Time to turn this around

FiscalPickle

The next 3 weekends are planned as No Spend Weekends, with the exception of any food shopping that needs doing. Any activities and entertainment need to be free or already budgeted for, things like going for walks and Netflix.

The house is looking great, all decluttered after Christmas, it just needs a once over this weekend. The sun is shining although its very cold, once my FitBit has charged I'm going to wrap out and go and put some steps on it. Then it's home to curl up with a hot chocolate, films and the cats. I'm also going to do a bit on a craft project which I can hopefully turn into a friend's birthday present, I have all I need to make it already. That will certainly be more economical than another £30 on perfume or similar in Boots.

FiscalPickle

Successful zero spend weekend, I think that is a first for me :beer:

656 days to go until Debt Freedom, I think (I hope!) once I'm at the end of paying it off saving will be a breeze, I'll set up a DD for nearly the same amount and I won't miss it because I haven't ever really had it. Once I am DF I'm going to allow myself a little more spends on entertainment and holidays so it doesn't become too monotonous.

I am feeling tempted by joining Weight Watchers, but i's £21.45 a month. I would need to go for at least a year as losing weight sustainably takes me ages. Not sure if I can justify it, but the health benefits would be great and it would be nice to have something to distract me from the slog of debt-busting. Also, more incentives not to have takeaway can't be a bad thing. Hmm, one to ponder....

FiscalPickle

I've worked out that once the final 2 DDs have come out of my account, I have £1.18 left in my bank account and about £5 in change in my purse. Burger. Pay day in 15 days.

There is still enough in the joint account for food so we won't starve, however debt-busting is feeling quite bleak and lonely at the moment. I suspect it's the time of year.

FiscalPickle

I've got a sum of £1174 that is due to start accruing interest in April 2018. The rest of the balance will be paid before the 0% runs out. I rang MBNA to ask what earliest date I can make a balance transfer to pay the interest-accruing part of the balance, they said 21/04/18.

I've noticed that the 0% options are becoming very limited for where I live, I'm in one of the Crown Dependencies and some lenders have stopped offering CCs here due to difficulties with debt recovery.

I think (I hope!) I'll be able to get a 0% deal with HSBC for 32 months with the £25 cashback deal, which will more than cover the transfer fee. However I can't apply yet, as the current deal with a 90 day window will run out before 21st April. I'm hoping the deal will be extended, if not I'll have to find another lender that will cover where I live :mad:

FiscalPickle

Another zero spend weekend planned, going for walks, Netflix and housework. I usually buy at least one thing in the January sales, however this year they are either full of tat or I'm much more mindful about what is really a bargain. It's still miserable having no money to treat myself though. I might use any change left in my purse at the end of the month to buy a nail varnish I would like.

I've decided to bite the bullet with Weight Watchers and take the £21 from the entertainment pot. I'm sick of feeling like a beached whale, and a skint beached whale at that :-(

FiscalPickle

I have 4 auctions on eBay due to end at the weekend, providing I've done the postage calculations correctly that will be an extra £20 minimum to send to the Virgin CC. I like to keep a little buffer in the PayPal account for when eBay take the fees and in case I'm near my overdraft, which I don't want to be in ever again. I suppose it's almost like a small emergency fund for now. I'll then be scouring the house for more eBay fodder, I've got my eye on a bag and pair of boots that I haven't used for ages.

FiscalPickle

It's chucking it down again, contemplating going for a walk as I do have a waterproof jacket. I could always treat myself with a soak in the bath with some nice bubbles when I get home. Have to do a food shop today so will get that out of the way first, once I've done the meal planner for the week. I'm going to do some comparisons with how much we were spending on food shopping before doing a structured meal plan, I have a feeling it will be a lot less. There are top-up shops here and there, but these are to places like the butcher for items needed for the meal plan. We've decided to switch from supermarket meat to using the local butcher, it is slightly cheaper and much better quality/quantity.

FiscalPickle

Meal plan and food shop done, I've bought some Weight Watchers friendly foods to get me started this week. my first weigh in will be on Tuesday.
There are portions of curried butternut squash soup in the freezer, along with cauliflower rice, sausage casserole and other things made during the week so we have plenty of nourishing food in.

Still debating about the walk. I've been thinking more about eBay and if I should put my wedding dress up for sale. Reasons to:-

1. I'm never going to wear it again
2. It's sitting on top of the wardrobe and could make a dent in Debt Mountain
3. It's Pronovias, so a popular bridal designer

Reasons not to:-
1. My parents bought it and I got married in it, so sentimental value
2. It's been considerably altered for my shortness, which may decrease the value
3. It's pretty and I love it.... argh feeling quite torn!

FiscalPickle

I’m not feeling the love for debt busting or anything else at the moment, think I well and truly have the January blues. Such sad news about Dolores O’Riordan, I loved listening to the Cranberries when I was growing up. It just shows how short life can be. Why can’t someone in the public eye who is a right !!!! cark it instead?

Not much to report on the MSE front, DFD is still light years away.

Tahlullah

I've been humming The Cranberries songs all evening. Really very sad that she has died and so young.

Read your diary from the beginning and cheering you along. You seem to be doing well but I do understand the blues. I know I am suffering from them at the moment. I can't seem to focus. I'm budgeting well and not overspending, I just don't seem to be able to save any money to pay down the mortgage.

But, every little helps and you are doing fine.