Hugglemonster hits the debt hard!

hugglemonster

Good evening, early start this morning as my volunteering starts again proper from next week and today was our trial. It was cold, dark and icy at 0640, we won't need such an early start next week but still early enough to do a course check each week.

DH and I had a frank chat with the kids last night about Xmas, they are so lovely they said they don't expect things but ds was a little upset when we said we couldn't afford a games console for him although dd suggested about second hand items. Love her!

Car is going to cost £90 but not until 11th as they didn't have time to set up the machine for wheel balancing and the tracking and that was the next date available.

Spending when friends visit has been reduced, not going to do the activity we were planning but dh and friend's hubby plus friend are going kayaking which they all have the equipment and my friend and I will do something different.

Meal plan to be done tomorrow for the week, expenses have been submitted (over £300 so I hope that gets paid before Xmas), kids are revising their Xmas lists and also need to ask work on Monday if they can pay for my train ticket for Wednesday/Thursday.

Annoyingly have a survey site that is 20p off the £20 redemption, fingers crossed some time this week it will happen. DH is going to do his invoices for the website he manages and submit them this week. Climbing Instructor training is going to take a bit longer than expected, didn't realise it was 4 years since I did the first part so need to update, I have got a book that I need to read and need to do some hours climbing over the next few months. I have seen some free coaching courses so will take the opportunities when I can, need to plan ahead to fit it all in.

I also have a plan to raise money for my club, need to do some serious training as it's a mega 3 day event but I will do anything for my club x

Need to get through this week of week then will have time to organise and plan for the new year.

H x

hugglemonster

Howdy folks, a busy week and an equally busy weekend ahead but all good except that I did have to pay for train upfront so I'm £100 down in the budget but will get back next month.

We have about £150 to last 2 weeks which will include food, spends when guests visit and a small amount of fuel needed. Xmas gifts will have to be ordered on next payday and hope for the best that they arrive on time, I have most of them ready in the online basket just need a couple of things for ds but should be under £200. Just food to buy then but can do that Xmas Eve.

I need to remind dh to do the invoice for the club, and I also have £20 coming from survey site and should have a prepaid card of £10 on it's way which I'll use for school dinners. I redeemed a £5 prepaid card this morning that I used for school lunches too.

January expenses:
DS school trip - £130
Work trip to Cardiff £100 for train
2 x birthdays - £? would love to get dh something nice!

I have worked out again how much extra we need to pay towards the debt to clear it by this time next year and it's an extra £585 a month, certainly a figure to aim for but will be very tough. I'm going to try and come up with a plan for the year on reducing where we can (especially food and spends) and also we will have £90 back into the budget in February when the car repairs are paid off.

I need to be more organised on occasions e.g. I often take a flask of coffee and lunch when I'm out but on the days I don't I can spend money when I really had no excuse.

H x

hugglemonster

Things are scraping along, 2 weeks until pay day and still lots to pay for although had some money from my brother for Xmas and also still waiting on £20 from surveys. I got another £10 prepaid voucher so have topped up the kids school dinner money accounts. I keep forgetting that I have £30 cash tucked away upstairs in case in emergencies.

The car goes in to be repaired tomorrow, dh is giving me a lift back as I need to wait at GP for Physio as my shoulder is causing me problems and has for weeks now. Unfortunately no appointments can be booked it's a walk in service so goodness knows how long I'll be there for!

I have done a spreadsheet with the budget for January, I have deducted this from our basic income and will then work towards trying to stick to this for all other expenses. That means that child benefit is extra as well as my expenses. I checked on ds trip and it doesn't need to be paid until 31st January so will come out of the next pay packet which is a help.

If I transfer money to Monzo account for food this can help us manage that budget and leave as much as possible in the main account, maybe try to reduce overdraft like that or shall I save £1000 separately and then transfer back?

H x

Siebrie

Hi Hugglemonster, I've just read through your diary and wish you all the best!


Do you have a set budget for birthdays? My parents always let us pick something for about GBP30 (equivalent in my currency). And it was just the one gift, and no cards from anyone who actually visited. Also, no card if you actually visit and hand over a gift. The budget for relatives was GBP5, and for school friends GBP2.5. I know prices have gone up since, but I still keep to the low end of the spectrum; the most important things are the congratulations and the celebration of another year of life, right?


Do you reuse the decorations? I've known a family who completely destroyed the decorations at the end of the party, and then bought new for the next party. We have had our decorations for 11 years, still going strong I know that it doesn't save an awful lot of money, but every little counts. Besides, I don't want to go shopping for decorations; who knows what else I walk out of the shop with?


How old are your children? Can they earn money? Babysitting, raking leaves, going shopping, reading books, tutoring? Can you sell any of their stuff? You seen to have many computer parts/games/consoles they no longer play with?

clearmydebts

Hi Hugglemonster. Hope the time towards payday isn't going too slowly!

hugglemonster

Siebrie wrote: »

Hi Hugglemonster, I've just read through your diary and wish you all the best!

