Crunchy's Final Debt Free Diary!

crunch_time

Afternoon all!

I typed a post yesterday but my session timed out so it didn’t post which is annoying but never mind.

The essence of it was this. I think I shall ignore his pleas for me to get a stocks and shares isa. The only way he was going to get an isa was if it was sticks and shares so better that he has that an actually saves and I have the cash one for emergencies.

The food shop is now way over £100 a week nearer to £150. We are eating more healthy with better quality stuff rather than cheap weetabix for example and I’m buying better quality meat and fish in an effort to be greener. Better to be realistic and get change than go into debt right. School pack lunches for both children also contribute to the higher price.

We have started planning go out bathroom renovations. We went to a tile place a few weeks ago to see what was what so we could start costing up. The guy said there was a 40% sale in a few weeks time so we went and ordered floor tiles for both bathrooms today - circa £550 on the credit card. We are planning to get the wall tiles for both bathrooms in the January sales. I don’t know yet how I plan to pay off the tiles but I’m pleased that we got a discount and that things are moving on the house front.

I get paid on thursday this week. And we have enough fuel to last us. All is good so far for the month that would help us properly decide our budget.

Crunch x

crunch_time

Afternoon all

Payday today! I tok a chunk off the holiday debt as well as the sainsburys credit card. I can't wait for that to be paid off now. I have put some money away (£100) for our day trip which is coming up next month.

I have listed each debt out again on my signature as I would like to see each debt going down every month rather than the huge bit lump number. The count up with payments really wasn't making me feel good.

Husband will get paid next Friday so I should be able to pay off that sains cc then. I can't shut it down till I pay off the holiday debt that sits on it £125 on 19th October - but then it is gone!!!

I would really like to change the plan and get rid of the overdraft next because it is the next smallest and most annoying one of all.

Still got lots of stuff to ebay. I havent had time and am reluctant to spend the time doing it and it not make any money. I shall have a look through it all again and decide. I do like the idea of charity getting money for it. Perhaps I should just give it to them.

Other than that not much to report.

Crunch xx

ohdearhowdidthathappen

The Sainsbury's card is so close to being empty, well done.
I know what you mean about selling stuff, I've got loads in the loft. I'm thinking of trying to do 5 items a week; list them on ebay, if they don't sell on there I'll try selling on local facebook groups and then give to charity if they still don't sell. But I still haven't got round to starting!!

crunch_time

I took two bin liners to the charity shop this afternoon. A cat charity. I just cannot be xxxxxx to do it. Better that the funds feed cats in need than pay off my debt. Just need to work harder at it. I feel good about it. It’s not for everyone but it made me feel lighter. Good luck with your sales xx

Willowtree222

I love taking stuff out of the house. It feels so amazing! Glad that someone will benefit from it too. x

crunch_time

Afternoon diaryland!

Husband has taken the children on a bike ride and I am supposed to be working but I've just been paying some credit cards so I've come on here to update!

Firstly - min payment made to my Virgin card bringing it sub £3000 to £2950. The actual min payment due is £30 so I am overpaying it and keeping it nice and even.

Secondly - I just made a payment of £100 towards husbands massive £7800 credit card bringing it to £7700. Reason being, he had £100 of my cats vet bill last year (I couldn't claim off my insurance for some reason so had to pay £870), and I always promised I would pay ot off gradually once I started saving again as we should have paid the bill with our emergency fund but we didnt have much of one at the time. Well, we had to take our dog to the vet today - £75 - so I was raiding my savings account and thought I will just take another £100 and pay off that bit. It feels soooo good to do it! There is only £580 left of the bill to pay and that is on my HSBC one so I think I will do this from time to time so I get rid of that part of the cc without even noticing.

We've had a good September and now no how much we need to budget for stuff so we will be ready for October. Food budget is going up to £150 a week - I've probably mentioned that before, sorry.

I'm going to cut up my Sainsburys card now!! No need to use it anymore. Going to load up my monzo card with my spending money. I can already see myself not wanting to spend any.

Current credit card debt stands at £17,091

I'm looking forward to getting into the £16,xxx

Crunch xx

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Amazing, well done!

crunch_time

Evening all

It's definitely a challenge trying to pay off debt whilst trying to do your house up. We need our house repainted before the winter sets in as it looks awful right now and could get worse. We could wait until the spring but thats a long way off so we need to do it now. £500 to find for this month.

Can't wait for husbands payday on Friday.

Crunchy x

crunch_time

Payday is here!!

I have upped our food budget to £600 for the month but only put in £500 and squirrelled the rest away for if we need it. Now I'm not working as much as I was and things have died down a lot in terms of back to school, I can go to Aldi for the shopping which will reduce the amount we are spending. I can also go to the larger supermarket afterwards to get the bits that we cant get at Aldi instead of worrying about whingy children as both are at school!

We are going to the zoo this weekend. It's about an hour and a half from our house and I have £100 for this. Will see if I can get discount tickets online later.

£500 out of the £607 that was left after all essentials have gone out is sitting in a savings account ready for the house painting costs. Becuase of this I havent been able to reduce my sains cc as much as I thought. This is a huge lesson though as we do need to keep up on the house.

Right, better get on with the day - signature updated!!

Crunch x

crunch_time

Morning all.

Food shopping yesterday came to £103. All that’s left to get is some sausages and chicken breasts so probably another £10 on top of this. Although it was a pain to have to go to two supermarkets and I didn’t buy any cleaning products, that’s a huge saving of £40 this week so I guess it’s worth it. We were averaging £150 a week in September. We have learnt what we need now in terms of cakes lunches and dinners for the week.

The zoo tomorrow will cost us £73. The remaining £27. I’m going to try and save as we have enough food to take a packed lunch. And get the children to pay for any souvenirs they want using their pocket money which they will get today.

A quick note on pocket money. They get their age a week so £7 and £4 at the moment and have to save half of it in long term savings. The rest they use to save up for toys or whatever. We only buy books throughout the year and hardly ever buy toys unless it’s for their birthday of course.

LOADS of jobs to do today. I’ve got LOADs of school work to do too. Both children need new shoes. DS needs new trainers. He has already gone up a size since June and DD needs some weekend shoes as she is currently wearing her school shoes which is not ideal.

It feels very autumnal now. I’m going to get lots of washing done on the line today before the rain comes!

Crunch xx