Leaping from debt free to self employed

CreditCardJunkie

Wow its been a busy few months! Been enjoying all the freedom being self employed brings. Finances are still in order, savings doing well, debt still 0! 

CreditCardJunkie

Havent been on the site in so long! Having a little look around to see who's still around that I remember!

Debt still 0 👍

Business has been a bit quieter than this time last year, and I haven't been saving as hard as I should. We did go on holiday which was lovely! Now just to see what days out we can do frugly for the rest of the summer! Difficult as we do have to drive to get to most places and fuel is so high! Hope everyone is managing OK!

enthusiasticsaver

Good that you are still debt free and that you managed a holiday.  I will be eyeing up free days out for the grandchildren over the summer too. As you say fuel costs are high so we shall be using public transport if possible. 

CreditCardJunkie

Soon we'll be beginning a new chapter! Baby no2 is due next year, having been through maternity leave and cleared debt while doing so we're we'll equipt to stay out of debt. Although there really wont be much of a maternity leave, otherwise id have no business to go back to.

The rising cost of living (and particularly gas) does concern me so I'll be dipping in and out of here to keep myself on the right track.

We knew baby no2 was inevitable at some point so I'm glad we've kept everything! Some things will be gender dependent but we'll cross that bridge once we find out!

CreditCardJunkie

Challenge for September is to stay within the grocery budget! This is something we struggle with as a family, especially as for the last 2 months we've been shopping daily at the petrol stations as my morning (noon and night) sickness has made it impossible to meal plan and ridiculously expensive. I've done an online shop for this week and stayed within the budget.

CreditCardJunkie

A little update...baby no2 is a boy! I've been flat out selling all our little girls clothes (I'd kept absolutely everything) on vinted and I'm using any funds from there to buy clothes for the new baby.

I've completed my post graduate degree and am just waiting on the final marks coming through. 

Business has been busy (touch wood) and we've been saving as much as we can in preparation for the tough winter ahead.

I've found the habits I got from clearing debt haven't left me, we live quite simply and have adapted with the rising costs. I'm no longer using the tumble dryer, using the slow cooker or airfryer instead of the oven etc. I hope everyone is managing OK in these challenging times!

CreditCardJunkie

Just a little update.

- Still struggling with the grocery budget. It's way too high for the size of our family and we really need to address this in the new year

- Savings are going well, we've a nice little cushion that we're hoping to use as a deposit for another house when the market settles (if it does)

- Pregnancy going well, everything organised and ready for baby coming. Anything additional we needed I bought with the money from selling my little girls old clothes on vinted

Hope everyone is doing well and you all have a lovely Christmas!

I_Love_comps

Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year@CreditCardJunkie.  Best Wishes for the new arrival.  Keep spending as little as possible. 

enthusiasticsaver

Great to hear from you. Congrats on baby number 2. Glad self employment working out and you still debt free. I was going to say when do you go on maternity leave but I guess it is different with self employment. Will it be easy to continue working as you get closer to due date or will your income drop? Obviously don’t out yourself by giving away what you do. 

joedenise

Merry Christmas to you and glad the pregnancy is going well.  Brilliant that your are still debt free and now have savings due to your change of habits built during debt clearance.  Long may it continue.