Coming Clean

rainbowskies

CheepCheep wrote: »

It's a bit funny getting such a snapshot into your life and kuddos on your commitment to your journey.

In a way I envy the simplicity you have, I have two children, a third on the way, two cats, two cars to maintain and a whole lot more things that cost money... I can't remember the last "no spend day" as everyday there seems to be something that requires money... Although I felt pleased with myself a couple of weeks ago by getting a waitrose card, which entitles me to one free coffee a day, so I've saved a little bit there, but maybe the lesson for me to learn from your experience is to breakdown and simplify my debt free goals and even getting one NSD would be a great start.

Thank you for sharing your journey and for the extra inspiration.

Thank you for commenting, CheepCheep. The grass is always greener! Sometimes I wish I was more grown up. A lot of my friends are looking looking into mortgages, moving in with their partners, progressing up the career ladder, some have pets, some are talking about kids already and then there's me, just sitting here, doing my own thing, slowly plodding away. Sometimes I feel frustrated that I'm not where they are. I don't even have a boyfriend at the moment!

Thank you for making me realise that I don't have it so bad after all.

You're right! I felt better and more in control when things were simplified down and I think it really works. It's so much easier smooshing all your debts together into one payment. I know some people say not to consolidate your debt but I was offered 3.9% for the loan. It just made sense to go for it. Having lots of outgoings was making me feel panicky and out of control. I have cut down my expenses to just the bare necessities now. And debt wise, all I need to worry about is one payment a month and it's so much more easier. I've also set it up so that all my payments leave over a certain few days. Once they are all gone, I know the rest of the money is mine.

I wish you every bit of luck in your debt busting! x

rainbowskies

I'm a little late in posting tonight.

My day away on Saturday turned into an overnighter! And I spent the majority of Sunday on my friend's farm as well. It was lovely to spend time with her and her little boy and get some much needed fresh air! That country air was invigorating! And we spent as much time as possible outside in the garden and taking walks with the dogs across the fields!

I've always wanted a dog and spending two days with those silly, lovable creatures makes me want one more than ever now but it wouldn't really be fair because I'n barely at home during the days. Grrr, maybe one day!

There were lovely things to eat during the weekend! Meals on farms are nicer! Fresh veggies, sweet and juicy fruit, crusty bread, creamy milk, cheeeseee ... A fruit cake! For once, I was eating fresh, home made food and not that processed rubbish. Not a ready meal in sight!

It really did do me the world of good. And now, back to city life. I did come back relaxed and happier and with lots of cherry scones and little pots of jam with me. And home made chocolates. If I had stayed there any longer, I really would have gained some serious weight!

Both days were NSDs. I didn't put any extra fuel into my car for the trip. I'll be running low a week earlier than normal, I'm thinking. I may walk to work and back for that one week. I'm sure it'll be fine. I've walked up grassy hills in the past two days. I'm sure I can handle some level pavement pounding!

Hope everyone is well.

luckofthe_irish

Hi rainbowskies!

Just wanted to pop in and say I will be keeping tabs on your diary as it resonates so much with me. I am 25, no kids, no mortgage or big responsibilities and I am desperately trying to curb my massive overspending. I should be doing well at the end of every month yet I am in my overdraft and relying on CC's religiously. Things should be simple, but somehow money just pours through my fingers. I am a really responsible person in every other aspect of my life, so I need to get a handle on it!

It sounds like you had a fab weekend, have a good Tuesday!

rainbowskies

luckofthe_irish wrote: »

Hi rainbowskies!

Just wanted to pop in and say I will be keeping tabs on your diary as it resonates so much with me. I am 25, no kids, no mortgage or big responsibilities and I am desperately trying to curb my massive overspending. I should be doing well at the end of every month yet I am in my overdraft and relying on CC's religiously. Things should be simple, but somehow money just pours through my fingers. I am a really responsible person in every other aspect of my life, so I need to get a handle on it!

It sounds like you had a fab weekend, have a good Tuesday!

Thank you, luckofthe_irish!

That's exactly what I was like. My bills/expenses are a small amount. I should have over a grand to 'play with' by the end of the month and yet, this amount was getting smaller and smaller as I kept having to make payments to various credit cards. Interest was eating up huge amounts of credit and my balances kept getting bigger and bigger.

Like you, I'm, responsible in other areas of my life so couldn't think why I was messing up on finance so badly. I only have one credit card now which gets paid off in full. It really is quite liberating to only have the one card. I can't wait until I get rid of my loan. I think for me, it was much easier to work on getting myself out of debt once I had firm goals in my mind. For example, I would like to save for a mortgage, a decent car and maybe a kick-!!! holiday. I can't do any of that until I have gotten rid of my debt so here I am. Also, paying of debt and emergency fund saving can be really additive as well!

My tip would be to simplify everything going out so it's much easier to keep track off. Good luck with your debt busting!

rainbowskies

Not gonna lie, drove home in frustrated tears today. It was an awful, long day with angry customers and constant ... everything. I had a throbbing headache the entire day and I have so much paperwork to catch up on. There are times when it's okay. It's actually tolerable. Then there are days like today when I feel like screaming and walking out. I feel like I'm going to have a breakdown one of these days. I'm usually a cheery person but this is ridiculous. Two more days to go. Lord, help me.

I will explain my work in more detail in another post. I just can't bring myself to think about it any longer tonight.

I have some good news though. My perfume set on ebay sold for £22.50. I have transferred that into my main account, rounded it up to £25 and transferred it into my car fund. The current balance is now £349.82 (29% saved.)

I don’t have any more things to list. I have a load of novels but I think it may be easier to send them to webuybooks.com instead. I also have shoes but nobody seemed interested in there. It’s a shame as they’re barely worn. May need to hand them into a charity shop.

Monday was a NSD. However, I did spend a little today.

Due to the hideousness of this day, I have bought a box of eclairs. There are 4 in the box and I’m going to eat every single one of them for dinner.

FYI, mentally I am 8 years old.

I feel like having a full on strop but lol, I guess that’s only effective when there are people around to witness it.

Hope everyone else had a better day!

rainbowskies

Haven't posted in a ... week, I think?

Been busy with work and OU course. Most days have been NSDs aside from the odd can of Coke on Tuesday and one today. I really do rely on a fizzy drink to perk me up in the afternoons. Must stop that.

Not much to report.

It's pay day next week. Due to the 25th being a bank holiday, we're going to be paid on the 24th instead. I can't wait to increase both my emergency and car funds and pay the first loan payment! I'm also looking forward to the four day weekend!

rainbowskies

Hello all.

I really am getting bad at updating. I have my exam coming up in a few months so I've been hitting the books (and the bakery, oops) hard. Can't study without snacking and oh, I am not going to leave this to the last minute the way I used to back in them college days.

Yesterday was pay day. This was a very special pay day as it also included my bonus and a pay rise so I had a very good morning, happily transferring my money to my savings accounts. Both my funds are currently standing at:

EMERGENCY FUND £1561.14 (52% SAVED)
CAR FUND £503.80 (42% SAVED)

Which is quite a good jump from before! I've managed to save half my target amount for my emergency fund already which is amazing. I'm sure I will be able to hit the target sooner than I planned which will be nice as that means I can concentrate on paying of my loan quicker. Speaking of, due to the long bank holiday weekend, my direct debit for the loan will be taken on the 29th rather than the 25th. Can't wait for that to go and kick things off.

Spending wise, I have been good (aside from the odd pastry and cake from the bakery.) But it's so cheap and I've cut back completely on the usual things I used to buy in abundance such as magazines, expensive coffees, lunches at work, etc so it's not too bad.

I did my main shop on Thursday (£47 - using vouchers helped!) so I don't think I'll be spending much on food for a while. I may need to just top up wit fresh milk and fruit. Also I filled up my car with petrol (£30) however, this will keeping my going for a month if I don't make sudden, unaccounted for long journeys which I don't have any reason to do.

I'm a little worried about next weekend as I will be travelling to London with my friend to see a musical. But I shouldn't worry to much as practically everything has been paid for. Train, hotel, tickets. The hotel was booked and paid for before I had my LBM. This means it's not the cost friendly Travel Lodge or a Premier Inn. It's one of those ridiculous swanky ones. (A facial and massage has also been arranged at the hotel and so has the £10 breakfast ) I do feel bad but can't do much about it as it's already been paid for, grrr. I need to keep reminding myself that this joke was done before I had any sense. Pre LBM Rainbow!

This leaves me with just the tube fare and food. Normally I would have just suggested getting a taxi to and from the venue, but no sir! Not this time. The tube won't be too costly especially as I will be using my contactless debit card to zap in and out. Food wise, I'm not going to load up on expensive nibbles, coffee and magazines - 'for the train journey.' I will take one of my books with me to read on the train. I will also take a bottle of water from home and perhaps a bar of chocolate.

Rather than spending too much money on lunch, we'll opt for a meal deal from M&S or Boots and then treat ourselves to a nice dinner at a Pizza Express or a Nandos.

I just need to remember what my goals are and I won't stray too far from there. I can do this!

Huskyrunner

an emergency fund is a good idea we set one up just after xmas november for us was torture. 300 too repair a fence cheers storm desmond then 200 for a boiler breaking

angela110660

Glad you are planning an economical part to your lovely sounding London trip. Well done. Just to mention re the tube. OH and I went up to London for a couple of nights for wedding anniversary and splurged! On 2 oyster cards to speed up getting around. We have loaded money on them twice via the internet since and lent them to daughter and boyfriend when they were up there. Saved lots of tickets hassle at stations and if we know we are going up there just prepay online before we go. Have a lovely visit.

rainbowskies

Huskyrunner wrote: »

an emergency fund is a good idea we set one up just after xmas november for us was torture. 300 too repair a fence cheers storm desmond then 200 for a boiler breaking

Good for you. It's hard especially just after Christmas but it's a good feeling when you start to accumulate more and more pennies into your fund! I'm sorry November was so tough. Unfortunately, it's times like that that really give you a boot to get things sorted and organised. I had several things that needed repairing at the start of the year which led me to use my credit card which then led me to think I never want to be caught out like this again hence my emergency and car maintenance fund!

angela110660 wrote: »

Glad you are planning an economical part to your lovely sounding London trip. Well done. Just to mention re the tube. OH and I went up to London for a couple of nights for wedding anniversary and splurged! On 2 oyster cards to speed up getting around. We have loaded money on them twice via the internet since and lent them to daughter and boyfriend when they were up there. Saved lots of tickets hassle at stations and if we know we are going up there just prepay online before we go. Have a lovely visit.

Thank you! I used to be so terrible when I went to London. It's so easy to hop into taxis but I've decided on no unnecessary spending. The single tube tickets are a waste of time and money. Yup, it seems like Oysters and contactless are the way to go. Apparently, the fares get capped after a certain amount and there's not faffing around at the ticket machines!

It's okay to splurge when it's your wedding anniversary and I'm glad you did. I'm sure it was a special trip for you and OH.

Thank you!