Picked up the courage - DFD Sept 2025

SuperSavingD

Blackcats said:

Potatoes on toast ? Ha ha .  Good bargains.  All useful stuff.  I could eat an Oreo doughnut with my cuppa right now.  

You will soon make progress on the debt - keep chipping away at it (that wasn't actually meant to be a potato related pun but .....)

Haha love it.  If you need any potatoes let me know 😂

t2rry

Hi SuperSavingD!  Thanks for commenting on my diary, it brought me here and I love your approach, subscribed!

Totally with you on the talking to yourself part too, I have two - DS & DD, still blaming their ages for not listening but I know that's a lie I tell myself to suggest it will get better one day

Also making soup from potato peels today, after batch cooking cottage pies yesterday!  Because waste no more!!! 

SuperSavingD

t2rry said:

Hi SuperSavingD!  Thanks for commenting on my diary, it brought me here and I love your approach, subscribed!

Totally with you on the talking to yourself part too, I have two - DS & DD, still blaming their ages for not listening but I know that's a lie I tell myself to suggest it will get better one day

Also making soup from potato peels today, after batch cooking cottage pies yesterday!  Because waste no more!!! 

All the small wins and savings really do add up.  I paid off over 12k this year, then got myself into more but with Covid thought we need more fun as you never know what’s round the corner.  Problem is as soon as I took on the debt I straight away wanted it gone, so mission now is to save where possible to clear it.

My kids do have selective hearing but always manage to hear when I’m offering out treats 🤣🤣.  Must admit though they have been little stars this year not asking for much, they all know I’m saving to clear debt but once it’s gone we can all have more fun money.  Just hope we both get bonuses next year to help speed it up, if not it may take a while but I’ll get there.

Have subscribed to your diary also 👍

SuperSavingD

Paying off debt currently on hold whilst I save for the £425 under payment of Electric/Gas that I’ve recently being landed with.  Had another £20 from sales today so now at £241 just £184 left then I can continue with Xmas/Debt repayments.  Won’t be spending this weekend just tackling a few house jobs and dog walks.

Third of Xmas presents purchased so not too worried, can get more on payday 15th.

SuperSavingD

Debt update:
September cleared 656.75 😀.  

Won’t be much next month unless our little holiday gets cancelled. 

enthusiasticsaver

At least the debt was for something tangible like a caravan rather than general overspending.  Hopefully you will save on holidays with it especially at the moment where travelling abroad is problematic.  Great that you are already below £15k.  Difficult time of year to overpay with Christmas not far away.  You seem pretty organised already though if you have already paid for a third of the presents. 

SuperSavingD

enthusiasticsaver said:

At least the debt was for something tangible like a caravan rather than general overspending.  Hopefully you will save on holidays with it especially at the moment where travelling abroad is problematic.  Great that you are already below £15k.  Difficult time of year to overpay with Christmas not far away.  You seem pretty organised already though if you have already paid for a third of the presents. 

Thank you.  Here’s hoping next year it will pay off.  The fees are high at just over £3k, so need to save for that also.  Just hoping I haven’t over committed ourselves, but me and hubby spend very little on ourselves.

Just had a call from the holiday company and we can cancel if we wish.  So going to discuss and decide what to do.

SuperSavingD

Decision made to cancel the holiday and awaiting a refund. Once received I’m hoping to pay this off the loan.  

I now have the £425 gas/electric shortfall from using some of the holiday spends.  I’ve kept £400 to one side for us to enjoy during the school hols for spending on fun stuff (if we’re allowed out).

Now back to focusing on loan overpayments.  Will need caravan insurance, but think I will fund from EF then top that back up.  I had overlooked insurance.  This caravan is working out very expensive but if we have a few years fun and spend all our annual leave there next Summer then it should work out less costly.  Just need this loan paid off to free up some additional  funds.  

Trying to decide whether to change bank accounts for myself and DH.  £250 not bad return but not sure I can handle the hassle and if it will mess up payments.  I’m on my mobile banking most days.  Plus as our account has features like breakdown cover (plus others), but that costs us £25pm that I could save.  That’s £300 per year.  Wonder how much Breakdown cover per year is?  Need to do some research and report back.

SuperSavingD

Feeling absolutely fleeced for cash.  In the last couple of days spent £269 (Originally £330), caravan insurance (payed using EF - need to replace).  The electric company called and we gave them meter readings again and they said we actually owed £690, payed using the £425 saved and the rest from the EF.  Then school pics £30, bits of shopping £50.  Role on pay day on Thursday.  Also have £235 balance on the cc to clear over the next couple of months, luckily it’s interest free.

Blackcats

hi supersaving - there are times when it seems like it's one expense after another.  You can be pleased that you had the emergency fund though - you haven't added to a credit card or overdraft which is a great achievement.   Next week will be better 🤞