Hugglemonster hits the debt hard!

hugglemonster

Just a quick one today, need to read other people's diaries later on!

I've been watching some videos on budgeting, finances etc. and have another urge to get rid of the debt and do better with our finances. So here we are the first of the debt plans - Operation Iceland.

Although not a debt as such as no interest etc. it needs to be paid by July for ds to go on his trip. I want to make sure it's done and dusted.

Amount owed was £400 but I transferred my income from coaching last night of £30 to it and now the magical figure is £370!

I have some bits of income coming in the next couple of weeks but I hope to chip away at it and hope to be sorted asap.

Right off to prepare last bits for dinner then out for the evening at clubs.

H x

savingholmes

Good luck with your new plans. You will get there

hugglemonster

Well I keep meaning to post on here regularly but so busy at the moment. 

Shattered after looking after my parent's dog, he likes to get up very early. Busy all weekend and worked Sunday night, then had an extra teaching hours last night. Only 2 hours plus mileage so not huge but all helps.

Quiet at own business sessions this evening as we had to go outside due to hall being used, it was stop/start with rain but not too bad. Sent over £30 to Operation Iceland, I haven't been able to put much towards it so far but hopefully the next couple of weeks will be able to send a chunk over. Balance now at £340.

Paid next £100 to parents, this is now at £400 so will be paid in 4 months time.

I have a double night shift this weekend so I need to make sure we have a nice family evening on Friday and relaxed Saturday morning. I've also got a double next Thursday and Friday.

I had a whizz through my budget to see what I could reduce, obviously apart from paying off debt I decided that I just haven't been able to use my swim membership as much as I wanted so I phoned to cancel. I have one payment to go out so I still have until end of June to use it. My local hotel now do pay-as-you-go so when I'm able to I'll go there in future. Anyway it's £28 a month saved. 

I need to ask dh to check on mobile contacts for him an ds to see when they end and if they're going to sim only, both dd and I are already on it.

Apart from that not much else I can save on, I do need to do car insurance renewal quotes as that is due next month and so is breakdown cover. 

Keep plodding away! H x

savingholmes

Sorry that you're feeling stretched at the moment. I hope some good fortune comes your way soon. In the meantime it sounds like you are plutting hte right steps in place.

savingholmes

Sorry that you're feeling stretched at the moment. I hope some good fortune comes your way soon. In the meantime it sounds like you are putting the right steps in place.

hugglemonster

Morning all, don't you love pay day to do a money shuffle. Would be even nicer when we don't live pay day to pay day!

Paid from second job so have transferred the majority for dd school fees, also have been paid the £150 energy thing from council. A bit of cash flow issues due to having to buy some things for a competition but I've dropped off the receipts at the Treasurers home this morning on the way to taking dd to school, so hopefully will be back in a few days.

DFW things to do today:
* Washing already out on the line, hope to get a second load out later.
* Phone car ins. to see how much they charge for breakdown cover, also get quotes for breakdown and car insurance.
* Scan shopping receipt, nearly up to another pay out.
* Do a few surveys
* Finish 3 weekly meal plan

I'm sure there's something else I should be doing but that's a start.

H x

savingholmes

Good you've had the energy £. Good too that you are keeping on top of your expenses. Keep doing the MSE small things and it will pay off

hugglemonster

Morning all, I've been busy today already and it's not even tea break time!

DH and I had a good chat about money last night, boy he is such a different person to a few years ago and no longer gets as stressed when we chat. We chatted about our bills, meal planning and spending and agreed that we need to rein in a few areas and plan ahead on some others.

I showed him my bills account and was pleased to show him that I had enough in there to cover the car insurance for the year, because I have put a bit aside each month. We also agreed that we needed to clear some debts to free up some of our budget as it was getting a bit stretched. I told him the reality of how much we frittered away too.

Anyway as the bloke about the guttering hasn't got back to us (not chasing trades people anymore, if they want the work then they respond) and the need to just clear a couple of things, we agreed to use some of that fund to pay the balance of Operation Iceland and pay off the oven.

£555 paid out before breakfast 

So my targets have now changed:

* Pay off computer - current balance is £2368 and paying extra will reduce interest
* Emergency fund - I've been trying to do this for ages so must get it sorted

That's it just 2 targets, I do need to put some money towards some car repairs before we go on our trip but that is manageable.

Payments to my parents will continue as usual.

Right work to do, H x

savingholmes

That sounds less stressful. Glad DH is on side

hugglemonster

Good afternoon, it's pay day and I have actually treated myself for a change and spent £38 on a haircut and 2 summery tops from a charity shop!

I need to update my budget and work out where we are.

Updates:
* Car insurance and breakdown cover cheaper with own provider than anywhere else, full amount already saved to pay.
* Need to book in car for repairs prior to MOT in June, I got a call from F**d saying I still had some credit on my service plan and did I want to book in for MOT and service or get a refund. I chose the refund and will put this towards the cost at local garage.

Wins this week:
* Meal plan has been ace
* DFW - used older garlic bulbs to blitz into a paste with a bit of oil instead of getting rid!
* Extra hours at 2nd job and am teaching this weekend

Right budget time and see if I can send anything over to goals, ooh nearly forgot - scaffolding bloke turned up last Thursday to measure up to guttering, said he would send over to chappy and get quote sorted but nothing has come through so far.

H x