Start of a new chapter

s1n25

Thanks Lucy-Lou! Great idea about the xmas presents. Last year we had just moved in to our house so we didn't end up buying each other anything. You're right, when you think back to the previous years I can't actually remember what we got each other? Much prefer the time away together!


Still haven't booked the flights yet, but after a crappy week in work I might just bite the bullet and book! (as long as their still cheap enough)

s1n25

New month… these months are flying by!

October is going to be very very tight for me. I have a number of birthdays as well as a holiday and a week off work. I’ve budgeted what I think I’ll need and it leaves me with hardly any contingency. I’ll have to make sure I’m focussed and strict.

Positives from last month:

• It was relatively quiet month, I was able to budget and control my money.
• Wasn’t spending on at least 2 weekends of the month
• Debts have reduced

Things to take away:

• Must manage budget better up till the last day of the month. I got paid on the 28th September and used some of Oct money for last weekend in Sept.
• I wasn’t able to put away for Xmas this month (took the money out of the bank and ended up spending!) Will take the money out this week and put in savings jar.
• Similar to last month, spend less on food! Now the seasons are changing it’s all about the stews and slow cooker recipes. I plan on saving money by making a large pot on a Sunday and using this for tea/dinner for couple of days. I have also cancelled my food delivery order I placed each week and will be doing 1 big weekly shop at the weekend at Aldi.

Debts have all been paid, current total balance:

Miss

Credit card (0% interest) £2,946
Credit card PAID OFF IN FULL £0
Owe for car (paying back savings) £900

Total £3,846

Mr
Car Loan £6,384
Store card PAID OFF IN FULL £0
Loan (0% interest) £3,750

Total £10,134

Total Household debt £13,980
Reduced £1,094 from last month

This month I’ve used the £300 I normally pay off my large debt to clear the credit card that is gathering interest. This has meant I’m one credit card down and one to go!!! Mr had a rebate of some tax which has meant he was able to clear his store card in full and this has freed up £70 a month in income.

Wedding Update:
The way in which I’ve been paying off debts may have to change in January. I’ve been looking at weddings venues and this weekend I’ve found ‘the one’ It’s the higher end of our budget but my parents are going to help with some of the funds but we’ll still need to save A LOT! Mr isn’t able to change the payments he makes on his outstanding debts he pays the min on both (£258 for Car loan & £250 for interest free). I’ve been paying more on mine to try get them cleared quicker. At the moment I’m paying £300 a month of credit card and £100 back in to our savings (I used this to buy a car). I’m going to try pay as much as I can off my debts from now until January.

If I carry on with what I’m doing at the moment this will leave me with a balance of £2,000 on my credit card and £600 owing in our joint account for car. Ideally I wanted the whole balances paid by 2019 but I don’t think this will be plausible. I’m going to try pay off more if I can.

My 2019 plan:

• Remaining credit card of £2k paying off £100 a month. I have 2 0% interest on this account 1 ends in Oct 2019 & the other in Feb 2020. If I need to I’ll move the remaining balance in Oct to another 0%.
• I’ll stop paying in the £100 a month for the car. By Jan this should of built up enough of our contingency funds for the house (in case anything goes wrong!) we also have 2 months off the council tax which will be a total of £400 for Jan/Feb.
• I’ll then be able to save £300/£400 a month towards the wedding & Mr will need to do the same.

Wedding is provisionally booked for Aug 2020, confirming and paying the deposit on Sunday. The next 18-24 mths we’re going to be skint!!

Any suggestions on saving money/scrimping all welcome!!!.... Milan for NYE is 100% not happening now! :rotfl:

SavingAFuture

One thing that has worked really well for me is to list all of things we need for the wedding and put them in priority order - so venue, church, caterer, furniture hire etc.
Then as we've saved enough for each bit, I highlight it. I've done this on a spreadsheet but you could just as easily hand write one, or bullet journal if that's your thing. This way I'm super clear on where we are "OK, so we have food for our guests, but right now we can't afford the photographer". It keeps me really focused, rather than just one big savings target of however many thousand you're aiming for and breaks it down into manageable chunks.

We planned our wedding 24 months after we go engaged so we'd have time to save. I don't know about you, but we are determined not to pick up any more debt over the wedding.

I have found FB marketplace really good for picking up cheap bits so keep an eye on there. Also, friends and family are so keen to help out if you let them. Mine keep asking and I have no jobs for them to do! Hoping they can assist with decorations and other bits nearer the time.

