This time I'm sticking to it!

rdone

Just realised it's been a year since I first looked at this and started to take account for where our money was going.  What a difference a year has made!  I feel much more in control of what we are now doing and it's good to know where our money is.

Even though we haven't increased the amount we were putting towards our 0% cards what we have done is increased savings.  We now have an EF, a holiday account, a presents account, an insurance etc. account, a CC overpayment account and a house move account.  None of these existed last year.  With the amounts in them we could have paid the debt off in full and some but after a lot of discussion and going back and forth we decided that as the CC were at 0% we'd rather build the savings.

So right now we're at:
Natwest: £7180.17 (paid this month)
Sainsburys: £3131.93 (£150 to go on Friday)
CC Savings: £1930.45 (locked savings account that when matures will go straight to Sainsbury's card)

Once the CC savings accounts matures in June that will all go towards Sainsbury's card.  By my calculations the final payment on the Sainsbury's card should be August.  I'll then set up another savings account (looking around for the best rate I can based on the amount I want to pay in each month) where the surplus will go for the Natwest card.  I hope that makes sense?

All in all I'm pleased with where we are at and it's all heading in the right direction!  We have not increased our debt at all (except for mortgage but there's valid reasons, it's within our affordability and we're comfortable with it) in the last year and for that I'm happy.

rdone

Does anyone have a good recommendation for an app to manage the debt/budget?  I'm fed up of updating spreadsheets when I know there's something better out there!

joedenise

I use YNAB as do lots of people of here.  I've actually cleared all my debt but you can set up categories for the debts.  I am using a very old version which isn't supported any more.  The current version is an online one and you can try it Free for 34 days so might be worth a look.

rdone

Thanks @joedenise, I'll take a look at it.  Congratulations on being debt free!

rdone

I've been reading a few diaries this lunch time and feel inspired by the NSD that people seem to achieve.  I've failed at it already today but hoping today's determination falls over into tomorrow and the next day and the next day etc.!

Until I've proven to myself that I can do it I'm not going to join the challenge, the challenge will be a reward!

I got up early and was in town for 9 to take back some dresses to Primarni but when I got there I didn't have the reciept - I was convinced it was in the bag.  I also didn't have it in my purse so I have no idea where that has gone.  They won't take back without it   So now I have three dresses with tags, that are too big for me (I have lost weight and can't quite commit to buying a size down yet) and I can't return.  I'll put them on a selling site but even with the tags know I won't get back what I spent.  So annoyed at myself!

Other than that I only bought in town what I went in to purchase so I was proud of that.

Baileys_Babe

Is it worth spending 10 minutes or so this evening having a good look for the receipt, coat pocket, dressing table, regular paperwork dumping ground, in my house, this is the kitchen side? 

rdone

@Baileys_Babe I've spent some time this lunch time taking a look but unfortunately I'm an extremely tidy person so there's not many places to look!  I will take a look in a couple draws this evening but I know that when I got back from the shopping trip (it all came from a budgeted amount!) all receipts that I didn't need went into the recycling.  So I assume I mixed it up.

Baileys_Babe

Good luck you find this one time you slipped it into a drawer.

As you can probably tell I by nature am not a naturally tidy person 😏

rdone

Thank you @Baileys_Babe - I shall update you tomorrow/later!  I even phoned my mum to check if she had it as we shopped together that day but no such luck.

rdone

£150 DD gone out and to the Sainsbury's card.  Takes that one under 3k now which is very exciting to see!

I've checked more places for the receipts, the draws I sometimes stuff things into when we've had house viewings and the shopping bags I took with me that day - no luck unfortunately.  My last attempt is to sort the cupboard under the stairs (which desperately needs doing) so there's still a little hope.

Otherwise I'll wait until we move house in a few weeks to put them up, just in case I find it in the packing.

Apart from that I have work and a cycle to do today.  Didn't sleep very well last night so might squeeze a nap in, DH needs to go to the pharmacy so we're going to enquire about spare vaccines - fingers crossed!