No more credit.... no more debt

nomorecredit

Evening .....

I can't believe a month has gone by whilst I have been keeping up on everyone else's diary I appear to have neglected my own and a grip is more than needed.

Its been a busy month I have been sticking to some of my goals (not all mind) I have been enjoying a spot of shopping for our holidays for me and my girls, I had hardly anything and the girls weren't' fairing much better.

I have been slacking with keeping track but I check my bank account on a daily basis and update my spreadsheet so know where I am. I must try harder to get things down on her but with working, training for the three peaks and general day to day time is running away with me.

I was shocking with the NSD's think I managed 4 if that but nailed the lunch to work and have met the 9 and as a bonus I have lost 8lbs' in the last 2 weeks. I have over the last 3 weeks hardly had any chocolate, sweets and NO biscuits. Chocolate and sweets have been WW friendly and I have tracked everything that has passed my lips.

My savings pots aren't fairing much better are basically static but I have been focusing on getting things in preparation for our holiday in Aug.

Finally got my tooth sorted so now have a plan in place to repay that back and have used N3xt again for a various things but nothing that can't be sorted although I am peeved I had to use it as the "back up" and not being organised as I should and no I can be.

Early start tomorrow, I am at WW in the morning, need to do some food shopping as I am on a training walk Sunday and then having my hair done.

My main focus for the forthcoming weeks is NSD's but will be back to put in some financial goals.

Time for sleep
Night all
Best wishes
NMC x

teafor2

Hi NMC Glad the tooth is all sorted and well done on the weight loss :T

You might not be winning in all areas but the main thing is you seem more mindful of what you're doing and acknowledge any slip ups with a 'must try harder' mentality rather than oh 's&d it, I might as well spend a bit more while I'm at it'

If you're going on holiday and have clothes etc to buy I wouldn't worry too much about other things staying static, there's only so much we can do.

Good luck with the NSD's. If you get a minute come back with a couple of goals. I might not know anybody on here in RL but I always feel accountable when I've written something down in black and white :rotfl:

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. xx

nomorecredit

Hi Tea


Thank you for stopping by I do appreciate it and your encouragement. I have been keeping up on your diary on a daily basis just had no chance to pop on.

I have been thinking of my goals for the next few months back to basics I think for me :-)

nomorecredit

Good morning Friday

Long post ahead I am getting all my thoughts down.........

I can't believe its nearly June had a very busy couple of weeks firstly I climbed the highest mountain in England, pretty chuffed with myself for that but won't be rushing up anytime soon!! :-)

The girls have been poorly with a bug and were super generous and passed it on to me, however, my youngest and other half seem to be getting a cold now so fingers crossed it passing quick.


15/05/2019 - 14/06/2019
Lunch to work 3/9
NSD's 3/15

I have been discussing with OH that I really need to rein in the spending especially between now and the holidays I have made in roads in buying our holiday clothes for me and the girls. We have had a chat with the girls and going to do a bit of "side hustling" and sell some things on F***book to raise some money for our holiday spends. My oldest bless her has started to make a list of things we can sell.

Between now and payday the funds are pretty tight for me so the NSD's are hopefully going to be easy and a blessing.

Booked the girls on a free slim making sessions this morning at Hobbycraft then need to pop to morribobs for mums birthday cards, bread, fruit and cheese, I will give the girls £1 each for them to buy a treat. We are eating from home today.

Tomorrow I am going on a walk with OH more training so will take sandwiches and snacks with us. Sunday we are taking my mum out for lunch for her birthday (I have set aside some money for this) which is Monday. I have already bought her present, just need some flowers and cake for Monday.


I keep adding to my 1p savings challenge but have no idea whats in there, but plan to bag up the coins and take them to the bank. My goal is to save between now and December and buy new bedding for us, bathroom accessories and new curtains for youngest bedroom.

I have been considering some goals/short term plans and progress onto long term plans i.e. retirement and need

I plan my budget every month without fail, in fact I have planned it between now and December 2020 (Yes I know!!) but the irony is I fail every month at it so either the budget isn't working or its me who is not working hard enough sticking to the budget. I suspect the latter.


