Nearly debt free diary

jemreading

I've made a payment to my CC today of £125 - as I paid more money to clear my Argos card debt I've paid less on this CC than ever, however, it is still 4 times my minimum payment needed.

My debt did rise last month as I: paid a deposit to secure my wedding venue (£500), put some food shopping on there (£52.16, the cash of which is in my travel fund as me and OH were £2.16 short at shopping in cash), meal out for mum, sister and niece (£51.85), football tickets (£21) and a drink from a bar (£2.99 - it was easier to do contactless)

Goals for next month is to: leave my credit card at home (even when going away), and 5-10 NSD.

Will also update my signature.

jemreading

Our energy bill was £44.09, meaning my half was £22 :j - I did insist on paying the 9p to my partner but he was like 'nah, keep the 9p, go wild!'

I budget £35 a month for my part of the energy bill as when the cold months come by we have the heater on most evenings. We live in a flat with old heaters which cost a fortune to run and will have to tumble dry our clothes as when the flat is cold it can take 2 days to dry without drying!! :eek: So the £13 saved this month will sit in my bank.

I've allocated my money to envelopes, and will see my bank balance fall once all my direct debits go out on Tuesday. After this, my money will be as followed:

- Travel: £190
- Food shopping: £80
- Treats: £40
- Socials: £40
- Gifts: £6.70 in envelope and £30 in bank (nephew presents will be bought online)
- Sports: £20
- Bank: £46.44 (once my Direct Debits go out and I take out my nephews presents money)

jemreading

Just ordered my nephews birthday gifts as it was a mix and match. Buy two for £10, so saved a whole £2 off my order. I also ordered him a hoodie for a £10 so a grand total of £20 for his three gifts. I did click and collect in store and as I work in the town centre it's not a hassle to pick it up during lunch time.

My gift budget stands at £16.70, I just need to go and buy wrapping paper but can do this with £1.70 change in my envelope. I thought we had some nice gold one stashed away under the bed but turns out my OH used the last little bits - I don't know if Aldi sell wrapping paper??

Next gifts to buy will be for my OH, who has his birthday in October. I like buying early but I'm hoping to have a good collection of £1 available to help with the costs.

jemreading

I keep looking at the £190 money and it is a lot to take for three days!! I'm hoping not to spend £190 on our three days holiday, but we are going down south and it is more expensive there. We are in a hotel but it's self catering but we have said we will set about £10 a side and pop into a supermarket and pick up breakfast stuff for three days rather than eating breakfast out!

We will be eating out for dinner everyday whilst we are there for sisters birthday, a night with my parents without my sister or my niece and nephew to a nicer restaurant and once whilst we are visiting my OH's brother...

jemreading

Running round like a headless chicken trying to buy wrapping paper. It was £1.79 for a sheet at spar!!!! :eek: so I left that and went to Aldi (couldn't spot any!)

I then realised I got my sister her gifts and gift bag so I took her presents out the gift bag and put my grandma's in. I'll need to go buy my sister a gift bag but it's ok, I really needed a bigger one anyway!

I've also got the wheels in motion for my OH birthday gifts in October. I'm going to use the rest of my gift money this month to buy: his card, wrapping paper, gift box, chocolate (this should be no more than £15) I'll pay for the bigger things next payday (whisky, boxers, DVD)

db2016

hi, im following!

could you not do a full SOA, as many others do on diaries, it may help to see all of the incomings and outgoings and for others on here to offer suggestions?

keep up the good work!

jemreading

Hi db2016, thanks for popping by!

Thanks for the advice. I've looked into doing a SOA but half of the things on it are at a 0. I pretty much know my incomings and outgoings. I don't have my own home so no mortgage. I have no car, so no road tax or petrol spends (OH covers this), no TV so no TV licence or sky package. I've cut my food bill by £30 per month. We have a netflix subscription, spotify and the internet. My half of that is £20 per month. I have no children to take care of - but a niece and nephew to buy presents for.

The only thing that is high is: my mobile phone and my gym. My phone ends in December, so this will be another £18 saved (I'm not upgrading and it's not worth paying to get out of it). I don't really want to be tied into another contract after so may look at a sim only. I'm in a routine with my gym, it's in walking distance of my work and home (so I don't have to pester my OH to take me) and it's got good classes at times that suit my work and home life and the gym instructor who runs the classes I attend makes me comfortable.

jemreading

Finished using my gift fund for the month - I have a grand total of £6 in there!

I went to Clinton's cards and got: 1 gift bag, 1 roll of wrapping paper, 1 gift box, 1 card and 1 gift bow. Came to £9.74 as it was 3 for 2 so I saved myself £1.50

No other spends today or hopefully tomorrow!

jemreading

I went to the gym this morning for my 7:30am class and then a 3K treadmill session after work, I'm super tired.

Tomorrow is the first of August!! I have such a busy month, here's what is coming up:

- 4th August: Football match (paid)
- 5th August: Go Ape (paid)
- 6th August: Parents house (£4.20 bus fare)
- 7th August: lunch with work (£10)
- 11th August: fooball season starts (on tv - no money)
- 12th August: night out for friends birthdays (£40)
- 18th August: Nephew Birthday
- 19th August: football followed by BBQ (at football ground, paid)
-23rd - 26th August: holiday (paid, spending money is out)
-23rd August: sister's birthday (present sorted)
-26th August: Football (on tv!)

jemreading

Today, so far, has been a NSD :j There were a few times when I nearly cracked and got something but I was like "no, you don't need food you have this, this and this at your desk and you don't have your treat money!"

I've finished work for the day and I'm currently at home so I don't think I will spend any money. My plan this evening is: clean dishes, make lunch for tomorrow, sort work bags out, finish married at first sight, watch the football, go bed!

Tomorrow is a planned low spend day as I have to pay for my football session (£3 or £4)

Still on the hunt for a sports bra but all the good ones are £20. I also want an exercise band which are about £15. I'm trying to hold off on both, as right now they are more impulsive spends. I have the money but only really decided on the sports bar.