Finally found the strength to get debt free 💪

ljj1986

I think we all go through spendy phases, I certainly do, as long as you get back on track and don't do too much damage then it isn't so bad, don't feel too bad about it but learn from it as I'm sure you will.

I know what you mean about the travelling urge, I really really want to book a little holiday abroad for me and my boy and I do have a small amount in my holiday pot but its so expensive in the school holidays.

Angela84

It's sooo expensive I agree! I was toying with the idea of buying a caravan as we had one last year and it was great fun, and that's your holidays sorted for the next however long it lasts.
But then I sobered up out of my travelling craving haze and remembered why I'm doing all this is to be debt free and I've got to stay strong!

Angela84

I'm also really pleased that this is the second week in a row I've managed to do my full weeks food shop for £27! That's fed me and 5 children and a couple of evenings with family over. I know it'll be higher this week as I need more now I've been using up stock I'd built up, but still it won't be much higher.
I think the key is keeping meals really simple, and cutting right down on meat.
Minimalism has definitely helped my journey too, the thought of shopping doesn't interest me anymore now I know I already own everything I need, and I love the feeling of having very little. I feedshop Fridays and I love to see my empty fridge and cupboards on a Thursday! My nan is always horrified and thinks I'm not coping, bless her, she doesn't understand it's my choice to run my kitchen down each week, no store stuff 'just in case'

Angela84

Have decided that our summer holiday project will be a free one: visiting as many parks as we can in 6 weeks. We're so lucky where we live we have access to so many amazing free outside spaces, the children and I are making a big list with all our ideas.
Will pack a simple picnic and always take drinks, so I should be able to get away with lots of nsd's this summer!

Angela84

It's so hard to stay on the straight and narrow sometimes! I have my plan written out but perhaps I've been too ambitious. I'll just keep going and paying as much as I can each week.

Angela84

Well once again have done the foodshop for £27 for the week! May need a mini too of of £5 or so but I'm confident I can feed our family for a week on that. Funny how I always ends up £27!
The pta fayre has finished and I can relax for a while now with no more events or anything until September. I can hopefully commit sometime to getting back to work king out again as that was all put on hold since April.

I need to get back on track for clearing virgin by August.
Feels crazy to think I could be down to 2 debts by then end of next month is I put my mind to it. For years ive been used to barely even remembering all the different debts I had across different credit cards, loans and overdrafts. Now it's only 3, soon to be 2!

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on remaining so focused. £27 for you and 5 children is incredible. We spend double that for just 2 of us.

Having all that spare disposable income once the debt is gone will be so rewarding.

Angela84

Made a big £300 payment towards the virgin card so that's now at £938. Haven't been sticking to the plan with this one, but If I try really hard it will be clear by the end of August. I've got a summer bonus coming that'll go straight on that, plus the weekly £123 until 25th August.

Looking forward to the summer holidays now I have a great plan, have made a local parks list, made a Facebook Group with lots of school friends and simply said mon-weds-fri we'll be at a park by 12, with a blanket and a picnic. I've told the children we can bake cakes before we go so that's their treat instead of expensive ice cream vans.

Gotta take all 5 to do the food shop today so that always helps keep the cost down as I can't hang about!

Angela84

Can't believe next week I'll be over the £2500 mark for debt repayment. By the end of the year I will have paid back over £5000!
Makes me think that once I'm finally debt free next year just how much I can start putting into savings each week/month. So exciting.
I'm so pleased I finally got on this journey, it feels so great to know I'll be debt free by 33, never to be in debt again.

Angela84

Made a poor decision yesterday and chucked a ps4 on a credit card with very little thought processes. The guilt has hit today and it's being packed back up and returned tomorrow!
I also have sold a few other things on fb and eBay so that can all go towards debts. Summer holidays are so far so good. I was worried my food bill would jump up with the extra mouths to feed constantly but I'm just keeping it simple and I'm confident my £40 budget will cover us fine.
Off on our first park adventure tomorrow. Free fun, the best kind!