It's all fun and games until ...........

scotdebs

Just a quick post and run to say £500 sent to the nasty House of Fraser Card - will be paid off in total at end of month along with few other smaller balances - I'll update the list of shame then 2.76% of original debt now paid off :T

Megano

Your doing amazing! Honestly doing an SOA will help. you may need to have *cough* thick skin *cough* for what some people say but everyone is coming from a great place and if you can justify it then why not but it does make you step back and think "is it worth it?"
When I posted my SOA Willowpop and Kitten were great to help me pick up things that I easily missed and yes I may slip up getting taxis to work and drinking my body weight in fizzy juice but once you start on your journey you'll be making the most out of every penny

scotdebs

Hi Megano thanks for popping by:hello: I have done an SOA the reason I havent published it is that if we cut everything to the absolute minimum we could have this debt paid off in maybe 14 months - however I know that I would be so miserable that after 4 months I would go on a splurge and debt busting would be given up as lost cause.......... "known thyself" said some clever Greek chap once I'm confident with a few sacrifices and a bit more focus on budgeting we can pay this off by the end of next year- I know everyone would be very well intentioned but I already know we don't need the full sky package- I don't need my gym membership and OH doesn't need to play golf - and yes we do spend too much at Christmas ( but at least that is all saved for now and doesn't go near the plastic) - i also worked out the other day that if what I spend servicing and overpaying debt we would pay our mortgage off in 8 years instead of 16- so if that's not an incentive to keep me on the straight and narrow I don't know what is :eek:

stressed.mum

I know it is hard to 'lay yourself open' putting your SOA on here, but generally people are happy to help, yes some will question sky/golf etc, but they will also see bits that you are so used to that you don't think you can make savings.
You know what you are prepared to change and not change so you could used the ideas that fit with your plans and not the others xxx

scotdebs

So it's been a pretty good MSE weekend so far- had a long arranged catch up with a friend but she was made redundant at the end of 2015 - so instead of our usual into town drink dinner more drinks best part of £70 later she came to mine and we had takeaway and cheap bottles of fizz due to all the valentine deals :rotfl:- for grand total of £17 :T but even better I know she has had her head in the sand a bit about finance and of course the reality of redundancy is starting to kick in - apart from her mortgage she only has 1 cc debt which thankfully she has insurance on but she has been with the same house insurer for 16 years -:eek:so I made her bring all her paperwork over and we went to town on her finances - 2 hours and a few wines later we hade managed to reduce her insurance /utilities etc by £87 per month AND she has £60 pending in a new shiny topcashback account - I think Martin would be proud :money:
As for us today we were out round the shops getting some genuine needs - 2 saucepans have developed holes in the bottom - I'm an ok cook but there is only so much I can so with a frying pan - normally this day would have been rounded off with a wee dinner somewhere for the four of us to the tune of £70-£80 - but I stayed MSE strong and we came home for dinner :A - dinner tomorrow is sorted with stuff from freezer

Hope this chilly weekend is finding you all well

brizzledfw

Excellent effort debs..and so so pleased you could help your friend. I think this is a real feature of the journey to never letting money control one in the same way again..is making it less of a taboo subject amongst our nearest and dearest.

I have been speaking to a very good friend of mine on a good income but equally with a high spend and lots depending on her. She hopefully will be starting YNAB, taking in summer students and starting to shop at Mr L. She knows we have moved mountains in the Brizzle household and know she needs to start taking control too

scotdebs

So meal planning for the week done and majority of it comes from existing supplies - have to confess this sounds more impressive than it actually is as we are going away on Wednesday for a few days for half term :rotfl: but dinner has been prepaid for so in my head that counts as meal planning :T

Was hoping to get on the eBay wagon today but have couple of family members coming round for Sunday lunch so the tip that is home will need some attention first:)

Brizzle you are so right being able to be honest and talk about money in a grown up way would keep as all so much more accountable - I have been nagging this particular friend for yrs to overhaul her finances as even when working she felt her money just wasn't going as far - unfortunately whilst she is a lovely person and been a dear friend for over 20 yrs she's not the most proactive and just "lets" thing happen to her - even though she has know she would be made redundant at the end of dec since sept she only started looking for new jobs after Xmas and new year aargh !!!!! Hopefully this will be the start of her taking a bit more control - says she with the plus £40k in unsecured debt:o

brizzledfw

Yes it's do as I say on this one Debs..not do as I do (or did!!;) :rotfl:)

Have a great week and keep to the budget

Jonesy88

Just popped by to say what a lovely positive diary! Keep focused, you can definitely do it

scotdebs

So bumper portion of spag Bol made tonight ... Seriously think it will do us another 2 meals:rotfl:

Already "having a word with myself" about tomorrow nights dinner - we are heading away for a few days on Wednesday and so that would normally be the perfect excuse to get takeaway I WILL MAKE PAELLA ! Repeats to self 100 times - I don't need to make dinner wed, thurs, fri so no need to "treat" myself tomorrow night- there that's me told myself ....