Doing up the House (and me) while doing away with the Debt 29 May 2018 at 11:06AM edited 29 May 2018 at 11:27AM in Debt free diaries 157 replies 11.6K views

supersaver1000

Its really good to reflect on my earlier posts and sort my targets for the next day/week/year and so on.  I'm still working on losing weight - although I've gone slightly astray this weekend it hasn't been overeating on junk food, we have been cooking a lot of healthy but delicious meals.  Back on it again this week, though it doesn't have to be eating miserable meals, just eating less.  I'm also back on exercising and need to start up the weights again as I'd let them slip.  I think all the exercising had really worn me out somehow, so  a little rest has been very welcome.

Although as a household we are debt-free, MrSS has taken some sorting out and I feel we are finally coming to the peak ready to freewheel down the other side.  We've all finally realised that MrSS doesn't have a head for business.  Trouble is he likes to be in charge, but he just can't be in charge of the finances as it all falls flat on its face.  We've had a few things listed for sale this week and so the business loan should be paid off, and a couple of purchases made with money loaned from the household finances repaid.  There should even be a little left over for MrSS to have savings (I'm going to be looking after those to start with).  He has to make a decision about shutting the business down or keeping it going as sideline.  I think he needs to keep it going as a sideline but needs to wind it down so that it costs almost nothing, but he needs to start putting money aside for the small amount of expenses e.g. advertising, professional registrations etc. rather than having to be bailed out by me all the time - that's not called a business that's called a cheeky way to get money out of your wife!!  So the aim is to get MrSS solvent and saving - wish me luck.  Its the last chance, I'm fed up filling in the gaps and bailing out the boat while he punches more holes in it.  

Lots of tidying didn't happen, well come on, there was lots of sunshine to be enjoyed and lots of relaxing.  But we did a bit and I feel we are all getting together on the same page with this.  I really have got to be strict and declutter as I do want to have a minimalist lifestyle.  Part of that will come when I lose more weight and get to throw out a whole size of clothing that I never wanted in the first place.  

So my current targets are:
Keep on exercising, 3 x running, 3 x weights, 1 x stretches/pilates/yoga.
Keep on losing weight and eating healthily.
Declutter ready for moving.
Reading - I have a novel on the go, plus lots of educational/training stuff to read.
Savings - Xmas Challenge and the Dave Ramsay steps.
Cut down spending on groceries whilst increasing healthiness/tastiness of meals.
Work on my mental health, including talking more and moving on.

Just looking at these, they aren't really SMART targets, but lifestyle choices.  I feel like my life is blossoming, rather than being a series of never ending deadlines to meet.

My targets for tomorrow are to work on not getting stressed with work.  To relax and achieve what I can, saving energy for focussing on what I like to do.  If I can't progress with my current employer I need to work on something else and maybe have my own sideline which is completely different.  For the week it is to get back on my exercise and diet.  For the month it is to finish the novel and then move onto the educational/self-help stuff and of course to continue planning for the impending move.

supersaver1000

Good positive day today.  Avoided getting too stressed and actually had a few phone calls - it really helped to speak to people.  The sales went well today and MrSS's business now has no debts.  We've another sale on the cards which will mean MrSS will at long last be in the black (well for now as he has to do his final accounts).  Its a really great feeling, the only way is up now.  No more bale-outs for MrSS and his bad business acumen!!  

We have finally completed Step 2 of Dave Ramsay and now we are onto Step 3 which is saving up 6 months of bills money.  Exciting to start this next phase, heading towards Steps 4, 5 & 6 which are all done together and are the homeward stretch.  Never thought we would be saying that.

Exercise went well today and the diet wasn't too bad.  We are eating really well at the moment, its nice to have time to cook good food.  Will try and make headway with the novel tonight and tomorrow and will look forward to starting the text books next week.

supersaver1000

Managed a bit of the novel last night - its really not my cup of tea but I'm determined to finish it.  I've started skim reading a bit now as I'm fed up with it.  Managed to get MrSS to make a couple phone calls to actually pay off the debt/get a refund.  He's just got £132 to pay back to our household fund and that will be more than covered in the final sale.  Very exciting to be completely totally debt-free as a family - personally and in business.  Its great to look at the things we own and know that we actually own them ourselves - we have no debts, only assets  Never thought the day would come, especially not before retirement, and it really feels like a huge weight has been lifted from us.  Of course MrSS is banned forever from running a business (by me), it just doesn't suit him, he's a terrible planner and doesn't know the meaning of putting money aside for the future. He's a lot better now at not spending but still gets the odd urge to buy something asap - I have to work hard to convince him to wait and consider purchases.  I'm not sure he will ever fully get it, but if I can get him hooked on saving it will help.  

supersaver1000

So the £1,000 emergency fund is now set aside, but I will continue to save £200 a month into that pot and more into my other pot as I need to save £6,000 for the proper emergency fund (approx 6 months cushion).  We've approximately £4,000 put aside for moving things - furniture, new washer etc. as well.  We will want to spend more I'm sure but will need to budget it all out and wait/save - and we have the emergency fund in an emergency.  Its all coming together, just need to get on and declutter and pack now   This weekend will be the start of it all (I know I keep saying that but it will ).

Food expenditure is high again, but its to be expected.  I need to have a review to see if there are ways to re-organise and reduce.

So my targets are more or less on track, just a few blips.  Am still getting slightly stressed with work and it tends to be worse later in the week.  Its just very tiring and boring.  Still I need to try and relax and just keep looking for that opportunity to pop up

supersaver1000

Mid-month update.  So, its come to light that MrSS has a business credit card debt - £2,500.  So there is me thinking it was all paid off.  It really upset me, more so that he was hiding it rather than he had the debt.  Its all sorted now, card cut up, paid off and the next step will be to cancel that and the business account.  I keep saying 'this is the last straw', but he's promised this really is the last debt now.  I am starting to wonder if we will ever make it completely out of debt.  Life would be so different if I had married a saver not a spender.  Still, I am not going to be negative, my aim now is to start paying off the mortgage and building up the savings.  MrSS is in a better mood because he hasn't got a lump of guilty hidden debt that he wasn't sure if he would ever pay off.  He is never coming off paye again and won't be managing his own finances in any way shape or form - I think this has probably given him a taste of debt and he didn't like it.  Looking at the future, we have a good chance of paying off our mortgage before retirement and of being more comfortably off than we have for a long time.  It is probably time for the next chapter in our lives to begin.  I'm sure I will be back to post again, but I really do feel a new thread coming on

Chrystal

Don't forget to put a link to new thread on here!

supersaver1000

Well, so sorry that I didn't start another supersaver thread, I had totally forgotten about this one.  Just to update that the house move went well and it has been onwards and upwards.  MrSS is very well behaved with money - if only I could have changed him years ago.  It was great to read through this thread though and remind myself of everything that's happened.  Its no wonder I feel so contented now - I'm having to do a lot less decluttering etc.  I can't believe we moved house with only £4k to furnish it,  it took some planning but we did it.  About 8 years on from starting the journey we did it, still lots of mortgage to pay off, but as someone said - you just apply what you have learned over the last 8 years and you'll get there.  Wish me luck!