Crunchy pays it down....£20k...the final chapter

crunch_time

Bless you all you lovely people! Barnsleylass - ive done the same things and ive realised how many better friends I have who chase me and want to see me so I will have fun with those and with my family. Life is far too short.

itcouldbeworse and 12 month challenge - I think there is some jealously to be honest and so does the hubs. The thing is I'm the least bit competitive and try to dumb down things to try to make myself easier to relate to but I can see that it isn't working and making me feel awful. But she probably sees it that I am bragging - but I am not. Just trying to chat to stay close.

Massive wake up call!!

So earlier in the year I joined a fitness community on my insta gram account but always felt uneasy about it because I was worried what she might think about posting pictures of my weight loss body (!!!!!!!!!) (she has a lazy attitude to all things healthy). When I paused it this summer because I was injured I ended up deleting the pictures which I now regret.

Anyhow, today I made my profile public and uploaded 'before' photos to it as I'm starting it again and need to be accountable. I don't care what anyone thinks. This is me. like it or lump it. It felt so good getting 'likes' from strangers. Before, I would worry that I had offended her if she didn't 'like' it because she might take me for showing off.

I'm just pursuing my goals. I re-read an old diary the other night and the 2 things I have never achieved in my adult life are
- pay off debt and save money
- get fit for a challenge for charity (e.g. Kilimanjaro)

Not anymore. I'm setting the wheels in motion right now to change. Baby steps but steps and that's what is important.

Crunch xx

12_month_challenge

Good for you. Do what is right and feels right for yourself and your own family.

PEOPLE THAT MATTER DON'T MIND AND PEOPLE THAT MIND DON'T MATTER

I like this saying, May change my signature to this one
x

barnsleylass83

Here here, life is too short to worry about people who are not fussed!! Love the instagram idea, I have never used it may have to give it a whirl xxx

crunch_time

I love that saying too! Must think about it more, perhaps on a post it note on my fridge!! Thank you lovely mse friends for your support and understanding. Another 'its not just me' moment!!

Husband got paid today. There was £40 left but I have put it in the slush fund so that's nearly £180 for fuel for this month.

I went out of the village today for the first time since Friday into the city for dentist for me and DS - Free as I'm still on exemption certificate! Hurrah! That's my last one though and I will have to pay when we next go in April. Then went to Mr S for our weekly shop. It was a bit more pricey as stocked up on cleaning stuff (and I like the non-toxic more expensive ones I'm afraid). Popped a couple of stocking fillers in to spread the cost. I thought I should probably start stocking up on Christmassy food but we need to prepare a menu first then I can add bits as and when to spread the cost. And I have told husband that Christmas doesn't start on the 1st December so I will not be buying port, cheese and biscuits regularly from then on!!! Hahaha. He is convinced I cant beat my £500 budget with a £100 buffer and I'm determined to prove him wrong.

I'm trying so hard to do some paid work this week but its just not working out. DH is going to look after them on Saturday morning for a few hours for me so I can get cracking in the office.

Staying local tomorrow and then a trip to see a friend for lunch on Friday. Going to try soooo hard to resit the urge for a bottle of wine on Saturday night! Hmmm its Halloween so that is going to be haaaarrrd!!

Happy hump day everyone!
Crunchy x

12_month_challenge

Its definitely not just you. The more I read on here the more I see myself in so many other peoples stories. It helps to know we are not alone on our journeys..
Mine a little longer than others but will get there.
Slow and steady wins the race

Have a good day

crunch_time

Slow and steady does indeed win the race!!

And on that front, nothing to report on the debt busting front. Baby is now one can you believe it!! We were going to stay local but ended up going 'out' which was a 1hr drive and cost £20. She had fun and so did ds and it was nice to get out so it was worth it!!

Had to order husbands birthday present (£60). We are going out next weekend for his birthday so will need £40 to cover the night out.

Just going to family tomorrow so petrol spends there. I really want to start getting Christmas presents but don't want to spend any more on my credit card than I have to. I will just have to be patient.

I managed to get some work done this morning.hurrah! Not looking forward to next week but hey ho! Need to earn the money to pay the bills!

Right, better do some cleaning and tidying and pumpkin carving!
Happy Halloween everyone! Xx

crunch_time

Morning diary!

Very horrible rainy day here - boo! Luckily I have lots of cleaning and tidying to do today to keep me out of mischief!

Positives

- a big positive is that our total debt is now in the £18 XXX!!!!! Woohoo! We were here several months ago but it crept up for various reasons so I'm very pleased that we are back here again - FOR THE LAST TIME!!!
- Other news is that the loan is below £15k!! I'm very pleased with this also.
- The two items on ebay have sold. One went for £25 but husband is going to have the money to go towards new clothes. The 2nd item went for £50 but including postage which I reckon will be about £10 but I'm true Crunchy style I have overestimated and hope to come away with £30 - all going in the slush pot!!

Negatives
- its been a busy few days and I have done lots of top up shops so our food budget for the rest of the month is £225. I will meal plan like there is no tomorrow as I don't want to have to take money from the slush fund to top up the food budget this month.

This weekend is the expensive birthday weekend for the hubs. Cinema and dinner on Saturday and husband has drinks with mates on Friday night. Really looking forward to seeing Bond!!!

Right I had better get on as this house isn't going to clean itself!!

Crunch x

PS - still no news as to what has happened with husbands last pay. Husband is going to chase today.

PeppaCoin

I'm not going to cut her out of my life because she is still a great friend - has been and I'm sure will be in the future. I'm just going to learn to enjoy the frugal, exercise loving, simple living loving, home baker, money saving, debt slaying, avoiding eating out if I can help it, making my own clothes me!!! I'm not going to be afraid to be myself anymore...but also play my cards a little closer to my chest in future.


God I need you as a friend in my life. We're life twins!! I have a 3 yr old and have a similar relationship with my supposed best friend.

PeppaCoin

PS. On postage for eBay sales I have often found MyHermes lots cheaper than royal mail and very easy to use.

crunch_time

Hi Peppacoin - thank you so much for replying!!! Lets be virtual friends! Do you have a diary I could follow?? Thanks for postage recommendation. I usually say to the lady in my post office - as cheap as possible please!!!

Lots to do today! We have our financial advisor coming over later to discuss critical illness/life/income protection insurance so I have to clean the house - or at least the downstairs. To be honest the whole house needs a going over!! Ha ha!

Also need to go to food shopping and to the library and post the ebay parcels. Meal plan down using stuff we have in the cupboards. I will stock up on frozen stuff so I have something to go to for when it all gets a bit chaotic at the beginning of the week.

So far we have £135 in the joint account 'slush fund' and that doesn't include the money from todays ebaying. It would be amazing if that could go on debt! I have updated my itemised credit card spreadsheet page and so far we have spent £260 out of our normal £400 a month 'spending' budget. I estimate another £100 will be gone before the end of the month or when husband gets paid again. So I hope for £40 change at the end of the month to go towards debt. I'm not going to count my chickens though as inevitably something will come up. At least I am planning ahead and budgeting and not hoping things will cost less than they do. I'm learning to be realistic!!!

husband tells me he is up to date with his expenses and that they will be paid tomorrow. still no news about his pay though!!

keeping on, keeping on....

Crunchy xx