3rd Time Lucky?!- Attempting to clear £6645.93 of debt in 105days (3months+13days)!!

Shelbi

Evening All,

So I have been MIA for a couple of days, well actually just lurking...Halloween was spent with girls watching free double bill fright night at our fave cinema, cheap night £6.77 on munchies and wine. Yesterday managed a NSD 1st one of the month, friends came over was an ace night. Today I spent my lunch time Christmas shopping on line, was a very welcome distraction. Stayed in budget using the additional £90 I had unbudgeted and trusty b00ts vouchers and a 20% NL discount adn some shuffling around. Managed to get 17 Xmas presents- these were friends and cousins kids. Feel abit more organised on it now and made some good savings on using points, 3for 2 and just cheap gifts under £5.

Had an interesting convo with OH today about work, debt etc...He really made me feel alot better about both situations. lunch was free leftovers and dinner was a chicken I precooked yesterday when dinner was made. Havent smoked for a whole month according to my app...and ive saved £147.47 not much progress made with dent payments will rebudget and make a small offering tomorrow. nothing more to report..night all x

Shelbi

Happy Saturday...

So yesterday I managed to log all my spending/figures etc and here's what I have remaining:

Petrol £10/
Food £100/
Dinner Date £50/£41.37
Beauty £10/
Clothes £10/£14.39- £4.39 overspend
Work Night Out £40/
Bonfire Night £30/£18
Cinema with girls £20/£6.77
Oyster top up £10
Xmas shopping £87.77/£96.24- overspend £8.47
additional spend to be reimb £0/£20

The shoes I got delievered don't fit so I will be returning them back for a refund. Will need to shell out for a wide fit pair, but will wait until next payday only 3 weeks to go.

Plan to also return a pair of jeans that werent long enough...will do this today. Will also get some wrapping paper and birthday cards form the high street.

Looking forward to this weekend, plan to have small fireworks display with Family tonight then to watch a large display with family tomorrow.

Have managed to get enough points $wag points for a £15 voucher so will redeem this today I think. x

Magpie100

Wow, Shelbi! I am SO impressed! Well done on the not smoking - that is fantastic! I hope you have an app to tell you every day how much dosh you are saving. Amazing work.

And everything else sounds under control - good to see you facing up to your overspends - they are small in the scheme of things, so well done, but still good to note where you are going over so you can make sure things don't spiral out of control. I like your pay bills first then see what is left strategy.

How are things going on the brands front? Are you pining for your brand name cleaners, or have you not looked back?
Have a great weekend and KEEP GOING. You are doing really well.

Shelbi

Hi Magpie:wave:

Thank you!! I do indeed it really helps- have been smoke free for 1month 3days 12hr and £166 saving:eek: its crazy when buying boxes here and there It didnt seem like that much...Not only have I saved money but I feel alot better too...although weight has gone up a bit as im grazing now instead:rotfl: one problem at a time though;) Im very happy I just hope I can keep it up!

I'm trying to keep myself accountable working on the tips you and others gave me...borrowing some from other diaries...still learning but getting there

Was testing out pay over first and live off the rest which I borrowed from NSK It seems to be working well this month so I think I will stick to it as I go along...

Aww my beloved brand labels:D Im pleased to say I have kept most of the substitutions- Bleach, Wipes, handwash, tissue..even washing powder all store brand/basic..and ill be honest I havent noticed the difference at all...neither has OH:D:j The only thing I tried and went back to were the binliners..the cheap ones broke... but with the savings made we could splurge a little:rotfl: Ill buy a name brands product if I have money off coupons or a deal thats cheaper than ald1/no name products...making great savings here:money: Thank you for the suggestions..they've worked a treat v:beer: I hope all is well with you!! xX

Shelbi

So Ive updated my figures, checked my bank accounts updated my spreadsheet with the figures over the weekend, had a wonderful time with my family and OH...the fireworks displays were fab, although getting home was a bit of a palaver traffic was gridlock...beautiful display though...

