You'd think I'd have learnt by now

Couldsavemore

End of january update.
emergency fund/savings up to 1962
big bill down to 206
debt was down by £229 to 662
The food came £35 under budget.
Cash in the tim is uo to £100

Am hoping to get debt (cc and od) down to under 500 this month
Its a 4 week month so hoping for decent saving on food budget.

Also isolating this week and on holiday next week so fingers crossed will need less petrol next month.

Dredded mot and service on monday

moneyonmymindsam

Well done on your month update, amazing to save on the grocery shop.
😁🛒😉
Good to hear you have some holiday time off. 
Fingers crossed that Mot and service goes OK.
Sam 

Couldsavemore

Well my credit card has emailed me... just to let me know I have credit available... 
I know I have credit available.... what I'm working towards is not owing them money!
@moneyonmymindsam
mam did my food shop for £20 today. She's very much of the mind set... if its not on the list its not going in!
Hoping for bigger excess on the food budget this month.
How is your month going? Are you enjoying the frugal thread?

moneyonmymindsam

Isn't that funny that your cc emailed you, honestly it drives me mad that sort of thing. I Really used to take offence to my bank texting me to say you have £1.46 available until payday and offering me an overdraft.

Well I am tempted to spend or just have treats, buy nicer food "just to feel alive" but then I read a thread and someone has blown budget etc so their honesty keeps me on track.

I've brought more chocolate for the cupboard just in case I need it. All OK and savings intact for now all bills paid, just waiting to sell and buy house,still waiting for my driving test (last 3 cancelled) so feel a bit hemmed in.

Frustrated that everything is on hold but that is life.

Still have not heard if there is anything to payback for dwp or HMRC this has been going on since last August and to be honest I can't see where we should owe any money at all. Hopefully we will hear soon and that can be put to bed.

Not working at the moment stresses me but think is doing my health good. 
Sam 

Couldsavemore

I've just had my mortgage statement for the year.
I have been lucky enough to have worked all year and been able to pay it.
Only another 14 years and 4 months left to go!!🤣🤣
@moneyonmymindsam
The frugal people have the same effect on me... kind of makes me think twice.
Am also enjoying the NSD challenge... its saved me lots of little spends..
Also the PAYD by christmas... keeps me going. Am actually thinking of doung a small payment just so I can do a post!!
A new house sounds very exciting

Couldsavemore

Well.... let’s just say the MOT and service turned out a lot more expensive than was hoping for.
Luckily reading posts on here (started in October) meant I have a big bill account which covered the mot and service. The repairs came out of the emergency fund. So it was just annoying rather than desperate and stressful wondering where to find the 700 quid. 

So now back to building up the bill and saving account.

Food budget is going well this month
2 weeks of not driving my car means there will be spare money in next months budget
Also not been ‘silly’ at the start of the month with my money means bank balance looking healthier than normal.
Just need to wait it out till next month so see if I can squeeze another little payment for cc or lower the od.

Sarahwithlove

That's great you had the money saved. Just think this time last year it would have probably gone on a card. Well done. It is frustrating building the pot up and then seeing it depleted all in one go. I have to keep reminding myself it's what it's there for 🙈

Couldsavemore

@Sarahwithlove
Thanks, I find it harder to spend my savings than use a credit card...
Your debt repayments in your signature are impressive.
I’m finding it’s taking me a lot longer than I thought it would. I was all ‘ oh it won’t take long to pay of a grand’ what a mistake that was.

Sarahwithlove

Couldsavemore said:

@Sarahwithlove
Thanks, I find it harder to spend my savings than use a credit card...
Your debt repayments in your signature are impressive.
I’m finding it’s taking me a lot longer than I thought it would. I was all ‘ oh it won’t take long to pay of a grand’ what a mistake that was.

That's because it's your money when you use savings and it's someone else's when using a credit card. 

Maybe break it down into 1% and focus on doing that at a time. I found it helps rather than trying to do 1k a time. Helps keep motivated. 

Couldsavemore

WELL IT’s payday and for once... My account was in the black!

So as I’m debt snowballing... that’s the first one paid off! Now just need to not use it again. Second debt to attack is the cc debt... that’ll take a few months.