Desperately seeking freedom :)

missmental123

Cheers quintwins & Scott_Weiland!

I am very focused at the moment and hoping to get off to a good start! Two 12 hour shifts tomorrow and Wednesday so I've made myself Chickpea & spinach curry to take with me for lunch. No more spending in M&S food!
I've surprised myself with my weekly food bill for this week £43 for 2 adults. Much less than usual.

missmental123

I'm still doing well, making lots of changes with my bad spending habits.
I had two NSD's on Tuesday & Wednesday when I was working, but now it could all go to pot! DS is back from university and so my food budget is going to have to increase (probably double) whilst he's home as he never stops eating & cooking! Also, I went out last night and spent £20 in the pub! I did have a lovely time catching up with friends though so don't regret it. Next time I might drive so I don't drink.
Today, I've been to the gym and didn't spend my usual £2.50 on coffee afterwards!
I'm still writing every purchase in my cash book and using cash only that seems to be working.
I'm really hoping by budgeting that I can get rid of my overdraft by November. I hate being overdrawn so much.

Hiddenidenity

All steps in the right direction

Have a lovely weekend

missmental123

Hiddenidenity wrote: »

All steps in the right direction

Have a lovely weekend

Thank you! Unfortunately I'm back at work all weekend doing 12.5 hour shifts. At least I won't get chance to spend any pennies!
A good weekend to you also.

mizmir

You are off to a flying start at turning things around MM - well done you. Look forward to following your journey.

And on YNAB - definitely worthwhile. I am finding it really helpful as you can set goals and it then tells you how much you need to budget for that each month. So for instance I have just set up Christmas and realise that I need to find £100 a month now. That is a lot better than realising I have stuff to buy in December which is what normally happens (am a Christmas eve shopper - but will have cash for it this year!).

Really like your cash only plan. I think I will follow suit - so much easier to overspend on cards!

Rosylee

Hi. Well done on getting a plan together. Just wanted to second YNAB as it is brilliant. Really great and easier than you think. Lots if guidance available if you need advice to set up. The app is free and then you can keep track on the go...

Toshl is another app I used to use before YNAB. Free. Not as good of course but might be worth trying out

missmental123

I've not been her for 3 days as I have been working this weekend. It was really busy and I ended up working 2 hours late last night . The good news is that I had ended up having 2 NSD's and I also walked to & from work each day .

Today, I've done a combat class at the gym, done a pile of ironing & have been grocery shopping (ALDI) and managed to keep to my list.
I managed to get a bulb replaced on my VW Beetle for free as well because I have the garage sticker in my rear window!

I've managed to find my old mobile phone and have decided to sell it for hopefully £31.

We have a 4 night break in Berlin booked from 21/08 to look forward to! The holiday is all paid for. Today, I found 25 euro in an old purse!! Must be my lucky day!?

I am two weeks into this DFW now and sometimes it's hard to see how these small changes are going to make a dent in my debts, but I know I have to start somewhere, stop spending & keep to a budget to see any progress. Hopefully, come pay day (25th), I will see the results when my overdraft is hopefully smaller than in July.

missmental123

It's one week since my last post & I have had a lovely week, Picked my friend up from Heathrow on Friday. It was lovely to see her as she has been travelling for 4 months & on Saturday I got to babysit my 4 month old niece for the first time.
I'm on nights again this week and worked overtime Sunday night as well. I'm off for 10 days after tonight
I have had 4 NSD's in the last week also which is great..DS needed some new trainers because his old ones were falling apart. He's a poor student, 5th year so money is tight for him. We ended up paying for them by using a gift voucher I found at the bottom of my bag and also DS contributed £10.
My DH also needs some comfortable shoes to walk around Berlin, so I've ordered a pair that I can pay for with £31 paid for selling my mobile phone.
I need to get some euro's this week, I can't believe how much the rate has fallen. WE are taking some cash & using travel CC for cash withdrawals. I used it in USA last year and it worked a treat and I felt it was better than taking cash.
So, here goes another week debt busting! I remain positive , continuing to budget and can't wait for pay day to pay off more debts and also slash my overdraft.

phizzimum

Good for you missmental

The debt won't go overnight but these small changes you're making will definitely pay off

missmental123

Hi,

Just returned fro a a lovely break to Berlin with DH! We had a lovely time and for a capital city it was cheap to eat & drink. I only spent 170 euros over 4 days on using my creation cc that. I've paid off today. We walked on average 12 miles a day! Highlights were the Reichtag dome tour (free), Zoo and Waldbuhne concert. Many of the museums were free. We also did a free walking tour but tipped the guide as she was brilliant. I love free walking tours.

Back to reality now and back on nights tonight. I also got paid!, no overtime this month but I still managed to pay £714 on CC's & loan and overdraft was £100 less this month.
I'm not sure that I'm using the right strategy though as I am focused on paying the debts off as soon as I can but I'm I know I need to clear my overdraft and get an emergency fund together as well. I think next month, I may make smaller payments on CC's and try to cut down the overdraft and put some money aside. .

Things I need to do this month-
- Shop around for car insurance - currently with L&V
- Carry on budgeting all spends using weekly cash amount
- Work out how much I actually spent last month on groceries, petrol, etc
- Got one overtime shift booked, try and get one more
- Sell CD's.. we have 100's of them
- No clothes/ shoe shopping for me until Xmas.
-Budget for car ins & car tax - due October -normally pay monthly direct debit.
- Look at changing bank accounts - been with RBS for years!!! but i worry I may end up paying more for overdraft than I do already??