Do you have a set budget for birthdays? My parents always let us pick something for about GBP30 (equivalent in my currency). And it was just the one gift, and no cards from anyone who actually visited. Also, no card if you actually visit and hand over a gift. The budget for relatives was GBP5, and for school friends GBP2.5. I know prices have gone up since, but I still keep to the low end of the spectrum; the most important things are the congratulations and the celebration of another year of life, right?
Yes usually £20 per person but as one of the birthday's is dh usually spend a bit more, plus it's our anniversary on 20th January and haven't been out together in ages

Do you reuse the decorations? I've known a family who completely destroyed the decorations at the end of the party, and then bought new for the next party. We have had our decorations for 11 years, still going strong I know that it doesn't save an awful lot of money, but every little counts. Besides, I don't want to go shopping for decorations; who knows what else I walk out of the shop with?
Definitely reuse decorations, we just add a few that need replacing, what a waste to get rid, we have decorations that the kids made when they were little and love getting them out each year

How old are your children? Can they earn money? Babysitting, raking leaves, going shopping, reading books, tutoring? Can you sell any of their stuff? You seen to have many computer parts/games/consoles they no longer play with?
Kids are 11 and 15, dd could probably get a little job but need to build her convidence up, she is starting volunteering at a charity shop this weekend for her DoE award so that will help. They do use most of the computer games but yes probably could get rid of a few.

11 or 12 days until payday, not sure which day we will get it, expenses have been approved and hoping they are paid before pay day but as we all know that would be a miracle!

£5 paypal redeemed from receipt app, still waiting on £20 and another 2 survey sites are near to pay out limits but I don't think that will happen before Xmas.

I have been pottering around today doing laundry and tidying up as much as possible before final big clean tomorrow before guests arrive. I managed to pick up a whole chicken for £1.50 so doing a small but tasty roast for tea. I will do a bigger shop in the morning to last us a few days, not sure what we are going to do with friends as the weather is due to be frightful and not at all delightful.

Car got fixed yesterday but had a small panic when it wouldn't start in the evening, managed to sort it as sometimes the fuses get knocked and so dh pushed it back in and all ok after that.

Right need to make early tea as everyone out this evening.

H x

hugglemonster

Another busy weekend passes in a blur, friends decided to stay at a hotel which suited everyone better and managed to keep spends low and go out for free during the day.

There is just under £30 left in the account with £18.99 to go out on Wednesday, I still have the £30 cash for food and should have enough fuel for today and tomorrow. Still don't know when we will get paid, someone suggested Friday but nothing confirmed.

Loan payment has gone out today and a little bit nearer to the 10k, next week will be car payment and credit card payment so will definitely be in the 10's.

My new budget will start when I get paid as obviously this will last over January along with dh pay on 1st January, I'm not sure what order to pay off the debt and will have to make payments to the credit card too:

Option 1 - pay off the car first in extra payments of £191.64 as this will reduce the figure straight away and the number of remaining months, currently there are 20 more payments to make and if I pay off an extra month each time I have enough then the quicker it goes and that money can go back into the budget/snowball to the next debt. Then concentrate on overdraft, the save up full amount of each loan to pay back.

Option 2 - pay off overdraft first and get back in the black, then car then loans?

Out this evening at business session and last one tomorrow before Xmas, I have enough to pay the bills for the halls but not to pay myself. Start again in January and try to push again in the schools and local area.

This month's expenses to be submitted after meeting tomorrow and then I'm home for a couple of weeks, really need the break and get out running and exercising for myself rather than others.

H x

hugglemonster

Feels like Groundhog Day here, nothing changing and same old routine each day - all a bit boring really!

No sign of expenses, no sign of survey payment and no idea when pay day is. However in positive things to look forward to - only 60p away from £25 pay out on another survey site and £4 from a £50 pay out on another so the new year will bring a good start to the debt busting.

The kids finish school at lunch time on Friday, looking forward to being home with them and doing some cooking and watching films.

H x

[Deleted User]

I can relate to that H, work and bed at the moment.

My two finish on Friday too as do we, can't wait xx

hugglemonster

Morning all, we have some pennies! My expenses got paid in today which means that I have been able to order a Xmas present for dh, it's a bit pricey but it will also serve as his birthday gift (15th Jan) and our anniversary (20th Jan). Hoping it arrives in time but as it's a voucher it should just be through regular post.

I have ds home today a bit poorly, he came home yesterday upset because 2 of his friends had been nasty to him calling him horrible names and he was off colour all evening. Last night had had a raging temperature and didn't sleep well.

I have a cashback pay out of £25 now sitting in the confirmed section and also the survey site is 5p away from another £25 - I'll be checking that all day!

I need to do a menu today and also write out what food we need for Xmas, my parents are coming to us Xmas Eve for a traditional European meal and then we're at there's for Xmas Day. Also need to send a few cards today to close family.

Itching to make a debt payment but need to save the pennies until Xmas is sorted.

Have a lovely day, H x