This year will be the year.....

1974nicola

Dear.....diary?

I am sick of this. Had £84K of debt in 2011. Have reduced it to £54K since then but I've practically stopped paying following a job loss. This year I aim to save enough to be able to pay £25K as full and final settlements and finally be done with it.

Going to: be frugal, keep my savings separate from husband's accounts, start a business from home, advertise tutoring services on TutorMeet.co.uk - it's free, set up a presents/Christmas cupboard, drink less and generally reduce outgoings

NOT going to: go on holiday, buy myself any new clothes this year or overspend at Christmas through lack of planning.
Starting at £0 - aiming for £25,000

chocolatepiggybank

Hi, first of all well done on the 30k you've paid off already, that's amazing! Best of luck with your goals for this year, sounds like you've got great plans already

1974nicola

Thank you. It's definitely a plan. I'm just so sick of having it hanging over us.

My husband and I have very different approaches to money/debts which has proven to be a bit difficult at times. I reckon we could have had it paid off fully by now but he didn't want to put our lives on hold to pay it. I understand his 'life is short' mentality but I do believe it's partly (mostly?) responsible for the debts that we accrued in a relatively short time.

This year I'll stick to my guns. He's already conceded to no holiday so that's a start!

1974nicola

Forgot to say...... Started well so far. We received a wee dividends cheque of £200 pounds today. Yay!

£200/£25000

chocolatepiggybank

Yay for small victories! It's so hard to say no sometimes. My partner has a similar attitude and I dread the day when we start sharing finances! Well done for convincing him on the holiday

Bobarella

Good luck with it all. A great goal for this year

1974nicola

Just a short update. I feel it's going well so far. My husband seems to be joining in the 'fun' and I've explained to my lovely children that we're saving up so......
So far so good really. Not sure If this is how I update my 'diary' but I've done it now so.....

1974nicola

chocolatepiggybank wrote: »

Yay for small victories! It's so hard to say no sometimes. My partner has a similar attitude and I dread the day when we start sharing finances! Well done for convincing him on the holiday

Not sure if you need advice but ...... I should have been much firmer and a LOT more on the ball.

Ultimately, while I can blame him for over spending...... Where exactly did I think the holidays and stuff were coming from?? Had I been paying any attention at all, I would've been able to see it going wrong much earlier. Ah well - paying for it now! Just as well he is a good guy though!

Hope all goes well for you.

1974nicola

Dear diary.....

So far January is going well. I've had a wee cheque. My family have agreed that we'll have a January "shutdown". My lovely husband has agreed that we won't go on holiday. Two great starts. Won't be nearly enough to pay it all of on their own but definitely a great start. Husband is paid tomorrow and I still have a few hundred left from this month. I'll update my spreadsheets tonight. Feeling positive.
£200/£25000

1974nicola

God a place as any to share..... But I am weirdly excited about doing my spreadsheets tonight! I know it's going to be decent. Not amazing. But defo a good start.

1974nicola

Hello,

Good news regarding spreadsheet totals. Lovely husband was paid today (he gets paid every 4 weeks) and transferred me my money for the house, food, petrol, clothing etc.

£2 tin = £40 - saved
Frugal moves = £291
regular share save = £330
Christmas savings =£64 (but £30 spent on pressies in the sale)

So all in all a good few post Christmas weeks. Heading towards target. Not quite the £2K a month that needs to be squirreled for F and F but I'm pleased.

Now @ £861/25000

We're still on a Financial shutdown so I'm hoping my frugal moves will be better next month. And I have a week sneaky £60 in my purse to start off the next 4 weeks. What is very pleasing is that Mr N is on board. About time. But again, another positive start