£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Treadingonplaymobil

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Have you checked out the first few posts in the monthly Grocery Challenge (in old-style money-saving)? You don't have to join in but there are some excellent tips for reducing your monthly grocery bill, depending on how much time and effort you put into it. Mine is around £200 now where I started at over £700, some years ago. Just the different ways to plan and shop made a 50% difference to me. May's thread is up and running.

I'll go and have a read right now!

mummytogirls

Good Morning TOPM,

Totally agree with you "being more generous with spare money". We could have been debt free by now but I want to try and enjoy myself instead of being miserable. Plus the kids are only little once so I want to enjoy that time too.

I was going to suggest you having a little emergency somethings budget but seems youve got that covered xx

motivated

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

Week 12: Day 2
Once we've covered the holiday, I'm going to come up with a new division that swipes more money into a 'unexpected expenses' fund - things that aren't proper emergencies but still can't be avoided.

Hi TOPM

I think this is a good idea and one I need to look at doing too. I will be watching for your ideas and may steal them

Cherryfudge

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

2. batch cook columbian black bean stew.

I googled... that does sound good! Thanks for the idea.

On another note, as you're here for the marathon: a friend of mine does marathons and one important thing I've learned from her lifestyle is her priorities. She trains regardless of how busy she is. That's what wins the marathons, not a dash at the finish. I expect there have been many times when she's had to adjust or vary her training to make it keep working for her, but she's learned from it. And there will have been a time when she was just starting out and it was hard going but she's got stronger and begun to outpace others and so on... you get the idea

Cheering you on for this particular marathon! Love reading your diary too.

Lauralozzle

I think the unexpected expenses fund is a really good idea, and something I should probably look at doing too.

Don't forget, even with blips (I had a massive blip in April and went over my entertainment budget by 100%) you're still making progress. You are absolutely correct, it is a marathon, not a sprint. Just keep chipping away at it, it will make a difference in the long run.

Treadingonplaymobil

Got my teaspoon, emptying my lake

When the Tesco loan payment comes out tomorrow we will be firmly into the £64k bracket, which will be pleasing. Resisting the urge to push towards the £63ks, as I need to prioritise differently this month (holiday payment, then adding to our 'unexpected expenses' fund). I have just worked out that if we keep paying a minimum of £650 per month (only £19 per month over my minimum budgeted amount), the debt will be below £60k by the end of the year. That will feel like such a massive milestone, although also alarming in terms of how much there still will be to go.

One of the things I'm finding really reassuring about paying down the debt is seeing our minimum CC payments drop. It's good to know that even though we are keeping payments above the £631 per month level that we set them at on our LBM day, our actual minimum payments have already dropped down to only £613, and will continue to fall. I guess this might change when we get a new 0% depending on how much the minimum payment is, but it's good to see nonetheless.

Treadingonplaymobil

Thanks for everyone's comments and advice today. I feel like every little mini LBM about how to budget and what works for us is another step closer to our DFD, and every bit of advice along the way helps.

To do today:
1. batch cook kitchari for lunches (rice and mung bean dish). Done.
2. batch cook columbian black bean stew. Not done, thanks to DH failing to actually buy black beans when he went food shopping yesterday. :T
3. make flapjacks for next week’s snacks. Just cooking.
4. make flatbreads. Done.
5. make sourdough. Done.
6. laundry washed and out on airers (horrible weather forecast). Done.
7. plan outfits and pack - I’m going away for work for 3 days from tomorrow. Only 2 days paid, the other is training (but free). Done, apart from last minute wash stuff etc to throw in tomorrow morning.
8. clear ironing mountain, which is back to everest-esque proportions. Not done in any way. I'm sure DH will be thrilled to be left with that job!
9. plan out entertainment budget to try to make it last a little more effectively. Not done.
10. NSD. Done.

To do this week:
Such a busy week with work ahead that I’m not setting any goals here, I’ll take each day as it comes. Main aim is to keep spends to a minimum while I'm away from home.

Determined_diva

Hi there!

Just checking in on you to say I love reading your diary! Keep up the good work and you will hit your £60k year end goal in no time xx

CocteauTwin

It is great that you are facing your debt challenges. However, you must make serious adjustments to your lifestyle. We would all love to shop a Waitrose but YOU CANNOT HAVE CHAMPAIGNE on A LEMONADE BUDGET!!

As others have commented, it is perhaps not helpful to teach your children that there is endless funds or Toys available on shopping visits.
It all depends on your approach.

Good Clothes can come from charity shops. Or recycled if you prefer. (Make mend and do)

Shopping bill can be reduced although you may have to sacrifice your 'ethical dilemma' and by a normal piece of meat like most people do. You can buy just veg if your conscience is bothered.

It needs to be a collaborative effort from everyone and become quite fun. It will also act as an exemplar for your children teaching them the advantages of good budgeting.

I'm glad you are dealing with it and wish you success.

Bobarella

Hope the work trip goes ok. You are right about how it does feel more difficult when the 'low hanging fruit's are picked. Something tells me you are not a person to fear difficult though. Please don't beat yourself up. You are here. Working at it, & the level of planning you go to is inspirational. And even if you ended up being that man dressed as a gorilla crawling the marathon on his hands and knees, I know you'd get to the end!