Reducing Debt - being accountable and taking responsibility

enthusiasticsaver

That CC2 is going down. Getting the emergency fund up to £1k is definitely a good idea. This will be your year I think.

DrSpendLittle

Hi Peeps,

Today has been a WFH day as my meeting in town was postponed. Nice not to have to drag myself on the train and spend the money!

Not a NSD as I had to post a couple of parcels and then pick up a few treats from the supermarket for my colleagues tomorrow. However, I got everything on half price so it was a bargainous shop.

Received an invoice for the annual property management charge that we always forget about (we own the leasehold with our neighbours). It's not too much so I've taken it out of the groceries budget for now and if I'm running short towards the end of the month, I'll shift some ££s from my EF.

Other than that, not much to report on the MSE front. Not sure what to do for dinner as we haven't got anything in and it's too late to defrost something from the freezer (we are a no microwave household) so I'll have to think of an MSE friendly solution.

DSL :j

DrSpendLittle

Just submitted £89 of expenses for approval, which I haven't accounted for as income in my future budget - a nice little amount to cover the unexpected property management charge and possibly my new foundation!

DrSpendLittle

Another £110 of expenses submitted! :eek:

These were submitted to two other organisations I am working with, so I'm not sure how long they'll take to process but I reckon I'll have £20 of them by end of April and will likely have to wait until the end of May time for £90 as that particular organisation is sooooo slooooow with their expenses processing. Still, another nice little windfall that isn't budgeted as income and can be put into the holiday pot.

In the office today, got a busy day of meetings and had a fairly hairy drive to work in the snow. Roll on spring I say!

DSL :j

wishingthemortgaheaway

Do you have any 'expenses slush fund' in your budget?
I have this and pay out of it for train/plane/Hotel/food/Post etc and any fuel above what I'd normally put in.
When expenses are repaid I top the slush fund back up to its maximum (£200- but that's not looking like enough for April) and any extra (wear and tear element of mileage payment) goes into one of my many money shuffling shinanigan pots.

DrSpendLittle

I sort of run a slush fund but it tends to be on an ad hoc monthly basis and what normally happens is I assign dosh at the beginning of the month into my YNAB expenses category to cover anticipated costs that I then deduct from the debt payment I plan to make that month. It sort of works but its all a bit ad hoc and I'm constantly moving money between my YNAB categories as I inevitably spend more or less depending on how many expenses I accrue. Shuffling shenanigans indeed! :rotfl:

I'm realising that I do now need a proper slush fund for expenses, like yours, and I think I may put any surplus ££s I get back in the coming months into building one, as I will have some more expenses coming up over the next few months.

I always put expenses on on CC3, which is my everyday spends credit card that I clear every month, so sometimes I am able to charge unanticipated expenses mid month before payday and then pay off on last working day of the month when my salary hits my back account and shunt the expense into next months budget to cover it. Bit naughty but it works. I think a slush fund would stop that mis management of money!!

DrSpendLittle

Hi Peeps,

Yay for the weekend. And the heat. DF moaned he couldn't sleep last night which is a complete turnaround round from his whinging about the cold. Bless. Still, it gives the boiler a break for a few days. Dreading submitting the meter readings :eek:

Went into town yesterday and got a colour consolation for some new makeup but I'm not sure what I picked up is the right shade, or whether I even want to wear this kind of foundation. Its liquid and more full coverage than I'm used to and I'm not a make up girl whatsoever, so I may re-sell on eBay and put it down to experience. I'll decide at the end of today once I've had a full days wear out of it.

Other than that, not much planned for the weekend but we do need to do some sorting out and meal planning. We're both going through a 'can't be bothered' phase when it comes to food and cooking so we are very uninspired for recipes at the moment. I think we need to sit down and choose some recipes, do the food shop, and work to that plan. See how it goes.

Will need to do a food shop at some point and we need a new bread bag, so might pop into town for a mooch after doing some chores.

Enjoy the (relatively) lovely weather!!

DSL. :j

DrSpendLittle

Meal planning done and Ocado shop order sorted. Made some amazing oat banana pancakes for breakfast with a blueberry coulis, as we had some bananas and blueberries that needed using up. Was a big hit with DF (he usually doesn't like non-conventional or gimmicky recipes but I didn't tell him they were a gluten/dairy/sugar free thing!!).

Might head into town in a bit to get some stuff for dinner as we're out of food and DF wants to watch the rugby.

Shelbi

Hi DSL,

Its great to see your back!! and I'm loving your targets- loving the idea of an emergency fund..and your on target to be debt free this year. I'm routing for you, we all are!! pancakes & coulis sound delish...would love to hear how your meal planning goes...its a week point for me hope the shopping trip went well..will be back soon to check in...have a lovely weekend

Shelbi

Starmummy

Hi DrSpendLittel.
I love your diary it's so upbeat. you are doing great. Chipping away at the pesky debt and having massive changes in your way of thinking but still living a happy life. you've struck a really good realistic balance.

Take care
SM