Facing reality

Sarahwithlove

Feb round up. 

YNAB is really helping me at the moment. There is so much to consider that I hadn't even thought about saving up for so that I don't have to put it on my credit card. 
I man and to scrape through to the end of the month with some money left in some of the pots. For now I am carrying them over whilst I build up an emergency Fund with the hope that if there are a few odd extras I can cover them from each of the categories. I have prod out how much 8 need to pay off my credit cards each month to clear by end of the 0% deal and am budgeting this each month. The hope is that in this time I can try save up some more to pay towards the loan to my brother with the hope that I can be almost debt free by next summer. Well other then my loan to my dad but he has told me to just keep paying him £100 a month repayment (he's also living off this with his occ pen) and if he dies (he's so morbid) before I finished  paying him back then so be it. I I'll probably put the credit card repayments towards saving up the remainder of the loan at the time. I don't want to get back into bad habits but I do feel like it's more doable now. 

Sarahwithlove

March Plan of action. 

March is a busy month for me with lots of extras to pay for. I am off to football on Saturday with friends so that will be petrol costs and dinner out. We usually take a packed lunch so we don't have to buy two meals but will also need to buy a drink in pub no doubt, soft ones for me as I am on driving duties but that's ok theres 4 of us going so will share petrol costs. 
Then its my future sister in laws hen do the following weekend, I shouldn't need to spend too much more as I will get my deposit back from the afternoon tea and we have already paid for bowling. 
Its also my 8 weekly hair appointment next week, last one before wedding. Then it's the actual wedding, gotta pay for the hotel room that night, also £5 extra for my false lashes and drinks on the night. The key is to reduce my wasteful spending on junk food during the week and no more takeaways. 

Sarahwithlove

I also forgot to say that my housemate increased her rent this month, so a month earlier then i thought she would so that's been a help. Especially as i had an update from my gas and electric company to say my direct debit will be increasing, so that's the first of many to come I am sure. My tv package deal ends at end of April so going to start negotiations with them soon as I have been on and priced up a variety of different options but current provider offer best broadband in my area so if they can match price it then will stay with them. 

Sarahwithlove

Sometimes it becomes really easy to focus on the things you haven't been doing well rather than those you have. So I'm going to focus on the good things I did in February and carry them forward to March. 
- only had two takeaway coffees, one was with a friend.
- I have started meal planning around whats in my cupboards and writing a shopping list.
-I have signed up for a downloaded my doctors surgery app so now I do a prescription renewal more often using my prepaid card rather then paying for it over counter which usually costs me more.
- I have started to say no and prioritise the things I want to do in my spare time.
- I have started being a passenger more often. Especially on little local journeys, not so sure if will do same with longer ones. Mostly because my back can't cope with being sat low down in a car. Hence why mine is a small SUV for just me.
- I cashed in my first £5 on survey site and signed up for two more. The apps make some of them much easier
-I have been hot in scanning my receipts for the extra bonus points you get if you do it on the same day. My first payment from zipzero went across OK, only did £1 to test it. Now once my pending has finished I will have another £5 to send.
- I contacted my mobile phone company and said was struggling and got a discount on my remaining few months contract with them. When September comes round I will be going onto a sim only.

My goals for March 
- to test/charge all old electronics before taking them to be traded in.
- ebay/fb sell clothes that don't fit and are BNWT.
- start a packed lunch challenge for myself.
- no takeaways
I'm sure i will think of some more. 

Chrystal

What a lovely optimistic post... that is the attitude that will take you forward in the right frame of mind.  And what a fantastic month of achievements.  Well done you. 

Sarahwithlove

Chrystal said:

What a lovely optimistic post... that is the attitude that will take you forward in the right frame of mind.  And what a fantastic month of achievements.  Well done you. 

Thanks I think when you're starting the journey you will have hiccups and it becomes easy to focus on them rather than the good you have done. 

Sarahwithlove

I'm happy to announce that I have been given a free year of YNAB thanks to my apprenticeship. I also have 20 days  left on my free trial so it's just over a year in total. Which is fab because I feel like I can make such a difference in that time with my budgeting and debt busting. 

Sarahwithlove

Just a quick one from me tonight as had a hectic day. My housemate was due to fly today with the company that has gone bust so been helping her rearrange that to tomorrow afternoon. I also discovered that my car windscreen has a crack in it on the passengers side. So I have contacted glass repair people my insurance recommend so that's going to be £75 in excess to pay. That's pretty much going to wipe out my car funds so gonna need to replenish them next month if want to be back on track for MOT in October. I've had an advisory for 3 years in a row which garage has told me to hold off on but think this year it could be they need doing. Something to do with brakes so don't want to risk it too ouch. I also think clutch might be on its way out as well. 🙈 Why is it when I finally think I'm getting sorted something else happens! Never mind. At least it won't be another £75 going onto the credit card. 

db2016

re the crack / chip, if its small, you can buy kits to do it yourself. its nothing more than a liquid and some curing agent to harden. a RAIN X kit is £10 and even a quick google shows halfords do it for £30.

surprised at the cost, usually chips are no charge (inc excess) repairs, or lower than that.
and depending on the location it can also be an MOT fail (i think its within a set radius of the drivers normal view).

floorspeed_2

db2016 said:

re the crack / chip, if its small, you can buy kits to do it yourself. its nothing more than a liquid and some curing agent to harden. a RAIN X kit is £10 and even a quick google shows halfords do it for £30.

surprised at the cost, usually chips are no charge (inc excess) repairs, or lower than that.
and depending on the location it can also be an MOT fail (i think its within a set radius of the drivers normal view).

db2016 is correct and I am sure you can follow  the instructions, a YouTube video would have been made.