Third time's a charm!

twiggy86

You are totally right @savingholmes that I need to stick to a plan - instead of feeling pulled in all directions as I do now! However, I am trying to be kind to myself that I'm making progress and also that budgeting and debt-busting is a process of working out what is best. 

Weekend was nice and fairly frugal - although I did treat myself to some beers on Friday (which is incredibly unusual) and sat in the garden with OH and enjoyed the sunshine - pleased I did as the rest of the weekend was rubbish. I also went and had a bit of netball practice with a couple of my team and started crocheting my next present. 

I finally received the £50 for the last lot of leaflets I delivered, so I've earmarked that for a TV payment. Will probably see what else I can set aside by pay day and then make the payment. It's sat in my "bills" account so can't get spend it "accidentally"! I would like to put a bit more aside but I will need petrol before the end of the month and unfortunately the amount I had set aside last payday wasn't enough - must increase for next month given that the prices are only going in one direction!  

twiggy86

Hi Diaryland! 

So today has been a bit of a funny one! I got a text from my boss to say he's been in contact with someone who has tested positive and did I want to work from home today. Given that I going to a bit of send off for a friend who is moving back to Aus on Saturday which I do not want to miss I decided I would WFH - especially as I don't want to give her covid and muck up her travel plans and also will be seeing a very vulnerable friend. However I did have to go to office to grab some bits.

Decided to see if I could get LPG on the way back as roads would be quieter as after 9am (my car is petrol and LPG - and the prices of LPG haven't yet suffered the same increases but very often isn't available!) Anyway, I always fail at topping up even though the sign says "it's as easy as 1, 2, 3" - it isn't! The guy who works there ended up coming out to help as assume he could see me faffing on the CCTV! However, when he went away the nozzle (that I have to screw in, not the actual hose) was stuck in my car! Anyway I had to drive away without shutting my petrol flap properly! So I then got my neighbour to unscrew it with some grips so that's all sorted. BUT one of them has put a scratch on my car! So both helpful but ggrrrr! 

So here I am "working from home" but being rather unproductive! I'm really tired today as ended up playing two games of netball last night - and I can never switch off afterwards so was still awake at 1am! Plus I'm playing the late game of netball tonight for my actual team! ("Kick off" isn't until 9:20!) 

I have had a very random commission for a crocheted tomato ketchup bottle! So that will be a quick make (I think) and I probably have everything I need so that will be an extra £10 once I've made that. I also think I'm going to message to see if there are any more leaflet rounds available - although have a busy few weekends so not sure when I would fit it in. However all extra pennies come in handy at the moment! Which reminds me that next week I will get my first pay with my pay rise - did I mention my pay rise?! Well if I didn't it's an extra £7k a year!!! Although obviously that's before tax and other deductions but will be roughly £300 extra take-home a month! 

Right suppose I best get back to work!!! 

Sarahwithlove

Congrats on the pay rise that will make a massive difference. As you have been managing fairly well without it are you going to pay the majority of it off your debt? 

twiggy86

Thanks for commenting @Sarahwithlove. I find it funny that you've read my diary and interpreted it as we're managing fairly well - when I've never struggled to balance everything so much as I have the last few months! I am generally a positive person so maybe I've put a positive spin on things, OR not been truly honest OR haven't been giving myself enough credit! Interesting one!

However to answer your question - yes it will be going towards debts! My plan is to use it straight towards the TV in the short-term to get that cleared, and not get used to having the extra money. I will then decide my next priority debt and put it straight towards that etc. 

I can't remember if I mentioned in some of previous waffle that I have reviewed my 3 month goals that I set at beginning of March. I had previously set 3 goals but decided that having more than one goal means I feel like I'm being pulled in too many directions and end up not achieving any of them. So I have decided that the only debt specific goal I am setting myself is to clear the TV. I do also have the wider goal of getting my debt below £15k (currently stands at £16,234.15). 

Weekend was fairly frugal. Saw some friends at a friend's house and we got a takeaway (rather than go out for dinner), so that was £20 spent. But that was all I spent from my "personal" spends, the rest was on a few groceries. I do need to do a small shop tonight - as I had only grabbed the essential bits that were needed immediately. Pots are getting rather low so spending will be at a minimum... but at least there is money left in the pots! 

Sarahwithlove

It can often be a juggling act that makes you feel like you are constantly fire fighting to stay on track but you are managing it ao definitely give yourself some praise for that.

Having one goal to focus on is always better as it means it has all your attention and easier to manage. 

twiggy86

Confession time...

I ended up putting petrol on my CC last night! However, in my defence, I only needed to put a small amount as I have already filled up with LPG but my car needs to start on petrol before the LPG kicks in - which was getting low. I had £15 left in my petrol pot so could have just used that. But my thinking was that the price of petrol just keeps going up so what was the point of waiting until pay day (only a couple of days away but the price seems to be rising daily!). So I put £82(!!!!!) in last night on my CC. Today I will transfer the bit left in my pot off and then on pay day I will pay off the rest from the July pot. 

This is the second month in a row that I will have done this - which is showing me that I simply need to put more aside for petrol to account for the price increases. I have already upped the budget for July, so hopefully won't have the same situation at the end of next month! Gone are the days when I could fill up for between £40-£50! 

twiggy86

It's payday!!! And the first pay after my pay rise so I now can see final numbers - works out £314 extra a month after all deductions!!! So budget has been finalised and money shuffled off to correct places!!! 

It's also roughly 6 months since my LBM so having a bit of reflection on my progress. The difference between my debt now versus is January is -£1,555. I have paid more than this but this is actually difference - i.e. I've had balance transfer fees, interest and a few spends. Honestly, I'm disappointed in that number as I thought it would be much greater than this - and at the outset made the goal of getting my debts under £10k by the end of the year, which means paying off £7,800 during the year. Obviously I am nowhere near on track to meet this. However, this year has been incredibly rocky and unpredictable. So I am trying to give myself some credit for the progress I've made, even though I wish I'd achieved more. 

For the next 3 months I am streamlining my goals, as it also doesn't help that I didn't achieve any of my 3-month goals! I was only £40 off one of the goals - miles away on the others though! So streamlining and trying to make more realistic rather than aspirational. My one goal for the next 3 months is to pay off the TV before the payment plan (and interest) kicks in on 5 September. Once I have achieved that, I will set another goal but I think only having one will be feel like I'm accomplishing something! 

bigbeff

Good work on the amount gone so far - small steps! If I was you, I would put as much of that £300odd towards your debts - you were living without it before, see how long you can carry on - if need be, put it in a savings account for the month and at the end of the month, put anything left on the debts. Keep plugging at them and don't be so down on yourself! 

twiggy86

I'm here to confess that I had quite spendy weekend. Some necessary (joint tablets for pooch), some unnecessary but I don't regret (buying my friend lunch who is moving back to Aus this week) and some unneccesary and I regret (takeaway!)! However, time to move on, update the spreadsheet and not ruin the rest of the month!  

The good news is that I have made a couple of debt payments for the month (some I will make next week once statements come in) and it has taken my current total to sub £16k!!! Good to see it start with a 15 instead of 16 - although obviously still a long way to go! 

bigbeff

Awesome work on knocking those numbers down!