My updated budget is:

Petrol-[STRIKE] £10/£10[/STRIKE]
Food- £100/£36.9 ~ £63.10 remaining
Dining out/date night- £50/£41.37 ~ £8.63 remaining
Beauty spend- £10/£15.99- overspend £5.99 [Highlighter, body moisturiser, hair relaxer, shampoo, hair oil- doing own hair rather than salon saving £50 here:money:]
Clothes- £10/£14.37- overspend £4.39 - shoes sent back so should eventually have this returned.
Work Night out - £40/0- still to come
Bonfire night- £30/28.16 -underspend £1.84
Cinema w/girls- £20/£6.77 -underspend £13.23 another trip to come.
Oyster top up -£10/£0- (out of zones exp)- not yet used
Xmas Shop- [STRIKE]£87.77/£100.82[/STRIKE] (overspent £13.05)
additional spend reimbursed £20- reimbursed:j
Stupidity Tax:o -£0/£7.99- forgot to cancel my kindle subscription grrr...only positive can read books on organisation and money management this month. It has been cancelled now:rotfl:
Interest added to loan- £25.08 - sent the same amount to offset loan account to rebalance, keeping my percentage;)

I think that leaves me with £80.03 for 3 weeks...(doable fingers crossed). I have a 40th birthday for OH's friend this week and a cinema trip planned (cheap night).

Today I redeemed the swagbucks will put it towards one of his gifts for xmas. Updated my budget, used my boots points to order another xmas present, a face cream and mud pack (got to start looking after my skin now im on the wrong side of 35:rotfl:. Will attempt at giving myself facial and a bit of pampering...a few more nights in I think...until next payday at least (bar the dates set above)..oh and work drinks...damn it! have budgeted for that though we usually whip it £20 but I've doubled it just in case...

Oh on route back from display I stopped to get petrol and the garage had a m&sfood to go, as it was late I found some fab yellow sticker bargains...sausages 85% meat (I think) was£2.80 for 80p (naturally I grabbed 3) some ready meals less than £1 each. happy days. ..guy said hes always throwing loads out..now i know the time will be sending OH on a late night run :rotfl:.. Have been reading Christmas threads really looking froward to this Christmas. Any money I manage to save will go to loan repay..Im rambling here, sorry for the essay... Have a fab evening guys x

Shelbi

Evening All,

Just a quick check in to keep me on the dfw wagon...Today was an ok day, work was a bit touch and go but in the end ended on a nice note... Lunch and breakfast were brought in... and whilst in b00ts picking up my cream and xmas prezzy (on points) I started browsing for a gift for OH friends 40th. I had no idea what to get her then it occurred to me I could regift her a scarf I got as a birthday present. It still has the label on and is just in the drawer gathering dust. Card I didn't bother buying either I have an assortment already, its not glitzy but I think/hope shell appreciate one without figures on it (not that there's anything wrong with being forty & fab) either way I appreciate not spending lol!:rotfl:

Nothing much to add really it was just a trying day in all...ready to go bed and start afresh;)

Night all x

117pauline

Morning Shelbi

I'm sorry I haven't been around your diary for a while so I decided to read everything from the start.

Reckon you have had your lightbulb moment well and truly!

Firstly the no smoking is fantastic for both your health, wellbeing and wallet. What a success!

Branded products - again you have really done well with this. I am wondering whether to dare refill my partner's branded rice crispies for an own brand however he is in his 60s so I'd better be careful with his heart (I am joking, honestly).

Meal planning - again some successes. Try not to shop when resentful, tired, annoyed or super happy.

Presents - sounds like you have a plan but you may need to up that category for next year's budget.

Now for a couple of suggestions .......

Menu planning
You don't have to reinvent the wheel each month - yes, events will happen on different days but overall your favourite and go-to meals will stay the same or very similar.

If you menu plan on a spreadsheet, yes sounds awful but bear with me, you can quickly make up a plan once you have a few weeks entered. If the two of you come up with a list of favourite meals you can use that as well. I have even been known to make notes in the supermarket of meals I had forgotten or something that tickled my taste buds.

