£16,000 debt, turning regret into positive action.

LadyP01

Exactly a month since my last post. Shows how busy my run up to Christmas was. I will do my final budget etc later but it all worked out etc.

Iv just popped in to leave a message for anyone who’s schrolling through these diaries because of your money situation. Last year I had an amazing Christmas but then the worry of the bills all came in and the debt I was in and how I was going to get out of it. I assume there’s a lot of people in that mind frame just after Christmas but it’s ok, enjoy your christmas and next year you can tackle the bills. Iv paid off loads in 2017 and I’m really happy with my progress and we’ve had a great Christmas. I was a little worried about the limited gifts but I worked hard all year to pick them out and I’m really happy with them and so were the receivers.

Have a good Christmas and new year everyone

Cherryfudge

That's so encouraging to hear, LadyPO1. Well done both for the debt progress and for putting so much thought into the gifts. I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere about it being the thought that counts.

I think that having put all that work in during 2017, 2018 will see lots more progress! Are you going to do a New Year's SOA?

By the way, I'm still doing the alternate cheap shampoo/'better' shampoo and I agree with you - really does give results!

LadyP01

Hey cherryfudge! Merry Christmas!!! I’m glad your finding a benefit from it. I did treat myself in December to my old routine as I had hair serum and some good conditioner and i have to say I don’t feel that there’s was any bigger impact using it everytime I washed my hair as apossed to alternatively.

I will be doing a new 2018 soa. The plan is debt free this year that final Herdle so the first half of the year is about being really tight. I’m looking forward to a new year and a new budget

LadyP01

Just dropping by. Iv refused to go sale shopping so far! I don’t need anything. I will go out tomorrow maybe and check for some massive reductions as gifts but nothing planned for myself.

Bills need doing tomorrow aswell!!!! So wish me luck on that! Thankfully no big Christmas bills this year but that debt isn’t disappearing. I do have a mini holiday just to see family aswell. All I need is petrol money and normal food and drink when I’m there, staying with family so that’s free and so is breakfast. I have lots of alcohol, sweets, biscuits etc to take with me from the house to keep us all stocked up so that’s also cheap.

Hopefully be checking in tomorrow with a debt update.

LadyP01

January budget has been written... and checked after i missed a £200 payment off my total when i was using the calculator... big oops! But this is why you always add your sums up at least twice!

Iv paid another £500 off this month! I was paid before Christmas but I didn’t need to touch my wages until this weekend which should have been when I actually got paid so I’m glad I was in a situation where I wasn’t relying on that money to get me through... not like many years before.

My debts now at £5323.60 next month I need to over pay that 60p; I like it to be even.

It seems like Iv paid lots off and I have Iv paid over £10,000 in 11 months but I was hoping to be debt free by may and there’s no way I will afford £1000 to pay off every month. I think I need to have this weekend with my family and then come back and get strict with myself again. I’m glad I’m going to see my family but that is a lot of money that could have gone to debt. I’m regretting saying I’d go but I know I’ll have the best time when I’m there.

My diary in 2018 needs to be about more ways to save and cut. I’ll be looking for new ways to make my money stretch that little bit further.

LadyP01

2018 is here! The year I complete my debt free journey! Pretty excited!

I’m exhausted From December I need a full detox. Hair, nails, facial the lot but money won’t stretch that far so a good sleep and a diy make over it is.

After my weekend away I need to sort through and organise everything from Christmas. I have so much stuff that if I organise it correctly I will save lots of money in the long run.

I also need to invest in some new work clothes. Firstly I’m going to look at what I have and see what I can mend and repair for little cost then see what’s in the shops to slowly build up.

Good luck in 2018 everyone! This is the year.

LadyP01

What a busy 20 days I have had! Which has kept me away from updating my finances.

Iv been on the family get away and saved a bit of money and had a great time.
Unfortunately or not unfortunately I have spent the savings on some new work clothes that I desperately needed. I have take. £90 that I had saved and then I spent another £30 out of my morning they budget but these items were desperately needed. I also need to buy more but what I’m going to try and do is repair everything I have and try and give it all a bit of life and see if that will save me a lot. I did get 3 tops two pairs of trousers and a new pair of shoes out of that £120 so I’m happy wth the deals I got. I will also repair my other shoes, a bit of polish and some new inner soles for comfort and they should last me another month or two.

I was whisked away for another weekend last weekend which is also why I have had no chance to catch up. Completely free altho I did buy breakfast for us And then paid for us to go into an exhibition but that money has come out of my fun fund for the month so no extra cost there.

I have a week until payday now and I will be sitting down and sorting out February’s budget and deciding what I want to do. What I would like from February is for it to be a super frugal month so i will be needing to check in a lot more often then I have this month.

LadyP01

I have £145 left till Friday.

Things I need:
Petrol: £20
Food shop:£20
Club: £10
Birthday present: £12

Total: £62

The left over money I have can go to debt. The birthday present is for a birthday in feb i already purchased half of it last year for a bargain price of £1 so once Iv got the second half that’s ready.

Need to try and keep close to the budget this week... every penny

LadyP01

2 more days till payday.
£110 left.

I forgot about my phone bill that will be £15 but there will be plenty of money left for that.

Hopefully no other unexpected spending over the next two days.

LadyP01

Iv now been paid!

Budget has been allocated where it needs to be. Iv managed to pay another £1013.60 off to debt making my new debt total.... £4310!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy I have been able to pay such a large chunk off. Although I’ve worked out that unless I make some more cuts I won’t be able to make my debt free day in may like I planned.

Im going to go through some diaries for inspiration and see if I can get motivated to make some more savings.

Just imagine the savings I will be able to make once this debts gone, buy a house, plan a wedding and have a debt free life.