A Ditherer's Diary (again)

moving_forward

P.s. pay that bonus mainly towards your debt after one small treat (maybe that airer??) you will feel so much better.  I've just posted on my diary about my PPI payout and I came up with all sorts of lovelyness it could go on but was sensible.  Feels great to be honest that part of the debt is no longer hanging over us even if just a small part xx

Naomim

moving_forward said:

Naomim said:

I've updated my signature a bit. I've added the overdraft as it's a debt hanging over our heads. Ive never really thought of it as debt in the past, it was just "extra" money. I also called MiL to find out how much we owe them. It's £2000.  We pay them £50 a month.  In reality our debt is closer to £40k. 😔

Good news, MrM's car passed its MoT. It cost £52 and I had this saved in the Monzo car maintenance pot. 👍  

Naomim 

Don't give up Naomin, Every £1 paid off the debt brings you closer to freedom.  Knowing the total owed is scary but essential to re enforce the must repay it in your head. Ours built up in spades but we are finding ways to get it paid off bit by bit.  I don't post totals on here in case real life figures me out (conspiracy theorist remember) but we couldn't pay off such big chunks for a while and were mainly treading water.  Now we are swimming but we live in fear of sinking so pay off what we can to reduce the debt so if poop hits the fan at any point its less of a worry. 

To keep me on track, I decided to take a look at the small wins.

LBM was mid November I had already purchased the kids bikes for Christmas on credit to hit my Barclaycard in 3 installments. So apart from that...

I have not used my credit cards at all.
My credit card debt has reduced by £834.  Even after £500 being added due to said bike credit. I also managed a small balance transfer which has added a fee. But £834 is a win.

Every month we went over the overdraft of £4,650. I would dread using the card in case it was refused hence the credit card usage.  I have reduced this so far by £307.58.

A total reduction in debt of £1141.99.

 I have bought two lots of car insurance paying a total of £400 up front and NOT gone over the overdraft.

I have £500 in my emergency fund and I'm budgeting in Monzo pots for future purchases. I currently have £1200 built up.

So all in all. I am winning.  I may not be racing through my debts and reducing it down as fast as others. It's a marathon,  not a sprint.

I find the boards, the diaries,  the weekly emails all help so much. 

Naomim 

Naomim

moving_forward said:

P.s. pay that bonus mainly towards your debt after one small treat (maybe that airer??) you will feel so much better.  I've just posted on my diary about my PPI payout and I came up with all sorts of lovelyness it could go on but was sensible.  Feels great to be honest that part of the debt is no longer hanging over us even if just a small part xx

Most of it will go on the overdraft. Especially with the interest rates increasing! However 14yo needs new trainers and clothes.  10yo also needs some new clothes. My £30 a month budget for clothing & haircuts doesn't seem to cut it but I can't increase it for now.

We also went out to the the Harvester restaurant last night. I got some Groupon vouchers but it was still £50.  

I have £45 left of my monthly money and 19 days left until payday. I bring lunch to work most days so I'm sure this is perfectly achievable. 

Naomim x

moving_forward

We ended up treating ourselves out my PPI so need to heed my own advice lol. Your small wins are certainly going the right way. X

Naomim

Had a good house clean yesterday and gathered more items to sell on fleabay. I just need to get organised to actually list them! I added two brand new pairs of childrens  school shoes to my FB market place and local selling groups last week and not one bite! I was loathe to put them on fleabay due to postage costs but may need to.  Unfortunately I have had them both far too long to return to the shops, probably been sitting in 10yo's wardrobe for about two years.

I also have a plan for 15yo's room.  In October last year we bought a new unit from the Swedish shop for his bedroom to replace his wardrobe and wobbly chest of drawers. It is still sitting, flat packed, staring at us accusingly from the upstairs landing.  Yes, six months of pure "I can't face doing it". However, 15yo is off on a three day residential trip at the beginning of April so this will give me time to purchase a hazmat suit, enter his cave, clear it of debris and put the new unit in.   

I'd like to do something with 10yo's room but that may need some money throwing at it.  Her bedroom is over the stairs and when we had the builders in, they recommended building a sort of step in her room so her mid-sleeper bed is higher, then they built a big unit over the stair box for her tv.  I want the step and the stair box unit knocking down as we can't move her room around. It's already tiny and restricted for space so I want to try and create some more if I can.   I might have to start trawling pinterest and getting some ideas and costs together.  Oh to have a husband that could actually build something

Naomim

moving_forward

I love ikea kit building 😎

Naomim

moving_forward said:

I love ikea kit building 😎

To be honest, once I get going I'm ok. I'm one of those procrastinators that put things off until I absolutely have to then am miffed it takes 15 minutes.  

Naomim

Just a quick post. Firstly, good news. Not for me but for my in laws. They won £93 on a lucky dip at the weekend.  Today they asked me to help list a couple of tools from their garage. Listed them at 4pm and they were sold and collected by 5.30pm, another £90 👍

Not great news, 10yo is coming down with a cold.  With all the Corona virus stuff going on at the moment,  not sure if I need to keep her home.  I have my laptop so can work from home if I need to.🤔

My bonus should hit my account on Friday. I can't wait 🥳 

Naomim

Super quick note. Council tax bill has plopped on the doorstep.  £8 a month increase on last year.

EssexHebridean

Ugh to council tax bill increases - not seen ours yet but no doubt it will increase. our service charge dropped a little but the garage rent went up by roughly the same amount so we're about evens I think on those. 

Hopefully your bonus has now arrived and you're coser to making the decions about what to do with it.

Your progress since you got stuck in again late last year is amazing - a serious big well done on that. Let's face it - that is only four months - AND four months which includes christmas!