Tidying up the mess

DD265

BabyStepper wrote: »

Another mse day about to start. I'm planning the usual, taking sandwiches to work, possibly a flask of coffee, and secretly hoping my family will pay for dinner when they come to visit tonight. I could do with paying that cash off a card. Is that cheeky?

Hoping everyone has a calm day.

I usually say that 'I am on a budget so could we go to X' or 'we're skint so we'll cook and would Y be OK?' Sometimes this results in our meal getting paid for but if not, it's budget friendly. :cool:

BabyStepper

OH just found out his aunt is really ill. They were very close when he was younger, she has always been lovely to me, and OH is really upset about it and wishing he had spent more time with her recently. :-( We've put a few train tickets into the budget so he can go and see her over the next couple of weeks but things are looking really quite bad for her. I would wish for her recovery but she is really quite old and there's only so much treatment a person can be subjected to. Feels like a lesson in keeping your loved ones close, just glad OH can go and be there along with the rest of his family. We're expecting a difficult few weeks ahead.

Somehow puts all the cash worries into perspective.

DD265

I'm sorry to hear about your OH's aunt BabyStepper

BabyStepper

Thanks DD265. Sad times here.

Another day of wrestling down the debt. I'm going to do some cooking and make sure we are using up everything in the cupboards and freezer before the end of the month. The last thing we need is another shop before pay day. Also planning to walk into work and back later, not looking forward to that given the cold and rain/sleet but needs must.

BabyStepper

Another mse day. I have made chilli for dinner out of fridge leftovers and plan to walk into work and back again to save on busfares. The weather is dreadful so I'll need to wrap up warmly.

Me and OH have been working on December's budget. It's a tricky one with so many outgoings but we are getting there. The main thing is not to accrue any more debt and that looks manageable.

OH off to visit his aunt tonight.

BabyStepper

OH came home last night emotionally drained but saying his aunt had been on good form and seemed to enjoy his visit. They have been reminiscing about when he was little, seems she is starting to say her goodbyes. It's so sad I can hardly stand it, but have been invited to go along at the weekend so that's what we're doing. A few other family members will be there too.

I'm awake late again worrying about the money. This interest accruing part of the debt is playing on my mind. It needs to be got rid of somehow. We have the 2 month council tax holiday coming up in Feb and March so I'm thinking that will help. Just need to stay on budget.

I have the same plan for today as yesterday, walking to work and back, and using up bits from the freezer for dinner. We have exactly £3 left in the bank until payday on Friday. Very odd to think that once the debt is gone we will have...nothing! Better than massive minus amounts though. Wish the weather was at least a bit more dry, I don't mind cold but walking in the rain and wind is not pleasant. Ah well, need to keep going.

Fla603

Hi Babystepper, I am caught up on your diary now having binge read it today. It makes for really interesting reading but I actually can feel the level of your anxiety from your posts. I’m not sure what the solution is but just wanted to say that you are making great progress. I’m assuming this debt has accumulated over a few years at least and therefore it’s unrealistic to pay off in an instant what has taken years to build up.
Also considering you are no longer accruing additional debt you are doing a fantastic job. You have approximately 20k of debt, so if this took you for example 8 years to accumulate then you were living beyond your means to the tune of £2,500 a year. Therefore by now living within your means you are effectively saving this amount of money per year. Does that make sense? In my head it does ��
You haven’t posted an SOA or given any details about your monthly expenditure. Perhaps this is an area you could think about to make sure you are on the best internet, mobile, gas, electricity deals and try and shift your mindset from worrying to knowing you are being pro-active. It’s my intention to focus on these aspects of MS. I don’t have a lot I could sell to make extra income but I find I have a surplus of things like toiletries, make up, cleaning products etc that I am trying to use up before I go out and buy my favourite product again.

BabyStepper

Hi there Fla603 and thanks for dropping by. You're right, my anxiety about all of this can get really bad some days. I do understand the debt will take time to pay off but the thought of 8 years...:eek: I can't cope with this level of worry for that long!

I am hopeful that I will gain confidence after a full year of self-employment, and that as the debt goes down (a bit faster please, universe) that will help too. OH worries too and we are determined not to live for any length of time in this state; we either pay off the debt or we sell the house (which is where most of the debt came from, renovating with no money) and right now, we are trying very hard to pay off the debt. In hindsight, we took on a bit more than we should have. There was a significant downturn in the property market, we took the opportunity, but we didn't factor in the other expenses. You live and learn. I am going to post every day for inspiration and motivation, and just try to keep going.

Good to meet you.

BabyStepper

Christmas has arrived in our house! :rotfl: :eek::o:j The tree went up last night :xmastree: and we're not even in December. We both needed a bit of cheering up and it really did the trick, it's so pretty and twinkly. Tinsel and other bits still to be done but we are part way there. Gotta love it.

I need to do all of my invoices today and email them out, I have more this month than ever before. Progress. I need to touch up a few bits of the hall paintwork so will get onto that and I'm still working on the December budget so will do that too. Need to eek another dinner out of the freezer, it might be an odd one but we will definitely be fed. So thankful today to not be heading out in the cold, maybe just to the shop for some bread.

I was having a think about our visit to OH's aunt this weekend and wondering if it would be too much to take her a small battery operated tree to look at? I'm sure she would like it, will maybe try and see if I can get a cheap one.

adg89

BabyStepper - regarding the small tree - Asda has a pre-lit battery operated one in their home section for £5 if you have one close by :-)