Trying to Hide a Secret £20,000 Debt is as Tricky As it Sounds! (:#)

CMD79

Hi everyone!

Update from me! I feel really proud of myself today. We've had a very affordable camping holiday (I have always camped, the husband has not - so this was a big deal to me!) It was my daughter's first camping experience and she is 6, so it could have gone either way depending on her mood! But she loved it! She slept in her own compartment in the tent and was absolutely fine. Turned the lantern off, no bother, and she even got to the summit of Snowden.

I am now at the £16k mark. I have paid off a load of extra money along the way, and very excited that I can get into the 15ks in a matter of days. This is really spurring me on to keep going. I made an extra £767 in extra earnings during August, and will try to keep it up for September. 

I'm going to try really hard to keep the groceries down for September too. The budget is £75 for food and fuel, so quite tight - but should be achievable.

I've joined a load of the Challenges again for this month and these have worked really well in the last weeks, so hoping these keep my motivation and spirit up!! 

Best wishes for the return to school!!! (Inset day for us, so tomorrow she goes back!)

lucielle

Hi just read your diary.  Well done on what you've achieved so far.  Have you got plans in place for Christmas?  You know in the past this has been a problem.  Can you start to put a few pounds away now?
L

CMD79

lucielle said:

Hi just read your diary.  Well done on what you've achieved so far.  Have you got plans in place for Christmas?  You know in the past this has been a problem.  Can you start to put a few pounds away now?
L

Thank you for the support! Nope. And yes!!! This is a problem for me!! And one I have been thinking about for the last few weeks. I am expecting to get a bonus, and I just found out it gets paid in November. I have no idea how much it will be, but also, whatever it is, I hope I can pay off my Very account with it. 

I have got £480 of BA vouchers to use for 2023, so it is my intention to use those for the husband. So, I'll get him flights to somewhere for his birthday in February over half term and that'll be his Christmas and birthday.

Beyond that, I have got thousands of crafting bits around the house. I'm very artistic and creative, so I'm thinking I might start in the next few weeks to see if I can make decent gifts for everyone. And I might also see if I can sell some. I sold a couple of hundred pounds worth last Christmas, so hopefully.... Beyond this, I'll save all my Nectar points now to pay for the Christmas groceries, and beyond that, I should probably think about setting aside a bit each pay day. I get a pay rise which is backdated to 1st August from next pay day, so maybe save the difference.

lucielle

I think you should save as you know from past experience this is a sticking spot.  Good to have plans in place just to action them.
L

CMD79

lucielle said:

I think you should save as you know from past experience this is a sticking spot.  Good to have plans in place just to action them.
L

I'll give it a go.... saving is definitely not my strong point! 

Doris17

well done of your extra earnings in August, very impressive. 

CMD79

lucielle said:

I think you should save as you know from past experience this is a sticking spot.  Good to have plans in place just to action them.
L

Okay, I've taken heed and I've renamed a Lloyds account to Don't Mess Up Xmas and transferred 1/3 of my extra earnings into. I think this could work, if I follow an earlier suggestion of dividing my extra earnings into thirds for savings, paying debt off and spending.

CMD79

Doris17 said:

well done of your extra earnings in August, very impressive. 

Thank you Doris! 

lucielle

Would it help to have hubby on board?

SusieT

CMD79 said:

lucielle said:

I think you should save as you know from past experience this is a sticking spot.  Good to have plans in place just to action them.
L

Okay, I've taken heed and I've renamed a Lloyds account to Don't Mess Up Xmas and transferred 1/3 of my extra earnings into. I think this could work, if I follow an earlier suggestion of dividing my extra earnings into thirds for savings, paying debt off and spending.

Well done, that will be a really good tart to a new you who has money ready for things rather than having to fall back on debt