So my spreadsheet has

• the plan for the month
• ideas for meals
• list of quick easy meals
• other months plans
• Christmas week/New year plan

Like Hidden, I don't plan strictly by the day but have a week's worth of meals planned for the week

Lastly, I quite often prepare a meal the day before. So Sunday evening I prep Monday's meal. Then on Monday evening whilst I finish Monday's meal, I prep for Tuesday. It can take a little while to get used to but I find it works

Sorry for the essay, I just wanted to give you a couple of new ideas

Shelbi, you should be so proud of what you have achieved in the last couple of months. You have knocked it out of the park!

Congratulations, Take care
Pauline

Shelbi

Hi 117Pauline:j:wave:


Apologies for the delayed reply, I kept meaning to write but it has been a full on few days..Its so lovely to hear from you!! Thank you for taking the time to read my diary and also for the helpful pointers and tips:beer: Its soo appreciated!!
I like to think I have had my lightbulb moment, am still trying to clear up my mess, although since my last post I haven't gotten any further (still need payday to come around again) on the plus side Ive stayed the course and haven't over spent I still am in the black and surviving ..no meltdowns/cc spends...paydays not for another 11 days ..yep I'm counting hehe!;)

My Purse is loving the savings from non smoking...It does feel great £198.22 so my little app tells me...Am really proud thank you!

Branded products - Haha!! I think your Hubby deserves his crispies...Best not to chance it bless him ....

"Meal planning - again some successes. Try not to shop when resentful, tired, annoyed or super happy" This really made me chuckle...Ill never shop again these are my main 4 settings:rotfl:Or at least I seem to always be one of these when I get round to doing it!! However Thank you I will really take this onboard and arm myself with a list and not wonder...Im definitely still a work in progress in this department.

"Presents - sounds like you have a plan but you may need to up that category for next year's budget." I have also been thinking this- I think next year I will do the £2 a day xmas saving challenge to soften the blow too:)

"Now for a couple of suggestions ......." Massive thank you for all of these, they are really helpful and I will be trying to implement all of them...I started a meal plan spreadsheet (its early stages but you're so right when completed It will make my life 10 times easier... Thank you!!:beer:
I'm going to try the coking the night before or at least cook two meals in 1 evening (todays & tomorrows) save on oven use too....really loved that idea I just need to get into the kitchen...and see what I can do...This week we've been living out of the freezer. not much planning but I really need to do this as since I quit smoking my weight has shot up...I wasn't exactly skinny to begin with :rotfl:but I definitely need to plan and eat a lot better...so forward prep is fab...Thank you so very much...I will let you know how I get on....& if I manage to avoid poisoning OH...personally a little food poisioning will help us shed some pounds :DTotally kidding!!

Thank you 117Pauline I hope you have a wonderful week ahead


Take Care,
Shelbi x

Shelbi

3 days since my last check in :eek:

Its been a pretty good week so far, works been busy so thats been keeping me occupied...almost managed an NSD today but brought a bottle of red on the way home.

I've really done nothing but work this week and last for that matter, trying to get a jump on and finish off all my projects...
I did have a really fun girly night out to the cinema which was fab (and cheap night £5).

I received an email that that some of the presents I ordered are not in stock so I was charged less. Think instead I will try and nab these ones from homebuy's or poundland...some great finds in there so far.
Also received the refund for my shoes and a quidco reimbursement. Accounts not looking too bad with 8 days left to go...countdown begins!! Nothing really to report just playing the usual waiting game! Oh I did find a new audio from Dave Ramsey..."more than" or something like that...renewed my mission..just need payday lol!

Im rambling...sorry im over tired.

Hope everyone had a great day!

Shelbi

Evening diaryland,

This weekend has managed to be a no spend weekend. I awoke Saturday feeling under the weather and spent most of the day on the sofa under a duvet. Silver linings to everything I guess! Am feeling better now but figured I best stay home and have a lazy day... Be fighting fit for the week ahead. Washing done, rooms cleaned, took a stroll in the park to get fresh air...not much else to report .

Plan to work on Novembers budget tomorrow afternoon...One week until payday... still here, still plodding on!! Happy Sunday everyone xX