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

GlendaSugarbean

Wow, you are doing so well! :T:T:T

Great news about your OH facing up to the reality of the situation, youre setting the best foundations for your future. I wish I had been as savvy when DH and I were first setting out.

Sounds like Xmas is under control too. Bring on 2019

LadyP01

Thank you both.

Tonight we will sit down and sort through the final finances of the year.

Also over the coming weeks we will look at our budget for 2019 which always makes me very happy. Pre planning is what I live for.

Christmas shopping has been on hold but it all needs doing. It's easy to get carried away so I have to keep refocusing myself on money goals.

LadyP01

Christmas shopping
* *** *** *** *** *** *** *

What a day yesterday, I'm surprised I don't have a headache.

I'm finding Christmas shopping very stressful this year. This could be because it's now late and usually I am done by now or it could be the budget I set over the prices in shops or it could be my new mind set of not wasting time and money on gifts that won't get used I don't want waste and I can't bare plastic products as I'm as plastic free as I can be so I judge the packaging a little.
It could be any of the above. I was walking around my shopping centre and I realised that I hadn't actually purchased anything which set me into a panic very quickly stressing myself out and that never happens.

I dropped in for a tea and a scone somewhere to relax and reminded myself that the gifts I'm stressing myself out over are lovely but they are out of budget, not available and creating unnessesary stress so I came home.

On coming home I reflecting on my original ideas list that also reflected the budget and what do you know I had the Christmas gifts ordered ready to collect by the end of the evening all under budget.
Sometimes when we go out shopping we see so much stuff that we would LOVE to get people but it's all built around a need to buy things, looking around I was getting carried away with what would be amazing to get but they were out of our price range and would have to wait for another time. The gifts I got are way more fun for the children and will bring some family joy together.

All I'm saying is yesterday I stopped I spent £5 on myself and refocused and realised that actually what I'm doing is madness and this morning I feel great, all kids gifts are purchased and I feel a weightnoff my shoulders as every child's gift came in UNDER the £20 budget and they all have more than one gift.
Midday yesterday I was willing to spend double each persons budget for things I fell in love with.

Don't get yourself in debt over Christmas it's really not worth it.

GlendaSugarbean

Well done for escaping the shopping centre. Hideous places.

LadyP01

Thank you. It really is ridiculous I can't believe I used to live for all of this. It's unnecessary shopping and spending money for no reason.

This year on my timelines etc I'm seeing a lot of people sharing posts about being kind and sharing rather than gifting so I feel that it's something that is cascading out across everyone on a debt free journey or not.

Must do my expenses today. I must be due a few hundred back so that's the priority.

We also need to do the Christmas gin shop at some point, the only time we're both free is Sunday and I'm not sure I can bare a supermarket on a Sunday in December but maybe I'll have to be brave.

LadyP01

This is probably the most disorganised I feel Iv ever been over Christmas and I can't decide if that's good or bad.

I'm tired Iv been wrapping non stop and I have less then usual.

Also need to go out and get the oh special present and then I believe we're done. I think I'm anxious as a few gifts haven't arrived via post yet.

My favourite gift so far has been the easiest and one of the cheapest. Never underestimate a simple gift. I like it when Iv had plent of time to put thought into a gift.
I'm going to hit charity shops hard next year and try and find all my gifts nice and early.

How's everyone else's shopping going and prepping? Iv really been enjoying just drinking and hanging around being festive this year, might be my age!

LadyP01

Smashed today! I was very tired this morning but Iv got so much done.

About to clear my car out and take it for a Christmas clean... gift for me.

I'm extremely happy with a lot of my gifts. Themes this year were matching pjs and gin.

I managed to get my friend and her child a matching set all together for £20 pretty reasonable in my eyes.

Personalised is the way forward. Etsy we're selling prints to personalise things £1.50 each. I have made some of the most amazing items and made myself one aswell.

I'm going to look into some other cheap personalised items for birthdays this year.

Most items are now wrapped, probably will take me one more session tomorrow and then we will be complete.
House is also looking really good and clean for family.

So to the bit we're all here for... money. Iv tracked budget v spend on most gifts and so far there's only one person I have over spent on but I have made a saving on several other people to even it out.

I have however purchased some gifts that hadn't been budgeted for and need to make sure they are in my budget for next year. Mainly work although i turned down secret Santa as I feel it's pot luck who you get and I just wanted to gift to the people that deserved a reward. Overall I spent £12.99 and that got me 5 items.

Iv not finalised the oh or my mums yet as I'm not finished. OH is an overspend I can say that now but not by a lot. I want to find my mum a few more treats she will like.

I'll treat myself to a nice tea and cake latter this evening and do some final calculations

LadyP01

Christmas is now over and what a great few days I have had.
Thinking about the last few days I am exhausted but the thing I will cherish about them are actually the simple things. I absolutely adore a car air freshener that I have got, so simple and so divine.
One of the children made me a tree decoration and to me that gift is priceless and I will cherish it forever. I actually wish I had more.
Socks - some a class socks this year I can't wait to wear them all.
Lastly some shampoo and conditioner that I would never buy but it absolutely Devine and will use all the time now.

I will cherish the time Iv spent with the children who will soon be adults. With the in laws that I get to know a little bit more everyday who won't be around forever. These capsules in time are what I'm taking away this year and they cost me nothing. (Well maybe a few biscuits and some cheese.. you have to feed people).

I'm leaving Christmas with no extra debt and knowing that although my gifts weren't extravagant they were thoughtful and didn't leave me in debt and that's all I ask my friends and family also have.

If your looking at your Christmas aftermath and thinking about the credit card bill that will be arriving and wanting to make changes then do it now. I will never regret my journey to be debtfree it has taught me so much about life and now nearly two years on I am debt free and working my way to my dreams.

I hope everyone has had a fantastic Christmas and know that everything is achievable and not to worry.

LadyP01

Christmas aftermaths!!!!!!!

Just adding up the cost of Christmas
The last minute gifts, the things I hadn't considered, the food to refuel and think whilst out shopping.

In total I have spent £508.87 that is the final figure everything accounted for.

My budget was £480 but I had extra cash in my present fund of £80 so that has seen me through.

I was only £28.87 over budget!!! And that was evened out by my gift fund that had lots of savings.

Now I'm looking to 2019 and how to save on the next round of gifts. A lot of sales. I'm going to get up early and use the day to run around and look at the sales for items I can get cheap.
I have seen some gifts for the children I like at a good price and little things like stocking fillers would be great to get in the sale now.

I need a theme for the girls. Two women aged over 30 with children. I always theme the gifts I get them, I need birthday and Christmas ideas.
I have done baking, pamper, pyjamas although I could do them next Christmas as it's been a while. Flip flops and a pedicure. Fresh ideas appreciated.

Cherryfudge

Happy new year.
I'm just catching up a bit on diaries and your Christmas sounded lovely. How gratifying to have sorted out personalised gifts... I find myself getting themed gifts too, it certainly helps even out expenditure and be fair to all.
For future years, how about candles? They are a bit tricky here as scented ones can set off wheeziness, but plain tealights with a nice holder would work too, as would LED candles.
Another idea could be BBQ aprons - there are lots available with good slogans on (and not so good, but we won't go there!)