Crunchy's Final Debt Free Diary!

crunch_time

Morning all

A MASSIVE thing happened last night!!

Husband and I set up YNAB, had a good chat about money and I woke up this morning feeling like a huge weight has been lifted!!

Ill go back to the beginning.Last weekend I had a complete meltdown which started when husband was away for most of the week and then went to stay with some old friends on the Friday night. The accommodation cost £100 and he drank lots, didn't charge his phone and I couldn't get hold of him the following morning to find out when he was home so I could plan my day. I lost it when he got home. He arranged for the children to go to grandparents and we had a good long chat about what was going on. The subject of money came up. Although he has a good idea about what is what, he is not involved in it and just spends - on little things that soon add up. I tell him stuff and he goes with it but doesn't believe it really because he doesn't see what I see on paper, or in the bank accounts. In his head he earns £67k a year and 'should' be able to afford this that and the other but the reality is different. ( I know he needs to change this attitude and it will happen).

Anyway, he said he wanted to take the handling of the money off me as it was 'clearly causing me stress' but realistically he hasn't got the time and I would be worried that he would drop balls so to speak.

A week went by and then on Saturday we were looking in the Lewis of John at various things. I had bought him a jumper for his birthday which was too big so we were exchanging it. I asked if he wanted another jumper for Christmas since he hasn't bought any for over a year. He told me he actually would like a new knife (£50 - same price). I told him that we, of course, didn't need one but for him, it was a want rather than a need. He just couldn't seem to understand my point of view which is - until we have our spending under control there is no room for wants, especially as we have a house to decorate and holidays we wish to go on, we can't have everything.' I stomped off for a walk and felt better when I came back thinking that I would just have to carry on as normal.

Anyway, after we put the kids to bed we went to his office to get his laptop and I asked him if he was planning to work tonight to which he replied 'no I'm going to do a budget'.

https://images6.moneysavingexpert.com/images/forum_smilies/sport-smiley-001.gif

I couldn't believe it! Anyway, who has had the painstaking task of following me from the start of having a diary (seaside gal) would know the challenges I have faced with my supportive but unrealistic husband with his head in the sand. I took his key card for his bank card off him a few months before we became parents 6.5 years ago and have managed it ever since.

That high pitched squeal you can hear is my delight!!

Anyway, I maintained my cool and we sat on the sofa last night, watching videos about YNAB (which we have a sub for and have tried to use before but it's not much point if only one of you is on board eh?) We used my spreadsheet to decide on categories. The best bit was HIM entering the numbers, getting to the end and realising that there is only about £50 left (at the moment) until I start earning of course.

There are two weeks left until he gets paid and we were going to wait until then to start, however.....

This morning I woke up and felt like a great weight had been lifted, almost skipped out of bed, was relatively calm about getting the kids ready for school and felt somewhat lighter. I told him this, he is very pleased and said we should start YNAB... TODAY!

So my task today is to get all our current balances and list of what else is to be paid for entering into YNAB tonight.

I feel like we have turned a corner. I have hated doing this on my own for so long and I am glad that we will now by working together as a team. I no longer have to think about it so much so my mind is freed up to think about other things.

Who knew that this was what was dragging me down all these years.

Sorry for the long post.

Crunchy xx

Willowtree222

Love the long post and the fact hubby is on board with you. It will make a huge difference if you are both tackling it together.

I have no idea what YNAB is, but clearly it is helping and something that you need to do so you must be really relieved for it to be taking effect?

x

Chrystal

Brilliant news Crunchy :j
Have you got YNAB that you can both access independently ? It may just help to keep him totally on board if it's under his nose! :rotfl:

crunch_time

Yes we both have the app on our phone so we shall be able to keep tabs!

I have more great news!

