Adventure wanted, but first we must rid ourselves of debt

AdventureWanted

Morning,
I've just finished checking the bank accounts and updating ynab. Have sent £16 to CC3.

Today I've got friends over, so need to spend a bit of time this morning tidying the house. Had planned on making cupcakes last night ready for today, but DC3 was late to bed last night (she fell asleep for 5 mins in the car at 5ish :eek:). Will see if I get round to it before they arrive. Also need to grab the wallpaper in case the gumtree buyer turns up.

Quick debt roundup:
CC1 - £0
CC2 - £0
CC3 - £8,500
CC4 - £11,700

Total debt at 20/8/18 - £20,200

jwil

Well done on the sales :T Good luck with the new goals.

AdventureWanted

The car repair on Thursday has been cancelled . It's entirely possible that it's only temporarily repaired, but I'm glad to be keeping the £630 in my account for longer!

Gumtree buyer turned up and collected the wallpaper :j. Going to sort through my sales pile tomorrow and hopefully list some more. My sister has a village garage sale this weekend, but DH is working, so not sure I'll get away with selling bits without the DC deciding they want to keep it all. DC1 was given a wooden knights shield and sword (for dressing up), which is a pretty decent toy, but not my cup of tea (last time they played with it a lamp got broken!). It's pretty impossible to sell! Gumtree cancelled my add, which I thought was a bit weird seeing as it's a toy..

AdventureWanted

Didn't manage to sort through bits to sell yesterday, so I'm hoping to do it today. My sister has offered to sell bits for us at the garage sale on Sunday if we can't go over and do it. Need to locate the Nintendo wii and all the bits which go with it and check it still works. I think DC1&2 will enjoy trying it out.

Having our gutters vacuumed today, so need to stay in until they've been and then need to pop to the post office and post the dress I sold. Budget wise I've got £61 left in the food budget. I really need to buy more milk and bread, as well as a few store cupboard things we've run out of. Going to work out a meal plan for the rest of the month and hopefully I can stay in budget. The budget is set at £375 which is more than I would ideally like, but seeing as I've been over budget (in the £400s) the last few months I'll be happy if we get to this figure this month. DH should stop working away in September, which will enable me to reduce the fuel budget back down, so the £40 reduction can go towards something else.

I am finding DH being away lots a struggle at times and have found it interesting how often I have looked at new electronics or clothes and tried to justify buying one. I haven't bought anything, as I think I realise it is a ridiculous idea and although I will feel happy when it arrives, it will soon be replaced with guilt and regret. At the end of the day I really want to be DF and have available cash to spend on adventures. It feels at the moment as if all I do is scrimp, save and try to tidy the house, and DH is only working .

Yesterday I paid £3.50 to CC3 and today I've paid £16.50. DD for CC3 still hasn't come out, so if it still hasn't tomorrow I'll just pay the £120.

abba1772

Getting debt free is a job in itself and we all start to feel like we want a wee splurge every once in a while and that's allowed don't think you can't have little treats along the way it does get tedious but that goal of having money in our pocket instead of paying down debts keeps us going xx

AdventureWanted

You're right Abba, getting debt free is definitely a job in itself. The day I become debt free and have all that spare cash will be AMAZING! The thought of what we can do with that cash in the future should keep me on track and motivated.

The dd for CC3 hasn't come out again, which I'm pretty sure is because I've made additional payments above the minimum payment. I've paid the £120 monthly dd to CC3 today, so hopefully they won't take the money tomorrow after all!!

Kids have got a play date round our house today, so I need to have a quick run round with the hoover before they arrive. Also hoping to make some muffins this morning before they arrive. The muffins are only sweetened with honey, so fingers crossed the DC like them, as they are a new sugar free recipe I'm trying. Hope everyone has a good day .

jwil

It is really difficult to maintain motivation. Do make sure you've got room in the budget for the odd treat.

You are doing really well though

enthusiasticsaver

It is never too soon to make a plan for retirement provision. This is one of those things where the earlier you start the more successful you are. Difficult finding a balance between overpaying debt if you have it, spending on holidays/treats etc and saving for emergencies and retirement/childrens university costs, help with weddings, cars and house deposits. We found the best way was to start small and build up on all of them or some of them get overlooked completely.

AdventureWanted

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

It is never too soon to make a plan for retirement provision. This is one of those things where the earlier you start the more successful you are. Difficult finding a balance between overpaying debt if you have it, spending on holidays/treats etc and saving for emergencies and retirement/childrens university costs, help with weddings, cars and house deposits. We found the best way was to start small and build up on all of them or some of them get overlooked completely.

I definitely agree that starting earlier will help later in life. DH and I pay some money to our pensions each month, but once we're DF we intend on increasing it.

Saving for the DC is something I've wanted to set up for ages, but always thought I'd wait until I'm DF. Think I might start sooner though, as it will be a good habit to get into. DC1 has a CTF - babies were given £250 by the government when born at the time. When DC2 arrived they'd stopped giving out the money, so I feel that I need to make sure all the DC have a fair amount in their accounts. Ideally I'd like it to be fair based on their ages, but not really too sure how best to do it. I had thought about figuring out how much would be in an account for each DC if I had put £5 a month in and then put that amount in each Account, although this wouldn't take into account interest. I may well be making too much of making it fair, but I'd hate for Dc2&3 to think i didn't do as much for them financially. I need to transfer DC1's CTF to a children's isa before I add funds to it and set up accounts for DC2&3. Will add this to my list of things to do. If anyone has any suggestions of a fair way to allocate savings to the DC I'm all ears.

AdventureWanted

I've had a busy few days visiting family, as well as sorting through the house. It's been really lovely having DH home and I've managed to get loads done whilst he's been playing with the DC. My bedroom is now looking so much better, although there is still lots of stuff to sort through. Even managed to sort out things from under our bed and hoover it all. Was really satisfying.

I've listed a load more things on gumtree this weekend and have already managed to sell a sink we purchased but never used. Should be having someone come and collect a pushchair 2nd seat tomorrow morning, although as is always the way with gumtree I'm never 100% sure they'll turn up.

Pads made the last couple of days:
24/8 - £5 to CC3 and 51p to debt savings
25/8 - £15 to CC3.
Today's pad is £2.

Not too much longer under payday now and so far the budgets are holding up. I shouldn't have to buy any more groceries, so as long as DH doesn't buy bits without me knowing I might actually stay in budget this month!!