Dear Diary Love from Rebecca

Lacherlich

Hey!

I'm glad you've thought about it! Defo would be a shame to miss this opportunity. Its a struggle trying to work to a budget and have a life! - Im in the position where I have a mortgage and debts, and don't have much left each month to spend on clothes, going out etc etc hence why I'm really knuckling down for the next 8 months too. You'll be so much happier getting your own place plus having the money to enjoy life still. For the sake of 8 months totally worth it.

Its great you have so much money each month to play with towards your goals, this will keep you motivated, paying off over a grand of your debts in one month knowing that in a couple months time you will be debt free! I am being very disciplined this year for Christmas, normally I go all out with presents, the tree and make dinner with all the trimmings. But I have told people I am doing it on a budget this year, no real tree (I will use an old one in the garage), budget of no more than £20 per person on presents.. and cheaper if I can. It is only for one year, and I can still enjoy Christmas with my family without having to be extravagant. I am doing this for me and that is what is important at the moment.

Going out is also another tricky one for me too, I've limited myself to one main night out a month, and am now being very conscious how much I spend. A bottle of wine before I go out to stop me spending money on overpriced drinks when out. Needs must. So I am still able to enjoy a reasonable social life even when focussing so much on debt, it can be done. Its good to budget for money to enjoy yourself with, you'd go crazy otherwise.

It's quite a buzz when you start feeling really motivated - especially when it is within reach.

To be fair, when I first bought my house, I was relatively debt free, but was renting at the time. I had to save around 8k with my partner for the deposit on a new build. We literally sold everything we could to ensure we got it. We sold out phones and bought £10 ones from Tesco, lived on such a tight food budget and within a few months we made it. Sorry to go on, just to wanted to show it can be done and is worth it. Just don't get into debt afterwards like I did haha. We also lived at my OH parents for 2 months, that was a struggle. Just felt so awkward at times, but keep reminding yourself why you are doing it.

I'll sign up to your thread as seems we have a similar amount of money to pay off/save over a similar time frame! Be good to see how you're getting on.

Rebecca01

Thank you , some great suggestions.

I agree with the Christmas thing. My main cost is dd as Santa has a never ending sack apparently. She hasn't asked for anything yet but theres time.

I have just recipes an email from a survey I filled in about a course I did on catch up numeracy ( for children that join y7 under a level 4). I filled in a survey about the venue andI have won a £20 m and s voucher.
Yay! I never win anything. Its cheered me up.

Guess it will only buy a a few punnets of grapes in M and S though.

AleMrsT

Hi Rebecca.

I have subscribed to your diary and will follow your progress.

You have an amazing amount of money to play with once your bills are paid. If I was in your position, I would keep the outgoings the same (maybe see if you can get a reduction on the internet one, as £75 a month seems a lot, is this for the whole household?) because they are not too bad, and Netflix is going to stave off the boredom when you get frustrated living back at home.

With regards Christmas, growth spurts etc, perhaps allocate £1000 per month to your debt repayments, £300 to savings, then the rest to live on.
That way, you can enjoy the occasional (budgeted treat), still pay off a HUGE amount of debt each month, AND start a savings pot for the inevitable events that will occur throughout the year. At least that way you wont have to eat into your debt payment money one month if the car needs a repair or daughter needs shoes etc. Also, if you have anything in your 'spending' pot left over at the end of the month, you could add the surplus to your debt, and start again with 'pocket money' the following month, and readjust the 'pots' accordingly. If you know one month is an expensive month for a birthday for example, pay £250 to savings, and have more in the spending pot.

This is how I do it. I have my bills go out, then roughly work out what I have left per week for the rest of the month, if I don't spend it all, I add the let over to my savings pot at the end of the month OR use it for a treat, which I have done the past couple of months.

Obviously these things may not work for you, but its just some hints and tips I've picked up from this forum over the past 11 months, and people on here do a fantastic job of debt repayment AND building up an emergency fund, so that paying off debt is not hindered by unexpected events.

