Queen Bee fighting for her Hive!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Its been a long time since last updating on here but there have been some changes and challenges which has prompted me back to debt free diary.

So all was going well, all debts were paid off and was plodding on. However the big shocker of the year to us was the situation with where we live. We had a quite nice and easy contract with the landlord, we had an agreement that the rent would increase by 'normal' inflation amounts of 3% p/yr but way back in March we of course joined the masses and had a major rent increase. Where we live is expensive and we are just about managing to keep going, however are really worried about next years rent increase. So we have since decided to take the plunge and look to see if we could buy in a cheaper area but this is quite a significant move. Getting the correct funds we needed was such a faf but finally had that approved and slowly proceeding with the purchase. I'm wobbling quite a bit on this. Its not such a great area we are going to and means some quite significant compromises for me especially.

So because of this, some summer holidays overspends and signing up for a learning qualification my finances are up the u bend

My outstanding debts are as follows:

Credit Card 1	£341.90
Credit Card 2	£950.04
Overdraft	£349.75
Family Loan	£720.00

Total: £2361.69

I had myself in knots in September due to missing cancelling direct debts to pay cards in full so ended up making 2 lots of double payments which has helped to reduce the debt but has completely depleated my savings and im now out of my cash reserves. I have a regular saver which matures in January so will be a bit better but to the end of the year its belt and braces and frankly i'm stressed.

We are also on top of the debt trying to save for a long haul family trip to visit relatives. Its my partners son and his family so its important for us but we are really strapped and finding saving a real challenge right now. I know from past experiences that hanging on and keeping going will get us through this bit. To save for the trip we've been following the save 1p a day method but have tweeked it slightly to increase our monthly savings by £10 compounding each month. We started in January and between the two of us we've hit the 1k mark. This is going to be a major trip so have 5k at least to save so really every penny counts. This coming month we are on for putting £100 each away which is in honestly a lot of money for us but we will stick to it at the moment. We have an old Xbox and xbox games which we have sold to Music Magpie for just short of £7. The controllers were faulty and the games old but its something, I also do a bit of surveying and was paid out £25 so half of this plus £5.20 from Quidco cashback was added to the pot additionally.

Some of the things i'm trying to do to get back on track.

1. Cut spending down to essentials.

2. Cancel gym membership.

3. Selling some things no longer needed on ebay. Admittedly this little bit of money is going into 'Festival fund'. I'd really like to take the kids to a festival next year. So far there is £110 in the pot.

4. Being energy aware. Making use of British Gas half price energy on Sundays

5. Xmas will be very scaled back, I just don't have the funds for it this year.

6. Applying for a second job - no luck so far

7. Will check out the diaries and MSE forums for some other suggestions. But ulimately make everything stretch further than it has before. Making pack lunches and taking flask on days out during school holidays (which I generally do anyway).

8. Pay down some of the debt each month to clear it.

9. Considering balance transfer but waiting to see how it goes as may need this as the move happens.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Its an early start this morning, am having a weird sleeping pattern waking up at 4am and by 9pm its lights out! Feel I need some sleep training like a baby!

Made some good use of the strange sleeping pattern and completed a bit of study on the course i'm working on.

Today is a normal WFH day, so have that and then thinking i should get my bum to the gym. Sadly I've had to cut this from the budget atm as I need every penny to pay off the debt. Task to do, cancel the DD. Its not going to save much but every penny an all that. Will exercise at the park and walks instead. Lovely time of the year to do this.

Not expecting to spend anything today, yesterday purchased second hand copy of this months book club book which set me back £3.57, have just shy of £98 to get me through 21 days. That isn't going to happen esp with half term next week but we will see what we can do. Food wise we are ok at the moment. Did a big shop on the weekend.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Day 2 of embracing the 4am starts! Trust me its tiring!

So this morning so far I've ironed DS1 school shirts ready for tomorrow  (whilst watching a couple of finance / motivational YT videos) & sorted his PE kit, also attempted some questions on my course, put away some washing and had a tidy around. Also added a bit of money to the kids junior ISAs. Its money from their own accounts so not coming out of any of my pots. Feeling a bit more positive which is a good thing.

Yesterday was a NSD and today expecting the same. Tomorrow going to study in the library so will need to take a flash and lunch from home. Will walk to the library too so will get some exercise too.

Today going to have a fasting day - loosley following the 5:2 fasting plan and have dropped a couple of kgs already with it. So onwards and upwards.

Note to diary - need to update footer with current figures.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hey Thursday has been quite a chilled day.

We discovered last night whilst preparing dinner that the veggie peeler has gone walkies, so this prompted a trip to the big JS, near us to buy a replacement. Shopping at JS is very dangerous in our household! Replacement veggie peeler, a cheese grater that i didn't realise we needed (thanks OH) and some groceries came to just shy of £30. OH paid so thats ok!

Kids had their usual thursday evening activities which was the cost of a return bus trip so all in all a cheap day.

On the money coming in front - I had a pay out from an £8 survey completed last week along with a couple of others for £8.90. This was chucked into investment ISA. Moved money from Music Magpie into holiday fund account. It was only £6.22 but every penny an all that.