I have been thinking about what plans/activities/to buy we have between June and December 2019 which I have already factored into my budget:

June
Walk with OH (take snacks and lunch/drinks)
Mums birthday
Birthdays x 5
Drinks with friends (driving as I am walking 22 miles the next day)
Visit to friends in Cardiff
Fathers Day
3 peaks challenge

July
Hair (last one before holiday)
Birthdays x 2
Toiletries for holiday
Holiday clothes for me and girls (my sis in law has offered to lend me some things too so pleased about that - her wardrobe is extensive!!!)

August
Birthdays x 3
Holiday (spends including money for airport)

September
Hair
Birthdays x 3
New work clothes (I have one pair of work pants which are now too big and my work shoes soles are coming off!)
Annual weekend away with friends (couples) to East Coast

October
Birthdays x 2
Spa weekend with friends (1 night overnight stay but includes afternoon tea, evening meal and breakfast next morning) - saving £30 per month June - Sept.

November
Birthdays x 2
Hair

December
Oldest birthday
Friends birthday
Christmas

I am desperate for my eye brows waxing I just can't do it myself I have made such a mess so if I stopped spending all my money on food and nonsense I could get these done.

I would love to have a spray tan and my nails done before the holiday, I never do this so want to think about having a pot for this between now and August or I consider having a "beauty" category in my monthly budget alone with clothes.

Think I have gone on enough now, some short terms goals to think about along with monthly challenges. I better go get ready think will take the girls and dog for a walk to the park this afternoon weather looks like it will stay dry.

Have a fun filled Friday
Best wishes
NMC x

nomorecredit

Girls enjoyed the slime making, called to morribobs, after a long discussion that NO I won't be taking them to the cafe on top of everything else I have just bought. Does anyone else spend a fortune on fruit and veg I reckon it contributes to half my food bill per week.

Today we have
been to slime making workshop - Free
walked to post office and posted 2 birthday cards including money + 2 1st class stamps - £21.40
Top up shop at morribobs - £24.24 including

Birthday Cards - £5.00
Fruit - £5.44
Bread - £1.10
Mini Cheddars - £1.00
Malt loaf - £0.50p
Treats for girls - £2.00
Giant strawberry sweets - £1.00 (for walk tomorrow)
Chicken slices - £1.00
Cheese - £2.00
Fizzy Pop - £1.10
Dairylea snackers x 2 - £3.10 (what a waste of money - never again)


Tea is pasta bake and garlic bread, I also need to tidy round, sort washing, put clothes away, hoover, wipe around, clean kitchen floor, bleach loo's and wrap mums birthday gifts up.


I have just checked my morribobs more card and have £10 worth of points so will convert them on Monday and buy mums birthday cake and flowers.

Thinking on to

Short term goals/savings :

Debt - PAY ASAP - no interest on any except for a small balance on Next which I keep turning to when skint at end of month and if need to get something for the girls or shameful a birthday I have forgotten. I need to build this into my budget next year for clothes for both me and the girls.
Girls uniform - £210 (OH buys shoes and coats) School logo cardigans will be £45.
Emergency Fund - £500
Christmas Savings - £1550 (including presents, food, decorations, spends)
Holiday Savings - £1500
Holiday Clothes - £320
Bedrooms/Bathroom refresh - £600 (formally 1p savings challenge)

Long term goals
Restart paying into retirement - I went from full time to part time after the girls (14 months between them) so had 2 bouts of maternity leave in 2 years so it took is toll on my finances so I froze my pension.

At least 3-6 months worth of bills/mortgage payments saved - which both and OH need to plan and do together.

Wedding - we have been together 19 years this year so no immediate rush !!!

Car - my OH is getting a new company car this year which will be much cheaper for him (450 per month cheaper!) however, the car he is choosing is much too big for me to drive, I wouldn't have the confidence to drive it so he is going to save up for me a little run around so need to factor in this into my budget at some point towards the end of the year.

I aim to continue with NSD and lunch to work much more effort required here.

