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Littletinks

Thanks to everyone for all of your comments and support, it's so nice being able to log and share my progress with you.

Here's a little update on the first 7 days into the new year:
My total spend less DD's up until the end of yesterday was £27.29 with 2 no spending days - l made good use of the freezer last week, although it was helped by a big shop on 31st Dec! I also made £59 through eBay sales which has gone straight into my savings pot. I've listed some more bits on eBay to end this Sunday so hopefully some more pennies to come. My idea is that this will pay for treats/hol spending money for me as a reward for my hard work. I had budgeted £300 for food for me and OH ( we both take our work lunches out of this) so whatever is left over, will go off of paying down Debt1 at the beginning of next month. First payment of £92.39 paid off of debt target, so that's virtually 1/28th cleared off


And so week two begins - I've made a meal planner for the next two weeks
and ordered an online shop - the delivery fee will be worth it, as I won't get tempted by all the wonderful treats at the end of every aisle.

Good luck to everyone this week!!

nowpanicking

Hi Littletinks!! Just popping in to say hi

Will subscribe. Hopefully we can encourage and help each other on our debt journeys!!

I do need to start having a look for deals/discounts on meals etc as I am not good at doing this at all! I also don't use cashback sites. Need to look into this as well

NP x

Littletinks

nowpanicking wrote: »

Hi Littletinks!! Just popping in to say hi

Will subscribe. Hopefully we can encourage and help each other on our debt journeys!!

I do need to start having a look for deals/discounts on meals etc as I am not good at doing this at all! I also don't use cashback sites. Need to look into this as well

NP x

Hey NP, thanks for popping by

I'm not sure what the restaurant situation is like where you live - have you got a tastecard. They have an offer at the moment £1 for 60 or 90 days. Most offers are 50% off for two, but some restaurants allow for up to 6 people at 50% off so you could go as a family. Or 40% off of Toby Carvery on weekdays made it £4.80 each :j and cafe rouge is 50% off any day of the week ( with code) until early Feb.

Have a look at the quidco cash back site. I don't personally use it, but know others that do who've saved a fair bit by using it.

X

nowpanicking

Hi Littletinks! No, I don't have a taste card. I will check it out as it would be good to be able to go out for meals more. I do have the Fr@nkie & Benny app on my phone and there are sometimes good deals on that. 50% of main meals is the deal just now which is pretty good.

I actually get cash back deals through my work as well but I always forget to use them. Need to get better at that!!

NP x

Littletinks

So week two went like this:

3 NSD's one of which was a battle with my conscience as I nearly made an impulse purchase on something I really didn't need, but was having a bit of a 'flat day' but I knew I'd feel worse for buying what I didn't need, so I managed to ward of making said purchase. (Yay) :T

My online delivery came so shopping was well under budget this week too. Although I always feel slightly disappointed there's no extra treats. I secretly wish that the person collecting my shopping might have thrown in a few extra bits, thinking I might like them based on my previous purchases. Well surprise surprise, on unpacking my shopping there were no interesting/scrummy treats thrown in along the way. Instead they have kept to my boring but healthy practical list and they've not been tempted by the end aisles :rotfl:. Mmmm, this is my downfall when let loose in the aisles lol. This week I've also:

Made an additional £20 this week on eBay

Added £7.77 to my virtual saving pot

Had lunch out with a friend using 50% discount at C@fe Rouge
My mum visited yesterday so I treated her to lunch out. This was a unplanned spend but definitely worth it.

This afternoon I went for a Sunday walk and popped into my favourite shop to search out what yellow sticker delights (to me they feel like golden tickets) I could find - the buzz I get from finding a good deal comes second to none.

