Adventure wanted, but first we must rid ourselves of debt

AdventureWanted

Payday today - hooray! This is the first month since March that we have got our usual amount paid. 

Yesterday we went shopping at our nearest big city to return an item. It was really weird and not overly enjoyable. I used to love shopping in the city and wandering round just browsing, but it just wasn't the same.  I think it will be quite a while until we go back again for a day out. On the plus side we didn't spend much yesterday (£4.65 on drinks for me & DH and £5 at Poundland).  Really pleased that we resisted buying cakes at a coffee shop and instead bought a multipack of chocolate bars at Poundland.

September debt roundup.

Joint debt at 30/9/20
Parents loan (CC4 & DH car) - £15,990
Parents loan - £6,289.00

Combined debt now sits at £22,279.00 (31/08/20 - £22,379.19).

EF - £1,045

So the debt has only reduced by £100, but we've managed to get the EF past the first goal of £1k. 

Next month we will continue to increase the EF and will be putting £100 to the debt. I don't like the fact the debt isn't reducing quickly like it was Pre-COVID, but know I need to be sensible and build up the EF. I'm also not taking too much extra out of the business at the moment, as I need to recoup some of the money we lost between April and August. (Well we didn't lose money as such, just didn't earn anything!).

So, the plan is now to get the EF to £2,500, sort the house out (tidy & declutter) and try and reduce the grocery bill. 

jwil

Well done on getting the EF past £1k!

I am with you on shopping.  It just doesn't feel right browsing any more, just quickly in and out for necessities.  Good for the finances though!

StickyTheStickInsect

Just delurking briefly to say fantastic work on the EF, we are trying to do the same but not there yet. I also agree about the shopping, I went into town yesterday and got enough birthday cards so I don't have to go again until Easter for them!

charlies_tribe

Well done on the emergency fund. We hit the 1k this month too.
I haven't been into the towns etc yet. After being home so long I can imagine it being a very strange experience.
We need to work on the grocery bill too, I think portion control is a huge factor in our house though.

AdventureWanted

charlies_tribe said:

Well done on the emergency fund. We hit the 1k this month too.
I haven't been into the towns etc yet. After being home so long I can imagine it being a very strange experience.
We need to work on the grocery bill too, I think portion control is a huge factor in our house though.

I'm pretty sure our portion sizes have increased since March, as well as our snacking increasing. I'm a terrible emotional eater & also eat when bored! 

AdventureWanted

Have transferred £10 to the EF today. Am enjoying seeing it increase and can't wait to hit my next target of £2,500. I think the mini goals will definitely help me keep motivated. 

Today I restarted couch to 5k. I wasn't sure how it'd go, as I haven't run since last November and haven't done any real exercise since June.  Was pleasantly surprised. Managed to run longer than expected, so going to continue couch to 5k on week 5. I'm no where near my fitness levels last year, but am looking forward to getting back to running more and hopefully losing the baby weight. 

Hope you're all having a good weekend. 

AdventureWanted

Morning,
Bank accounts have been checked and ynab updated.  I've rounded down my account and sent £5.81 to the EF.  

Feel a bit stressed at the moment. A few of the home EF groups are restarting now, but I am concerned about rejoining due to the finances and also the fear of actually meeting others! It's really ridiculous, but I think it's been so long since we've regularly seen people (other than my parents), that I now feel apprehensive about seeing others. Also there's always that chatter in the back of my mind that the people we're meeting may not be being quite as careful re Covid and that we may be more at risk.  I know once I'm there I'll be ok and it'll be really good for all of us, just feels so weird after so long being at home. Financially our money is now pretty much back to normal, but the fear of another national lockdown and work drying up is making me worried about spending. I think I'm going to relook at the finances, as I used to me able to go to the groups that are now restarting and could afford to go. 

Life just feels so uncertain at the moment. The rule of 6 is making life harder for us, we can't just call up friends for a walk. Instead to meet others (eg home Ed friends) it has to be for an educational purpose and if in public I'd worry about people stopping us to tell us off!  

Next month our bills should reduce a bit more, as we will no longer have sky tv to pay for. 

Hope everyone has a good day 😊

AdventureWanted

Morning,

Have had some cashback arrive in my account today, so have rounded it up and sent £35 to the EF.  EF now at £1,100.  It's getting there slowly, almost half way to my £2.5k goal. 

jwil

You are doing really well.  Could you maybe start with one group and see how you get on?  I try and avoid people as much as possible too so I'd be apprehensive.

AdventureWanted

Thanks Jwil. I've booked for us to go back to forest school. The DC are really excited about it, although they realise it won't be the same as it was before.


Money had been ticking along. I've managed to pay extra to the EF, so it's progressing nicely - now at £1,343.56.  Saw that eBay had a £1 listing weekend, so I've listed a couple of bits. Managed to sell one item for £45 within a couple of hours of listing It! Have spent time today sorting the newborn baby clothes ready to list a bundle on gumtree/Facebook. Hoping that they sell, as will be nice to clear the space. If they don't sell I may give them to the local baby bank. I gave the Moses basket to the baby bank last week. Felt good to get rid of it out of the house and also knowing it was going to a good home 😊.

Hope you all have a good weekend.x