Operation debt neutral

dottydebts

Hello!

I’ve been a member of these boards for a while now, and this is actually my second diary. When I first started posting I was stressed about the amount of credit card debt I was in and the overdraft of doom I couldn’t seem to get out of and just felt like I wasn’t in the best place financially.

Fast forward a few years, and here I here I am in my own home, with only one car loan outstanding. As much as I would love to pay that off quicker, I feel like building savings so that I can stay out of debt is more important, especially now I have the costs associated with owning a home. So this is going to be my journey!

Current debt: £6139.63
Current savings: £629.60

I’m currently using a cash envelope system to control my spending and try to make sure I never end up with more month left than money. It’s going fairly well I think. I’m definitely feeling more in control anyway!

So, that’s me! I look forward to reading more of your diaries and posting here to keep myself accountable and on track.

Until next time! (well, probably tomorrow)
DD

dottydebts

Well today has been relatively uneventful as far as Mondays go! My only spends today we’re filling my car up with petrol - £28.62 so within my £30 weekly budget. I didn’t manage to get to a cash point to take out the rest of my weeks money, but that’s ok as I don’t have anything else to spend money on!

The rest of this evenings plans include dog walks and the tv and then hopefully an early night. Tomorrow, I will withdraw my weekly cash and then decide how I’m going to allocate it all which is always my favorite part of the week!

jaydeejay

Looks like you are on this


JDJ

dottydebts

Today’s spends were £4.10 on some lunchbox stuff for work from my food budget and £5 for a collection at work from my personal budget. I also managed to get the cash out for my weeks spending money and have sorted it as follows -

Food - £0 (still have £30 remaining from last week, now £25.90!)
Fuel - £0 (used my £30 budget yesterday filling up)
Household - £20
Personal - £20 (now £15)
Treats - £10
Fun - £20 (+£5 left from last week - this usually goes on days out with DH)
Dog - £0 (£14 remaining from previous weeks)

Hoping to have some of this to roll over into next week and start to build up a bit of a bank in some envelopes - particularly personal and household - for larger purchases like clothes or furniture. Everything is unfortunately fairly depleted after a spendy weekend.

dottydebts

Well, spending isn’t going too terribly.
Yesterday, I did have a £27.30 spend on my card, but today has been a no spend day so envelopes are still looking the same as Tuesday.

I need to get a couple of food items tomorrow, but hoping they won’t come to too much!

pidge04

Ooo, this makes me want to try the envelopes approach!

Good luck!

dottydebts

pidge04 wrote: »

Ooo, this makes me want to try the envelopes approach!

Good luck!

It really helps me keep track of what job each pound I have has - if that makes sense! I definitely recommend it

dottydebts

So it’s been a good start to the week this week - petrol was only £20 and I also did a small food shop (£13) which included dog food. I haven’t managed to get to a cash point today so I’m still spending last weeks money at the moment which is great too! I will hopefully get that out tomorrow, so I can refill my envelopes.

dottydebts

It’s been a good week, completely In budget so far! Food envelope is empty due to a larger than usual food shop yesterday, but means I won’t need to buy any other food for the rest of the week. But today has been a no spend day, and tomorrow is on track to be too! I do love the feeling when I know I haven’t spent any money!

dottydebts

3 no spend days this week! A couple of little tasty treats but all within my treats budget. I’m hoping tomorrow might be a NSD too if I’m lucky! Currently no plans so it’s looking that way.

Cash envelopes currently standing at:
Food - £1 (ha!)
Petrol - 0
Treats - £8
Household - £22.71
Fun - £35
Personal - £25

Some of this has been rolled over from last week, but overall looking very healthy with one day to go!

I also added £27.27 to my savings, so they are currently at £656.87.