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

DebtFree2012

Brilliant news all round! being focused, the car costing less to run, the determination, council tax free months and so on. Great news and good on you!

crunch_time

Thanks debtfree2012!!

So I've looked at the bank accounts this evening and decided on the following..

- Saved £20 towards fuel for next week if needed.
- Budgeted £60 for a bare minimum shop tomorrow.
- Slushed the remaining £65 at the credit card

This means my CC is now £1167 and our total debt is a nicely rounded £16,700. Very happy with that!

Looking forward to getting it in the £15,xxx by the end of March and hopefully close £14,xxx by the end of April. That would be amazing.

Have a good evening!!

Crunchy xx

DebtFree2012

Wow you are flying though and I love your forward planning. That is something I enjoy doing. I can't wait to be debt free! It's only since we moved in to the new place though that I've decided to slow it all down a bit as I was forgetting to live occasionally.


So now I am working on getting the balance of need v want, opposed to a flat no to anything new. For example, new clothes I'm going to try and get from ebay if it's for playing out in (kids of course lol) as they always, always end up filthy or ripped. Tbh, that's how kids should have fun IMO, better than sparkling clean from staying in on their computer!


have a fab day x

crunch_time

Yes - me too debtfree2012. I feel like I'm making lots of ground at the moment as I am not paying for childcare and the weather is rubbish. But I do have to replace my savings at some point, paint the house, pay for some trips out this year etc etc. I'm treating myself to a massage in a few weeks time and that's £45 that could go on my cc but my back needs it more.

I'm finding it easier to make decisions this year e.g. with the trainers - I do need them but I can put off buying them for a few months. The exercise programme I am following has 6 weeks left before I start it again so I am going to budget in a new pair of trainers as a reward.

I have also budgeted £50 a month each for husband and I to spend on new clothes. But I'm buying stuff that suits me to last and its better than panic buying and hating what I by which I did last summer. At the moment I am on the look out for a hoody and a denim skirt after a thorough assessment of my wardrobe but actually feel a new pair of jeans would be better. I'm not denying myself anything but just planning when I buy it. Before I would just buy things because I thought I really needed them right there and then and think later.

What a change!!

My friend came round this morning and we had such a good time catching up. We met a few years ago but drifted apart and now we live 10 mins from each other again. We have so much in common and the same outlook on life. Its true what they say - Don't chase people. Work hard and be yourself and the right people will come into your life. I used to beat myself up about not having made a lot of friends in this area yet. We have agreed to meet up again.

So husband has submitted his expenses and they should be paid on Friday. I'm expecting about £80 off his credit card but I'm actually thinking I shall pay it off mine as his is 0% for 24 months where as I am paying interest on mine at about £25-£30 a month at the moment so the quicker I get rid of it the better.

In fact - I should probably move my priorities around to factor this in, at least until the savings are replaced. Once my credit card is paid off than I have absolutely no debt to my name (apart from mortgage) so in theory we could chuck everything else at the other goals until they are cover then attack husbands credit card and then the loan.

Husband also thinks that his extra estimated £200 a month from this month will be going on the mortgage but it wont be until my credit card is paid off and the savings are replaced. It wont make much difference in the long run - its only a few months. Ive looked ahead a few years on my spreadsheet and once DD has her free hours of childcare and the debt is paid off we should have plenty spare to pay down the mortgage.

For me right now, debt is our first priority.

I've told husband off because ill often ask him to nip to the shop and tell him to use his bank card as there is enough money in it to cover whatever it is he is buying and then he'll forget and use his credit card. Ill think we have more money than we do until I see his statement!!!!

I'm cross about the suit he bought as well with his new pay rise. I asked him to wait but he just bought it and now we owe £200 on the credit card. He is going away for a weekend with work next month and will need money for that so depending on what is left after all our bills, we might be able to afford to pay off the whole £200 this month.

He is very on board with the paying back debt bit but not good at the budgeting part as that my organisation!!

Ah well - I shall keep saying 'we are not getting a god until your credit card is paid off' - that will stop him!! Ha ha!!

So a day and a half until pay day to go when the card deposit will be paid off and another £80 off the credit card!!

Have a lovely day everyone!!

Crunchy xx

DebtFree2012

crunch_time wrote: »

I have also budgeted £50 a month each for husband

I read this as you have budgeted £50 for each husband! Gave me a giggle!


Too right re friends, no need to beat yourself up there at all.


I am finding there are a lot few people who are like minded with me, that I originally thought.

crunch_time

Ha ha!! (Wish my smilies worked).

I went about £20 over my £60 budget yesterday. Never mind. I only got what we needed. Again - more realisation that it is at least £80 a week we spend. I'm going to try and do things a little differently and keep toiletries and cleaning products on a separate line on my budget each month. And at the beginning of every month do a check on what we need. I like Eco cleaning stuff anyway and try to buy stuff not tested on animals and without any nasties in. It's more expensive but it works for us and makes me happy. That will be £50 a month and groceries will be £350. I hope that will make a difference.

I haven't got any plans today. Children woke us up at 6.30am this morning which is a great change to 5.30am. Makes such a difference.

I was reading in my book last night about the importance of 'slow' in this fast paced life, especially for children. Perhaps I'll do things on ds pace today and see how that feels.

1 day till pay day!!!

Crunchy xx

DebtFree2012

What a lovely idea re doing things as DS pace. Let me know if you manage it.

crunch_time

Morning diary!

Quick update to say...

The car deposit has been PAID!!!

Also paid off a little bit of husbands credit rounding it down to £1500.

Right - lets smash my credit card!

Off to soft play this am so will update more later or tomorrow.

Have a lovely Friday everyone!!

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

Afternoon all.

Lovely day had at soft play. Both children tired out so having some time to myself.

I made a little list of the trips we are going to take this year....

- wedding - involving a weekend away in a hotel £500
- day trip to London £50-£80
- Stag do abroad - £500
- charity weekend event - £150
- yurt weekend camping trip for us - £150

not to mention the Christmas holiday..... I'm such a lucky girl!!

And I need to add these to our plans to save up so I will continue to focus on my credit card for starters but will be aware that deposits will need paying and life still needs living.

As a result we have decided we wont take a week long family holiday this year. We had planned to invest in some camping stuff and go to Devon but I think we shall park that for next year. All of this is a priority and I hope I can manage to juggle all of this this year.

Hope all is good. I'm now going to put some washing on and check on DD.

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

Morning diary

Just having some time by myself doing work before the new half term arrives. I shed a few tears as I'm not really looking forward to going back. Just trying to think of the money and that I love my job really just don't want to do it there anymore. There are 37 more working days for me until the end of July and I have already stared to think about what and where for September. I'm going to take it one week at a time.

I'm doing PE this half term so wondered about buying a new PE kit (cheap from sains) to cheer myself up but I have decided to wear my own workout leggings instead and then husbands hoody to cover my behind so I don't offend anyone. Saved myself a bit of money there!!

I also nearly upgraded my subscription to a planning and resources website just to get all the fancy powerpoints and resources. But I stopped myself and have decided to just print of the unit objectives and then plan my own lessons - more work but saved myself about £30 (of money that I didn't have anyway - its all budgeted for.

I need to pop out to get some nappies and cat food today but that's it. Will also get my £20 of fuel for next week.

Then working out followed by dinner and then a little bit more work.

I went to bed early last night and sat in bed reading my library with a cup of tea - such a party animal!!

Off to see family tomorrow so a cheap weekend in all, which is good because we have some real busy ones coming up!!

Happy Saturday everyone!
Crunchy xx