Well thats it for now, plan to catch up on other diaries later and I also find some useful readings on instagram in the debtfreecommunityuk on poster is brilliant and gives a great perspective on money v mental health great reading.

Right better get on with tea.

Best wishes
NMC x

nomorecredit

Hello Tuesday

A busy few days again, the weeks are running away from me.

Had a lovely 8 mile walk on Saturday around Bronte Country we are so lucky to live near the most beautiful places in the country. The girls had a sleep over at our friends house so we had a chilled saturday night. £11 spend on a good cup of yorkshire tea, fruit scones, cream and jam for 2.

Sunday we went back and took my mum and the girls for a wonder around Haworth and then for lunch at a local pub, it was a spendy day as I wanted to take my mum somewhere nice for her birthday I suspect around £45 but we had a lovely afternoon.

Monday was my mums birthday, got a birthday cake and bunch of flowers at morribobs also got some rice and breakfast bars for my youngest with the £10 voucher I spend £5.30.

Small spent today of 90p and do not intend to spend anymore today. (famous last words)

I am aiming for a NSD tomorrow, Thursday and fingers crossed Friday. I have £82 to last until payday on 15th and need to get a food shop with that too so need to think on my feet.

I also needed to come onto to my diary and write this down (OUT LOUD) sort of speak, I was panicking about having no money left until next week and having to wait to Friday to get a fathers day gift for OH and we are away next weekend. I then thought why don't you see if you have a money transfer offer on your card and send yourself £100. Firstly, I haven't activated my online account nor the card but its been bothering me all day that the thought came to my head and how ridiculous I am. I am not going to be transferring any money from anywhere my thought process is clearly not quite there.

On a MSE note my mobile phone provider were given codes for a free sausage roll from Gr$ggs si I got one, now I don't even like sausage rolls but my colleague was so chuffed I gave him it, so that was nice.

Better go pick the girls up

Best wishes
NMC xx

nomorecredit

Also forgot I took lunch to work today to that is 4/9!

The girls and I have sorted the small change tins into silver and coppers this morning ready to count and into money bags I will do this my the end of the week and hopefully be in a position to pay into the savings account.

Better get the girls fed and watered and then homework for them to do.

Best wishes
NMC xx

nomorecredit

Morning Wednesday

On route to work and have my lunch and snacks alongside me. I have asked to join the June lunch to work. Tea is in the slow cooker and we have some left over birthday cake to enjoy for afters.

I will NOT spend anything today (well apart from my train ticket to work which I don’t count!)

I was all fired up to count my small change but could I find the money bags !!

Anyway busy day ahead it’s quite cold today

Have a lovely Wednesday
Best wishes
NMC

nomorecredit

Finally a NSD, I have also joined the Lunch to work June challenge so amended my signature to reflect this and day 2 of LTW so off to a good start.

I have to admit I needed some paracetamol and was in the shop with a box in my hand but then realised I left my purse at my desk, so my colleague gave me some when I got back to the office. Turned out for the best.

Going to take a look at the Debt Free Wannabe challenges I always stick to the DF diary page but think it is worth a look.

Enjoy the rest of Wednesday

Best wishes
NMC xx

teafor2

Evening NMC Just catching up with you although I don't know why I've missed so many posts

Firstly, well done on climbing the mountain :T What a sense of achievement that must have been. I love Haworth and Hebden Bridge. The last time we went we visited Oakworth and then tracked down the cottage that The Railway Children was filmed at.

Blimey that's a heck of a list of birthdays between now and Christmas, 19 if I've added up correctly - are they all family and do you buy presents for everybody or are some just cards?

If you want to treat yourself to some beauty treatments I'd say definitely get a pot up and running so you don't feel guilty about spending the money. We all need something to look forward to.

Love the fact your little girl is making a list of things to sell, they're never too young to learn about money

In answer to your question about fruit and veg, yes, a big chunk of my money goes on that, as well as chocolate biscuits :cool: It really annoys me when the experts go on about eating healthily. It's fine if you have a decent budget but when 6 apples are £1.60 I can understand why people might opt for several packets of biscuits instead.

Good luck with your NSD's and lunch to work challenge. xx