Overwhelmed and ashamed

Smodlet

Well done, you. Maybe, once the "Silly Season" is over, keep the treats to an absolute minimum for at least a month or two? That is what traditionally happened, pre-Christmas, when Yule was the feast at which people used up all the foodstuffs that would not keep any longer... Why do you think they invented Lent? Stuff had run out and the hens needed a break from laying, or something. All this stuff has its origins in pagan rituals which were all driven by practicality.

Things you have worked for and saved for always mean more than stuff you just flashed the plastic to get without a second thought. Anticipation is half the fun, if you decide it is. Ccs should be for emergencies only and only for those not already covered by your emergency fund.

Have a Cool Yule, y'all.

Cheeseface

I think you're right in your outlook. Mindfulness and balance is the key to success.

It's amazing what you notice when you're being aware.

EssexHebridean

Poor EE must be heartily sick of that plusnet deal! :rotfl:

Personally I think saving up for things really increases the enjoyment of those things once they are with us. It also sometimes helps us to avoid spends which otherwise we may regret down the line - by the time the saving up is done, sometimes we change our minds, or the item loses its appeal.

Love Smodlet's idea of a really "reined in" January, too - I've done a "Frugal February" for several years a while ago and that was great for re-focusing the mind. What is it they say, it takes 28 days to make a habit? You may even come out of that really frugal month feeling like you want to continue that way!

Smodlet

Empathy for telelcoms companies, EH? One is aghast! :eek: What next? Sympathy for energy companies? Surely not... surely not the banks?

EssexHebridean

You see that :rotfl: lurking about up there Smodlet? Therein lies the limit of my empathy for telecomms companies! (Truth be told I'm concerned that if too many people beast them for that offer, when I come to try to hammer mine down still further next year, there will be nothing left in the pot!)

dprovan

Its been a while since I last posted. Nine days!!

I hope everyone has had a nice and relaxing Christmas, I am delighted to say the family here are all relaxed and were happy with their lot.

Well Mrs Dp and I have been getting used to the new budgeting lifestyle and it has been all good so far. This has to be the first year in........ a very long time that nothing has been bought in the sales. That feeling of I better buy now to enjoy the wonderful savings has been seen for what it is. In truth we are both all too well aware that we don't need any more clothes or possessions for quite a while.

We stuck to our £75 a week shopping budget and £175 spending money and that has been across the Christmas weeks were we have had to buy extra food and presents for the kids or their friends etc. So we both feel very hopeful and encouraged that we should be able to live off those spends comfortably in the coming months.

We have also started an emergency fund and have money in this from items we had bought/committed to and were able to cancel or get refunds so that is great.

Most notably we live by the budget. When the £175 is spent or committed to then that's it we cant do whatever and we have explained that to the kids who have been cool and get it.

In moneysaving I have been doing credit card shuffles to get as much of it 0% as possible. No mean feat giving that there is so much of it over so many cards (12 cards!!) I have all but a couple on 0% which means that out of the £1,000 per month that is going on repayments to these only £70 is going on interest. I have just been offered a 0% for 19 months on a cc that I pay interest on so I am weighing up the possibility of moving if from there to then move back to the 0%. It will mean I will have a 3% fee x 2 but that will equate to approx. 3 months interest and then it will be 0% for 19 months. I feel very fortunate, despite our debt being very high £70k we have had our lbm before we ran out of 0% cards when it would have been soo much worse in terms of tackling this.

I have also worked out that we are paying £65 (already reduced as we have sports/movies/HD) a month on sky and £60 a month on BT (internet, phone line and BT sports). I tried haggling with sky and they only offered 40% off so I have handed in my notice. I am sure I can get it down to about £30 if not it an go. Similarly I plan to get rid of BT sport and move to plusnet. I see they have a package for phone, internet at £29 per month which would save a further £31. So if I can get sky for £30 that would be savings of £66 per month going into the emergency fund!!

Friday is the day we get our weekly shopping money out and weekly spending money so today felt exciting. We have friends over tonight but no cost as we are using party food that was already in the freezer. Tomorrow we have a treat planned to get a bottle of wine to see in new year and then we both plan to go alcohol free for January which will save us money and set us up nicely for a better start to 2017.

I have moderated my drinking significantly in recent weeks which has been to everyone's advantage. I went eleven days alcohol free before Christmas and have since moderated by having alcohol one evening and then none the next. This has been a big change as I had been drinking six nights a week for a long time... I feel much better for it and am much better for it and realised I must have been spending approximately £50 a week on alcohol which we cant afford so changes were needed on all fronts.

Ok I'm off to pick middles son up at train station, he went into city with friends with his Christmas money. I offered to pay his train fare and lunch up to a maximum of £8 so he better have picked accordingly or that will be out of his Christmas money also!!

Happy New year to everyone for when it comes.

austonic

Congrats. Good start.

Why do you need Sky?

Freeview HD or Freesat HD (using Sky dish) are, er, free. Use a PVR if you want to.

Have you looked at the NOW bundles switch give you internet and some Sky TV, or use a NOW or Netflix subscription if free stuff isn't enough.

Bobarella

You sound like you are doing so well in all areas. Really great work!

LauraB89

Hi DP - just popping in to say good work!

Looks like you have made some good realisations, and like others have said, it is SO MUCH EASIER when you're in it together with your partner. You can definitely do it in no time at all

If you ever need recipe tips/food ideas then you're welcome to pop by my diary, which is 50/50 food/debt busting lol!!

2017 is your year!

LB xx

CP2016

HI DP you sound so much more positive already.

All the best for 2017.