Spoke to course tutor regarding study books - these finally arranged and should be delivered mid next week. Agreed to pay these over 5 installments.

Checked finances and currently have £75 left to last 19 days - eeek!!

Meeting up with girlies tonight for wine, nibbles and a good wholesome catch up which will be fabulous.

Tomorrow is back to volunteering - will take lunch & flask so only the travel it will cost me. This is usually £7 for round trip.

Queen_of_the_Hive

NIce to be up and on it on Saturday morning. The kids are with their dad this weekend but back here tomorrow evening so i'm on catch up with cleaning etc while they are away.

My course has a live online class this morning so having a quick catch up with last week's course work with a cuppa and will get myself ready for the online class shortly.

Need to focus some time into looking for a second job - its quite difficult finding something to fit in with current job. Oh well onwards and upwards.

Yesterday ended up spending soem cash in a couple of shops - we went to Dunelm to buy a washing up bowl and ended up with some other stuff which wasn't on the original list. Total spend £15 + shrapnel and bus fairs. Down to £62.64 to spend plus £20 cash.

Meeting up with friends was nice, the wine went down a bit too quick, though. One of the ladies is celebrating a big birthday next Sept so we have a posh afternoon tea penned in the diary. Will need to factor in for this but will be fun! 

[Deleted User]

I think you are doing very well. You will never regret buying your own place. More security and no longer paying the bills of someone else!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Its been a nice quiet weekend with no spends! This is quite a rareity and was only by chance tbh.

On Saturday with OH we visited a model train show that was being held locally - this was really good (inner train geek!) and bought a train carriage. The funny thing is I don't actually have a train but have been looking for a certain brand of advertising on a carriage and to my luck we found one! It was £7 and OH had to pay as silly (or not so silly!) me left my cards at home by accident. Not sure what is was but the train show itself was great, but there were a small number of mature male train geeks that hadn't thought about their own personal hygiene and were smelling. It was a bit of a put off

Saturday was also more study for my course with a good amount of procrastination and some cleaning. I didn't look at the study notes yesterday apart from writing out some revision cards. However did enjoy spending time reading this months bookclub book and doing the usual Sunday household chores. Pleased to note that DS1 school uniform is washed ready for start of new term next Monday. Just need to run the iron over his shirts. Speaking of school uniform this half term need to get down to the sports shop and buy mouth guard and a black t shirt to go under DS1 rugby top. This should in theory come from the uniform pot but as i've had no money to add to the pot recently i'll just take it from the remaining £62.

Some items sold on ebay yesterday - they were disappointing amounts but at least its a bit more in the pot for 'Festival Fund'. I think its £11.73 from an email from ebay. Festival Fund is now up to £124.32. Task for this week, find and list a few more items.

The kids are back here from their time with dad & today and tomorrow will be low key as its working days for me. I did however take Weds as A/L. This week we are going to ventures to some museums with picnic and hopefully have dry weather so we can cycle to the big park to collect conkers. Am determined to beat the kids to conker fights. Pumpkin carving and a bonfire is also on the cards. If the weather is ok, may try to take them to a fireworks display this weekend as they are back with dad for the following weekend.

Aimingforthegoodlife

Have just read your diary, I am impressed at the investments you have both made and the payments of debt are great!!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Friday, its been a fun half term here in the hive!

We originally had grander plans for this week but with the house move and summer overspends have been forced to cut it back by quite a bit. I'm quite lucky and whether this is a postive effect from lock down I'm not sure but my kids are quite happy to spend time at home and can find going out a chore. They have a great time when they are out though! Like the thought is worse than the actual. They are balanced and happy so this is not something that causes any true concern.

So Monday and Tuesday was working days, Wednesday we ventured into the city and enjoyed a first visit to Imperial War Museum which the kids loved! We took a picnic and flasks so only spent a bit of money on a cake for the kids to share and a cuppa for me and OH to enjoy after all the walking. We were able to take the bus there and back which saved a little bit on tube costs. Yesterday we went on an (unsucessful) conker hunt on our bikes, the kids did some baking - making full use of a free carrot cake mix we were given and in the evening we rounded the day off with a game of Cluedo. Today is more of a get ready for school kind of day, I need to get some PE kit bits for DS1 and promised some pumpkin carving so need also buy one or two pumpkins.

The budget is severly depleated, down to £25.15 on potential credit card spends and £19.75 in cash to last 11 days. Will have to get creative with meals to eeek out what we have in stock. Myself and OH are not too bad, but the kids can be really fussy which is unhelpful!

Sleep wasn't soo good last night (as for quite a few nights atm), was awake at 3am Have lots of negative thoughts  & worries running through my head in relation to house move which is making me feel tired through the day, however watching 'Celebrity Race the World' this morning was a bit of a boost. Would to take the kids on an adventure next year and this program is perfect tonic for that dream!

Finally - recieved a £3.63 payout on the Peer to Peer investment ISA & so far this week have £5.99 to cash out from Prolific.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Aimingforthegoodlife said:

Have just read your diary, I am impressed at the investments you have both made and the payments of debt are great!!

Hi @Aimingforthegoodlife - thank you, really appreciate the encouragement.