Nearly debt free diary

jemreading

Payday was yesterday :j

I've got all my money out and allocated into my envelopes (apart from my treat money which I'm not sure how much to take out) and I've paid off £316.83 off my CC (£16.33 to round down..)

I've checked my £1 jar and I currently have £38 in it which is not too bad, I think I'll use that to start the ball rolling for my Christmas wrapping or my friends gifts.

I've got all my presents for my OH birthday, just need to get a nice dinner. He did suggest going out for a meal but that'll be £40+ so I've talked him into a £10 dine in dinner from M&S.

I don't think I have anything to really buy for this month but I know I have: drinks night out for my OH birthday (£30), lunch with work friends (£10), deposit for Christmas dinner with work friends (£10), football to pay for (£10 ticket), my birthday (£20 for drinks) and a wedding to attend (£70 - for the weekend - we've already paid for their gift and the hotel + breakfast. We just need petrol money, probably £20 each and then £50 for a meal the night before the wedding and drinks at the wedding. I'm not a big drinker so will probably have like 2 drinks!)

I'm just waiting for all direct debits to go on Monday/Tuesday and I'll be clearer on what I have left in my account and I can figure out where to allocate it.

jemreading

Going back through and checking my list of things to do.. Marked in green = done!

1. Get all money out and allocated to spending pots - DONE!
2. Once all money is out take my debit card out of my purse and leave it at home when I'm out the house..
3. Give credit card to OH.
4. Re-evaluate budget and allocate a realistic amount to credit card debt (done this - I only make 1 lump sum payment once I've paid - not sure if this is the right way to go!) DONE for the month
5. Save up my £1 coins
6. Have 10-15 NSD
7. Start Christmas shopping (smaller things like wrapping paper/cards using the gift fund pot) - DONE. I have wrapping paper, Christmas cards and a few smaller stocking filler presents (3 for 2 stuff from Boots)

My life plans for next month (October) are:
1. Finish sorting OH birthday presents
2. Throw OH his party (having a flat party to cut costs!! Bring your own alcohol and stuff!)
3. Prepare for friends wedding
4. Prepare for my birthday
5. Continue with gym class and weights

1. Drinks night out for my OH birthday (£30) - as above £23 overspend on shopping to cover drinks/food + £10 entrance for me and sister to club so overall spending of £33 (£3 over!)
2. Lunch with work friends (£10)
3. Deposit for Christmas dinner with work friends (£10) - Paid full amount of £20 so don't have to find another £10 next month
4. Football to pay for (£10 ticket) - Paid for me and my dad plus £1 card charge. Dad should pay me back.
5. Birthday drinks (£20)
6. Wedding attendance (£70 - to include: drinks and food)
7. Petrol money to get to wedding (£20)

jemreading

My OH paid me £100 he owed me so I paid it straight off the credit card rather than thinking it's MY money, so it's a win :j

Always nice to see the credit card go down when I don't plan to pay any off.

I've also moved the odd end of my debit card balance into savings. It's only £6.77 but savings need to start somewhere.

db2016

good news on the sorting of some stuff, with the "more" data contract, have you looked into cutting costs with music with spotify etc as i mentioned previously?

also regarding the pound coins, i built up a stash of the new ones, and have a pot for them and £2 and 50ps (mainly for emergency change etc), but it struck me that i was "keeping" the new £5 notes and way more new pounds than i needed to, probably because of the novelty factor and forgetting almost that they were REAL money! i think £80 in 5ers and £50 in pounds! ive kept some pounds in pots but spent the rest.
so i guess im saying, the ones you have could be used if it helps cashflow rather than saving them up!

also dont forget if they are Round Pounds, they go out of legal tender 12am monday coming, so spend if you have any or bank them!

jemreading

I wrote a stupidly long post which then disappeared

Hi db, thanks for your comments. Yes, I have sorted out my spotify now (thanks for reminding me) I have a 30 day free trial which expires on the 13th November then it will be £9.99 per month.

As for the £1 I have all of them are the new ones, I never collected any of the old round pounds so no swaps are needed. I did have to ask one shop to not give me the round pound as change. I think I'm up to £50 in my pot and I've decided I'm going to use it as some spending money for my Prague trip next month.

As the year is coming to an end (SCARY!) I need to decide on: what saving pots I'm going to have, what spending envelopes I need, re-budget and re-look at shopping list.

I have to admit this year for Christmas I am very very unprepared on the money front. I've started getting my presents I just need to figure out where the money is coming from. My family tend to do expensive Christmas (we don't really celebrate birthdays) so I need to budget and work this out.

jemreading

Confession... I brought myself the fit bit charge 2 (£119.99) and my nephew's Christmas present (19.99) last night I have an Argos Card so I used the 12 months no interest on that to purchase the two. I can either pay off £11.67 a month for 12 months or do it in a bulk of 3 payments after the new year.

At the moment my fitness is a big thing for me as it's helping with my mental health. I struggle with anxiety so the Fit Bit 2 can help keep track of my sleep, my daily step count, my heart rate and exercise levels. I always feel better if I have a plan and a routine to stick to. My parents were going to buy me one for Christmas but I couldn't wait so I'm being practical and asking for some new running trainers from them instead..

It means so far I have 3 big gifts down for Christmas (my two sisters and my nephew) and only 4 big ones to go (my mum, my dad, my niece and my OH). I also have got a small gift for my future MIL/FIL and my future BIL and SIL.

The only other people I need to buy for are: my grandparents, my work colleague who is like my second mother and some chocolates for two friends. I may also end up in the work secret santa for £5.

Hiddenidenity

I think you need to create a more realistic budget, it's quite clear the one you have currently isn't working and you're still adding to the credit card.

Remove the credit card from your purse. Cut it up. Remove it from all your online accounts, and the one's on your phone

Please don't be offended or take it the wrong way. It's hard to get across in a post if that makes sense and it's not intended to be harsh etc x

jemreading

Hi Hidden! No offence taken at all, I know the budget needs work. I'm very aware that my income does not meet my budget. I'm also struggling to maintain a lifestyle of having nice things and there is also a high gap between my income and my OH (about £500). We've discussed this between us before.

Something extra always comes up and I've found lately that I'm having a hard time at saying no to things, especially social things, as I don't like to be missing out. I'm also guilty of wanting to have nice things, even though I know that I should say no and not buy them!

I don't have my credit card linked up to my phone or to any accounts online. It's currently sitting in my purse and I need to remove it!!

Scott_Weiland_2

I have just had a read of your diary i have to agree with hidden.

DebtFreeDuo

I agree with Hidden, it is very hard seeing all the nice things around and not being able to buy them but we have to remind ourselves that its a want and not a need and you can most likely find cheaper alternatives, for example, you could have waited for Christmas or had a look on ebay.

Do you give yourself a budget for social things? Then you can at least say yes to some things but not all things? Or come up with a cheaper alternative idea with whoever it is that arranged it?