Dreaming of being Debt Free

Debt_Smashing

So have £3 left in bank, and £50 in cash. Pay day tomorrow. So that's good. Also better than I thought it would be as it's a short month.

So after the very good month (in my pay) I had from last month, which probably won't happen again for at least 6 months, I was very good and saved nearly everything, so this is where I'm at.

Savings

Emergency fund - £4500 (3 months worth)

Car fund - 160/1000

Child 1 future fund - 100/will add 25pm

Child 2 future fund - 100/will add 25pm

Xmas - 105/500 (+41.60pm)

Birthdays - 100/400 (+33.33pm)

Sinking fund - 1/will add what I can

Glasto 2027 - 1/1200

Cash for an ISA - 25/will add £25pm

UK short break - 1/240

Ring repair - 50/150

So I think that's £644 I've used to start this up. Plus the £150 to finish the emergency fund.

Feel like I've been sensible not just blowing the extra. Maybe next month I'll treat myself to something.

Debt_Smashing

So got paid yesterday. Moved the money already. Think this is one the most important changes I made all that time go. Paying into these things first, and not just using what was left over at the end of the month.

Think I moved 345, not the £400 I had planned. But have a birthday this month.

Also I spoke to work about my pension. So I've upped my contributions by 1%. So I'm on 10% now, work does 4%. I don't know why I was at 9, I never upped it before. Either way, I was aiming for a combined total of 15%. I might leave it a few months see how things settle down.

The big loan I had is down to only 25% now too. Feels like a much more manageable number. Still, it's over a year to go, or 14 more payments.

Savings - march 2026

Emergency fund - £4500 (3 months worth)

Car fund - 260/1000

Child 1 future fund - 125/will add 25pm

Child 2 future fund - 125/will add 25pm

Xmas - 146/500 (+41.60pm)

Birthdays - 133/400 (+33.33pm)

Sinking fund - 95/will add what I can

Glasto 2027 - 1/1200

Cash for an ISA - 50/will add £25pm

UK short break - 60/240

Ring repair - 50/150

Humdinger1

Looking good @Debt_Smashing! Savings are impressive and it really is all about mindset. You've well and truly had your lbm, no? Onwards and upwards love Humdinger x

Debt_Smashing

@Humdinger1 Lbm?

Living below your means?

And yes they are looking better all the time. Still there is little to none personal treats so to speak. Finding it difficult to get a good balance.

Maybe I need to post my s.o.a again

Debtfree2026

I assume @Humdinger1 was referring to Light Bulb Moment! You seem very focused!

Debt_Smashing

Oh haha. Yeah I just figured that out and was gonna delete the post lol.

Not sure about light bulb moment. Just more constant trial and error, and a significant amount more error. Plus that bit of breathing space helped with the momentum.

Also being so skint for so long I don't miss things way others might. The progress has been a long hard slog, rather than a runaway success. @Debtfree2026 you are smashing it with them numbers!

Humdinger1

Yes LBM does mean light bulb moment. You're doing brilliantly @Debt_Smashing. Humdinger x

Debt_Smashing

Thanks. I think writing it all down on here too has helped a lot. Bit of accountability for myself, fells like I'm talking to someone about it as I don't really have that many people irl to do it with, and being able to look back.

Still, it doesn't feel like I have much money to enjoy or splurge yet. But at least I can sleep at night not over worrying about money.

Debt_Smashing

Down to £100 left now till pay day.

Everything payed for tho now.

Debt_Smashing

Less than a pound now in bank 🤣

Pay day Wednesday. So will be ok.

Had to dip into sinking fund for £30. Other than that I'm scraping through the month!