Autumn years debt fighting

Enjoying_life_more

Okay so time for an update after morg and dmp payments at the end of September - see signature.

Everything ticking along nicely - still keeping to budgets. Still working overtime as and when it suits my plans. Had a lovely holiday mid September which I really enjoyed and it seems to have recharged my batteries.

Hope all is well with any readers

Enjoying_life_more

Time is flying by! I’ve had a good month sticking to budgets, paying off debts. Not as much overtime on offer at the beginning of the month but it’s starting to trickle in now so I should be okay for next month. I’ve tightened my grocery spends budget as this was creeping up but it means keeping my eye on offers and using different shops but it seems to be working.

I’m okay for Christmas shopping as I’ve budgeted throughout the year and also I’ve been saving with one of the big supermarkets - not much just a few pound here and there throughout the year but it’s added up to enable me to get some stocking fillers and nice food at Christmas. It’s reminded me I need to add some to the balance to get the Christmas bonus they add on at the end of November

I’ve not been to the gym or done much walking and I can tell - I must get back on track.

Hope everyone is doing as well as they can

Enjoying_life_more

Just updated my signature and it’s good to see I’ll be under 80000 next month.

Enjoying_life_more

It’s been a while since my last update but I’ve been here most days enjoying reading others diaries.

Work is going well - plenty of overtime being worked which is good as I’ve lots of fun plans for 2020.

My DMP and morg payments have reduced slightly as I’ve managed to fix a new rate with my existing lender (which was a relief as I was worried my credit rating might affect it ) also I was pleased that after reviewing each debt payments with individual lenders all agreed my budget was too tight and reduced my expected payments from my DMP.

I’ve stuck rigidly to budgets since my last updates and even managed to save money from my Christmas saving pot alongside having a good time and treating family and friends to nice gifts.

I’ve managed to get my food shopping back under budget ( I think I’ve mentioned before how expensive I was finding my shopping) it means visiting a variety of supermarkets and shops and looking in advance at what offers are on where and also using vouchers and coupons but it’s working so I’ve got to stick to it.

I’ve lots of fun things planned for this year - my diary is filing up nicely and I have savings pots in place to cover them all. The overtime at work is a big help in allowing me to save for these things but it makes it easier doing the overtime knowing what it’s for.

My outstanding balance of morg and dmp is currently 79,076 so I’m making progress reducing this and also enjoying life which suits me.

I look on this site most days and love reading everyone’s updates and seeing I am not alone in the world of debt and making the most of life.

I hope anyone reading has a very happy and debt reducing 2020.:T

Enjoying_life_more

Just wrote a longish post and it’s not showing - grrr

Anyway a summary -
Budgets stuck to
New fixed rate deal on mortgage starts this month
Some (quite a lot) Xmas gifts bought for half or less than half price
Still working overtime but rumours that overtime is being cut - think it’s all to do with end of year budgets - I’m not worrying for now as keep getting asked.
Lots of fun stuff planned for the year in fact most months I have at least one trip, outing, or break to look forward to. All done as frugally as possible of course
Signature updated with balances
Hope all is well with any readers x

Enjoying_life_more

My first time logging on the new style forum.  I’ve been catching up on diaries without logging in.  

I’ve just had pay day and I’m in the process of working out my budget for the next month.  Still doing ok money wise although my pension is taking a bit of a hit along with most other people’s by the look of it. I’ll just sit tight and hopefully things will recover.

ive been working quite a few hours overtime and some planned for next week too.

ill update my figures over the next few days 

badmemory

Don't worry about the pension.  As long as you don't need it in the 2 years it will have rebounded, mine lost 20% one year.  Our current problem is that we make nothing (thank Maggie) so are dependent on China etc so if there is likely to be a delivery problem turnover drops & we also have a Brexit problem because we have a PM with delusions of grandeur who thinks he can bully the EU into doing what he wants.  Both these are damaging the stock market & that effects pensions etc.

Enjoying_life_more

badmemory said:

Don't worry about the pension.  As long as you don't need it in the 2 years it will have rebounded, mine lost 20% one year.  Our current problem is that we make nothing (thank Maggie) so are dependent on China etc so if there is likely to be a delivery problem turnover drops & we also have a Brexit problem because we have a PM with delusions of grandeur who thinks he can bully the EU into doing what he wants.  Both these are damaging the stock market & that effects pensions etc.

Thanks for your post bad memory ( I agree with all your comments) - one of my ideas was to cash in in two years time but I can get by if need be to leave it to recover.  

Enjoying_life_more

After my morg and debt payments at the end of Feb my total balance owing is 77,996.  It’s just over a year since I started this journey and there’s still a way to go but it’s comforting to see I’ve paid off a decent amount.

im still sticking to budgets and so glad I’ve budgeted for things like car repairs and pet emergencies as I’ve had both this month - not large amounts but enough to have thrown me off track if the funds hadn’t been there.

workwise - still picking up extra work even though there was supposed to be cutbacks - I’m working all this weekend as extra so that’s good for the fun budget ,  I’ve quite a lot of fun things planned which is good as I have some significant worries and stress going on at the moment.

keep checking my pension which is not helping my anxiety levels - my pension is my safety blanket to help pay off my morg and debts in the future but I’m taking on board advice from sensible posters not to panic sell my funds and hopefully things will recover.  Also I’ve reminded myself that in the worse case scenario I could always sell and buy something cheaper.

hope all is good with anyone reading - I’ve been following others diaries and gathering inspiration from them 

Enjoying_life_more

Didn’t realise it’s nearly a year since I last posted ! What a year it’s been too !
Luckily I’ve managed to avoid the virus but it has impacted on my finances, like a lot of people.  I’m still working in my main part time job which is good.

My scores on the doors at the moment are morg and debt total - 75026. It’s not gone down as much as I would have liked since last year but at least it has gone down and not up! I’m hoping by the end of this year to be under 70000. Also I have been diverting some money to an emergency fund so taking that into consideration my total debts would be lower but I want to keep that to one side for the moment.