New Year, New me

LittleMissDetermined

Lots of luck in finding a replacement key. Are you able to switch to a credit meter? They are definitely cheaper in terms of tariffs and at the minute every bit helps! 

bigbeff

Unfortunately it’s a rental property and landlord is happy how it is. Doesn’t cost us too much at the moment. Probably between £30-40 a month for electric and I’ve been putting same on gas building up a pot for the winter. 

First day teaching the teachers this evening, feeling quite nervous and most of first session is purely housekeeping… so not strenuous. I think it is the fact they are my peers worries me! 

Going to visit my grandma today, she is feeling more positive and allowing visitors now so all is good there, she no longer goes out, but hopefully a cuppa and a chat will be nice for her. I might even splurge on some nice biscuits! 

Was supposed to go to gym this morning but barely slept last night so decided I’d have a lie in instead. Sometimes you need to be kind to yourself! 

LittleMissDetermined

Love a lie in when I get the chance, and when I say that I basically mean ‘when the dog lets me’ 😂

Good luck in your first teacher trainer session, I’m sure you’ll smash it 
LMD x

bigbeff

I've lost a bit of momentum this week, I worked out a debt free date which is August 2023 if I carry on paying at my current rate. Less than a year but still so far to go. Just feeling a bit demotivated, I've come a long way but so far to go yet. Need to get my brain back in it, the cost of everything has just soared at the moment and my brain is saying what is the point!? 

Give me some motivation please! I need to meal plan for this week... cheap and tasty!
And need to re-evaluate spends - I'm half tempted to pay a large chunk off my CC using my emergency fund, but that's silly because I'd then have to build my ef up again - just to make myself feel better 😂

vampirotoothus

Hey there, you are doing FAB. This is just a little blip. Look at how far you have come, no new debts and SAVINGS. You are doing great. For meal planning I am a great fan of sweet potatoes and there are many ways they can be used in curries and from lots of different countries. Maybe grab some of them and google recipes, I have been having fun with this and I have never really enjoyed cooking. V x

LittleMissDetermined

@vampirotoothus is right, it's just a blip and we all have them!  Batch cooking will be a good cheap way to get some tasty meals and you can freeze portions too. There are also clever ways to 'bulk out' with slow cooked meals with things like cauliflower rice (or grated cauli) added to minced beef for a bolognese or shepherds pie, over the length of the cooking time the flavour of the meat is absorbed by the cauli or whatever you decide to bulk it out with. 

August 2023 will be here before you know it - and it's less than a year! So close to mine too so we can count down together  

I had phases of using my savings to pay off the credit card in chunks, £2k one time... but that was due to interest being added at the end of a 0% offer. If yours are at 0% it's better to keep your savings just in case. 

Keep at it, you're doing ever so well!
LMD x

bigbeff

I've been a little down about the whole situation lately - no real reason, I am on top of it, I just keep thinking I've been plugging £600 odd a month onto debt and what a dummy I was to get myself in that situation in the first place. Think of what I could be doing with that money if I had't! And although I know there is an end to it, I just feel like I'm earning to pay off....I want some fun! 

But don't worry, I haven't completely fallen off the debt reducing wagon, I've just stalled slightly. I've already decided that on payday this month, I am going to pop a big load on the CC to make myself feel better, I normally put more in my tax account but I am already ahead of schedule on that so I can afford a month to kick start me again! 

I'm also feeling under pressure at work - I swear  because I have a tendency to sit down and get my work done, I feel like I get lumbered all the more! 

Anyway - off for a night away tomorrow just because, so that will make me feel better I hope

LittleMissDetermined

Keep your chin up lovely. I can guarantee that at least 90% of debt free wannabes on here have been in exactly the same place!

I definitely went through this and felt I needed to punish myself for my past mistakes. But I didn’t need to really, we just need to learn from them.

If I ever find myself reaching for the credit card I will just remember what I’m now sacrificing to repay debts

You’ll get there xx

bigbeff

Hi all, 

Still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole finance things, especially when reading the news - it scares me what is going to happen with mortgage rates, but I have finally submitted my application for a new fix for 5 years, so assuming all goes well, that will be one less worry on my rental property! But it is starting to make me think about my debt.... if they think in 2 years that rates will double, would I be better off overpaying that then concentrating on my loan?! I don't think so, but it is a consideration to be had. 

Just doing my invoices and writing up my budget for October - it just feels like everything is going through the roof at the moment. I think I will just hibernate for Oct! However I did have a lovely weekend in Glastonbury, bit of a blow out and treated myself to a couple of new pairs of shoes, but I felt like I needed these for my own peace of mind. But once I pay the cash in from a work present I organised, I'll end the month in the black so not all bad!

I'm not even in an awful position financially and I'm worrying...what are others feeling who are in worse?! 

We'll get through this. 

LittleMissDetermined

I know what you mean, I came to the same way of thinking a few weeks ago. I am fortunate that me and hubby earn a good living but goodness knows what will happen to those who don't. 

In terms of your debts, if your CCs aren't on interest free, or will not be cleared before the 0% runs out I would prioritise those over your loan. The loan will be at a fixed rate and the interest on your CCs will be variable if not on a promotional rate. 

Keep smiling, you will get through it!
LMD x