Taking charge of debt

sunshine_raincloud

Back today from weekend away with friends. It was really nice in parts but developed quite severe anxiety at one point with all the travelling and crowds of people in London! Even though I live in a relatively big city myself. Glad to be back home with the cat now, even if he is sulking with me for daring to leave in the first place! Budget-wise wasn't great but wasn't awful. Didn't eat out anywhere, which was good but spent a fair amount of money on late night taxis and drinks. I am definitely thinking about actively cutting down my alcohol consumption for health as well as the amount it costs and the knock on effects of spending on taxis and takeaway when feeling rubbish the next day! 

Still struggling to create a budget that works for me. I have gone back to my account where I can track my spending to help with this. Going to try to run my budget starting 1st of the month rather than from payday as I hate that feeling of being cash strapped towards the end of the month. Will see if it makes any difference at all. I have changed the split of spending account to sinking fund.

Also sold two items on vinted, a whole £8 coming my way!

No other real news. 

Need to meal plan for the week and get organised!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. 

sunshine_raincloud

Decided to do my envelope challenge a bit early this week, mainly with the aim to get my debt below £3000 I'll be honest! Pulled out 35 + 1 so £36 sent to CC bringing total debt down to £2994. Still no switch bonus from the bank that will not be named.. On my way to supermarket shortly for food for next few days then hoping to have NSD tomorrow and Thursday. Will post off items for vinted whilst I'm there! Got holiday payment and big monthly payment to CC coming out in next few days then it will just be trying to spend as little as possible and counting down to payday   

beanielou

Good news on under 3k 

sunshine_raincloud

Thanks @beanielou !!

Regular payment of £300 gone to CC this morning bringing balance down to £2694. Over 60% of the way there! Feeling like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and hoping to be debt free in the next few months if everything goes to plan. 

Moved holiday money out of savings to main account so total savings standing at £1358. Just because of the different accounts money is in to categorise it, my EF is down to £960 but have my non-EF at £398. Both of these will be topped up again next month. 

Have packed lunch for work today and food in for dinner tonight so should be a NSD but let's see. 

Nothing else to report. Miserable cloudy day here today. 

Hope everyone is doing well!

sunshine_raincloud

Feeling very low energy today. Got a lot going on at work and think it really wears me down sometimes! 

I was happy to have a NSD yesterday and I am hoping for one today but will see how I get on as working a long shift. Got my packed lunch but sometimes end up needing a treat to keep me going or getting taxi home if I end up staying even later than normal shift, which is more frequently than I like! 

Thanks to @shell16 for sending me some budgeting video recommendations. Watched a couple this morning. Although I'm not sure that using cash envelopes would work for me, I am considering switching to a weekly budget. I think I need to go back through all my numbers and figure out what is a reasonable amount to spend in each area. Will hopefully get a chance to watch some more over the next few days.

Don't think I will have any payment updates until next week now. Still waiting for switch bonus that was due nearly 10 days ago. Last week I was told tomorrow is the latest I should receive it so if it isn't in my account by the morning I will call them again. I am waiting for this money to go in then going to do one final switch to close that account anyway. Really poor service from the bank. 

Hen party this weekend. I am looking forward to it but could really do with a quiet weekend at home to be honest! Looking forward to doing that and seeing family next weekend. 

Hope that everybody is doing well!

shell16

Im glad you have started watching some.  Cash envelopes -  I never took on until very recently only because I am involved with the 1p challenge and it gives me the opportunity to send actual cash to pots sat on my desk.  I found that if I didnt use cash and saved up in a virtual pot I would end up sending to debt.  Not a bad thing I know but I really want to save up for a treat for me due to nearly completing 12 months of my debt free journey.    I use cash for Grocery and Fuel (occasionally Eating out) nothing else.

With regards weekly budgets again, this is something I only recently moved to myself.  I have to admit I still complete a quick calculation for each month to make sure the numbers add up on the whole and then try to divide up each week.  It really does keep you super focussed and you will know exactly where you are at any time.

Good Luck! xx 

sunshine_raincloud

Hello everyone.. 

Haven't posted in a couple of days as I have been away at hen weekend. Had a really nice time but now shattered and glad to be back home! Quite a spendy weekend as expected. Budget for this month has gone out the window a bit to be honest. Taken some money from non-EF and put in spending account to live off. Not ideal but glad that it is there! This week should be more low spend.

Switching bonus still not arrived. Made complaint to the bank and they have given me £50 to apologise! Not too shabby at all. They have said the money should be in by the end of the month. I'll transfer this to my non-EF to give back what I have taken from over spending this month. 

Next month is definitely going to be the last month for my lodger so really need to get this budget working as will no longer have the extra cash. 

So nothing new going on really! 

Just keeping plodding along. 

Hope everyone okay in this heat!

beanielou

Plodding on is always good 

sunshine_raincloud

Continued the envelope challenge this morning. Selected 26 + 5 so £31 sent to CC bringing total remaining debt down to £2663. Set myself a target for the next few weeks to try to get remaining debt down to a third of original starting debt. This would be £2440 or less so I'll need to pay off an additional £223. Not sure I'll get there but good to set a challenge! 

Hope everyone has a good Monday 

sunshine_raincloud

Just decided to transfer another £3 to the CC purely so I can cross off another square on my 1% chart! Needed that little boost this morning!