Becoming a Frugal Dougal 8 October 2020 at 3:30PM in Debt free diaries 34 replies 2.6K views

DougalDoo

Evening, DF Diarists! This week has not been a good one for unexpected costs, as several yearly payments for my professional registration and union membership have been debited from my account which made me feel a bit out of control as they weren’t in my workings. I did the totting up tonight and I should be okay though and have a small margin for error. 

On the plus side, we are still going strong on our 29.66 Lidl shop (okay MIL is bringing us some chocolate tomorrow) and have made my first £10 from surveys which will be added to my rolling fund of extra pennies to be added on to debt snowball payments.

Kantankrus_Mare

Following your journey and just wanted to wish you the best in becoming debt free. I can imagine after the week you've had you are feeling more than a little despondent. Regarding the yearly unexpected fees.......at least you will be prepared for them next year. The car thing is annoying but these things happen and at least you know it should be ok for another year.
Had to laugh at the delivery of chocolate. Every thing feels a bit better with chocolate. 
If you are doing all your shopping at Lidl, have you got the Lidl plus app? You get an initial £5 off and then if you scan every time you go, you can get money off vouchers, scratch cards and the possibility of another £10 off a month with a qualifying spend. Not a fortune but it all helps.

DougalDoo

Thank you @Kantankrus_Mare for your kind words! & yes I absolutely do have the Lidl plus app which is a great idea, it’s what persuaded me to get started there instead of Aldi! In the first few weeks I was still spending around £60 but the real game changer for me was meal planning, making a list, and working my way round the shop backwards so I collect what I need from the freezer first rather than being tempted by the ready meals/pizzas etc first. Strange psychology but it works! 

If you are doing all your shopping at Lidl, have you got the Lidl plus app?

Kantankrus_Mare

Good girl!!!  As Ive got older, I refuse to buy from anywhere that isnt cheaper than elsewhere, or offer me some sort of incentive such as points, discount or freebies. I love a bargain and get a kick out of getting something for nothing no matter whether its a few pence or a bigger amount. My Nanna, when she was alive, never had a lot of money but she always managed and her saying of "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves" So true!!
We rent out a property which hopefully will give us a little nest egg when we retire. A few years ago, we had a bad tenant who just stopped paying the rent. Luckily he left of his own accord before we had to go down the eviction route but when he had gone we had to clear up loads of his belongings which he had just left everywhere. In the bedroom, there was loads of loose change just strewn across the floor. It added up to less than a tenner but i remember thinking that anyone who has no respect for money, doesnt deserve to have any. He is probably still moving about from rental to rental and will never have anything. I just dont understand that mindset but anyway, made me happy adding that "shrapnel" to my change pot ready to bank. 

savingmore

have subscribed and will follow your journey with interest, and cheers along the way.   you will quote quickly, if not already come to live the buzz of frugaldom and budgeting and saving.  one thing i noticed isyou said you are squirrelling away a payment for a credit.  if you are waiting for the monthly payment, don’t!!!  smack it right onto to yr credit card and reduce yr interest further.  every penny does count.  one you save today, you don’t have to find tomorrow😀😀

DancingInTheRain

Good luck on your debt free journey 🍀 I'm also a fan of paying little extras to the credit card immediately rather than saving up and doing monthly. It becomes really addictive seeing how the odd few pounds add up!

DougalDoo

Thank you @DancingInTheRain and @savingmore 🤗 I just made my first £10 on surveys so I will do!! 

DougalDoo

Weekly shop just done for £35, which is cheating I suppose as MIL bought us about 5 varieties of chocolate! Really hope we can keep this up as it would nearly half our shopping budget for the month meaning another £100 in the kitty. 

Outside light needed a new bulb which I found for £1 and then when we got to the shop actually found we needed a £3 one. I must be becoming tight as I was quite annoyed at the extra £2! 

DougalDoo

First credit card paid off tonight as hubs had some unexpected leftover in his current account and £100 switching cash. I will have to update my signature thingy. Budget updated to reflect less grocery spend and get the snowball rolling. 

I should feel pleased but to be honest I feel a bit flat as had a rubbish couple of days health wise and know we could be paying this off so much faster if I could get back to work. 

juicyjackieb

Stopping by to say well done for tackling your debt by the horns, I’ve subscribed 🙂