So it begins... Change of lifestyle needed

MoneysavingmadGem

Hi again!

I originally started a thread in 2017, which got lost 6 months down the line but having made great progress! With lots of changes to life over that 2 years i'm now on my mission again!

Sadly my debt has gone up but only in last six months due to:

- Paying £2000 off of a joint account overdraft (my ex ran this up setting up a business after we split up!)

- £550 for my divorce (completing straight with courts)

No point asking ex for money, my debts are actually his which when together I had shifted the debt onto my cards as I was main income earner!

Bar this everything else has been paid with money I own, including having to buy another old banger of a car in June this year (paid £900) as last one I'd had for 18 months (paid £500) went bang! Hopefully this will last me a bit longer! But has meant my emergency savings is now non existent.

So my goals over the next year is to clear the £2500 off of my cards and get an emergency savings fund of £1000 back up.

I have done a budget and I review this monthly for other occasional expenses. Part of this budget includes savings pots for Christmas, car, holiday and emergency savings.

I have a monthly spend tally and spreadsheet so I can track what I buy, as it make me think whether I actually need something.

I have just finished doing masters degree full time in which I have learnt to live minimally the last 12 months.
I have uped my working hours this yearwith the hope of clearing these goals before I enter my PhD next September.

On top of living frugally I want to start to find ways of adding extra income.... So any ideas drop them below.

Already having babysitting sideline.

MoneysavingmadGem

Just tucked into a gorgeous bacon brie and cranberry sarnie, homemade! One of my little treats on a weekend for breakfast.

Slice of left over pizza for lunch before I go to work, which I know I'll end up buying a Cuppa as it takes me 45 mins to get there for a 2 hour session and 45 mins to get home. So a Cuppa tea in the middle keeps me going. £1.60 and on a loyalty card get one free after 5!

Got chickpeas and spinach in my little weekly shop yesterday (£13) to cook up a chickpea curry, rest I have as staples in my cupboard. Iv decided to do a monthly shop and plan 2 meals to batch cook, stock up on cans of tomatoes and baked beans etc then each week pick one meal to batch cook at the weekend and get the extra fresh ingredients.

Last week was 1st week of the month as I get paid on 24th and spent £30 on food, stocked cupboards up and batch cooked lentil bolognase and carrot and coriander soup. Chickpea curry this week. Thinking I might do a chilli mix next weekend.

I only have 1 drawer in freezer and one shelf in fridge but a whole cupboard as I'm in a shared house so having to get used to not buying in bulk like I used to.

Budgets had to be played with as Iv had rac come out which I wasn't accounting for as I thought I'd paid last month so need to check....

This year focus is also on health so I did join local ladies only gym, their 6 month membership was half price making it dirt cheap! Also had free trial which felt like a person's training session and induction is on monday.

Hopefully if this helps with my fitness I'll be able to start to cycle to work when it's local rather than take the bus.

MeenaM

Good luck with your journey ! you will get there !

MoneysavingmadGem

Thankyou

Although today turned out to be not great!

Got in car to go to work and it wouldn't start. Managed to borrow a friend's.

I know roughly what if could be so been you tubing how to do it myself, hug means I'm going to have to buy some tools.

Been considering whether I need it, for work most of the time no but to see family it's a 2 hour £15 one way bus trip..... I usually go to see them once a week so... If I can't fix it I might have to limit family visits

MoneysavingmadGem

Sadly cars not fixed yet I think I know what it is, but not got tools to do it so working out whether I buy tools, or pay more for a mechanic.

On a positive note Iv had 2 no spend days.

Been to gym last 2 days, batch cooked a chick pea curry yesterday and been enjoying getting on with making the Christmas presents for family.

Work tomorrow, food wise I'll take packed lunch as ways. Might ho yo gym afterwards.

MoneysavingmadGem

Wahoo car is now fixed! Fuel relay, so swappec it for another relay which is same part number used for back window heater and it started!

So relay to replace is on order (stepdad works in car parts so it's cost price) £12 to fix in total, pay when I get the part!

Got a couple other bits to do on the car so having a daughter dad day one day this weekend!

Last 2 days have been nsds and today should be one too!

Christmas pressie making today!

caledonian_princess

Glad you got the car fixed.

Good luck with getting your money nice and straight.

MoneysavingmadGem

Well interesting day! Picked up replacement fuel relay and completed that job on car which means it starts and runs £10!

Had a day with my dad (to borrow his tools) done throttle body clean and airfilter, fingers crossed will sort engine management light out when I run it through and delete code. = cleaner and airfilter £12 and 2 hours of my time.

However, went to change fuse for heater motor and found battery and fuse compartment under drivers floor in 4 inches of water!!! Soaked out, researched drainage which turns out is by pollen filter, unblocked drainage andnow had to order pollen fter as its gunked up and soaked fingers crossed about £15 and 10 min job tomorrow.

Water sponged out of compartment and if its a sunny day I'll be opening doors trying to dry out interior!

So may have taken us 5 hours of work but so far only cost me £23 to fix my car, if I'd put it into a garage I'd dread to think how much it'll be.

Soooo, I'm getting tools for Christmas for the car hahaha haha

MoneysavingmadGem

Car is running perfect now! I had done a couple jobs for family so the pollen filter was free!

Worked for 3 hours, need to consider how I can increase my hours.

Also put my name down to babysit any night this week so fingers crossed as not had any shifts given to me recently.

Working tomorrow, and then a visit to the gym I think as Iv not been for a week due to being ill and away.

Going to try for a nsd tomorrow bar food, I need to get bread and fruit for this week.

Had car insurance renewal through so I need to look at that tomorrow too.

MoneysavingmadGem

Well not a nsd, I left without a packed lunch after a bad night sleep. But instead of expensive coffee shop I walked further to student cafe, tea and big baguette came to £3.50.

Also been playing around with car insurance, taken business and commuting off as I take the bus to work now, got to check mileage but on 7000 a year its £100 less than renewal quote!

Got to have another look tomorrow and also ring my provider now see if they can beat or match it.

Also I've picked up a babysitting session sat night so that's £35 extra to put towards debt. Little bit at a time!

[Deleted User]

Good luck on your journey xx