings argh :eek:

I really need to knuckle down and get my savings together, I'm planning to majorly cut down on our Christmas spending this year. Last year we hosted so the food spends were very high! This year we will just have a quiet Christmas just the 4 of us so will be able to control the spends a lot better. We were due to go to in laws (as we used to host alternate years) but due to a family falling out (not involving us luckily!) we won't have a big family Christmas - as the family split into two but we see both sides and don't want to pick - so we all having a separate Christmas dinner.. A bit childish but here we go :rotfl:

Also I will be majorly cutting down on presents previous years we spent around 250 per child :eek: but I want to cut it to no more than 100 each but I know this is still too much in some people's opinion. And we only spend about 50 on hubby and myself, and the rest of the family in region of under 20 each. So I need to save about 500

500 plus 390 by December = just over 220 a month, should be doable!

DFB35

I have added a £2,000 savings target this will be emergency fund of 1k and yearly spends fund of 1k from which money will be withdrawn and added as needed!

I realise it will take a long time to build up but it's my ideal target

It's 3 days until payday not counting tonight and as direct debits come out not long after I will mark it as 3 days until I can update my totals to show the car loan gone gone gone :j :beer: :j

DFB35

I was browsing the forum the other day and came across some posts really praising Allen Carr get out of debt book :money:

I thought i would check it out and after looking where i can buy it the cheapest i settled on an audio book.. ive never listened to an audio book before and if im 100% honest im not convinced as i like reading books myself and the voice reading the Allen Carr book is a bit meh... but i did it so save a few quid i suppose (and can listen to it before bed no extra pressure on my eyes etc..)... anyways!

So far the book itself is very very interesting, it examines the underlying problems of debt and Im finding it very useful. Ive only just started and will let you know how i get on, but one thing did strike me is that he says I should start feeling free and happy from the moment i stopped acquiring more debt whereas i keep waiting until im debt free and looking forward to that to feel truly happy.

That sentence has really hit home and Im looking forward to see what the rest of the book will bring!

AspiringButAnxious

Wow — the book sounds really inspiring! I do feel freer and happier since I faced up to my debt, but I could make more of an effort to embrace the advantages of not getting further into debt. Might have to seek out the book...

DFB35

It is worth a read as it examines the underlying issues.. Some of which I can really relate to but not so much to others. For example I completely agree with the junk spending, shopping addiction that he describes and one of the main points in the method is that it promises to get rid of debt without feeling like you sacrificing anything (as it changed your mindset). So that I agree with.. However I have a problem with spending on holiday and if I do not have a holiday I do feel like it's a sacrifice and will miss it... If you see what I mean?

Also the book promises to change your mindset without any will power required as you wouldn't want to spend to feel happy. And that I feel is true in regards to day to day overspending as I'm already over a year in to the cutting back stage and don't feel like I'm missing out! But holidays is another matter entirely and experiences... I really really really want to see Efl the musical! It's my favourite movie and I love Christmas.. But the tickets are over 100 each so I do feel like I'm missing out as I won't book it

Anyways like everything you can take the bits that relate to you and discard things you don't feel quite relate. I am giving this book a good go and already picked up on something's that I feel important to me

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks DFB35 I put the Kindle version on my wish list and might divert some of my Amazon gift card balance towards it — once I build it up again after getting some presents today!

DFB35

So so so so excited! It's payday tomorrow and the very last payment of our car is due few days after! We finally own the thing outright the car had a service and mot today and just needed new wipers. Fingers crossed it will last us years and years to come...

I'll be making £200 over payment on the CC and will mark up the usual payments. Then whatever's left at the end of the month will be put in savings. I need to start accumulating the emergency/annual spends fund!

Off to update my totals as don't have time tomorrow morning :j

DFB35

Something interesting happened to me yesterday.. As it was a recent payday and I've decided to allow £40 or so personal spends I thought I would treat myself to a handbag.. I've sold all of my designer handbags. And only have one bag that I'm using for work and one smaller weekend bag that is missing a button. So therefore i felt it's justified and guilt free replacing the broken bag, right?

That morning I seen someone wear one I liked the look of and I remembered seeing it in accessorize. When I get to work I looked it up online and it was £29, smaller size bag for weekend use - so ticks all my boxes right?

I get to accessorize after work, locate the bag, have a try with it - it actually looks very nice! But for some reason I DO NOT BUY IT!!!

I cannot explain why I haven't bought it, I didn't feel sad or deprived or guilty or anything at all.. I just changed my mind about buying it and decided that I DIDNT NEED IT! I decided I was happy to carry on using my slightly broken bag and that it was good enough!!

This is coming from someone who used to spend £600+ on a designer bag!!!! :eek: then feel guilty sell it for a loss but buy another a few months later :eek: repeat several times :eek:

I honestly don't know if it's anything to do with the Allen Carr book I read, all I know is that it's a fact and it's happened yesterday. I went into boots and bought a new mascara and eyeliner instead which I did need as my mascara has finished and clumping. No guilt whatsoever.

lcc86

Congratulations DFB35, what a positive change of mindset. I used to do something similar, I'd see stuff online and just buy it on a whim, then a while later I probably wouldn't want it any more. Now if I see something I like I put it on a wishlist for later, and if I still want it one or two months down the line then I buy it. Amazing how much little things can impact on you.

littleskintdragon

Hi dfb35 i found your diary yesterday and have read from start to finish

I can relate to you a lot, im also 31 with two little ones, but have number 3 on the way.
Youve done amazingly this year, and well done admitting when things havent gone to plan.

I also need to work out an annual expenses budget but am trying desperately to pay my over draft off first on my old account. It was paid off in june but then i used it as a deposit for a new car as my last one was a tiny 3 door and wouldnt not have fit number 3 in :-/

Any way im subscribing and will follow your journey x