A welcome wake up call

Choccygirl123

Hi twiggy

Just popped in to say hi and ended up reading this diary from the start. You've made great progress reducing the debt and starting good money saving habits. We've been battled house vs debt in 2019 and it's annoying. We opted house but it will save us cash in the long run. We've no big spends planned but I'd like to tile my kitchen and lay new patio. We'll see how the cash goes first as these are needs not wants.

I do a lot of similar cash raising like surveys, receipts and cashback as well as eBay and fb selling. Instead of paying these little bits off the debt I squirrel it away for Christmas. It means than debt isn't really my priority I guess. After reading your diary it's got me thinking. Perhaps I should save for Xmas and use the extra income for debt busting.

twiggy86

I'm going to say it fast, like ripping off a plaster.... I had two takeaways again this weekend!! I paid for one and OH paid for the other. That was the only money I spent last week, other than the food shop, which I think was the problem - I'd been so good I deserved a treat!! Put that behind me, move on and try again!

I was going to say that other than I only spent on a small food shop - then I remembered I bought some wool and stuffing for my crochet! A very chilled weekend though pottering around the house and doing crochet! I did go for a run though 6.6 miles as per my training plan. During the week I tend to do my runs in my lunch break but it's raining and so I can either go out and get wet or do it on the treadmill! I hate the treadmill and it won't show up properly on my running app so I think I'm going to have to brave it!!!

clearmydebts

Your weekend sounds lovely! Well done on all the exercise

Sarahwithlove

Takeaways/eating out are also my downfall. So I've come up with a few ways to manage it. I allow myself to eat out twice a month but always using a voucher and then one weekend I have a deli pizza from supermarket. Much cheaper option and tastes just as nice. Could you look at options like this?

Eyebright

I'm the same as you Twiggy, do really well on the not spending front, then end up spending frivolously to reward myself for not spending!:rotfl:
I ended up spending £17 yesterday, and it was nothing I really needed. It's come out of my £50 spending money for the month, but now I'm kicking myself, as it will leave me with less of my allowance for when I find something I really do need (or want...)

Oh well, onwards and upwards. Lesson learnt, this is a process, we won't suddenly become perfect overnight.

Well done with all your running.:T

twiggy86

Thanks for the comments - I know what I should do but am just rubbish at implementing it!!!

I did pay £100 off my CC last night from what was left in my account, as it's payday on Friday and don't have too much I need to pay out for between now and then. The reason - to take the first number (of that particular CC) from a 4 to a 3! So I now have £3,997.64 left on Hcard, which is the only interest accruing debt which is at 4.9%. (In a month or so I will look to see if there are any balance transfers open to me.)

Another £111 to "find" by Friday to meet my target!!

twiggy86

Really grumpy and down in the dumps today. So just a quick check in to say that with the help of a payout from Prolific and a money shuffle to re-allocate petrol/ parking funds, I've met my target for the month!

Current debt stands at £10,540.84

Chrystal

Hope you feel better soon. (((hugs)))

twiggy86

Thanks Crystal - feeling chirpier today!

And even better it's payday - although because I've been MSE I actually still have some money left! Although I do ideally like to count £100 as £0 in my account (if that makes sense!) and am a bit under that. Just gives me a buffer if anything crops up.

So it's now time to restart the CC target so another £458 to go! I've got quite an expensive months with a biggish spend (hotel and train for marathon) that I forgot to account for so haven't put anything by for it. Would like to get it booked this month so I know it's done - plus apparently 12 weeks before travel is the cheapest time to book train tickets.

Poppy1984

Hi Twiggy


You are doing amazing!!!!! Are you down to just over £10,000 left? That is fantastic!!!!! I can't wait to be there, I am aiming to be there by the end of this year. I use trainline and you can set email notifications to let you know 12 weeks in advance when the tickets are released it does save a lot of money.


I love the idea of always having £100 left in your current account but viewing that as it being zero. I remember reading somewhere about aiming to live off last months wage so that you always have a full months wage just sat there, that would be a dream!!!! I'd love to aim to do that once all my debt is paid and I have a healthy EF built up.


Poppy