Our pcp on our car is up in feb and we have always planned to pay it off with a loan and then pay off the loan as quickly as possible once our other debt is paid off. I’ve been worried about it as husband has a £6500 ish credit card and £2500 on another as we await his work expenses to be paid. Anyway he applied for one last night and was instantly approved!! So we have a loan for £12500 but don’t have to start paying it off until March 1st. The finance was costing £350 a month and that will now go on our holiday next year. The monthly payments from 1st March will reduce down to £226 so adding an extra £124 a month for whatever we decide!

Another big weight lifted as I really thought it would be a struggle. Just shows I should have faith eh!!

Crunchy x

Willowtree222

Wow, even better news for you today. xx

Seasidegal58

What fantastic news crunchy! Well done OH for finally, finally seeing the light!:j

The joint YNAB app will prove really useful - you will be able to check on him if he falls temporarily by the wayside!:rotfl:Seriously though, the fact that he will be able to see exactly what he is spending and what on, plus having all your outgoings/income in one place, should help him continue with his wake up call!

crunch_time

Morning all!

Wow it’s been a while since I posted an update.

YNAB is going well. We have done a reconciliation together and doing another one today so so far so good on that front.

Husband applied for a loan for the car from his bank and was approved so that’s a massive weight of my mind. He got 3 months of no payment and it’s £125 less than the monthly payment for the PCP. The aim is to focus on paying off the other debt and then focus on that loan last.

He also got news that as well as an extra couple of hundred pounds in his pay at the end of the month (just for Christmas) he will get a £2000 bonus!! By the time the tax man has had his way it will be more like £1200. Initially my mind whirred as to what to do with it - house/holiday/debt - but we both came to the conclusion that he needs to save such a windfall. Which is great news. He is however going to treat himself to one or two new things for his home gym as well.

We have also booked our first foreign holiday for what will be 7 years for August next year. Ten days all inclusive somewhere far flung costing a lot of money but very much wanted and needed. We can afford it as well. So long as we carry on being careful and use YNAB. We won’t be overpaying any debt drastically until after it but it will keep us focused on not getting into anymore.

Husband has also decided that he is going to tile the main bathroom and ensuite himself as opposed to getting someone in to do it. It means we can do it sooner rather than later and hopefully in the early spring.

So far we have set a budget for Christmas and are sticking with it.

Last thing is after husbands expenses have been paid I’ll probably transfer some debt into his 0% card but up the min payment after we have paid off the holiday.

So all in all things are good. We still have lots of debt but it’s not affecting us as much as it used to - physically or emotionally.

Hope everyone is good! Am planning to update my signature later.

Crunchy xx

Seasidegal58

Great to hear that YNAB is working out well for you both. Congrats as well to his extra pay and bonus. So useful at this time of year. It's good as well that he's saving some.

Willowtree222

That sounds like a good plan. Doing home jobs can save so much money, which is great.
I saw your new signature with the scenic route, and it made me smile. What a lovely way to put it. x

crunch_time

Right.

Updated signature.

My Sainsburys credit card hasn't really moved a lot but that's fine.

Husbands Virgin has gone down £70 and my HSBC has reduced by £100 so a nice little start for this new era.

I keep a spreadsheet detailing what each credit card consists off so it is satisfying to see what each payment is bringing down.

Husbands £70 min payment has reduced some of the overspending from 2017 and my HSBC payment has reduced some of the food and petrol overspends from 2016. I like to pay the oldest debt first.

While I am at it here is a list of the credit card debt on these too.

My HSBC
Mortgage Valuation £420 (was £500)
Food and Petrol £300 (was £800)
Holidays from 2017 £1220 - not paid off as needed money for surprise move.
Costs for me taking a year off £910

After food and petrol I am tackling the holidays

Husbands Virgin

overspends 2017 - £1500
Overspends 2018 - £1690
House costs (loft boarding, turf etc) £2470
Cat vet bill £870

So currently working on overspends 2017

The first half of 2019 will be about balancing decorating the house and saving for the holiday and sticking to YNAB as we want to end once and for all the overspends on the husbands credit card.

Right lots to do today so better get cracking.

Crunchy xx