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

DrSpendLittle

OMG, Shelbi, I go away for a couple of months and come back to find you DEBT FREE!!! That is awesome! Massive congratulations! 3rd time lucky, indeed!!!!!

Poppy1984

Wow! Congratulations on becoming debt free! That must feel amazing!!!!

ladymay

Great to see you so positive! Keep the diary going, I'm sure people would love to know how you're getting on with the saving!

Shelbi

Hi DSL, LadyMay & Poppy1984:wave::wave::wave:

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend, DSL & Poppy1984 Thank you so much!! It really does does feel amazing... think it will sink in more when I get paid next month and my monies actually my own:):)

LadyMay Thank you hun, I'm definitely going to continue my diary, suspect its the only way I will keep in the black and get my emergency fund sorted...:)

Right now I'm trying to keep off the spending until payday and live on what I have, oped to stay home today save some pennies- one sped was a movie on prime to watch tonight £5...days been spent on chores- washing, more cleaning.

OH went and got some food in though it wont last the week...have done a quick kitchen audit and we will need some more bits to make it through the month...have a joint of meat and some seafood in the freezer so a Sunday roast and fish pie will be on the menu...just have to come up with another 14 meals. Will be meal planning tonight.. I also need to do my Ynab budget update and budget for March-April.

Tomorrow ill be heading over to my parents to celebrate mothers day, presents brought but I also need to get some cards though. Think ill pick up a few extra as they are cheap at the factory of cards and my reserve stash is running low. I absolutely cry at getting caught short and paying more for cards than 80p:rotfl:

I really do need to start visiting friends more at the weekends and arranging things I'm getting very slack...I'm more of a busy week day person and have lazy weekends...I wonder if its my new MSE ways or i'm just getting older ...

Hope everyone has a fab weekend...

Shelbi x

Shelbi

Evening All...

So far so good this week, I've spent very little money but in turn I haven't saved any either. MSE things achieved - decreased our sky package and made use of my brothers Netflix, coupled with my amazon prime I think we have enough to watch. Free postcode lotto played but nothing won yet. We invested in a water filter jug, our water in this side of london is rank, we were continuously buying bottles. It was £29 so should have really paid for itself by the time then fortnights out if anything well save the enviroment...going to up my swag bucks surveys if i earn enough that will cover the cost of the replacement filters.

My £25 ma5uma m0bile money dropped into my account for my phone - happy days!! will be used for a weekly shop-still haven't done any food shopping, surprisingly we haven't starved but made use of whats there, I do need to go though I can see a few bits and tumbleweed....

Sx

Shelbi

Evening All,

So it's been a great week, I've been trying to stay the on the MSE wagon... My balance is still in the black (just about) and there's only 6days till pay day.

This week Ive been trying to figure out ways I can save money if possible-I manged to get an eye test with £15off and the balance was refunded by work (bless em)...I then took advantage of the MSE offer to get 2 pairs of specs for £22.95:money: Which was ace! Currently I spend about £60 for 3months of contact lenses, I figure if I can wear my glasses more often itll cut the cost.

I also plan to pay my amazon and car tax in full this month, rather than in installments, this will give me another saving over the year- £16 on amazon, im not sure on the car tax as i need to check it, but there may be something, the same will be done with my insurance once its due. it'
ll cost more this month but will save money throughout the year.

This month I'm hoping to put at least £1500 into my emergency fund and £150 into the Christmas savings pot! I'll then aim to put away £50 per month/:money.

I've no real plans for this week, so its just a case of gaining as many nsd's as I possibly can...Ill try and post my budget for the month once its done...

nothing much to add...my lifes very un-rock and roll these days!:rotfl:

Shelbi

Evening All,

How gorgeous was it today, not sure what it is about the sunshine but it always makes me feel happier, churpier and generally hyper...think I may have drove my colleagues mad with my incessant talking:o Think perhaps i'm solar powered. Will make an effort to keep schtum tomorrow, head down, work hat on.;)

I didnt manage a nsd today, grabbed a salmon salad on route into work..(was delicious) have some left over for tomorrow which is nice. Tired to Keep snacking to a minimum. other wins was to book in my car for mot week after next and my long awaited celebrational spa day.. I also made a mental note of all the occasions I have coming up this month..and tried to fit them into my budget. one spa day, one work night out, one lunch with friends I haven't seen in an age, one catch up with my besties (home visit- so just some treats for the kids on that one) and another dinner for another friends birthday. I've gone from having nothing planned to quite a bit when. I actually thought about it. Ive been MIA for so many outings that I almost feel obliged to say yes to them all- am not going to crash and tumble back into debt though, i've sorted a budget and will stick to it.

will post it tomorrow as im burnt out...hope you all had a good day...night diaryland x

enthusiasticsaver

Congratulations on being debt free and good luck with your next challenge of £5000 in emergency fund. Keep to those MSE ways with the odd treat thrown in and you will be fine. Good luck on your next stage of the journey to build up assets and live within budget.

Shelbi

Thank you enthusiastic Saver I will do my best

Shelbi

Afternoon Guys,


So paydays arrived, YNAB is up to date so just a case of keeping to the budget, for this month its as follows:


Share of rent £260.25 (week free due to easter)
New telephone for flat- £19.50 & washing basket £4
Car Tax £11.87
Council Tax £93
Mobile 1 -£12.50
Mobile 2 £14.99
Electric (save for quarterly bill)- £70
Gas (saving for quarterly bill) - £65
Amazon Prime £79
Groceries- £103.70 (bit low but have done 2 shops already so OH will pick up the slack/ contribute more to this.
Emergency Fund- £1666.67
Gifts- £30
Socialising/Fun fund- £116.64
Xmas Saving- £102
MOT- £60
Oyster Top Up - (£5) - for out of zones
Beauty- £10


Ive not given myself any clothing budget as I used the remainder of last months salary to buy a pair of trousers and shoes for work (£30). I really don't think I need anything.


I've transferred my emergency fund to an easy access account and will try to leave it there and not touch it. My Xmas Savings I've put £2 in my coin jar and sent the other £100 to purchase bonds- Ill cash them out at the end of the year, since I no longer play the lottery I may as well try and win something with them. Tempted to put my emergency fund in there but would take a few days to get the money paid into my account and that's not great in event of an actual emergency.


Only put £100 into Xmas Fund as the other £50 will go towards boosting fun money. I beefed up the Emergency fund too will try to aim for £1666.67 over the next 3 months to have it fully funded.


Not much has happened really this week, just been super busy at work. Im off over the Easter so that'll be nice- a "staycation", going to visit and catch up with friends, maybe a day trip with OH..oh and a afternoon tea and spa day booked (already paid for). Just realised I'm going to be petrol, left it out...darn it- will be taken from somewhere-there's always wiggle room (probably the gas).


Honestly really looking forward to some lie ins and time off to relax..cant wait. no sfd today as I need to get some pasta and a few other bits (milk, cheese, banana's)- have taken out £10 so will come from that, should help me to not to be tempted by anything else.


Made a batch of meatballs on Sunday, so will have that for tea, also have some left over roast chicken- assuming OH hasn't eaten it all, managed to do a quick stock take I think well be ok for meals until Sunday (shopping day).


Any Easter eggs for the children will be brought after Easter when the price drops down lol! Right back to work I go ... Have a wonderful day guys.


Sx