Leaping from debt free to self employed

CreditCardJunkie

So I raided my EF to pay my car insurance annually...not exactly sure if this was the best idea but it will keep monthly costs down and as I am self employed I think it's best to keep monthly costs as low as possible. Also saves around £100 in paying it monthly!
March has been a rather spendy month so far with mother's day, birthdays, we bought new garden furniture (yet to arrive), replaced some fencing and bought some new plants for existing pots. I'm guessing the way things are going we will be staying at home a lot this summer. We've been working hard at the garden and it's given us a little focus as we're still in lockdown in Northern Ireland.

CreditCardJunkie

EF back up to £200, and a little buffer in my business account too. Business is ticking along just fine (touch wood, dare I say it). I have some potential clients in the pipeline and DH and I have debated whether I will go back to very part time job or not (whenever it reopens!). I honestly don't know how I managed working full time and running the business alongside when I came back from maternity leave. 

CreditCardJunkie

Been having a little moment of reflection, I've been personally debt free for almost 11months and still religiously use my spreadsheet. I'm opting for homemade food rather than takeaway as I know my budget is tight at the moment. I honestly feel like my husband and I have come on so far on this journey. 

Not much happening as things are only starting to open in NI today and next Friday. 

CreditCardJunkie

Decided not to return to very part time job. Business is ticking over nicely at the moment and I see a much better return from putting those hours into the business.
EF is down to a big fat 0, thank you doggo for that one 🙈 I do have a decent buffer in the business account but need to build my personal EF back up. 

SSTJCKel

Your in a really good position and sounds like the business is coming alone well. Brilliant position from which to go forward and build your debt free lives.

CreditCardJunkie

SSTJCKel said:

Your in a really good position and sounds like the business is coming alone well. Brilliant position from which to go forward and build your debt free lives.

Thank you so much 😊

CreditCardJunkie

I haven't really talked much about my little savings pots.
I'm still using prolific and aiming for £30 a month which I'm stashing in a monzo pot for next years holiday spending money.
We're saving for Christmas religiously each month so are halfway to our goal already.
I do budget for birthday's but desperately need another pot for unexpected birthdays...our LO is almost 2 and has got 2 unexpected birthday party invites for June.
I also got an unexpected windfall that covers 6 months expenses. I have it tucked away for a rainy day should work quieten down.

CreditCardJunkie

Tucked £100 in my personal EF to start building it back up again. June has been a super spendy month. Really need to rein it in, although I feel like we barely spent anything while we were clearing debt so we've had a major blow out since things have reopened. It's all paid for of course, but we need to get our heads down if we want to move to a bigger house in a few years.

CreditCardJunkie

Very spendy few months. Saving pots are all on target, have an absolute EF for incase business dries up but would like a personal EF for unexpected vet bills etc.

Once August is over we are battening down the hatches on the socials and spending as I feel we may be in for a rocky winter this year.

CreditCardJunkie

Still plodding along working for myself, still debt free. Have just started a post graduate degree. Life on the other side of debt allows for so many more opportunities. Hopefully this will motivate someone to keep going on their debt free journey 💪