Mrs S.....life after debt

MrsSave

Grocery shopping today, which happily came in under budget (including the extras for camping). Pleased to report no other spends I picked up a book from the library today. I haven't read in ages, and really want to as I love a good book but time, etc gets in the way. Haven't started it yet, but will hopefully manage a good chunk when we're away.

I'm working through the house cleaning one room at a time at the moment. I've been feeling that the housework is majorly getting on top of me recently, so a good sort out in each room and then making a plan to keep on top of things sounds like the way forwards. So far I've sorted the living room (uncluding the cupboards!) and have made good headway in the kitchen (just the kitchen table to finish sorting and the floor needs a wash). My aim is to finish the kitchen tomorrow and tackle the boys' bedrooms (or at least one of them!).

I've been re-evaluating my different savings goals tonight, including the percentages I'll be giving to each if I have money leftover each month and for any extra money made. I think I'm almost there with it (the planning, not the saving :rotfl: ) and I think the focus would be good.

MrsSave

August is definitely not as easy as July, but I think that was to be expected with the Summer holidays. I've still got money left in all pots, but we're down to around £40 in the fun/entertainment pot to last until September. It's definitely do-able, but I am looking forward to pay day now!!

Half of me isn't looking forward to the normality of September to hit, the other half is enjoying having both boys home, and I know ds1 is enjoying his time off school.

We're away for a few days over this weekend and planning to stick with the £100 budget I mentioned before. Some of it has already gone on a food shop, but that means we won't be eating out much at all. We have cheap/free activities planned so I'm really hoping we stick to this budget.

wishingthemortgaheaway

Have a great time away. Hope the weather is reasonable for you.

MrsSave

A week to go until payday :j :j

Things are actually going better than I thought. I've got £18 of 'fun' money and £19 from my Summer holiday fund. My credit card statement will be out on Monday, and it looks like it will be under £880. Last month was £620 so quite a bit less, but during August we've had ds1's birthday (meal out and 2 nights away) and then a second trip (3 nights away). The £880 includes everything for the second trip (pitch fees, food, eating out, etc). I've also bought new trainers for ds1 this month, paid for my YNAB subscription and for my son's rugby classes, bought some new clothes for me (I'm pretty sure I mentioned my Asda purchases - last of the big spenders!!), new slippers for the boys and a new school bag for ds1. I'm actually really happy with £260 more if that includes all the above particularkey 2 breaks away!! Next month should be good!!!

I decided at the beginning of August to put £35 of petrol in the car instead of £40 with the hope it would last a fortnight. 3 weeks in and I'm now thinking of filling up again. :j I've been given a 10p off petrol voucher for Mr T so I've decided to make the most of it by filling the tank. Hopefully I won't need to put much in during September then.

I'm 3 weeks out of 4 for food and have so far spent £143.39. My goal for August was £200 so I'm totally on target! My Christmas and birthday pots are where I want them to be, and I have saved the deposit needed for our holiday next summer. I just can't book yet because the dates haven't been released :rotfl:

Fingers crossed for a good 7 days to finish a second really positive month!!

Oh, and I'm celebrating my fourth mse birthday :bdaycake: (though I've been around far longer, I just have no idea what my previous log in was :rotfl: )

debtaghh

Well done!

wishingthemortgaheaway

As you use YNAB, does it really matter what your credit card bill is? (Unless you are on the 'float') or is it just a way of generally seeing how much you've spent in a month?

MrsSave

wishingthemortgaheaway wrote: »

As you use YNAB, does it really matter what your credit card bill is? (Unless you are on the 'float') or is it just a way of generally seeing how much you've spent in a month?

I keep a close eye on the credit card so that I can compare my spending from month to month. The lower it is, the better I feel as it means I have plenty leftover and can move some to savings. It just another way I have to stay on track!

MrsSave

Nearly pay day :j

I've had a couple of unexpected spends since last posting, but still doing ok. I had a last minute night out with the girls (one lives quite a distance away and was back for the weekend - it had been mentioned about a month sooner but basically I forgot :rotfl: ). We had food and drinks and I spent around £32 so I'm actually pretty happy with that (yay for not being able to drink much anymore!!).

I've then mentioned before about trying a little something new on the side to bring a few extra £££s. I've been trying to decide the best way to start it for a while. I've done what I needed to behind the scenes but then needed to decide whether to pay out now and have something that looks good, or not pay anything and not have a hard copy of anything to show. I know that all sounds a bit weird but I don't want to be too obvious!! I decided in the end that long term I'd be better paying out a little now, so around £45 has gone there. Fingers crossed I can make that back relatively quickly though!! We'll see how it goes. At least by budgeting and using YNAB, I had the money for both things in the account, and only needed a quick little shuffle of things.

I'm being super disorganised this week and haven't done a food shop, a meal plan or a shopping list. I can honestly say that I have no idea what we're eating for the rest of the week :rotfl: I think I'll have to take the boys shopping tomorrow!

Oh, and to add to the spending weekend, I paid the deposit for our 2019 holiday this weekend. We're going abroad for the first time with the boys and despite it being almost a year away I am so excited :rotfl: I had set myself a target of saving my half of the deposit by the 1st September, but got there sooner so went for it. All I need to do now is save for the rest :rotfl: There is something so nice about having the money there ready to do these things, though I think I may need to keep that bank card in the purse for a little while now.

debtaghh

How exciting! How long will you be going for?

MrsSave

debtaghh wrote: »

How exciting! How long will you be going for?

We'll be going for a week. Any longer with 2 young children abroad is a little too scary (and will mean more spending money!!). :rotfl: