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“Debt is normal. Be weird.”

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  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 23 January at 5:07PM
    Thanks @LzzyIsGod - I think the thought of maternity leave was definitely a big factor in scaring me back to this diary!  Also agree with the importance of meal planning.  If there are weeks when I don't do it for whatever reason, our food bill is typically DOUBLE!! :astonished:
    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Update on yesterday's spends...

    DH came back from Mr T £20.64 lighter - turns out nit treatment is not cheap!  However, some of that was spent on some multipacks of Cadbury's creme eggs - seems he was listening when I was moaning about my cravings earlier so hard to be mad at him for the extra spending!  Plus I got creme eggs out of it without the guilt!  Used his Monzo card for this which he has arranged to round up spends into the car maintenance pot (somewhere we always seems to need a bit extra).  Only started doing round ups this year but pot already has an extra £20ish in it so seems to be worth it :)

    Later in the evening, DH also spent £7.98 on Am@zon for some replacement phone chargers - necessary but annoying spend.  We're trying to use Am@zon a lot less after watching the Buy Now documentary on Netflix (would totally recommend if you haven't seen it) - if only it wasn't so damn convenient!! 

    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Unexpected day off today as DD2 has been unwell and off school.  Meant that I could catch up with some housework and check out Prolific (haven't been as on it with the surveys as I should be).  Have £6.93 pending from surveys today but more still available so that number may go up later!

    As I've been home, I had a quick rummage through the fridge to check what we have that needs using up (food waste is my biggest bugbear!).  Finished some leftover veggie chilli for lunch plus the last of some Greek yoghurt with frozen berries as a snack.  Noticed that we have half a yellow and red pepper leftover from DD2's cooking lesson at school this week - will use these up tonight in a ratatouille for me and DH to go with some grilled halloumi (one of the world's greatest creations in my opinion! :yum: ).

    Kids are all having pizza for tea as DD1 has some friends over and this just makes it that much easier to manage.  DH has also appeared home with a bagful of snacks, I assume in an effort to keep the teens quiet!  Will interrogate him later about spending but I feel it was probably justified! 

    No plans for me to spend anything else today but know I need fuel tomorrow.  Might fill up as the new budget starts on Monday and this would give me a head start (I know I'd be spending the same amount regardless but it still makes me feel better!). 
     
    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
  • Catlady2025
    Catlady2025 Posts: 59 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper
    I just wanted to check in and say hi! Congratulations on your baby news!

    I've seen a lot of people come and go to the forums and often they come back with more debt than before - so I think you should be really pleased with yourself about that! 

    I use the app 'PetrolPrices' before I fill up. A lot of the time there's one or two places that have fuel a few pence cheaper. (as long as it isn't too far out of my normal way.) If they are, sometimes I just go to the nearest Lidl/Aldi to it and feel a bit better about driving a few minutes more than I would normally. 

    Which plan is your student loan on? I try to ignore it tbh because I know I'll never pay it off! 

    Keep up the great work! x
  • LzzyIsGod
    LzzyIsGod Posts: 378 Forumite
    100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I hate food waste too, if I have any leftover fresh peppers i chop them up and freeze them in reusable bags. They don't clump together and defrost fine and don't go slimey like the frozen pepper bags you get from supermarkets.

    Nov/Dec 24  £39 564

    July 25  £34 531
  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    @LzzyIsGod Can't say I've ever opted to do that with peppers - I do worry about the aforementioned sliminess!  Will give it a try next time though.  Incidentally, the ratatouille I made tonight got a big thumbs up from DH - surprising given that usually he has to cover any and all foods in hot sauce before consuming! :lol:

    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thanks for the encouragement @Catlady2025!  I'll take a look at the PetrolPrices app - not used it before but I've noticed that prices around where we live tend to be so variable.

    Pretty sure my student loan is on repayment plan 2 - I've worked out that I'll definitely be paying it all back given my income and job security, so would be a bonus to pay it off early.  Might even target this before the Natwest loan as the monthly contribution is almost double and I like the idea of having that as disposable income :)

    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Quick update on yesterday's spends...

    DH was very non-specific about his spending yesterday - "about £20" at Mr T for snacks and another £20 on fuel.  Not pushing him for exact figures as new budget not yet started and needing to keep him on side (he can get grumpy when he thinks I'm nagging him too much!). 

    I was hoping not to spend anything but then had an email about a school trip for DD2 - cue £25.90 making it's way out of my account.  