All the very best,
SaF x

s1n25

SavingAFuture wrote: »

One thing that has worked really well for me is to list all of things we need for the wedding and put them in priority order - so venue, church, caterer, furniture hire etc.
Then as we've saved enough for each bit, I highlight it. I've done this on a spreadsheet but you could just as easily hand write one, or bullet journal if that's your thing. This way I'm super clear on where we are "OK, so we have food for our guests, but right now we can't afford the photographer". It keeps me really focused, rather than just one big savings target of however many thousand you're aiming for and breaks it down into manageable chunks.

We planned our wedding 24 months after we go engaged so we'd have time to save. I don't know about you, but we are determined not to pick up any more debt over the wedding.

I have found FB marketplace really good for picking up cheap bits so keep an eye on there. Also, friends and family are so keen to help out if you let them. Mine keep asking and I have no jobs for them to do! Hoping they can assist with decorations and other bits nearer the time.

All the very best,
SaF x

Thanks SaF! I've got a slight obsession with spreadsheets (spreadsheet for everything!) I have budgeted each thing I think we'll need and the costing's. I really love your idea of prioritising each item then mark them off when we have enough money! This is a great idea, thanks!


My mum loves a car boot so I plan to join her at weekend to see what gems I can pick up for the decorations. I’ll also keep a look out on the Market pages on Facebook.



I really don’t want to pick up any further debt, if anything I want to be debt free (unsecured) by the time we get married. I still plan to pay my debts off whilst saving, it just might take a little longer than I expected. I’ve worked out we’ll be able to save enough to pay in full for everything as long as we keep focussed. It’s going to be a tight could of years but it’ll be worth it!


Good Luck with your wedding planning! Any further tips you have let me know xx

s1n25

This month I really haven’t been on track! I’m annoyed at myself. It’s been such a busy month so far (which I knew it would be, I thought I was prepared!!) Even found it difficult to make time to update budgets and diary! Day 10 and only updating for Oct! Done so well in Sept I feel like I’ve taken a step back in Oct with managing my finances.

It’s been so busy! Money is already looking low, which I knew it would be I just need to manage this a lot better for this month. Unexpected drinks with a friend on Saturday night lead for me to spend £40 that I hadn’t budgeted for.

Plan for the week and weekend:

• The rest of the week I’m getting my hair done and have to pick up some bits for my holiday (more money)
• This weekend I’m going on holiday till Tuesday. The one positive from this is, we’re all inclusive which means food and drink is paid for. I should only need min of around £50 just in case.
• I already have half tank of petrol which should last me till Friday and for next week when I’m back. That’s 1 week I don’t have to top up (£30 saved)
• I’m off work for the rest of the week once I’m back from my holiday. I don’t have any plans other than some work in the house & garden. Plan to save money!
• Away with my friends the following weekend… budgeted but already spent. I should still have some money left over but it’s going to be very tight!!! I don’t want to use my credit card but this has been booked for a long time and may have to use it this once and pay it off at the end of the month.
• The rest of Oct I’ll be spending nothing!! Other than food and petrol. I’ll have no money to spend!!! I’ve worked out I have a £5 contingency but I have enough to try not spend on my credit card. I need to make sure I don’t take cards out with me!!

Luckily, Nov I only have 1 night out (friends birthday, pre booked and all paid for. Just need spends) I’m hoping to claw back some savings in Nov as planning a quiet month.. ready for the big one.. Dec & XMAS!

One positive… we booked the wedding venue!! The real savings begins!! We’ve changed the date from a Friday to a Thursday which has saved us a massive £2,400! I was a bit sceptical to get married on a Thursday as people would have to take 2 days off but having spoken to our close family and friends they were all more than happy for a long weekend if it meant a large amount saved. So we’ve gone ahead and booked it!! 2020 wedding saving begins.

s1n25

Well… what a couple of weeks. Oct has been a complete right off.

I knew October was going to be manic but it’s been nonstop! I’m really disappointed in myself this month. I’ve spent way over what I should off, I had a few to many at the weekend and used my credit card to buy rounds resulting in £100+ being spent. I have not been budgeting and since paying off the balance last month I’m back to square one. I’m really really annoyed with myself. I’m having to wait till tomorrow till all my weekend transactions have gone out then I’ll be able to see the true damage. I was going so well and I just feel as though I’ve taken a million steps back.

One positive I’ll be learning from my mistakes.

