£50k to zero - made it across the finish line

Drawingaline

I know what you mean about being bored with the debt. We will come out of this move owing my dad, which should be easier, but actually I find more stressful as I feel more obliged to pay it back quickly, even though he won't be pressuring us!

One-step-at-a-time

I understand that - we borrowed from my parents last time we had major car trouble, and I wasn't comfortable until all of it was repaid.

One-step-at-a-time

Nine days since I updated a total and another nine days before I can do it again... invoices probably won't get paid until early October now, but that just means October will be a bumper payoff month. I still cleared over £1k this month so absolutely nothing to moan about there! Lots of domesticity to keep us occupied this weekend with post office, house tidying, refilling garden bin etc, and today is our designated big meal prep day, so the kitchen will be chopped vegetable carnage a bit later. Usually loads of fun, both of us get stuck in, put some music on and chat for a few hours while we're doing it. 
There are a couple of small DIY jobs I might attempt - painting another door frame or two, sorting out a loose bit of carpet (all of the carpets in this house are 25-30 years old and some are in dire need of replacement, but that won't start to happen until the end of 2021).

mark55man

sounds like a fabulous weekend

One-step-at-a-time

Well that wasn't a bad one. Everything on yesterday's list done except the door frames (not a surprise, I hate painting woodwork), plus repotting some plants, making a priority list for October's personal spends (very boring - posting bags and the next couple of bits from the organising the kitchen list, and one music purchase which will depend entirely on how much the rest comes to). I've not done the planned Etsy store refresh - just wasn't feeling it and really should have just done it on Wednesday when I was feeling vaguely enthusiastic about it! I managed to get a couple more bits up for sale on marketplace - some interest in one already, but the person first didn't check the location and then wanted me to post it - not happening as it's an awkward size/shape and postage is more than it's worth.

The highlight today was a cuppa with family (there are five of us in total so the number restrictions aren't currently an issue). It was nice to have a chat, and everyone is in fairly good spirits at the moment.

Tomorrow I'll be doing the pointless monthly credit club check - I'm hugely curious as to whether the 'affordability' score will ping up to the next level soon; I know it's irrelevant, it's just a game I play, waiting for the colours to change. One day everything on that screen will be green (and the day that happens may well be the last time I bother looking at it!). 
8 days until the next round of payments. At this stage of the months it feels like a slow plod to £0 rather than a race! I can't even put into words how much I am looking forward to not spending 40% of take-home on fixing this but starting to build the future instead.

mark55man

I would say you are already building the future with you 40% - but I know what you mean

One-step-at-a-time

mark55man said:

I would say you are already building the future with you 40% - but I know what you mean

Yeah, I know I am in a way, but being on dry land instead of still up to my knees in a lake will feel a lot more comfortable

ryanm8655

You’re doing great. Also a big yellow sticker fan, though I tend to buy those bits in addition ha. Actually had to bin a meal yesterday as there wasn’t room in the fridge, that wasted 95p hurt ha. Though the tub was good for Tupperware (it was a Tesco paella ready meal thing reduced from £4). Next step is probably realising you’re not saving any money if you don’t actually need it and end up having to bin it ha. I have changed, if my mates read this

One-step-at-a-time

ryanm8655 said:

You’re doing great. Also a big yellow sticker fan, though I tend to buy those bits in addition ha. Actually had to bin a meal yesterday as there wasn’t room in the fridge, that wasted 95p hurt ha. Though the tub was good for Tupperware (it was a Tesco paella ready meal thing reduced from £4). Next step is probably realising you’re not saving any money if you don’t actually need it and end up having to bin it ha. I have changed, if my mates read this

I'd probably have found an excuse to have an extra meal and skipped breakfast/lunch the next day I was a bit too experimental with what I used to pick up from the yellow sticker shelves to start with, but I really hate having to chuck anything out - so now everything I get *has* to be able to go into a meal plan. It's made for some weird food combinations a few times! My rule about ready meals is that a) I only ever buy them on yellow stickers and b) it has to be impossible to cook the equivalent myself for less.
The one thing I really miss due to working from home is never passing any large shops - I used to have to walk past a massive Sainsburys and through M&S food hall to get to my bus stop on the way home. One week I managed to score a full basket of stuff at M&S for what averaged 89% off, and most of it was freezable so it lasted ages.

One-step-at-a-time

First up - I know that the credit score is more or less meaningless (especially if you don't want credit), but as I've said before, checking it is part of my game anyway. After starting out in the 500s, today I am back at 999, with all but one category (loan affordability, which is at 'fair') back to good/very good. It's a silly boost, but a boost, nonetheless.
Embarrassingly for me, I've definitely miscalculated a bit this month. I've got a load of stuff to post that really needs to go out this week, and a top-up shop to buy, and £15 quid left in the current account, which won't cover all of it. I'm going to dip into the EF rather than use any other method of payment, and in future, stop making overpayments on the assumption that invoices will be paid on time! *facepalm*
I'm going to loan myself £100 so that I have a decent buffer, then put everything back in the right place on Monday. Next week things will pick up, and the debt will go under £13k.
The clearout continues like a slowly dripping tap. I've given away a few bits that the charity shops won't take, and have got one £20 item with an agreed sale by post if I don't find a local buyer by the end of the week.