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

crunch_time

Thanks t2rry and kirtsypoos for your kind words. I'm feeling miles better already!

'Presented' the new budget idea to the hubs and he liked it. Now just got to crack on and start it!

Off to see a friend for most of the day today so the only spend will be petrol. I'm feeling tired today but not low. I actually feel empowered now and far more in control.

Keeping complex spreadsheets was something I started years ago when I had to keep track of every little outgoing. Now things have changed so much with our finances it's not working anymore so time to change tack.

It's one week until payday now!....

Crunch xx

belleandthebudget

Crunchy, it sounds like you've got that plan sorted! It all sounds great, especially the handmade Christmas at home, those are my favourites even if I had all the money in the world.

I think when we're feeling down, whether it's just a regular day of the blues or something more serious like PND, having a plan really helps to focus on something bigger than the panic and sadness.

Sending you lots of good vibes for the new plan!

crunch_time

Thanks belleandthebudget for your kind words too!

It's 6 days till pay day now! Nothing exciting happening over the next few days which will eat lots of money. Just a food shop today and pottering with the kiddies. Oh I do enjoy a slower pace of life! My plan for the next few days on the money front is to make a list of absolutely everything we want to/have to buy between now and Christmas (except food). We can even decide what we are going to buy or leave and the. Pace ourselves through the autumn.
The shed is finally arriving next week so I can finally pay for it and crack on with the plan!!!

Hope everyone has lovely days!!

Crunch xx

barnsleylass83

Like your plan Crunchy, I love a good list lol!! I did my list earlier this week and must admit it is helping me to keep an eye out for bargain presents rather than wondering what to get people!, X

crunch_time

That's the idea Barnsley lass - to keep eyes peeled for bargains and to make sure we actually need it.

It's 4 days till pay day now!! Husband is nipping to London today for a lads evening and staying over. He actually has about £150 left in his account but I'm going to tell him he has £50 otherwise he will spend it all!!

And I'm going to have as cheap a weekend as possible. Not even going to get a bottle of wine while I'm by myself tonight which is unlike me. Thats not going to pay the debt off!! I'm going to get all my fabric out and see what I can make over the autumn period in terms of new clothes for myself.
I had an email form magpies music saying my order has been processed £35 on its way to me soon - will go towards the credit card. I might get my winter stuff down from the loft to start putting on e b a y too.

The list is coming together nicely. im thinking of posting it on here to see what you guys think!!
Happy Saturday everyone!!
Crunch xx

barnsleylass83

Sounds like a plan, I always say the same to my hubby otherwise he would blow the lot!! Wouldloveto see your list x

crunch_time

Ha ha Barnsleylass!! I'm actually very surprised he has more money in his account to be honest!!

So I spent £1.25 yesterday on a chocolate bar for DS and some chorizo slices for my salad for dinner - no wine or beer and I wasn't even tempted!!!

I watched dirty dancing and sorted my fabric - have enough fabric/old tops to refashion to make 5 tops for the autumn. I started a new secret board on pinterest as a list!! Here is me telling me this clearly - I WONT NEED TO BUY ANY NEW CLOTHES THEN! I need to make time for sewing 2 evenings a week so they are completed by the end of September! 5 tops is a lot for free!!http://static.moneysavingexpert.com/images/forum_smilies/sport-smiley-001.gif

I also spent some time looking at what costs are on my credit card (I keep an itemised spreadsheet). Here it is broken down as I know you are dying to know!!http://static.moneysavingexpert.com/images/forum_smilies/laughing-smiley-014.gif

Shed deposit - £938
Food - £75
Interest - £43
Camera - £285
Clothes for me - £241
Spending money - £265
Childrens clothes - £34
DS birthday present - £47
Petrol - £252

Total = £2180

So I have been a little spendy since Aprilhttp://static.moneysavingexpert.com/images/forum_smilies/angry-smiley-030.gif

No worries - it is going to go! I have also worked out my budget for when I get paid on Wednesday (bet you are dying to know this too!)

Income = £1267

Outgoings
Car service - £200
Shed final payment - £500 (it might be a little less than this)
ISA Savings - £150
Credit card min payment - £60
Overdraft charge - £25

In our new budget, spending money comes out of husbands monthly income but since we have just started this I will need to pay for the following:

chiropractor apt - £33
Cheap night out - £20 (mainly petrol - no drinks as I will be driving)

Total = £988
Left over for debt payment = £279 (it may be more as I think I have over budgeted the shed by £20 so could be as much as £300.

So this will pay off at least the camera plus a little bit of interest. The music magpie money will pay off the children's clothes so hopefully by the end of September my credit card will stand at around

£1846!!!

Hopefully more if I can sell some more bits on bay of e/ tree gum!!

The hubs will have £200 left over once all his outgoings have gone over but he will need a desk for his office. I am going to say £100 as a budget to him or cheaper if he can make it then that money can go on the debt too. He will also do all his expenses from his current job in the next few days so I will know how much we owe on his credit card. It will be somewhere between £475 and £1000.

In the meantime I have updated my signature with £1000 for him in the hope I can reduce it in a few days.

Feels so good to have a plan again!!

Crunchxx

crunch_time

Here is the list so far for you barnsleylass and anyone else!!

- DS - trainers (thinking Sains)
- name labels
- DS - t shirts
- DD - first shoes
- DD - socks
- cushions for sofa
- new vinyl tablecloth
- mirror for hallway (hopefully from basehome or sain with nector points
- paint for bathroom
- paint for DD room
- stain for smaller shed
- paint for DS room
- shelves for bathroom
- train tickets for London
- hotel for London
- spending money in London
- new underwear for me
- new shoes for me
- wood for airing cupboard
- new sheet for us
- new duvet cover for us
- DD birthday present
- husband birthday present
- me birthday present (a new handbag - I've been waiting all year)
- desk
- chest of drawers for bedroom (second hand)
- solicitor fees for purchasing garage (less than £500 and hopefully can put off until new year)

That is it so far! I know we can combine some of our needs with birthday presents and Christmas presents too. The hubs needs some new clothes which are usually expensive but they do last!! He still wears t shirts purchased before we met 12 years ago!

my plan is to make Christmas a celebration of the year we have had and make it memorable rather than gluttonous!!

I feel so much more in control now. I haven't had a 'bad' day with this PND since Monday. I feel motivated and like I really want to do this so we can move forward with our lives.

Happy Sunday everyone!!

Mines going to be a NSD!

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

I forget to say that I joined a challenge last night called pay back £10k of debt in a year - August 1st 2015 to August 2016. This suits me fine as we will have paid off all of this immediate debt (£5500) plus another 12 payments of £275 a month towards then loan (£3300) = a total of £8800. This doesn't include interest and or/overpayments to the loan at the end of the year.

I am also intrigued by the idea of '1% of your debt' paid off challenge. For me i am going to do the following:
Of our £5500 immediate debt = £55 is 1%. Every month I am going to aim to pay off an extra 1% just from loose change, money saved from groceries, spending money etc. I shall keep it in a pot and then pay it into the bank every month. I am going to make a hundred square and colour one in every time we pay off £55.

So exciting - I love this sort of thing!!

Crunchy xx

barnsleylass83

Thankyou for the list it looks like you are sorted, I got ds first shoes from an onlinethey were only 10 and now I get them from the outlet they are half the price and just as good!
I am completing the 1% challenge am well on my way! I find the smaller chunks easier to focus on.
Glad you are feeling better, it is hard I too suffer with pnd, I find been organised helps, am so excited that you are focussed, we are too
Enjoy your sunday evening
Barnsleylass xxx