Trying to keep on top of it all.Busy,crazy ,life!

Catty89

Had some 'big' changes recently. I have decided to go back to uni which after 6 months will see my wages rising quite considerably. I'm not sure exactly the wage but I think at least £3 -£5 an hour more with alot more room for progression. My husband has also been asked to start a degree at his work which he would do alongside his work so eventually that will be beneficial but I think is at least 3 years.

Our big loan is now at £10,650  which seems much more achievable and iv been managing to not use any credit for the past 12 months so I feel like I am finally getting on top of my money. I think when I do start earning more I will up my loan £100 a month or so and try and get it paid off quicker.

CL21

So great that you haven’t used any credit in a year! Paying off the money is brilliant but it’s the change in mindset which is the biggest bonus I think. Best of luck with uni and good news about the pay increase 🙂

Catty89

Things iv found have been really helping money wise-

I have kept my kids at there activities 
All 3kids at swimming lessons
DD1 has 3 dance classes
dd2 has 1 dance class 
DS has football training.

But basically we have almost entirely cut out softplays, meals out, trampoline parks etc.

It's actually saved so much time aswell as money.

We still go out on scooters or walk along the beach etc but now if we do go anywhere that costs it is actually rare. At Xmas we went to see a santa and on a santa train it cost nearly £50 and th kids really enjoyed it as it was quite rare
 Previous years we'd do that type of thing almost every weekend!
I honestly feel noone is missing going out all the time, the kids are enjoying playing with friends or board game/film nights. It's saved so much money.

I got a coffee machine for xmas and I have them instead of cost* etc. It's actually still pricey for the coffee pods but nothing like a takeaway coffee

For xmas my side of the family did secret santa so instead of buying mum , dad and sister a £50 present each we bought just our secret santa with a £25 budget and we've agreed it worked well and going to keep doing that.

Iv been enjoying car boot sales and vinted for kids clothes, actually got alot of bargains at the car boot sale.

We've also just kind of accepted our house is just the way it is for now. I'd love a new bathroom,kitchen,carpets. But it's just not going to happen for now and that's ok! 

Holidays iv just basically accepted that we can't go abroad for a while I can't even justify buying 5 passports let alone the rest. Keep reminding myself once I get this new job and save we can one day and it's not forever

Catty89

Few other things iv been doing just to remind myself when I need to spend less again -
Buying bday present in bulk, the kids usually have a few parties a month between them so I stocked up on 2 for £20 toys at argos and there was barbies really reduced so got a few of them. I got about 10 rolls of wrapping  paper and a good chunk of cards they were all on sale for about 20p per roll.
Never getting left short and having to nip to a shop and spending alot on a present so that really been working well.

Iv been buying less food! Find I'm wasting so much less and sometimes were running out a bit quicker than usual but find unless it's bread of milk I can kind of make something until my next shopping trip.

Iv not been letting myself go to home bargains type shops. I was spending about £30 per time and was doing it for fun so now iv been making a point of going a walk with a friend.

Iv been using up all my cleaning stuff, had so much in the cupboard never used so going to get rid of all of that before moving on.

Bathroom stuff iv got a big drawer full if body lotions, baby wash, toothpaste etc so making sure I use that up. 

Catty89

I have had most of my yearly updates from different places in and I now have £9,900 to pay of my 'big loan' and £9081 to pay on the car. We also owe a little bit of money on a door/window payment so I think we're almost exactly on about £20,000 of debt left. It still sounds alot but I think knowing one of them is a car payment and I can sell the car and still have money back makes it a little less scary. 

I checked on we buy any car and the car is still work over £12,000 

Other than that my wage is going to be going to be going up soon so the plan is to pay more to the loan so it is finished quicker, it was 24 months left to go at the payments I'm doing atm

Catty89

Big loan now has £5700 left to pay. Never thought I'd get to this stage!!
I do have about £500 on an argos card which was probably not needed but was used to buy bigger birthday presents.
One big difference is I have now done a retraining course so I am making quite a bit more than before. 
I don't know how I'd survive on my old wage now but I do think the more you have the more you spend which is true. 
Once xmas is finished I am planning a no spend January to get a bit of savings behind me.