So what's next?

beanielou

Good news on the debt

Dragonpie

My short term to do list is done! My 2 inactive Credit Cards are cancelled, my Standing Order is set up for my emergency account and the NY resolution to fritter away less money continues (no takeaways have been purchased since Xmas eve, which shouldn't be an achievement bit definitely is!)
My downside is my enthusiasm will definitely wane now that I have no short term goals to complete

Dragonpie

Well, the weekend has not been as MSE as intended, I feel like I am just justifying my purchases to myself but I don't feel like I have been particularly wasteful.
I have bought:
2 gifts in the sales so they will come out of the gift pot;
a £20 bottle of perfume which is (allegedly) the same as my favourite perfume, however, my fave perfume is £110 for the same size bottle so I will be very happy if it lives up to the hype;
the cheapest tablet that I could find (£35), my phone is on it's last legs, my contract renews in March so this way I can get a new phone whilst maintaining the same monthly outlay and have a back up for a couple for trips that I have planned before the upgrade is available (need some kind of device for tickets and boarding passes);
And finally, a £37.50 annual playstation network pass for my partner, he will be paying me back but it replaces the 12 X £7.99 passes he would have bought. All in all, a fairly expensive weekend but (I think!)
I feel like I have spent in a cost effective way, I really need to buckle down and focus on cutting back though.
Please feel free to tell me if I am just deluding myself by justifying the spending!

Dragonpie

I need to start appreciating my small wins! This week's have been: taking lunch everyday; only £4 on pop at work; continued my 'no takeaway' resolution and; I have a habit of shopping out of boredom so I have deleted my shopping apps, downloaded Duolingo and am learning Spanish instead!

Dragonpie

Had a lovely, all be it slightly expensive weekend! I've tried to be as budget friendly as possible but still needed a bit of balance with doing things that I want to do. We caught the train to York, stayed over, and have managed to save money on food thanks to a couple of Groupon vouchers for food in the hotel restaurant. We went in a castle, walked on the walls and visited the Viking museum - had a lovely, touristy time!
I've prepped this week's lunches so I can continue saving money on lunches and have still not had takeaway (although I have been for 3 meals so I feel like I am slightly cheating lol). If I tighten my belt for the next couple of weeks, I can still hopefully finish the month on budget.

beanielou

Glad that you had a good weekend

Dragonpie

What has happened to my budget?! It seems to have gone out of the window, it has definitely been a more expensive month than anticipated and any semblance of balance seems to have gone. I have 10 days left, a concert tonight (thankfully only drinks need to be paid for as I already have the tickets and we'll be on the bus and I have a bus ticket) and then hibernation until the 12th. I need to focus on how I am going to reach my goal instead of what my goal is, otherwise I have no chance of my debt being clear for when I want (and when it can be paid)

Dragonpie

Urgh, checking my credit score is very disheartening! I closed two inactive credit cards, with approximately £14k available balance, and have destroyed any progress that I had made due to the increased utilisation. I know it is just an arbitrary number and as I don't need any further credit, it doesn't really matter but it still feels like a step back. My debt is still heading the right way but this is a long journey and I feel like I needed a win for the mental boost. 

Dragonpie

Covid 19 has definitely thrown a spanner in my financial works! I saved some money against my anticipated expenditure, but I'm not happy about it as it was because my holiday was cancelled. I am pausing my overpayments to both my CCs, loan and mortgage because I am slightly terrified of what the future holds, its minimum payments for now with everything going into the emergency fund. My 0% on my CC ends in August so hopefully some semblance of normality will have resumed but I feel like the emergency fund is more important currently. 

beanielou

You can only do what you think is best for you