I look forward to reading your diary posts, and I know how you feel living with parents. My OH and I lived with my mum and dad whilst we saved for our wedding and its a good job we were, as OH got made redundant so we only had one income. Because we were living with them, it meant we didnt have to postpone the wedding and we eventually moved in to our own place once we were married Good luck with everything.

Rebecca01

Hi AleMrsT
Thank you. Some good ideas.I like the idea of having pocket money just in case and budgeting for events.So I won't use my credit cards . Then if I don't use it , pay it off the debt balance. You are right people on here are great and full of ideas that work. It definitely helps with the motivation.

The sky and internet bill are for the whole house as I have multiroom for my parents. I have virgin broadband which is £ 31.25 . As they were the only provider who didn't require a land line as my parents have their own. However my Dad phoned BT last night, he can get fibre for £16 a month on their bill. So I will just pay them the £16. He would not have done this before but I think they realise they will need internet it I ever do move out. I have also realised I never watch netflix opting more for the sky box sets or catch up TV. Oh is the only one that uses it.

You have all made me realise that eight months to a year is not forever. I just need patience. I have been here a year on my own and made some headway with the debt but not enough. Ex lived here with me for two years before that. ( bad times) . My parents helped me through all of that. I will appreciate them more.



So this weekend my ex has decided to take dd to Devon to see his older children ( her sisters). I miss them as they were great. I am glad my daughter can still see them though. Its a long way to go for the weekend but dd has been going every few months since she was born. Glad I don't have to pay the petrol costs though now. I will camp at at my boyfriends all weekend and give my parents some space.

My friend has a new puppy but is going away at half term. I offered to puppy sit as dd loves dogs. She then offered for us to house sit at hers so that I can have sometime on my own with dd and oh if he wants to stay too. So that was really nice of her. It is for three nights.

Have a nice weekend xx

Rebecca01

I have phoned sky today and they have dropped my bill to £42 a month and I have managed to lower the Internet to £16 though there's an initial £42 set up fee. Agh

However I was paying £75 combined but now it's £ 58 so that's a £17 saving already.

Yay!

Rebecca01

Confession time. I have spent too much. I need more practice at budgeting.

I started off well with a spending diary but this has fallen by the way side over the last week.
I have about £50 to last me until pay day which is in two weeks time. One of those weeks are half term. I could probably make it last if it wasnt.

I think I need to budget £100 for half term. I will use this from my November pay ( is this a bad habit?). My thoughts are that November will be a boring month as its one of the only months that have no school holidays in it and I could do with losing a stone in weight before Christmas. So I should avoid drive throughs and takeaways. Also my tax credit money and child benefit is already in the bank for my November calculations. So I would not need to take the money off a cc. Hmmmm

mummytogirls

What have you been buying Rebecca?!

Is DD off for a week at half term? Im going to have a couple of days in to save on some £££'s xx

Rebecca01

mummytogirls wrote: »

What have you been buying Rebecca?!

Is DD off for a week at half term? Im going to have a couple of days in to save on some £££'s xx

Pizza, wine, school dinners, roller skating. I have just lost track. Bruised from skating too.

Yes she is off for a week and so am I. We are puppy sitting for three days so that will help with NSD's. I have promised I will take her to the new trampoline park as she was invited to a party there tomorrow but couldn't go as she has gone to Devon with her Dad to visit her sisters. Its £10.50 an hour and I said she could take a friend. I need to stop with these great ideas. Lol x

mummytogirls

Great idea about the puppy sitting, hope the weather is kind to you for that!!! xx

A_simple_life

Hey thought I would come and say hi

The three night break will give you time to relax It's hard living with parents again, I've been there and it was so difficult. Keep going at the debt you will get there, I have started using my CC for all my food it keeps me on track as my budget is set and I can't go over it, maybe take out a set amount of cash and once it's gone it's gone, you'll get there