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

Shelbi

Afternoon Diaryland,

Happy to report last night spends came to a modest £6 (3 diet cokes and 1/4 of a share platter) What a fantastic night it was too:) London seemed to come alive everyone was happy and singing...Gosh I hope it continues

Received my insurance renewal today £661.16:eek::eek::eek: Seriously thats £234.6 more than last year!:mad:
Needless to say I took to comparison sites and qu!dc0 to find a much better deal:money:..In the end managed £360.44 (£66.12 cheaper than last year:D) plus a possible £30 cashback if all turns out well:D Super Happy with that:money::j:j:j:j
Savings have been redistributed into budget.
I may try putting away a pound a day to cover insurance costs next years one (sinking funds):)

Nothing much else to report- another bring lunch to work day pocketed, no NSD today with the insurance purchase. Trying to use less syns today as I went over with the platter last night, determined to lose a stone this month or close to it!

still to purchase the bbq and sort out a few bits for OH birthday bbq when we come home from hols...probably should get on with it...anyway thanks for reading my ramblings, hope you have a fab and blessed day!:D

Shelbi x

Shelbi

Evening all,

Another NSD banked, brought lunch on too...Have been reading How I lived a year on a pound a day, very inspiring. I never think I could go that extreme but I take my hat off to the author and shes inspired me to be a bit more frugal. I'm going t try and not waste money and cut my social spends down, concentrating on free things to do.

Not that much to update on but I wanted to keep the habit and stay the path..night all!

Shelbi x

PositiveBalance

Shelbi wrote: »

:wave:Afternoon Guys

So today, I received £3 bank reward and £2.77 form quidco- so £5.77 added to deposit fund. Also lost 7lb at SW so am very smiley today!:D:D

OH gave me £50 for the bits I brought him, and to cover the cost of bbq for caravan...found one on Argos for £27 with tools and cover so Ill get that tomorrow. My cleared cc has £3.47 Credit left over from rewards, ill use that and pay off the balance straight away to ensure no interest...£3.50 off is a saving after all...the rest of the funds I will save towards vacay funds.:)

Am out with the girls from work tonight to cheer on the England squad:j:j Budget £10 (Syns spare 8) I will not overspend *new mantra* Brought lunch into work, feeling in control...tiny wins but it feels good....enjoy the sun all! Shelbi x

All good! Well done on losing lbs as well as £s of debt! Bringing lunch to work is good for both as you can control what you eat and make it tasty and it's generally lots cheaper than buying out. Well done! :T

Shelbi wrote: »

Afternoon Diaryland,

Happy to report last night spends came to a modest £6 (3 diet cokes and 1/4 of a share platter) What a fantastic night it was too:) London seemed to come alive everyone was happy and singing...Gosh I hope it continues

That's extremely modest - well done! :T

Shelbi wrote: »

Received my insurance renewal today £661.16:eek::eek::eek: Seriously thats £234.6 more than last year!:mad:
Needless to say I took to comparison sites and qu!dc0 to find a much better deal:money:..In the end managed £360.44 (£66.12 cheaper than last year:D) plus a possible £30 cashback if all turns out well:D Super Happy with that:money::j:j:j:j

Well done, again - that's exactly what to do! Write all the dates for insurance renewals in your diary and put a reminder 10 days/a week before so you have time to do the same next year.

Shelbi wrote: »

I may try putting away a pound a day to cover insurance costs next years one (sinking funds):)

Dandnamit, but I think I need an extra sinking fund or two. Don't ask me what I am supposed to do when I've got so many I have no actual money to spend each month 'cos I've got so many! :rotfl:

Shelbi wrote: »

Have been reading How I lived a year on a pound a day, very inspiring. I never think I could go that extreme but I take my hat off to the author and shes inspired me to be a bit more frugal. I'm going t try and not waste money and cut my social spends down, concentrating on free things to do.

I read Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine. I would recommend reading it - if you like the above book, you will like this. :A

Shelbi

Hi PositiveBalance :wave:

Thats a fantastic idea about the reminder dates on insurance:) You're so right about bringing lunch in, its just getting myself sorted before hand, Im improving at this though and definitely much cheaper:D

Thank you for the book recommendation, I do love a good frugal read:D I wish I could be that stealth, but I'm hoping it will seep into my subconscious...I hope you're well lovely!

Sx

Shelbi

Evening all,

Thought id take the op to do a quick update whilst the footies on and its quiet, managed a nsd today and Sunday. Saturday wasnt so lucky- Football bbq spends- drinks meats and bits and petrol- damage- £70:eek: Saying that it was the best day/evening Ive had this summer. Not only my purse strings take a battering my weight loss took a dent- I still lost but only 1.5lbs had been good all week till Saturday- will be more determined in future.