• I’m giving up alcohol. I’m determined. I don’t drink every week, in fact I think I would only drink maybe once or twice a month but these are normally big nights out resulting in a lot of money being spent and a lot of alcohol being consumed. I’ve not been in a very good state the past couple of month, eating rubbish, not getting enough sleep, working late, no exercise. Just generally feeling crap! I want to change my lifestyle and I’m starting by giving up alcohol.
• I’m joining the gym again. I know I shouldn’t have this extra expense but I feel so much better when I’m working out. It’s a price I’m willing to pay.
• As of the 1st Nov I’m going to hide my credit card. Take it out of my purse and lock it in our safe. There will be no temptation if I haven’t got it on me, I can’t buy things.
• I’m going to draw out the cash for everything I’ve budgeted. E.g Petrol £100 this will be in an envelope and instead of using my card I just take £20 out of the envelope each time I need to fill up. The same for food, gym classes etc.

November as I’ve mentioned it’s a quieter month with only 1 night out planned. This is paid for and this will be the first test for me as I don’t plan on drinking. The money I was hoping to save from Nov will now have to go towards my credit card bill. I’ll clear this when I get paid but it’s just extra money I need to pay out which I don’t have.

Writing this was a hard as it makes me upset with myself I’m so gutted I spent what I did at the weekend. I knew I didn’t have the money yet insisted on buying drinks for everyone! I must try move on from this. Move forward with a more positive mindset. This will not happen again.

With being on holiday, week off work, major spending, over on budgets.. I have no idea where I am with my NSDs and bring lunch to work. I’m completely writing off October and starting fresh next week. I just need to try get through this week and weekend with spending as little money as possible as I’ll have to use my credit card as no money in the bank. The only thing I’ll be spending is petrol and food and try keep this to a minimum!

Bring on Nov! 1 week till pay day.

s1n25

What. A. Month.

I'll be glad to see the back of October.

So the day after my last post I found out I was being made redundant.Ending the month on a high! _pale_

I spent last week trying to sort everything out. If I'm honest I've been looking for a new job for a while I'm going to stay positive and look at it as a blessing in disguise! Plus side I've already been to an interview and been invited back for a 2nd round this week. This could all work out in my favour. My plan is to secured a new job by the end of the month (if all goes well I could have one by the end of this week!) then my plan will be to use my redundancy to clear all my debts!! HALLELUJAH!! This is the best outcome for me and I really hope it turns out for the best!!

Will be updating by debt balances and budgets this week.

I'm putting October behind me! What's done is done. November I'm going to be back on track! I have to be tight with money... now more than ever!

s1n25

Thankfully October is over and behind us. New month, new frame of mind! I feel back in the zone and ready to take November

So, I have paid all debts already. Most bills have gone, only a feel left but I know how much I have left now for the rest of the month.

This weekend there will be minimal spending, no plans other than to chill. Next weekend I bought tickets last year to see a comedian I’ll be driving will only need money for tea. The big weekend for Nov will be my close friends 30th. Most of this is already paid for (hotels, present etc) the only money I need will be spends, the bank cards will NOT be coming out with me!! I’m determined to be strict this month and even considering not drinking to save money.

Debt balances

Miss

Credit card (0% interest) £2900 – The plan is to use my redundancy money to clear this.
Credit card – I ran up another bill of £250 last month (so annoyed with myself!!) but I’ve cleared it and hidden the card!! Back to £0 balance and staying this way!
Owe for car (paying back savings) £900 – Due to my redundancy I’ve stopped paying this back. We have enough contingency in bank for 2mths just in case. I need the extra £100 a month that I was paying to put towards xmas and potentially save just in case I don’t get a job.

Hopefully by the end of Nov I could be debt free!!!!!!!

Mr

Car Loan £6,126
Store card £150 – This should have been cleared last month but Mr didn’t clear it! despite me telling him! This should be cleared by Jan.
Loan (0% interest) £3,500

Another positive Mr is under the £10k mark!! Total debt £9,708

Total household debt £12,608

s1n25

Mid-month and I’m doing ok. I was a bit worried as I was spending more money than I would of liked but most of what I have planned is within the first 2 weeks of the month, so hoping for a quiet finish to Nov as I have no plans to spend any money after this weekend!

Food shop done on Friday and meals prepped for this week. I spent more money than I would of liked last week as I never planned any meals which meant I was nipping to the shop each night. It all adds up and becomes very expensive!!

Nothing planned this week. Want to try go Monday to Friday without spending a penny (apart from petrol, I may need to fill up)

Saturday I’m out for my friends birthday. I had budgeted £20 for food as we’re going for a meal before, then £50 for the night. I will not be taking any cards out with me!! I am 100% sticking to this! After last time I can’t end up with a £100 credit card bill!

I’ve not been drinking now for nearly a month and I have to say I’ve felt great! I would say I’ve saved money but not sure I have to be honest. I am worried about the weekend as I don’t want to overdo it, getting used to not having hangovers is the best feeling! I’m hoping this will mean less money being spent.