Hugglemonster hits the debt hard!

hugglemonster

It's pay day and have spent and moved a shed load of virtual cash today, paid some money on credit card but owe quite a bit so can't reduce balance on my total, went and did a food shop, have moved money to savings pots, ordered in-laws anniversary gift, ordered dd birthday present but will need to get something else. I've updated my budget sheet for the month so I know what I have to play with. 

Still to do today - go with ds to get a new school jumper as the shop will be closed for 2 weeks during lockdown and he goes back after half term whereas dd has an extra week at home. 

I've received lots of paperwork for the new job so I'll do that over the weekend, I'm off on leave for a week from my usual job and all our clubs. I'm doing a virtual race tomorrow shame I won't be able to do it with friends but nevermind it's only 2 weeks lockdown.

Next car payment will go out on Monday and this will leave us with 7 more payments.

Hope all are well, H x

savingholmes

Congrats on getting 2 job offers and your other work situation improving too. Sounds like things are definitely looking up for you.

hugglemonster

Well good evening, long time no see! It's been extremely busy in my world and even though things have been improving the debt hasn't really been as hit as hard as previously due to dd birthday and now Xmas but the minimum payments have been paid and we're nearly finished with the Xmas presents.

Hope everyone is ok, here's what's been happening with me:
* Family - all ok, everyone is in good health although we haven't been able to visit the in-laws just not worth the risk of potentially passing on any infection. DH and the kids are good, dd is currently looking at 6th Form options and we're trying to get her a scholarship to a good school as she deserves to be somewhere with better facilities and she's on course for straight A's in her GCSEs. They have finished in school today apart from online lessons next week. 
* Business - really good numbers attending and because I'm just sticking to the one session I have been able to nearly pay myself back in full from the insurance payments. Hopefully next year subject to further lockdowns I can build this up more and be in the black. 
* Work - good, getting busy again which is great and new role is going well. I'll get my new rate of pay in the next pay packet. Extra job is also going well I've been doing shadowing and training for them and should get my first pay from that next week. 
* Finances - we have seen a real change in our income with more to come, new role should be more per month, extra job payments, dh is due some backdated pay for an extra role that he takes on in his work but they haven't paid him for ages. The biggest news is that today we received a lump sum of £2k from an old policy that dh had, it was really weird but we had a letter via HMRC from a company saying they were trying to get in touch, anyway will filled in some forms and several weeks letter he had a letter to say that his policy was just over £2k and he could cash it in. He thinks it was something he took out whilst he was in the forces but can't remember, anyway that was paid in the bank today and we've used a bit to pay off dh card and will just finish with the Xmas presents (not too mad) then I will work out what to do with the rest. We need to get our savings and emergency fund up plus save for the guttering so they are the priorities.

So all in all this year is ending on a high with fingers crossed for a good year next year, don't want to jinx it!

A round up of this year because there won't be much more to add:
* Both survived potential redundancies and have seen ourselves better off in income and work role - all that stress was not fun but we are lucky and thankful.
* Both kids have new bikes.
* New washing machine purchased and plumbing sorted.
* Everyone is A OK!

Plans for next year:
* Car has only 6 more payments to go, will let this run for now
* Loan will also keep ticking over
* Get credit card paid off - this is the main goal
* Savings and emergency fund started
* Guttering done, shed done and then start on bedroom
* See if dd gets scholarship and how much (potential schools fees to be taken into account)
* Celebrate 25th anniversary in January - I have already booked the time off

Hope everyone is well, will catch up on all the news!

H x

savingholmes

Nice to see you back. Lovely windfall. What fab news. Glad your work situation is going well. Hope you get some time off over xmas too

hugglemonster

Thanks SH, I promise I will catch up with diaries!

So a busy few days, currently limiting going out as waiting for results of Covid test, hopefully will find out tomorrow or Friday. Wales back in lockdown after Xmas which is incredibly frustrating for everyone, just got to keep going.

I will be under £5k by the end of the month which is great and finally feel like we're on the homestretch, I've paid a fair bit off the credit card due to income coming in on Friday and will pay a bit extra when I get my expenses paid. I'm also going to pay some more off using child benefit and the 2 months with no water and council tax will give it a boost. 

Loan payment has gone out today so will update total when it refreshes tomorrow.

Hope I get my results quickly as I haven't posted any Xmas presents yet, I'm sure everyone will understand though.

H x

savingholmes

It is lovely to read the progress you are making. Such a rollercoaster year for you.

hugglemonster

Good afternoon, the day is flying by even though we're on lockdown - you wouldn't have thought so as L8dl was busy this morning! Good job I managed to post my parcels on Friday for the family but still need to get some stamps for a few cards. 

Covid test was negative and some of the staff at the home have already had their vaccination, I think I missed a call from the service and they haven't phoned back. 

I've managed to pay a bit more off the credit card with my expenses coming in and also in-laws sent some money so have used that too, still a long way to go but will keep chipping away at it. A small amount almost ready to be cashed out from cashback site and a survey site nearly at it's £50 redemption level, there's another site that I can't get in to at the moment which is frustrating. 

I'm working tomorrow night and Xmas Day night which will bring in a few extra pennies, nothing booked after that though so need to ask for some more shifts. 

Plans for Xmas Day haven't changed as it will just be us and my parents, we carry on.

H x

savingholmes

Hope you get the shifts you want and have a good Xmas

hugglemonster

Morning all, slight change in shifts so working tomorrow night instead plus have picked up another one next week so all good. 

Won a small amount in the Lotto last night so another £20 paid to credit card, so close to the £4ks now but only a few days to wait.

On leave now from main job, some things to thrash out in the New Year with the team as not happy about some communications that I and another colleague are being left out of. Also payslip shows I haven't been paid my new higher rate so will need to sort that too.

Not much else going on, last food shop before Xmas tomorrow and watching a Xmas film with the kids each night so a nice relaxing time.

H x

hugglemonster

Good afternoon, hope you had a lovely Xmas ours was lovely and relaxed then popped home for a snooze before my night shift. The presents were lovely and perfect, I have some vouchers to spend so going to order some new trainers. I need to start organising for 3 birthdays in January now and our anniversary!

A little reflection on the debt busting this year, we started on 3rd January on £10,746.70 it is now £4773.29 which is really pleasing considering the year we've had. 

An additional expense we have is that we definitely need to change our oven, it is just not cutting it any more so will look around for a good deal.

Today I have moved money into annual savings pots in the M*nzo account, also added to the Emergency funds. A little bit odd to have £50 already in the Xmas pot for next year plus I have £15 in vouchers sitting in my emails which will build up over the year. 

Who knows what next year will bring but aiming to be debt free as soon as possible then we can use the money to get our house into good condition plus I'll be paying some towards the mortgage.

Happy, hopeful and huggly new year H x