    Managed a few more surveys on Prolific (it's the only site I bother using now) - balance is now £16.95, plus I have a £15 survey that has been on my list for a while which I can hopefully allocate an hour to complete tonight.  When I cash out, it'll be going to our holiday pot on Monzo - not planning a big holiday this year but it might go towards a weekend break before baby arrives.  

    DH has been paid this morning (gets paid weekly) and has been very eager to move money to Monzo pots and Very.  Loving his enthusiasm but it has messed with my plans slightly - he does love to go rogue!  He's already paid a minimum payment of £14.16 to Very - I'll be getting him to send another £59.99 to pay off a BNPL item.  I'll be contributing more on my payday on Monday.  He's also added £50 to Monzo pots, split between the car insurance and Christmas pots.  That means I just need to send over £150 on Monday from my account, plus another £100 to split between the kids' pots. 

    We'll be doing our weekly shop this evening - have put together a meal plan and shopping list which we shouldn't need to deviate from.  Additional spend will be a birthday present for a friend of DD3 following a party invite.  Planned £10 for this but going to see what bargains I might find in B&M.  Will also be picking up a paint order from B&Q which is already paid for and, even better, made use of a 3 for 2 deal they had - saving of £22 not to be sniffed at!  It all feels very exciting after years of renting to finally be able to decorate how we like!  Paint we're collecting is for DD1 and DD2's bedrooms - hoping to get them done over the February half-term but not sure I can wait until then!! :smiley:

    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Argh!  Anytime DH opens his mouth these days, it always seems to be to tell me about something he's bought!! :rage:  I know he's trying because his most recent purchases have been bulk-buying laundry powder and toilet blocks on Am@zon, but he's very much in the habit of acting first and telling me about it later!  He's definitely of the mindset that it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission... :angry:

    Still, it probably sounds as though I'm being harsh on him since his intentions are so pure - WRONG!!  As well as the cleaning products, he spent £25 on two deodorant sticks.  £25!!  On DEODORANT!!  Am I the only person to think that amount is excessive?!  It took every bit of control I had to calmly ask him to maybe consider a cheaper alternative next time, whilst simultaneously restraining myself from throwing my own £1.50 deodorant at his head!  Still, at least it means there is room for improvement and money to be saved in the future - trying very hard to find the silver lining...

    Other than that, the rest of the weekend spending has been reasonable.  Spent £67.16 for main shop at L!dl - saved £8.44 with coupons which included 10% off (cue smug face).  Another £40 was spent at B&M - more than I had planned but DH found some tealights and wax melts that we needed for a better price than we've seen elsewhere.  Also had to get a present for DD3's friend - spent £9 from a £10 budget, though that extra £1 was quickly apprehended by DD3 who decided to add it to her own £2 budget in order to pick up a squishy Stitch toy for £3.  Sneaky, but difficult to argue with!!  Lastly, spent £20 on fuel for my car - DH had fuelled up his earlier in the week.

    Have got all my spreadsheets and notebooks ready to go with Proper Budget starting on payday tomorrow.  Also had DH pay £59.99 to his Very account so balance looking a bit better.  Will update signature once other payments are sent tomorrow.  Will mean being out of the £41k debt bracket and down to £40k - still a huge figure but psychologically much better!  Then will be under £40k the following month!! :smiley:

    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
  • browneyed_girl
    browneyed_girl Posts: 314 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Ooh!  Almost forgot to post about the best things!  Had £10 into my V!nted account for a sale last week - this has been added straight to our holiday pot.  I also have a total of £36.30 now pending on Prolific - will be moving this to the holiday pot also once the full balance clears.  That gives us nearly £200 in that pot just from this month's extra income :smile:

    We've decided we'll probably be using it to visit my best friend who is expecting her first baby at the end of May and annoyingly lives at the other end of the country!  Will likely book an AirBnB for a long weekend and would like our holiday pot to cover this as well as travel/food costs.  Thinking £500 is a reasonable figure to be aiming for.  After this, any contributions to the pot can be saved up for a holiday next year.  I don't foresee us going anywhere else this year with a newborn in tow!  

    Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
    Debt at highest = £62,842.59 (Dec 2018) - now £41,447.53 (14.07.25)
    Mortgage start Dec 2024 £247,069.59 - now £243,955.28
    Mortgage overpayment total = £300
    Emergency fund £1000/£2000
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