Adventure wanted, but first we must rid ourselves of debt

AdventureWanted

Yesterday my mum and I took the DC to a glass factory. (Glass factory makes it sound really really dull, but it wasn’t! - also i’m pretty certain it’s not called a glass factory, but my brain isn’t fully engaged at this moment!!). We got to watch them making glass animals and vases, which was just mind blowing. DC1 absolutely loved it and asked about a million questions to the workers, who luckily were happy to answer. DC2 lasted about half an hour before asking to play a game on my phone! Luckily she was happy to take photos of them making things instead. Was a very cheap day out which I’m really relieved about. We had Tesco vouchers for the majority of the entry fee, so I only had to pay £1. We took a packed lunch, which we had before going in. We did stop at the coffee stop for a drink and cake, but my mum paid (I did offer, but she insisted) .

Today I have been reviewing my savings accounts, as I finally have access to my online banking. I’ve managed to transfer some money to our joint account for gifts we’ve bought and Home ed expenses I’ve paid out for. Whilst looking at the account I’ve realised that I haven’t been putting aside enough for our home insurance when it becomes due in may. I’m not sure where on earth I came up with the figure I’ve been saving, but it is nothing like the amount I needed! Luckily DC2 has stopped going to one of the home ed groups I save for, so I’ve had a bit of a swap around in all the accounts to make sure I’ve got the correct amounts in the correct accounts. I really am pretty pleased with my budgeting skills (other than saving the wrong figure, but we’ll temporarily ignore that!!). I always used to save money each month for annual expenses, but somewhere along the line (most probably when pregnant with DC3) I stopped doing it and started paying for it on the CC. I’ve become slightly addicted to checking my budget (this is a really sad thing to admit to :rotfl:) and love seeing the debt coming down and savings go up (although the savings only go up for a bit until the payments are due).

Blimey I’ve rambled on loads so far..

Today I’ve rounded down my bank account and sent £4 to CC2. Pay day next week, which will send a larger amount to CC2. I currently still have £27 in our grocery fund, £19 in the fuel budget and £34.80 in the days out fund. We need to buy bread and milk soon, so hopefully when I do go I can resist buying things I don’t need (chocolate!) and not spend all of the budget. Any money left over will either go off CC2 or maybe into the emergency fund.

AdventureWanted

Had a quick chat with DH last night about our budget. Turns out when he filled his car up with fuel the other day he’d used his own debit card and not our joint spendy credit card (which is paid in full every week). So I’ve transferred £25 to CC2 today. Also rounded down the bank account and sent £3.22 to the emergency fund. It currently stands at £311.50. Getting closer to my first target of £500.

Storm89

I'm addicted to checking my budget too lol. I'm looking forward to the point when I can also say I'm really proud of how the savings are going haha.
I have lots of friends that home ed they always seem to be on trips somewhere or other - I'd love to do it so I could tag along but DH won't allow it lol.
Don't worry about the rambling I love reading it. I am getting addicted to these diaries ! everyone does it so differently it's really interesting.

AdventureWanted

So yesterday we were late home from tennis lessons, as got stuck in a big traffic jam. I decided to pop in to Tesco and grab pizza for dinner, as well as the few bits on my list. Well, all I can say is I am not good at shopping without a running total. If it had been a larger Tesco I could’ve had the handheld scanner thing. I took all 3 DC with me who were very well behaved and didn’t insist on a toy (& get upset when I say no) which is rare. I spent over my £27 budget, so have reallocated items in my budget. Spent £40.98, which isn’t too bad for lots of milk, bread, cheese and other bits and bobs we’d run out of. The food budget is back up to £300 and we’re currently at £293.97. Slightly disappointed that I couldn’t get it to £280, but it’s still so much better than it used to be pre LBM.

I amazingly still have money in my bank account and ynab categories. Pay day is Wednesday.

Currently have:
• Grocery - £6.02
• Fuel - £39.19
• PADing - £22.21 (money available for bank round down payments to CC/EF)
• Home maintenance - £32.41 (hopefully this is enough for DHs diy purchases when he goes, if not will reduce the PAD account)
• Haircuts - £26 (this is for 4 of us - hopefully can arrange this for beginning of next week, if not will roll forward to next month).
• Days out - £34.80

DH is working today and we’re having a much needed quiet day at home.

Have paid £25 to CC2 today, which has taken the balance below £6.5k (just!).

AdventureWanted

When I had my LBM I decided to allocate £1 a week for DC1 and DC2 as pocket money. I have made sure that I show them their budget line in ynab so they know how much pocket money they have and most importantly have become a big Scrooge like and won’t let them buy something over the amount in their pot. I am so pleased to say that the amount of tantrums they have about not being able to buy a toy when we pop out to the shops has decreased dramatically. DC1 is currently saving his pocket money for a larger toy and is really excited about it. Hopefully this will help them realise that money really doesn’t grow on trees.

enthusiasticsaver

Great that you are now below £30k. Keep it up.

Storm89

That's such a good idea about the pocket money. I think I'll start that with my 2 from next year. I think I'm quite lucky that mine don't ask for anything when we go out. They'll see a toy and say "can I have that for my birthday/off santa" whichever is closest. I really like the idea of letting them see the value of money for themselves though.

AdventureWanted

DH has been working like a trooper this month and has worked lots of extra days. He got paid for his additional hours yesterday and has transferred £450 to CC2. Wasn’t expecting this money yet, so it’s a lovely bonus .

AdventureWanted

Had a busy day yesterday, had lunch at my parents (love a free lunch, especially when it’s a delicious roast ), then the kids had a birthday party in the pm. Luckily was a NSD.

Have paid £25 to CC2 today. DH went to the diy shop today and only spent £16 :j. Although that’s mainly due to a light we needed not being in stock in store or online. Am going to try and increase the amount we have in the home maintenance fund over the next few months so DH can finish some of the diy jobs he’s desperate to do.

Only a couple of days left of this months budget. I’m never sure whether to reduce my ynab budgeted figures to equal the actual amount spent at the end of the month and use the additional cash for a debt payment or roll it forward to the next month. Eg. There is currently £40 left in our fuel budget (I shifted some cash from the grocery budget to round up the fuel budget), but depending on how much I drive in the next couple of days I may not have to fill up until Thurs/Fri, so do I use Jan’s Budget or Feb’s? Weekly fuel levels will depend on where we travel to. We have set groups we go to every week, but if I travel to my mums each week it’ll use a lot more fuel.. maybe putting it in a savings account as a just in case would work better until the middle of Feb.

Will post a debt summary after we’ve been paid and made final January payments.

AdventureWanted

Have been a bit slack with my decluttering, but have added:

84 - full length mirror (to CS)
85 - iPad case
86-96 - baby clothes with food stains I can’t get out!
97/98 - 2 pairs of leggings.