Read another awesome post on the 1000 parcels, I think I'm going to use this method to get my deposit saved and see how I get on. Completely borrowed from another post but the concept is to save interest, overtime, other income, savings from underspends, sales, save the pennies, into an account in £1000 parcels...breaking it down into 25 parcels.

I already have 1 so now to try and move onto the others, I'm thinking about including my stocks and share savings in this too (would that be a sensible idea?) I don't want to stop them, I know there's a risk of loss but over a period of time usually a gain- please can I get your thoughts on this- include stocks and shares in deposit savings or keep seperate?:)

MSE wins- regifted an unopened unused present:shhh: and avoided card purchase by using my card factory stash- need to buy more as son as the have a 10 for a pound sale Need more male/plain ones.

Have run out of tea bags but don't want to head to the shops as I want to bank another nsd, will go tomorrow as i am sure to spend as I'm out with the girls to watch the footie- again a £10 spend limit will be attempted:o (will even get the teabags with it too) it's been Ovaltine/coffee tonight (my poor syns):(

Budget remaining-

• groceries 9.73
• electric- £50 (will use if i fall short)
• netflix £7.99
• Socialising- £10
• Vacation- £150
• Travel- £5 (top up for out of zone travel)

only 16 days left till payday it should all be fine:undecided

I think that all I've got...hmm my so called life. Just to keep plodding on..hope yall have a fab evening..

Shelbi x

Shelbi

After a beautiful break I'm back:wave: it was a really lovely week away and at a fraction of the price of going abroad, definitely something id try again- total vacay spends in the end- £385.71 well over budget but so much less than i normally spend on a holiday so I'm still chuffed. :j

The BBQ didn't happen, it was missing some nuts and bolts so we made use of the caravan grill, plus side had a barbie when we got home at a friends and I returned the dud pocketing £26.99

Pay day in two days, I need it down to my last pennies...bar savings. Managed slimming world meeting yesterday another 1.5lb off (10.5lb's overall) I've one more weigh in before the end of July praying I can shift another 3.5 to hit my goal of a 1st.

Money wise I'm yet to sort my budget for August, ill do that tomorrow and report back, I've one christening to attend and about 2 anniversaries..racking to think of what else there might be, think ill be a little fresher tomorrow.

Nothing much else to report...

Sx

PositiveBalance

Nice to see I'm not alone being skint and not being able to wait for payday!


I'm glad you enjoyed your spacation - it sounds very relaxing.


What I wouldn't give for a bit of that...:D

Shelbi

Its been a while now I'm back:j:j after a 2month break. I've not strayed too far from the MSE wagon, I just haven't logged in for a time...I think I needed a break. I still managed to squirrel small amounts away and not go back into debt which is something.

During my mse absence OH and I have got engaged:j:j which is Super excitng but another thing we will need to cash flow!!

Looking at numbers and budget I need some motivation and accountability to get the funds we need- Honestly for me the best way for me to save money is to jump back on the MSE wagon and tighten our purse strings...So here I am.

This October Ive sorted our Budget- I did a shop today in Ald1 and spent the budgeted £40 (we were low on everything ) OH called Sky today to try and negotiate a lower broadband and sky package. We currently pay £65, OH pays this- He cut off the sky package and they offered £18.99 for bb. Found a deal on MSE to pay upfront and cost £12.74 equivilent..pretty good saving there thanks MSE :money: Will be looking into other ways we can scrimp and save...

Plans for October:

1. OH and I will attempt Stoptober
2. Will be attempting 20 NSD's
3. Decluttering & sell things
4. Stick to £365 budget for Xmas present spends & Xmas season
5. Meal Plan & dont waste any food
6. Take lunch to work all through October
7. Make an additional £155 (£5pd cahallenge)
8. Update diary and YNAB everyday to stay on track
9. Lose 7lbs
   1. Exercise 3x a week

So thats the plan...Ready for a new month and a new start! Goal is to save as much as we can...but still live...Come on October!

Shelbi:) x

enthusiasticsaver

Congratulations on your engagement and good to see how well you are doing with saving now. Should be easier though with two of you saving for a house deposit and wedding.

PositiveBalance

:j:beer: :T :heartpuls :blushing::lovethougOooh congratulations, Shelbi! :lovethoug:blushing: :heartpuls :T :beer::j


I'm delighted for you! There is no better possible reason for you to keep your financial sheet together. Which order will it be? House then wedding or wedding then house?!


FYI I am TOTALLY expecting a piece of virtual wedding cake at least, if not an actual virtual invitation. I shall have to raise a glass of something bubbly to my laptop screen on the big day, whenever that shall be. :beer: :rotfl:


Good for OH on getting rid of Sky. Every little helps and nobody ever died from lack of satellite TV!


Onwards and upwards, as they say!