Reality Check...

note3

Sorry I've been awol again...I find myself reading the house renting and selling section while I try to get baby to sleep (honestly some of the comments can be hilarious reading) then I doze off or I clear up then doze off!

Really pleased you are closing a card...in truth you need to focus on building up EF and closing your overdraft now as I think you're at real risk of using the overdraft if don't have a card to hand when you have your shopping urge. Could you reduce overdraft to say £500 so you still have a buffer but can't do horrendous debt damage if you go off the wagon??

reality_check

I'm sure your garden will be wonderful when it gets finished. Do you get hot summers where you are?

Hey Smodlet thanks for the advice, it was an on going medical condition, he was over that age too and we sadly had to put him to sleep in Feb. I do plan on putting the money away instead of pet insurance, one day lol

Glad to see you back Note! I am not ready to reduce my overdraft, going to clear one more card £2000 Santander in the next few months then start on EF and reduce overdraft by £1000...this is the new plan anyway! I should be able to pay £1000 to Santander next month and the remaining £1000 in July/August.

Brought lunch with me to work again need to pop into Lidl and get some fruit so £5 max and that is all I need to spend today.

Made 6 portions of soup last night using leftover chicken from Sunday and made spaghetti bolonaise with turkey mince last night. I think the mince was £2/2.50 from Lidl and was a nice change from mince plus healthier and purse friendlier. S (my daughters initial incase anyone is confused lol) didn't want it so I had it on a baked potato with some salad and was lovely. I have 4 portions in the freezer so that is nearly half the month of lunches ready so a good nights work.

With my Barclay card (part1) I have £1050 left to pay before December when I am charged interest. I have 6 direct debits left so I have changed the payment to £175 per month so that I don't need to worry about paying that off. My next deadline is January 2017 of £2000 on Santander before interest starts so that is my focus.

xx

reality_check

Another £14 spend in work towards birthdays for 4 people. £3 for normal birthdays and someones 30th so we put in £5. Just writing it in here so I can try keep track of spending. Took £20 out the bank so will use the change for fruit in Lidl xx

milasavesmoney

You are managing your finances very well. Real progress is being made toward your being debt free.
It's a good feeling to set a plan in motion and watch it work. Good for you!

I live in the desert SW of the US so, yes, it's hot here in the summer. We only average 14" rain annually so it's a dry heat. That's what makes it bearable...well that and air conditioning.:cool::D

note3

Goodness me! Your work do non stop blimmin collections!!! Can ppl see how much you put in? If not just bung a squid in!

reality_check

Tell me about it!! Was £3 last week for someone I couldn't even tell you who she was and retirement the week before! Charity, cancer research, only a few pounds enough to make you feel guilty as you glance at £40 hand cream on your desk :rotfl: they take your money and write your name on the envelope and how much you've paid! I am drawing a line again and saying no! Birthdays only since i'm stuck in the birthday club!

reality_check

Last night I ended up in Tesco not Lidl and was £17.50 got some fruit (so much more expensive!) and picked up some dish washer tablets and fabric conditioner. Didn’t need them but it was an offer and will save money in the long run I suppose. Moved the money from the food budget, so will just need to have an extra tight week next week! Waitrose has opened up next to my work today, going for a look later should leave my purse behind but we will see…might get a nice cake and some fresh flowers and take out of personal spends xx

ash302

Hi I've loved reading your diary, I find reading them keeps me on track and gives me motivation to keep going.
You are doing really well and love your honesty.
Me and my other half have a high level of debt but we are determied to clear this and start living debt free.
I've subscribed so I can keep poping in to say hi! :wave:

reality_check

Hey Ash! :wave: I'll give you all the tips on what not to do and should help you! A diary really has helped me keep on track (even though I have fell off so many times, but I am in a far better situation that I would have been had I not started!) and reading other peoples diaries helps motivate me too.

Can you believe it another sponsor!! :shocked: I better go to Heaven! I just paid £2 for someone doing Race for Life…everyone had put £5, but I had £2 in my purse so went with that, normally I would have felt embarrassed but I simply don’t have the money or the ability to just say no, so this is a compromise for now…looks even worse as everyone after me went back to £5! But every little helps.

Went over to Waitrose, I refused to pay £18 for flowers or £6 + on a cake! The old me wouldn't have batted an eye lid and would have loved Waitrose on my door step as would have been "really handy to grab dinner every night when I leave work" but the new me would rather a chinese, flowers from Morrisons, they sell Lillies for £5 and are lovely and last 2 weeks minimum plus some change left over. I did spent £2.85 on a iced coffee and a cookie, didn't need it just wanted it but could have been far worse!! I really am a serial !!!! when I read my posts back...I am quite dramatic and blow things out of proportion in real life so it is fitting I guess :rotfl: xx

reality_check

Spin class this morning - doesn't get easier, my legs were like jelly and shaking when I was using the pedal for the clutch on my car when I was driving home....nice and safe!

Spent £7.50 last night in Morrisons buying bread, milk, cheese, biscuits and OK magazine...could have been avoided. I need to stop these extra little spends, they all had up. I went because I wanted toast, beans and cheese...turns out I had cheese and bread in the freezer so the whole £7.50 could have been avoided.

After I discovered this unnecessary spend, I made a big list of what I had in my freezer to try avoid spends in future! 20 meals I have uncovered!!

Pork chops x2 meals
Chicken breasts x3 meals
King prawns x2 meals
Salmon x1 meal
Smoked haddock x1 meal
Burgers x1 meal
Chorizo x1 meal
Bacon x1 meal (making carbonara tomorrow to use up some cream)
Fresh gnocci x1 meal
Egg nooodles x2 meals
Chickpea curry (already made and froze) x2 meals
Turkey bolonaise (already made and froze) x2 meals
Thai pork mince for dumplings (already made and froze) x1 meal

Every meal will serve 2 people, and when I can will try make an extra one for the freezer.

Lunches

x 6 soup
x2 spaghetti and meatballs
x1 savory rice

And that doesn't include things like baked potatoes, tins of tuna, pasta dishes that can be made...I really need to use this all up before I buy anymore!!