Ok, here goes nothing!

LauraB89

Guys.. it's just hit me... I can pay off my Barclaycard next month! I might be able to pay my loan off then as well..!!

Definitely within touching distance of the finishing line. I can remember being in my first year out of university with two massive overdrafts and a credit card totalling around £5k. Next month, my debts will be in the hundreds not thousands..!!

I really think that I can get my debts paid by April - that is so close! Should be in my new house by then, and married in June. New house, married, no debts - that really is a dream come true.

xxx

mummytogirls

Amazing news about paying off barclaycard and then the loan Laura, well done :beer:

Hope your cold does one soon xx

Bobarella

Hope you feel better soon Laura. You are so thrifty I am sure you can stretch your pay. Have every confidence in you. Loving the meal plan as always. I love ham egg and chips but my OH is allergic to egg so it's not a meal I ever get to enjoy at home. Ham.....Ummmmmm.....

LauraB89

Ahh thanks M2G - I am hoping it's gone soon!

Bob! I would seriously struggle without eggs, we eat over a dozen a week around here!

Definitely time to get thrifty this month

Resisting the Saturday night takeaway - which is hard when you feel like crap!

xxx

Little--fish

Hi Laura - I've just found and read your diary from start to finish and all I can say is WOW!!!

You have achieved so much in such a short time, it's incredible. I love the way you seem to decide on your goals, even massive ones like buying the house, and then just get on and do them. You come across as so enthusiastic and energetic that I'm sure you'll achieve whatever you set your mind to in life

Your menus sound delicious too, it's a good job I've already eaten as I'd be drooling over the computer.......especially the thought of ham, egg and chips - that's an all time favourite meal here, especially with bread and butter for chip butties . We also eat lots of eggs here, the kids love them, and they are so good for you. We had four hens in the back garden until recently (and they still visit for holidays - long story!) but the fresh eggs are amazing - when you get your hens, as I sure you will, it will be great. Oh, and my kids adored the hens, so when you have your Very Many Babies they can help look after them with you! My eldest actually took her favourite hen up to her bedroom to show it around once - my face when I found them up there must have been a picture :eek:

I hope work gets sorted and your bonus carries on for as long as possible - I'll be keeping reading your thread!

LauraB89

Hi Little Fish Thanks for stopping by!!

I definitely do get an idea in my mind and make it happen - "relentless optimism" the OH calls it haha!

I am very lucky that I have been able to earn good bonuses - I know that not everyone is able to do the same and it has made a huge difference in the last few months!

ALL I THINK ABOUT IS FOOD ALL DAY LONG - I love making my menu, going food shopping, ticking off my list, then spending an hour making dinner. It's just satisfying!

I am saying this stuffed to the gills from a roast beef lunch!! Still got room for tea and chocolate though!!

Ahh that is so sweet, I can't wait to get chickens!! Some people have been trying to put me off, so I am glad to meet someone else with a good experience about having them

Also "Very Many Babies" made me laugh

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday - I haven't spent a thing, and I have made a lovely lunch and now I am home alone for a few hours... bliss!!!

xxx

mummytogirls

Another one here who spends all day thinking about food Laura!!!! I have to take so much food to work with me just to keep me ticking over haha!!! xx

Honeysucklelou2

Read your diary right through. Well done on making such progress. To be debt free when you have your very many babies will be such a bonus and give you choices.
Chicken keeping is fab. My lot have enjoyed keeping chickens. It gets addictive though! We got an incubator and bought some fertile eggs so that the children could have the whole experience. Having had one son who took an egg out of the fridge and hid it under his pillow in a bid to make it hatch, I thought we'd better do it properly!
Have a wonderful few months planning your wedding and your new home.

LauraB89

Hi Honeysuckle! The OH's dad told me last week that they have an incubator!! Excited! It's so nice to hear from people who have had good chicken experiences

I haven't spent much today, just £9 on some toiletries and peppers (they didn't have them when I did my Big Food Shop on Friday).

Work was ok today, really busy and I have a bazillion things to do, but hey-ho! December's result is looking good, so fingers crossed for another big bonus next month!!!! I seriously think it's going to happen people!! Just imagine - I would pay off my Barclaycard AND my loan... in just one month. Last time I tried to close my barclaycard they gave me £50, and then a few months later, another £50 and then £30. I am hoping that they do it again - I have decided to SAVE for a new bed. I think that we will need about £500 for the one that I want, and we already have some vouchers for John Lewis, so when we move, if anyone wants to get us a present I will just say John Lewis vouchers and then we can do it in a few months.

Been looking over the wedding budget, and it's all coming together nicely. I think that next month I am going to be putting more ££ into saving - at the moment my emergency money is down to £100!! I want to save up £1,750 in the next 6 months - which is very doable if I earn good bonuses for the next couple of months and save hard to pay everything off and save the extra. This will make sure that after the house and the wedding we have a buffer to start saving from.

The OH has decided that he is not happy at our workplace, and frankly after his treatment in the last few months/my treatment in the last few months shows that it really isn't a great place to work. So, I am seeing this as a blessing in disguise, and when we move he will start looking for a new job in the new area. He has great contacts there, and now he has good experience, so overall I think that he can get a better paying and more senior role that will be closer to our new home.

Not only that, dear reader, but when I sat down to go over December progress and January budgets with the OH an amazing thing had happened.


HE STUCK TO HIS DECEMBER BUDGET. HE MADE IS PAYMENTS AND HASN'T SPENT ANY MORE ON HIS CREDIT CARD.

This is a major improvement and a massive step for him. I went over his bank statements with him in November and he was spending about £300 more than he had going in. Now he is going to try and save his "buffer" money of £80 as well! I cannot tell you how happy this makes me - it's going to happen people.

I am going to have my house and my Very Many Babies!!!!

xxxx

Little--fish

Hi Laura! Glad to read so many positive things from you today. Just wanted to say that I think it's fantastic news that your OH is getting on board with the money saving - you will both be doubly sorted and in half the time! It does become quite addictive I think and even better if you can both keep each other motivated!

Good idea for the job hunting closer to the new house too - commuting can really take it out of you after a while - and become expensive. I hope he finds something quickly once you move!