Frugal, thrifty, make do, mend! Let this debt come to an end!

Elisheba

Honestly, you can't get excited about progress but there is a hiccup! Checked my emails, and had one saying there has been a change to my credit score. It's only gone and dropped by 60 odd points! I literally have no idea why. I last checked it at the beginning of this month, and since then I've done nothing but overpay debts!

I'm wondering if it's something to do with my ex. We still have the joint account, and he's recently changed jobs and I think it may have led to some cash flow issues. There isn't much I can do about the joint account right now though so if it is him I'll just need to live with it for a while. 

It's not like I actually need my credit rating right now. There is absolutely no way I will be taking out more loans or cards. However, I'd like to know it was healthy, and if it isn't I'd like to know why! The whole system is just bananas!

What I forgot to mention in my last post and which I am very chuffed with myself about is that when I got home last night, after the good news about the working from home and after I'd talked myself out of wine and cigarettes (I was tired which is always a trigger for me), I thought I would treat myself to a pizza from the supermarket and maybe some chocolates, it being Valentines and all. I was all ready to go out for them, and I thought - why am I doing this? I know I have a frozen home made pizza base in the freezer. Yes, the last one was a bit weird and doughy, but it needs used. So reader, I went into the chest freezer and pulled it out, and also found half a tub of Ben and Jerrys I'd forgotten about from before my money saving days. So I had pizza and chocolate ice cream and didn't spend an extra penny, and actually this pizza base was much nicer than the last one. 

Chrystal

Wow!! That is really impressive, and inspiring to anyone reading it.  Well done you and long may it continue. 

Elisheba

Just a quick update. I needed to go out for milk, so £3 for that and it should last till the end of the month now. I craved chocolate, so I bought a Dairy Milk and used a Shopmuim voucher so should get the £1 back for that in the next few days.

I also got coal as I'm basically planning to spend the weekend in front of the fire so £6 for that, but there was already £1 in my trolley so a little cash back there 😂🛒. Anymore and I would have handed it in, but I think £1 in a trolley is fair game? Whoever left it knew what they were doing and just didn't put it away properly for some reason.

So £10 of goods for £8, and I've scanned all the receipts onto all 4 receipt apps so a few pence back there as well 😂. 

FootyFanDan

What a truly remarkable and inspirational diary this is and person you are! The strides you have made in such a short space of time are truly amazing and you should be so proud of yourself. Good on you

Elisheba

Evening all,

I had an email from my old energy company this morning saying they were taking a DD for £380 out my account.  I knew I had spoken to them and set up a payment for £100 a month but I thought it was worth checking that £380 wasn't being taken out this month, and I'm glad I did.  The final readings from my new company seem to have reset everything with the old company, and they were indeed going to take the full amount.  Its all sorted (again) now, but it is a useful reminder that everything needs an eye kept on it.  The systems companies use as just dumb machines, and things can and do go wrong.  So, another crisis averted for now!

You know when you have given thing up something you often have dreams where you are doing the 'forbidden' thing?  For example, I often dream of smoking.  Well, last night I dreamt of spending money and eating chocolate  .  Considering I still do both, just not to excess, I think my subconscious needs a good telling off!

My DFW journey is at the point now where there shouldn't be any more big surprises, which is both good and bad.  Good because, hey, no unexpected bills!  Bad because no previously unrealised savings. So this is the boring bit, just the relentless, constant attrition of the debt, month on month, year on year, until it is gone completely.  From here on in is when I think it would be easy to slip into former bad habits. The horizon is monotonous, and little unplanned treats here and there to brighten things up, purchases I really haven't put much thought into, all of that, and that's the way it all falls apart!

So, I need to keep reading things I find inspiring, keep planning for the things I want, keep looking to the bigger picture, keep appreciating the small things.  I need to stay motivated, and make sure when motivation fails, habit it there to keep things going.  This isn't just about debt repayment - its about frugality, saving the planet, and simple living.  All of these are things I can achieve something towards everyday, and appreciate the moment while I am doing so.

FootyFanDan

Hey, 

I agree with the above, in the early stages your so focused and every single penny saved or extra paid to a debt is an achievement. Once you get settled and it becomes routine and your no longer seeing the big chunks been paid off it can get boring but you have learnt so much in such a short space of time i am sure you will no slip into old habits

Elisheba

A little money saving life hack I found. Rosemary hair tonic. I switched to shampoo bars to save on plastic. You can buy these for £3 online and they last a lot longer than bottles of shampoo so are money saving in themselves (at some point I am going to try making my own) and stopped using conditioner.  However, I have a sensitive scalp and without special hair products it was getting a bit irritated.  So I did a bit of googling and it seems rosemary is great for scalps.  I have masses on the allotment, so I boiled some up and now pour it through my hair as a final rinse.  I leave it in and my scalp is totally fine now but you could try rinsing it out afterwards if you wanted.  If your hair is very light you might want to as it is supposed to be a dye as well  - although its so subtle I've not noticed it in my hair.  I have have noticed it on my towels though!  Only use old ones or dark ones on your hair when you come out the shower because it will stain them a weird yellow colour!

Elisheba

The other thing I was thinking.  All last year I was growing increasingly aware of my debts but I worried because I didn't think there was anything I could do, and the best that could be hoped for was to at least break even every month.  I thought I was pretty money savvy, and to be fair in many ways I have always been quite frugal - just  with a bit of a taste for the high life as well  . Well, back then I contemplated getting a lodger.  I wasn't keen as I've had them before and it was always difficult, as well as needing to get them put on the lease in this rented house, and it being such a tiny house that we would fall over each other and I would lose my office.  Anyway I kept thinking about that and the extra £400 plus they would bring in, but felt very glum about the whole thing.

So last week as you'll see on a previous post, I counted up the savings I'd made in the last month.  £400 odd a month!  I have literally saved myself the amount a lodger would have brought in, without any of the problem or stress.  It's brilliant!

Elisheba

Oopsy daisy.  Money saving fail.  I went out to the scullery to get some veg from the freezer for lunch, and saw a bag of frozen carrots on the floor that has defrosted and gone mouldy  .  I must have left them out when I was raking around for something else, and since I'm never really in there anymore since I stopped smoking I didn't notice.

So no lentil soup, veggie mince, or anything else that needs carrots until the next shop at the start of March then. Grrr. Its not a problem per se.  I have loads of other veg, or could even go out and buy more carrots *shock horror*, but it's just such a waste.  They are now in the bin to be composted on the allotment, so at least they will get some use I suppose!

browneyed_girl

Hi!  Just popping in to cheer you on - very impressed by the amount you have managed to save monthly so far!  I also have to thank you for bringing paper logs to my attention - not something I’d ever heard of, but definitely something I could use!  Have mentioned to DH who also loves the idea, so I’m going to buy him a paper log maker for his birthday in May.   Should give us plenty of time to make a stash to use next winter

Well done with all your efforts - I’ll be popping by frequently to scout for more tips!