Small Steps Out Of Massive Debt!

GeorgianaCavendish

db2016 wrote: »

read from mid 2019 to date, good progress!

im with you on the phone case, i pay £30 at least on a case, and they always pay for themselves.
not so much from drops etc, because i have a simple rule, unless its being used, it goes back in the pocket - it annoys me seeing people leave it on tables or whatever to get messed up / risk of a drop.
and the last 3 phones going back about 5-6 years i have bought sim free - and this at first was a big it out from the "upgrade with network" trap i wouldnt go back now.

then when it comes to sell i get the best price because it's in best condition (and the case goes with so the new buyer gets it safe too).

savings going sim only, even when i have unlimited everything are big! even if i did buy a new S10+ outright! but i done it right, on a 0% card etc and got £300 for old one.
and i have a thing of, do my gadgets work for me, eg my DSLR, its produced photos that have sold for £1000+. so its paid its keep. my PC (a price many would screech at), but it's produced work thats paid for itself in a year. same with my phone, its again produced work or pics that have paid its cost.

also a top tip is, skip a version - eg i have had galaxy s4 - 6 - 8 and now the ten. when the 11 comes out eg, there wont be much of a "jump" in performance etc,
and i have a friend who has had the 5 - 7 and now the 9 and we had a play with each others phones and theres not much difference between models at all,



so from now on she goes up the "odds" side, i do the "evens" / or miss one version (every 2 years) and it works out great.

Thanks for the encouragement DB! And thank you for the tips on tech, asking if my tech works for me is such a great way of looking at it! I also love the idea of "odds" and "evens" on phone models, great idea to see what is new and what can be skipped!

EssexHebridean

It always amazes me that some people "have" to get the new version of the iPhone as soon as it comes out, or as near as. My first was the 3GS, then I had a 4S, 5S and now the SE which I've had for over 3 years and I'm not planning a change yet!

As for getting tech to earn its keep, that's all well and good if you have a "creative" type career, in many ways. I have precisely NO wish to go back to being on self-assessment now, so I'm very happy to have my DSLR NOT pay for itself! (But then again as my "main" camera will be 4 years old in a few months, it can be said I get my moneys worth!)

db2016

even in non creative ways, eg i print my own postage online on the RM site,
or even if you look at it as, the internet / pc has allowed me to go online and compare prices, or use this main site, and martins articles, and thus its earned its keep that way.



or a phone with camera / standalone camera, and pc, has made it possible for ebay listings etc.



im due a new PC (and windows 7 is now unsupported by microsoft as of this week, so windows 10 needed really), and ive calculated it'll earn its keep in under a year, and yea im a creative type, so it earns it keep that way.

using 0% purchase offers etc and diarised the payments etc, so as to spread the £2k ish cost.

EssexHebridean wrote: »

As for getting tech to earn its keep, that's all well and good if you have a "creative" type career, in many ways. I have precisely NO wish to go back to being on self-assessment now, so I'm very happy to have my DSLR NOT pay for itself! (But then again as my "main" camera will be 4 years old in a few months, it can be said I get my moneys worth!)

GeorgianaCavendish

I don't think that I'm in a position to start selling things created with my tech but I've been thinking along the lines of 'how does/will this enhance my life' - but obviously trying to bring a MSE element into it, not just thinking "it will enhance my life because I'll have a swish new phone to show off".

I think that kind of thinking is useful in other areas too, we received an insanely generous wedding gift Le Creuset pans and stoneware. Every time I use them, I say a little silent thank you to the person who gave them to us because they are SO great to cook with (and also very easy to wash up) so they have definitely enhanced my culinary life

GeorgianaCavendish

In the final stretch before January payday, this month has felt never-ending!

I've swept over 'extra' money to my debt repayment account (leaving enough for this weekend's expenses) and all being well, will make a (very small!) bonus over payment to Tesco CC on Sunday. Then Monday is the start of a brand new month of debt-busting, with the snowball from SLC & Lloyds being thrown at Tesco.

My goal for this weekend is to get on top of meal planning and attempt some kind of batch cooking/ meal prep. I have let this lapse in the past few months, although I'm still managing to bring packed lunches and haven't fallen into the ready meal/take away dinner trap, I find that I am getting really stressed with doing everything from scratch every day (well, on my days, DH is the one getting stressed on his days ) Any ideas gratefully received!

lucielle

I do a rough meal plan and usually prep the next nights tea as I'm making that nights tea. Batch cooking is good, or cook extra then you've got either some to freeze of for lunches the next day. HTH

L

GeorgianaCavendish

Thank you Lucielle, it's a really clever idea to do a couple of extra portions of the night's dinner. A great place to start as we have a pretty small freezer in this flat and so a huge stock of batch cooked freezer meals wouldn't be possible! I started small by making a casserole yesterday which will do 6 meals (dinner yesterday, dinner tonight and 2 portions in the freezer for the week after next).

I've just swept the last of my Dec/Jan cash into an over payment to the Tesco credit card - only £38 but pleased to have any money left over from this pay cycle! Tomorrow is the start of a new month and some new debt-busting techniques.

Isitdoable

I'm working my way through your diary and really enjoying it, finding it very inspiring ��
I also have spent far too long enjoying spending money and now need to sort it!

I need to do some batch cooking too, it would make my life much easier! I did a lot when I was pregnant with my youngest and it lasted us for ages!

GeorgianaCavendish

Isitdoable wrote: »

I'm working my way through your diary and really enjoying it, finding it very inspiring ��
I also have spent far too long enjoying spending money and now need to sort it!

I need to do some batch cooking too, it would make my life much easier! I did a lot when I was pregnant with my youngest and it lasted us for ages!

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment, it is really nice to hear from you! What kind of things did you batch cook? I am looking for inspiration

Isitdoable

GeorgianaCavendish wrote: »

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment, it is really nice to hear from you! What kind of things did you batch cook? I am looking for inspiration

Lasagna, Stews and Cottage Pie.....cooked in a massive pan and then portioned out into the little tin containers so you can cook in them too. I do want to expand my repertoire though!!