This Duo's debt free journey

DebtFreeDuo

Thank you WF, it won't bother me for too long as I don't have time to dwell on it anyway. Hope you're well, keep meaning to stop by your diary again (which I will do right after this, promise).

I must remember the baby steps, I do tend to work better doing things in smaller steps. Love the priority list idea EH, I always have 'to do' lists written down but I never really separate them in order of priority. This means I tend to do the easier ones first. I love the idea of a priority list rather than a normal to do list.

Time is still getting away from me, still have a huge to do list but I did tick off a couple of things yesterday with the closest due date. Will follow with a priority list.

DebtFreeDuo

Right here goes with my priority list, I will keep coming back to this up until Sunday and then start again for next week I think.

Must be done today
[STRIKE]DS parents evening[/STRIKE] Glowing feedback, proud mummy.
[STRIKE]Catch up with MA module and start coursework[/STRIKE]

Must be done by Friday
C tutorial 1 - this has a lot of work involved so aiming to fully understand the overall concept rather than completing the whole tutorial
P tutorial 2 & 3
R tutorial
V tutorial 2 & 3
Complete MA coursework and submit
[STRIKE]Tidy the house[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]List on ebay[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Check for surveys - a very low priority at the moment but would free up money allocated elsewhere[/STRIKE]

To do Sunday
[STRIKE]Are all modules up to date? Notes written, tutorials completed[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Quick check over finances[/STRIKE]

Sundays are generally my catch up day as DS is with his dad but 2/3 of the last sundays he has been with me which I think has contributed to me feeling the way I do about things building up.

Saturdays are always my day off from everything that isn't DS, I try to get things done other days so that I can dedicate every Saturday to him. This Saturday we are going to find a nice walk somewhere, maybe take a picnic with us.

I know I have missed things from my list so it will most likely increase in size but it covers everything for uni at least.

Update (very late) - Keeping on top of my notes for uni but not much the tutorials, planning on catching up with everything this week.

EssexHebridean

It's fine to add things if you need to so long as they stay with the categories - that helps avoid you missing the important stuff while you're fretting about less important stuff. It really is a great idea when you're feeling bogged down - an old boss taught me that trick, along with the method of making sure the person giving you workload is clear about any particular order it needs to be done in - ie "So you want me to do A and to do B - which of those would you like me to address first?" - that way the person with the expectations is setting their own priority. I've used both for years as and when needed! Try to avoid the list straggling on forever with bits being added too - set yourself a time frame after which you write a new one - so perhaps once you;'re half way through Friday it's time to write a new list with the outstanding stuff on it - anything still o Friday's list becomes priority - that is also a subtle psychological boost as you KNOW you'll get some bits crossed off nice and fast too.

Great idea to have a set day when you just focus on DS and that's your family time too!

DebtFreeDuo

Thanks for popping by with more tips EH, I will be taking them all on board and will use them going forward. Here's to a super organised Duo!

HairyHandofDartmoor

I make lists in a notebook and put stars next to the most urgent items. Sometimes I write the urgent things in capitals so they jump out at me. I add tick boxes and that incentivises me as I love ticking things off .

DebtFreeDuo

Received my contents insurance renewal through, increased by a little over £10 which works out at around a 13% increase on last year! Shopped around and have increased my cover to include personal possessions outside the home, total cost was £5 more than my renewal which is great when it includes the extra cover. I went through TCB and received £28 so in actual fact it is £23 cheaper than my renewal. Total cost around £70 and paid in full.

Willowtree222

How did your list get on? Did you get through it ok?
Any nice plans for the weekend?

31% gone is amazing. That is almost 1/3. xx

EssexHebridean

Good work on the insurance - there are times when it's worth paying a little more for a lot more value aren't there and it's tricky to balance that out among the frugal stuff, it's to easy to slip into the "cheapest is always best" mindset but that doesn't always apply 100%.

Hope you had a great weekend!

DebtFreeDuo

Sorry been away a little bit, I will update the list in a second Nicnak. I had a wonderful weekend with DS, we went for a lovely walk in the woods.

Yes EH, sometime you do get what you pay for and I felt like it was a bargain.

In other news I have managed to sell something that I received as a freebie for £140, add that to the money I have waiting to come through TCB and that £400 is almost covered!

Willowtree222

That is fantastic x
£400 is amazing.