My findings included :
4 chicken breasts £7 - £1.70
Large fresh vegetable pizza £4 - £1
Sandwich £2.50 - 25p x two (lunch sorted saving £4.50!)
Flapjacks £2.60 - 40p
Individual chicken & leek pie £3 - 50p

Feeling more than pleased with myself, I also acknowledged whilst I got a huge buzz I'm also aware that for me it's not a necessity and whilst I enjoy seeing if there's anything I think is too good to be missed, if I had to do this I would imagine it's very stressful. Therefore, I never pick up things I know we won't enjoy eating and are things on the whole we normally buy. I'm also not greedy stacking up my basket with far more than I need. I see some people with huge amounts but it's not for me to judge, they may need it, or share it with others.

I can't wait to see how much I have left at the end of the month to send as additional payments to my cc's! I'm almost tempted to make a payment now, but I'll wait until the end of the month.

On to week three we go, other than a shopping top up and a friend coming over for lunch next weekend (I'll be cooking), there's no planned purchases. I've a few more bits to put on eBay, I'm loving clearing out my wardrobe - I just need to try and reframe from refilling it lol. Week 3 here I come ........

I hope everyone's had a great week/weekend!

nowpanicking

Littletinks, your second week has gone really well! I'm impressed with your YS purchases, some real bargains

Also, well done on resisting buying something you didn't need. I'm going to try and avoid shops where possible which should bump up the NSDs. I suppose its all about stopping and thinking, do I really need that item? It can be a struggle though.

Hope your third week is as successful

NP x

Littletinks

Thanks NP :beer:

My trouble is more browsing online in the evenings especially if something pops up from stores or items I've previously looked at. But your right it's about thinking do I need it, or do I just momentarily want it. In most cases it's the later for me

I've managed another NSD today so feeling good about that today.

On another positive note, I worked out my total spend and deducted the extra income I've earned through eBay. So 14 days into the new year and less my DD's (which I don't count as they have to go out) my net spent is £62.78 which includes the two meals out last week, so that's another reason for me to stay focused!

Have a good week and keep up the good work your putting in too.

X

Littletinks

:wave::hello: Evening everyone,

Feeling great as I've just made a very easy £150 by switching my savings (current account) to another bank. I haven't switched since Feb 2017, when I switched to get £125 so I've been a bit lazy not switching since. I only use this acc for savings so I tend not to think about it. The £150 will be a nice addition to my savings. Money should be in my account by April :j

nowpanicking

Yay to a 'free' £150!!! :j:j

Littletinks

Week three:

I've felt a bit flat most of this week tbh, there's no reason for it so perhaps it's a bit of the January Blues setting in

From a debt free diary perspective it's been a good week though:

• 2 NSD this week
• £4.08 tfr to VSP
• Started bank switching process - their £150 'bribe/reward' to switch worked, I'm happy to move my account :rotfl:.
• Shopping came to £10.29 as I only needed a small top up of fresh fruit, veg and milk.
• Meal planner for next week is all done, time to use my golden ticket purchases next week.
• Went out Friday eve spent £10.00
• A few more bits sold on eBay
• Yesterday a friend came over for lunch - I cooked and she bought Prosecco so it was cheap catch -up and we stayed in the warm, whilst the OH was at the footie freezing lol.

I'm still amazed by how little I've been spending V my normal spending habits. By doing the weekly meal planners (again), I've not been doing the big weekly supermarket shop. These had just become the 'norm' irrespective of whether I needed to go or not, it was just part of the weekly routine.

I've re-looked at my budget tracker for the month, and realised I've not allocated myself any 'personal spends' although to date I've only spent £68.39 which has gone on meals and drinks out. So I'm quite pleased with that, although I'm more pleased that I've been clearing my wardrobe and made £109.78 to date on eBay, rather than spending my money on buying bits I simply don't need!

My spreadsheet shows after everything has been paid inc my reg savings put away, there's still quite a bit left. Up until now I've been using as my personal spends. However, this won't get my debts down and I want to start making extra payments (again). So as of next month I'm going to allocate myself a set amount of personal spending money, and pay the remaining balance towards my credit cards. I'm going to think about how much that should be, but it will need to cover everything that's not DD/ Food shopping related, so it needs to be a sensible amount rather than so tight I cave in and give up!

Well on to week four I go , let's hope it's a happier one ......