My Debt Free Diary: Virgo In Pursuit
Debt-Busting Progress: 2020: £13,200 | 2020: £9,200 | 2021: £4,900
2022: ongoing
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Hazelnutty's recover and rebuild plan for a happier, simpler life!
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Just needed to make some headway on my squares so cashed out £6.79 balance on Prolific and topped it up to £30 (half-square, which is easy on a dotgrid layout) with tilly-tidying all the virtual pots down to round numbers
OK it's just a baby step but at least I'm underway!
Choose kind3 -
Hi Hazelnutty
Just read your diary. Sounds like you're making great headway!
Have bookmarked to keep following1 -
Hey, been following along and dipping in and out of your updates. You seem to be doing really well, I love the journaling idea but I am only just dipping my toes in to the journal world at the minute...never knew it was so popular. I will be following for tips ha!. Keep up the great work debt busting0
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Hey @30s_Suffolk_Lass & @FootyFanDan thank you so much for stopping by and following
It's always great to hear someone's out there reading your posts!
FFD: I'm pretty new to journalling too and can only look in awe at some of the artistic spreads out there! I do love my stationery though so getting to use my journal and hoard of pens and other bits is great (I have had to unsubscribe from the Cultpens newsletter though as it's my nemesis) I've found this month that being rigorous in noting down every spend has meant I've made fewer purchases even under the virtual pots where I technically have capacity to buy things. Just the fact I have to be accountable to my journal has reined in my spending. Well, I say that, it did until some retail therapy in the last few days
30SL: Thanks! The diary has really helped. Even when I've had a blip (e.g. last few days) I know I have to come back on here and 'fess up so I (hopefully) won't slide too far down the slippery slope!
Latest news:- DD's end of primary celebrations ended up being a little more spendy than I'd hoped but worth it I think. Her dad barely acknowledged the milestone, or her brilliant end-of-year report, so I'm glad I made a bit of a fuss. All covered by pots.
- Gone over budget on food but look set to be at/under on other budgets this month (get paid Wednesday). It's the little top-ups at the Coop that seem to nudge the spending up so need to look at that for future ref.
- Target was over 10 NSDs. Currently on 8, today should be 9. Might squeak 10 tomorrow?!
- Another half-square cleared on the M&S CC (£30)
Choose kind2 -
Good to hear from you again!
I definitely know the feeling of having to stop myself for buying any more pens or anything journal-related. I might try that savings squares you're doing to be a bit more visual on my savings pot.
Looking forward to your next post. Good luck!
PS: I'm looking at money journal layouts as we speak
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As you have a job I would use your work pension for tax relief instead of saving in the stocks and shares isa.
I would also suggest you consider not saving that extra money that you are currently putting in the ISA and using it to help cover your mum repayments.
Hope these ideas help.Debt at highest: £8k. Debt Free 31/12/2009. Original MFD May 2036, MF Dec 2018.1 -
katsu said:As you have a job I would use your work pension for tax relief instead of saving in the stocks and shares isa.
I would also suggest you consider not saving that extra money that you are currently putting in the ISA and using it to help cover your mum repayments.
Hope these ideas help.
I haven't finished the building work on the house, re-established my safety net fund or begun serious saving towards replacing my car. So I can't immediately see the point of changing any arrangement, especially with my pension, while those things haven't been sorted.Choose kind2 -
If you want to save long term, which stocks and shares should be, a pension is more tax efficient than saving into an ISA from your take home pay. There will be main site articles by Martin and info in the pension form here if you want to look at that and learn more.
Alternatively if you are struggling to find the money to meet your mum's preferred level of repayment maybe don't save that amount into the S&S ISA but use it for repayments for now.
Debt at highest: £8k. Debt Free 31/12/2009. Original MFD May 2036, MF Dec 2018.1 -
anjyeah said:Good to hear from you again!
I definitely know the feeling of having to stop myself for buying any more pens or anything journal-related. I might try that savings squares you're doing to be a bit more visual on my savings pot.
Looking forward to your next post. Good luck!
PS: I'm looking at money journal layouts as we speak
Choose kind3 -
katsu said:If you want to save long term, which stocks and shares should be, a pension is more tax efficient than saving into an ISA from your take home pay. There will be main site articles by Martin and info in the pension form here if you want to look at that and learn more.
Alternatively if you are struggling to find the money to meet your mum's preferred level of repayment maybe don't save that amount into the S&S ISA but use it for repayments for now.Choose kind1
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