The Last Leg; 6 years later, debt free in 2021

Mumoffourkids

Cushion sounds lovely. I’m so much less motivated to clean during lockdown. I think it’s because I find that my kids being at home more, means more for me to tidy and clean. Now they are back at school, I feel completely overwhelmed with the house. I tried to doing a quick once over on the whole house each day but it’s too much, so I’m going back to doing one room a day, then catch up at the weekend.

greensalad

Yeah I think two of us being constantly in the house makes cleaning harder.

I did the majority of the living room today. Under the sofa cushions and all, dusted everywhere, but we are out of furniture polish so I've added it to the shopping list. Other than that it looks neat.

Kitchen have been staying on top of.

Dining room is a tip because I'm still re-organising. Just bagged up all the textile waste and put it in our downstairs loo for now because the recycling lot aren't collecting textiles at the moment (and nor is the tip taking it). Got a Freecycler coming tomorrow to pick up a bag of stationary bits. Got another two parcels of craft stuff sold to take to the postie tomorrow. Need to photograph all my scrap fabrics along with a tape measure so I can sell them (though I might try and cut a few masks out of some of the nicer ones before I send them on!)

Hoping the coffee lady will be running tomorrow. We have a lady with a coffee van for events who has been out of work on lockdown so has been running her mobile coffee van from her drive. Proper made lattes! Good price too and a real treat once a week. 

It's almost 2am, I better get to bed!

enthusiasticsaver

Inspiring story and good luck on getting rid of those last bits of debt and good team work from you and your boyfriend. Lots of people rate YNAB highly and I am glad you have found a budget which seems to work for you.

Interesting on how a high income doesn't fix debt problems on its own. Sometimes it is spending behaviour which causes debt and not low income as most people think. You have turned it round though so hopefully you now face a bright financial future. I have saved loads over lockdown too. I have subscribed to see the last leg of your journey and roll on next Feb when you will be debt free (or summer if you include your boyfriends debt). 

greensalad

Painted the other side of the shelves, now to wait another 16 hours for it to dry! Such an annoyance. I'm used to using water based paints that dry so much faster. 

Bread and butter for lunch I think as that's all we've got in. 

Just sold a bundle of fabrics for £16, postage shouldn't be too much so a good profit. 

greensalad

Going through my budget today and thought I should write down here what my debts are for posterity. I say I've only got £2,999 but in reality that's the credit card. I actually have a few very small debts that I'm less concerned about but should still be listed. 

£2,999 Virgin Money credit card, 0% until next Feb
£126.36 Emma mattress, three more payments left
£123.98 smart watch bought through company scheme, I paused repayments due to COVID. Once I'm off furlough I'll start it again, it comes out of my paycheque and there are 6 payments left
£5,499 boyfriend's MBNA, 0% until January 2022

greensalad

Sky paid out, another £45 in the bank. Money is looking really good this month. Payday is next Friday, normally I'd be skint by now.

I did have a splurge yesterday. Went onto M&S website because I am in need of new pyjamas and ended up buying a trench coat. Ugh I just couldn't resist. 50% off for a gorgeous pale pink trench coat, it was £25. I don't need it but I really love it, so I'll just have to live in the 3 corporate t-shirts I've been wearing to bed for the past year. Very stylish I know. 

Kakiste

I mean it is spending, but it shows how much you've changed your mind set that you're hand wringing over £25.

greensalad

Very true! And I'm not worse off except for having to live with the holey PJs for a few months more 

greensalad

Ocado came late last night. Unfortunately the pesto we were supposed to have with our pasta had gone off but I was able to resist temptation of getting a takeaway instead and went down to the shop and bought oven pizza so that was a nice Friday night treat. 

I'm going to attempt to have as many NSDs as I can between now and payday on Thursday. I won't be able to today as I have some parcels I need to drop off at the postie but the rest of the week I should be able to.

greensalad

Didn't manage a No-Spend today as I went to Tesco to get butter we forgot to buy, oh well. Hopefully the next 3 should be NSD. I am hoping to end the month with £250 in the bank, I've currently got £267 so if I do NSD from now until Thursday I should come in above target! This could make the different between Debt Free (personal) by the end of the year rather than February, which would be amazing as it would mean I could be debt free before I turn 30 and enter my 30s in a purely positive financial position, how great would that be?

I also have a really bad cold. Yesterday was horrible, today isn't as bad. I have sinus problems from childhood so mild colds tend to hit me hard with congestion. Yesterday I couldn't breathe through my nose at all and it was red and sore from dripping all day. Today I have a little sore throat and sore ear drums but it seems to be going away. At least it's not corona!

Finished putting shelves in my sewing cupboard, it was a right palaver but they're in! Ideally I'd like another shelf on the bottom but after the drama of getting this one in I think I'll wait a while... at least until my boyfriend forgets the issues and is more willing to help me haha. But really the better solution would be I reduce what I have in there so I have less need for another shelf.

House is slowly getting tidier. Last night before bed I did a quick go-round of the kitchen and the living room (the two rooms I am trying to keep on top of) and it didn't take too long and kept them tidy. Bedroom, spare room and dining room still a mess but the new shelves are helping. 

Cooking a roast at the moment, BF is making a mushroom & goat's cheese wellington which I'm excited for. Going to watch a movie from our jar tonight (we each put 25 films in). Bring on the rest of the week.