Adventure wanted, but first we must rid ourselves of debt

AdventureWanted

charliedavis wrote: »

Just read the entire diary and took me 2 days :-)

We are also both self employed and saving for the January and July tax bills are a nightmare - although like you we’ve just both received rebates for overpaying. To ensure we pay on time for January I’ve submitted our returns early and then set up weekly direct debits to ensure the amount due is paid on time. Just a thought?

You are so dedicated to paying off the debt and clearly a very dedicated mum. Also clearly a great wife too hope your OH appreciates all you do!

Your diary is a true testament to changing habits long term and committing to paying off debt from being frugal. I’ve loved reading :-) and will definitely follow along

Hi,
Thanks for popping by and for your lovely message . Putting money aside weekly for tax is a good idea. I've definitely been a lot more organised since using ynab. I've even set DHs business up with its own budget, so I can keep easier track of the amount of tax I need to save each week. I managed to submit our tax returns a month or so again and luckily we won't have the worry of large tax bills this year. Just need to stay consistent and on track for next years figures. Will go and have a look at your diary and follow you back .

AdventureWanted

I've been utterly rubbish at updating this again. I've still been reading other diaries when I can, but have struggled to find time to post.

I paid £25 off CC3 today, which I'm pleased about. I have been missing making my daily pads, so it was nice to pay a larger amount and bring the balance of CC3 down to £5,950. I've listed a few more bits on gumtree, but not had any takers yet. Will give it a week and then reduce the price slightly.

DC3 is definitely better, but still not back to her usual self. She's been incredibly clingy all week and even though she is better it looks like the clingliness might stay for a while. 99% of the time I'm fine with the clingliness, but it's frustrating when you leave the room for a couple of minutes to nip to the toilet and she's screaming/crying/calling for me. I'm having my eyelashes done tomorrow morning (completely indulgent, but my main monthly treat out of my pocket money), so it'll be interesting to see how she is once I've gone and it's just DH at home.

I've managed to buy a few more presents for Christmas this week. Only have 2 nephews, my parents, stocking fillers and DH to buy for. DH has a HUGE Christmas list, which involves loads of gadgety things (2 of which are rather expensive - around £170 each). I'm struggling to know what to get him, as i hadn't planned on spending so much. I'm torn in a way, as I don't really want to spend loads, but on the other hand he does work really hard and is the one going out to work so that I get to be a stay at home mum, so I feel that he deserves a treat. Will have a think and keep my eyes peeled for any Black Friday deals.

charliedavis

Well done on getting some of the Xmas shopping done - I’ve barely started! My birthday is 26th November so I hate doing too much before my birthday lol!

You’re doing a great job with those pads. I am wary of making them yet until I’ve been using ynab a bit longer and “aged” our money. OH just went limited so we need to be super careful separating out business and personal income now.

jwil

Hope you can find something for DH on a Black Friday deal.

AdventureWanted

I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself this evening. Instead of an evening watching tv, I decided to do an arms & abs workout. This is the second time this week I've done this and it makes the evening so much more enjoyable. It also weirdly seems to make the evening longer, as it's something for me rather than just watching tv. I'm not sure whether I have the will power to always do this, but it's a good step in the right direction.

Today I've paid £10 off CC3 and have packaged up a Christmas tunic i purchased to be returned. I don't have a Christmas jumper/dress and quite fancy one, but the one I'd ordered looked like a sack! Obviously a very Red festive sack!!

DH is off tomorrow and Friday, so I'm hoping to be able to move some of the parcels of presents that have arrived. At the moment they are all in our bedroom unopened (I can't risk the DC taking a peek), as I haven't had a chance to move them. Not 100% sure where they're going to go, but it'll most probably end up being the loft, as our house lacks storage.

I've been relatively more productive than I have all week today, mainly because DC3 had a nap in her cot for 45 mins rather than sleeping on me, which she's been doing all week. (Usually she sleeps in her cot, it's only as she was ill that she'd only sleep on me - well hopefully!). It's amazing how much you can get done in 45 mins when you haven't got kids under your feet/attached to you. My kitchen is lovely and sparkling, which has improved my mood no end. It's also given me a bit of a push to try harder to declutter/tidy the house, as it really does affect my mood. Would be lovely to have a house that I wasn't embarrassed at when people turn up unannounced.

The financial advisor we were supposed to see had to reschedule our meeting from last month, so he'll be coming next week. Luckily the extra few weeks has meant that the CCs have reduced a bit more. Still horrific, but getting there slowly.

jwil

Well done on the exercise!

AdventureWanted

Well I'm feeling pretty rubbish about the finances today. I've bought quite a lot of presents this month which has drained the savings. Next year I need to make sure the balance is big enough for November and not December which it currently is. In the long term the money will all go back in the correct pots, but at the moment it feels a bit out of control.

DHs car insurance had to be paid out of the blue this week (he thought his renewal was January, so he didn't have enough money saved for it. Therefore we've annoyingly had to take extra money from the business to cover it, which I really wanted to stop doing.

Food budget is higher than I would like, so I seem to be scrambling round trying to balance the budget. I'm annoyed at myself for letting things slip and just hope I can rein it all back in soon.

I've made a £15 payment to Cc3 today, which makes me feel slightly better about the finances. Yesterday we sold DC3s old car seat base for £10. I'm slightly miffed that DH agreed to take £5 less when they asked, especially seeing as they had agreed a price with me via gumtree messenger first. I guess I should look at it as £10 made not £5 lost.

I'm seriously sleep deprived today, which isn't helping my mood. Both dc2&3 were awake lots in the night and ended up in bed with me at 4, which they thought was a perfect time to wake up and chat. Anyway, must get back to posting on here daily and stop wallowing!

jwil

Hope you had a better night's sleep.

You are doing really well with the budgeting, and even if a few things aren't quite right yet, you can change ready for next year.

I'd be annoyed about the car seat too.

AdventureWanted

Thanks Jwil. I'm definitely getting better at budgeting, but still a long way to go. Going to try and review the budgets again soon and try to get a better balance saving for things. Think I've been desperately trying to boost the EF when I should have added extra to the Christmas fund. I know it's all savings, but once it's in the EF I'm reluctant to use it. Need to look at the final cost of Christmas (which thanks to YNAB will be easier) and calculate a more accurate figure for next year. I worked it out on a rough figure per person, but didn't factor in birthday cards, gift wrap, stocking gifts, etc.

I've paid £5 to cc3 today. Payday is in a few days, so I'm interested to see what the month end figures will be. I'm debating charity shopping a load of our clutter rather than attempting to sell it. I've tried selling bits, but haven't had much luck and I'm sick of staring at it all. Will have a think again over the next day or two before making a decision.

jwil

I would have one last push over the next week or so if your items are suitable for gifts (toys etc). People will be getting paid this week and doing a lot of their shopping. If it doesn't go, then I'd charity it.