Crunchy's Final Debt Free Diary!

crunch_time

Morning all

Back to work tomorrow and I am not looking forward to it really. I just sent off an application for a support role in a high school. It would be a drop of £250 a month after childcare but to get my own time back is priceless.

I love teaching but I feel I dont't really know what I am doing anymore that is right. People say to trust my instincts but I don't even know what they are. I feel lost. This support role would lead into other things which are more highly paid and have more progression. I miss having progression.

In money news, husband's big Virgin credit card is starting to accrue interest on a part of it. I logged on to pay and it was £14 last month. There is not much I can do about it at the moment. We need to get the other one and the overdraft shifted. I'm just going to keep chucking the £100 a month at the moment.

I really want rid of the overdraft now. Since it is down to £1400 and I am planning to chuck the council tax money for Feb and March at it £300 - We could get rid of it in a few months. It would be nice to get rid of another line of credit.

All heading in the right direction (ish) at the moment!

Crunch xx

I really want

Willowtree222

Morning Crunch,

The dreaded back to work tomorrow. Good luck with the job. I understand what you mean about being lost. I feel quite similar at the minute. Hopefully you find your way.

Hope you find a solution re the fees for the CC. X

t2rry

Evening Crunchy,

I'm just catching up - sorry to read you've been unwell and your feelings around work...I just want to tell you that you're not alone xx

crunch_time

Morning all

Working week done for me teaching wise. I have work to do today and have to go to school for a meeting after school but at least I’m not ‘performing’ if you know what I mean.

Husbands been locked out of his phone so I can’t check and make amends with his credit card.

I did my own snowball calculator and we could clear all the debt by the end of next year if we increased the payments by £150 a month. Doable if we reduce our savings for a year or so.

Both of us are in the mindset now of getting rid. I I think our holiday last year has opened our eyes to what we are capable of achieving once we put our minds to something.

Still need to do audits of the cupboards and our finances in January to see what is coming up for the year so we can plan.

It feels different in 2020. I feel like we have settled into life now and ready to change some stuff for the better.

Crunch xx

crunch_time

Evening all

Still not looked at husbands bank account. He needs to ring up the bank and get it unlocked.

Husband and I have decided to save £50 each a month to keep our savings ticking over. We have around £3000 in total and we’re saving £200 each. So that’s another £300 towards the debt, providing I get a new job for after half term.

I have 5 more weeks at work until my contract comes to an end. I have applied for another job but haven’t heard anything back yet. There is another I will be applying for and I am signing up with an agency next week. I will get something even if it’s just supply teaching.

I get paid next week - the last full month of teaching money and I’m determined to hang on to as much as possible of it I.e not spend it. I still have £97 of spending money left that I don’t want to touch. I bought a coat in the sale for £70 and will be sending it back as it’s too similar to one I already own.

There was a book I wanted that might help me in my career but I’ve decided to listen to the podcast instead for the free advice. I’m thinking of giving up my monthly £4.70 magazine as I don’t have time to read it all.

What’s happening to me? I feel like a changed woman! Monzo makes me want to hold onto my money.

Crunch xx

crunch_time

Afternoon all!

Good news - I have an interview for the high school support role next week! I also registered with an agency today and some of the roles that they hhhave sound interesting. The future is starting to look promising for me. Im coming to terms with a drop in salary ans status for the sake of my family and looking after my little ones. Its a first world problem for sure but its hard to turn your back on something you have worked so hard on for over 10 years.

So, pay day today. I have paid the minimum on my HSBC card bringing it down to £3750! Hurrah! The Virgin payment will come up in a few days time and when i have paid off that I will 'only' be £6500 in debt - personally!

I'm going to have to pay for 2 weeks of food out of my own money as we have blown our monthly food budget through top-up shops. We didn't budget as thoroughly this month as we were before Christmas. Lesson learned. The good news is the husband is away all next week so I can keep costs super low and eat small, cheap meals without making him feel hard done by.

The rest of my salary was going to go towards paying off husbands overdraft but I'm just about to do a serious snowball calculator and yearly budget so I am going to hold on to it for the time being and not feel in such a rush to pay it off to shake the burden.

Crunch xx

enthusiasticsaver

crunch_time wrote: »

The rest of my salary was going to go towards paying off husbands overdraft but I'm just about to do a serious snowball calculator and yearly budget so I am going to hold on to it for the time being and not feel in such a rush to pay it off to shake the burden.

Crunch xx

Check on his overdraft rates. Banks are hitting these hard at the moment and most banks are going up to almost 40% interest on overdrafts in the next few months.

enthusiasticsaver

You sound very focused though and £6500 personal debt is not bad especially as you are saving too. I agree that maybe going to a lower salary and less stress may make you happier. I did that in the 90s and never regretted it. Being happy and less stressed is priceless. You will soon adjust to a lower income and if you stay disciplined in your budget you will hardly notice after a while. Watching all your spends is a good idea until you have sorted out your employment after your contract ends.

crunch_time

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

Check on his overdraft rates. Banks are hitting these hard at the moment and most banks are going up to almost 40% interest on overdrafts in the next few months.

I will - thank you!

crunch_time

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

You sound very focused though and £6500 personal debt is not bad especially as you are saving too. I agree that maybe going to a lower salary and less stress may make you happier. I did that in the 90s and never regretted it. Being happy and less stressed is priceless. You will soon adjust to a lower income and if you stay disciplined in your budget you will hardly notice after a while. Watching all your spending is a good idea until you have sorted out your employment after your contract ends.

I do feel focused actually I really just want to feel in control and heading in a forward direction from now on. That's all at 0% as well. The debt husband has in his name is higher of course. Hope all is good with you?

Crunch