Clearing my debts 1% at a time

londoner2019

Just catching up with your diary - you're nearly there! That Very will be gone soon and then it's just one remaining debt to put all your focus on. Phenomenal achievement - but also, you're doing so well with budgeting, which is more impressive than the debt numbers coming down - that's for your long-term future and will put you in a great position for when you get to put things in savings pots.

Aimingforthegoodlife

Making some good progress, hope you make your target and enjoy the cinema!

Rud0lf

Payday means I can make my main payments for the month so: 
Bank of mum £2300
Very £70
On track to be debt free just before the end of 2024. 

Rud0lf

Hate wishing my life away but this month cant end soon enough, work has been manic, two weeks left until half term and some nice family time. Even the boys are struggling with the fact there are two weeks left.

It will also mean I get to see the back of very and will get into the next bracket in what I owe mum, this will be down to £1500. Slowly but surely edging towards my debt free date still on track to do be debt free by the end of the year.

I've also put in my application to move up the pay scale which should be successful and would see me about £180 a month better off once the pay increase has been applied too. 

Looking forward to increasing the savings next year, saving for the long term but also for another big holiday. Wanting to get some balance, enjoying some of the benefits from working so hard now as well as in the future.

Rud0lf

Haven't checked in for a little while but the budget is going well. I have money in the holiday account for next week's trip and an extra £80 to last me until Sunday. I'll need to top up petrol for our long drive but have a full tank at the moment so won't need much fuel. Need to take some breakfast foods and snacks with us but not too much as we are going in my small car so don't have much space for luggage.

I'll be able to do the money shuffle while we're away but not completely sure where we will have internet access so might not post an update until I'm back.

UPS application was successful and I've decided as I have a plan for savings already I'm going to use this to save towards another big holiday possibly America. It will take a few years but will be a great experience for us all and we definitely need a balance between being set up for retirement and enjoying life while we are fit and able.

Feeling a lot more positive right now which is probably as I only have three days to get through until half term and family fun.

Rud0lf

Another default has now dropped of, 3 left to go which will be gone by next April.

Rud0lf

Very has been cleared and bank of mum is now at £1470, on track to be debt free by the end of the year 🎉

vampirotoothus

Fab job, well done. V x

Rud0lf

Interest has been paid to my chase accounts today which I have transferred to bank of mum so £30 closer to being completely debt free. Have also managed to make it to the last day of our holiday with money left over, this will be reallocated into pots. I'll decide exactly where once I'm home. 

Managed to find the trainers the eldest wants for Christmas on sale here and the exchange rate through chase is also good so instead of £170 which is outrageous they were a few pence under £127 which is still awful for a pair of shoes. These are his main gift from Santa and being autistic they have to be those exact ones or there is no point getting any. I have managed to get him to the age of 12 wearing supermarket clothing and the cheapest branded trainers at about £25 a pair so I don't mind too much.

I'm glad he's starting to choose the way he wants to dress and finding his own identity. I'm also glad he knows that any expensive clothing etc has to be a gift or saved for as he used to want everything instantly and would become really distressed when he couldn't have something. It was really hard putting those boundaries in place when he was younger but since my lightbulb moment almost 6 years ago I've known I needed to change this so he didn't get himself into my situation as an adult. 

This is the first year I've managed to budget properly for Christmas too so both boys now have their main gifts bought and stocking fillers. I've also bought most of the eldest other gifts from family etc. youngest is easily pleased but has asked father Christmas for a ps5. Up until this year he's always had a second hand older console but he's desperate for this and it's all he's talked about for months so we've decided to cave and get him one but have explained that father Christmas won't be able to bring many other gifts as he has lots of children to buy or make toys for. This will probably be the last year he believes too so it will be extra magical for me. He will be happy with some teddies or sweets etc. he has only put three things on his list, the ps5 a mystery football kit and a chocolate orange. 

Rud0lf

Almost half way through the month and budget is on track. Pleased that this month I've managed to keep tight control of money. The boys gifts are almost finished as are the great niece and nephews. Only other gifts are token gifts for adults so will be covered by next month's gift pot budget. 

Still on track to be debt free by the end of the year and have managed to cover most of the expense of renewing theme park passes, the rest will be covered by back pay due this month with the rest paying for my hair to be coloured and staff night out spends without feeling guilty. 

I'm expecting some back pay this month which I've already allocated and then some more next month which I'm not sure what budget area to allocate to yet, maybe the beginning of the next big holiday savings.

Still planning to save for short term and long term savings but extra money in the budget will go to our holiday fund as I'd love to go and visit another part of America, this will take around 3 years to save for.