In it for the long haul

Blackcats

Great work on slaying the next debt in less than a months time. It's interesting how quickly progress is made when we put our minds to it. In my case it's just a shame that it took me so long to get started.
I agree about having time off. - it re-charges the batteries physically and mentally. I'm feeling full of enthusiasm fir next year an it certainly sounds like you are ready to make good progress.

Wishful01

NSD 26

Well I'm finally back. ended up on an impromptu short break after a friend dropped out so I got to go free for a few days and had a lovely time.

I've no adjusted all my budget in excel and have added some new pages to make it easier to maintain. I do love a good spreadsheet and I'm determined to keep this one going. I've made a full inventory of my food now and I have organised it into categories of sides, mains and other.

I've got enough lunches made for a month now and I've just done my shop on the ASDA app ready to take to the shop and it will cost £10.09 this week, I wish I could find DD's chocolate oat milk cheaper as £1,50 per litre is a lot to keep spending. but I can't seem to find it anywhere at a beter price.

Well off for a Baileys to bring in the new yer and a debt busting year

Wishful01

NSD 1 and happy new year everyone!!

Well the spreadsheet says I should have about £2000 debt left if I can keep to budget and work hard.

DD is now on board and I said no take aways for a year and the food budget needs to stay low. It’s the high calorie snacks we spend on so I told DD she can buy her own as she works now. It’s the odd pack of cookies and doughnuts etc that end up pushing the bill up and I don’t even eat them lol.

Today is a relaxing day, back to work tomorrow, this holiday has flown by doesn’t feel like I’ve been off as long as I have. Next time off is April now and plus have my birthday off too so DD is taking me to the cinema as a present.

New year, new me

Wishful01

Well looked at my budget and I'm planning on paying off £5500 this year which will mean the majority of the debt, I'll be left with two debts still to pay off. It's going to be hard to stay so disciplined but this is going to be done.

I have now put my excel spreadsheet into my calendar budget which I realised that excel doesn't always work out quite right in reality. Some of the payments had to be shifted to the next month and moved about.

I'm going to start using Aldi and Lidl a lot more as both are literally down the road and I pass them both daily when I drop of DD to college. I need to start using the market more too as the vegetables are a lot cheaper and there is a stall with snacks that are slightly out of date but a lot cheaper than any supermarket.

This year I have a budget of £30 a week for food, cleaning items and toiletries the good thing is I don't need any toiletries really as I have most of those for the year.

Right off for a coffee and relax

Chrystal

Happy New Year to you also.

Sounds as though you have a good plan in place. You can do this. X

Wishful01

Thank you Chrystal I’m determined this time I’ll clear this debt just going to be a very focused year

Blackcats

Happy new year wishful - you are very determined so I'm sure you will make great progress on your debts in 2020. Hope going back to work was ok. I'm off til Monday which is a lovely treat.
I switched to Lidl's last year and it's been great. At first I thought there wouldn't be enough choice and that quality would be lower but I quickly realised that the quality is great and the prices even better.
The yoghurts, butter and cheese are lovely. Their Greek style coconut yoghurt is really delicious. Their own brand washing laundry liquid is good and won a Good Housekeeping magazine test. (I sound like an advert!)
Your weekly budget is admirably low - i spend much more than that. Would you mind sharing a sample weekly meal plan as inspiration please?

Wishful01

Hi blackcats happy new year to you too, hope you’re having a lovely break.

I do use Aldi sometimes especially their laundry stuff it’s brilliant and a really good price too.

Menu wise this week:

Breakfast egg and toast or porridge
Lunch pasta, tuna, sweet corn with mayo I’ve made enough portions for the week
Dinner I made a vegetable curry with lentils. Two carrots, a head of broccoli chopped, one onion, carton of passata, a cup of lentils and curry powder it’s really cheap and I have four portions I’ll have that with rice
Two days I have toad in the hole with mixed vegetables, I buy the cheapest mixed vegetables from Tesco and use them a lot
Last day this week will be the left over roast beef dinner I made
Snacks banana loaf and fruit from the huge bowl I can get for £2 from the market I get a punnet if strawberries, three oranges, four apples, aand a bunch of grapes, the only problem is the strawberries go off really fast so have to be eaten within two days so we eat those first and the rest last pretty ok.
Also will have salad wraps as the salad bowl is £1 too with mayo

Wishful01

Also should have mentioned have a look at jack monroe and feeding yourself for a £1 on Facebook both of those resources have saved me from starving in the past when I was absolutely broke

Wishful01

Day 2 NSD

Went shopping last night and came 35p under budget not much but something. Had a bit more wages than I thought so I can make an extra payment of £20 this month every little bit will help towards my goal.

I’ll be still working through the freezer as it’s full again from over Christmas and I didn’t even spend that much but with DD working we didn’t eat as much as I thought we would.

Right best get ready for work