This Duo's debt free journey

DebtFreeDuo

Well I am glad those exams are out the way! Going to take tonight and tomorrow and will then get on with my growing to do list.

I have switched my life insurance today which will give me £70 cashback and will switch my gas and electric over which will give me £100 credit. Hoping my tax refund will come through soon so that the holiday pot balances. I also need to go over my pots and make sure they all balance, its amazing what can happen if you take your eye off the ball even for a minute. I haven't done massive damage so it won't take much to balance them out but I don't like knowing they aren't straight.

Should be more on top of my finances now, need to get back into the NSDs, I haven't had one since I last posted.

Willowtree222

Glad that the exams are over for you. It is time to relax a little with those out the way.

NSDs come in peaks and troughs, I have found anyway. x

ladymay

I'm with Nicnak - well done on finishing your exams, now I really hope you can relax a bit

DebtFreeDuo

Thank you both, today has been lovely. Will get myself back on track tomorrow with everything though!

Willowtree222

You will get back on track. I am sure of it. x

DebtFreeDuo

Ok, this may be long. Kind of a monthly update.

Debts

Total paid off debts this month is now £159.64. My usual payment is around £200 so I'm aiming to clear around £250 in Feb which will go towards the caravan holiday I booked. I have bits of money coming in from different places over the next few months so hopefully these overpayments will help to clear it much more quickly.

Yearly goals

NSD - 15/160 so far, should have another 3 by the end of the month so even though I've had a stretch of 5 days of spending I have still done really well this month.

52 Weeks saving - Tomorrow is week 5, I need to scrape together something to put into the savings for week 5 as I have now emptied the pot that this comes from. I think I have a few quid in a pocket somewhere that I can throw in. So far though, 4/52 weeks and have managed to put in £7, £15, £20 and £25 so I've been trying to cross off some of the higher amounts to make it slightly easier over the month. Total of £60 in my savings pot which has come from the entertainment pot which is £200 for the month. Quite proud of this.

Sell/Clear an item per day (365 over the year) - Haven't done well here with the exams, currently at 4/365 but I will have a day of clearing soon to get this up to target.

Stick to SOA - I am feeling quite proud of myself here, I know its early days but this is something I have always struggled with but it looks like I will achieve it this month. The holidays are currently in a minus but across the year it will balance out and the tax refund will cover the majority of it and will take it out of the minus figure. Spends for the holidays will build up in time too.

Surveys to cover Christmas - January was never going to be the month for this. I have £10 so far so not a complete waste but will focus a little more on this going forward. I have tried to build it up where I can, I'm currently about 1/3 towards £10 for SB, halfway towards £20 Prolific. I need to log in to all my accounts to check them all properly.

Debt free by April 19 - I'm still unsure whether this will happen, its looking unlikely if I want to be completely realistic with my budget but I don't want to push it back just yet. It could be pushed back as late as December though. I'm going to look at how I can bring in a little extra to use for overpayments but also see if its possible to spend less of my pots and make bigger over payments.

DebtFreeDuo

Received a cheque today for my tax refund, £280. Have put this into the holiday pot which puts me at £100 so that will give me some spending money when we go away. £5 put into the savings for this week so 5/52 weeks done.

Finally got round to sorting my tyre out, £63 which has come from the car pot so everything still balances ok.

DebtFreeDuo

Thought I would check out Prolific, came across a £35 survey! it is over 12 days or so but £35! I will be able to cashout £46 and send it over as an overpayment.

EssexHebridean

Brilliant on that prolific survey DFD - best I've seen today was £1! :rotfl:

DebtFreeDuo

I've been doing well on Prolific today, around £41 all in and already have £11 approved. It will be almost 2 weeks for the £35 so I may manage to get that up a fair bit by the time I've finished it which will give me a really nice overpayment!