Becoming debt free within 18 months

Getridofdebt66

Back after 2 busy days  yesterday i was at work, dd had a friend over and oh treated us to pizza. Not a nsd as i brought myself a vape as i had felt so rubbish...its not ideal but ive been known to book an expensive holiday to cheer myself up so £5 vape isnt a patch on that and i have done the holiday thing more than once....worrying how my mentality was! Today hasnt been a nsd due to an extra body we needed more milk and bread today along with freezer bags for the extra food from the big shop for the freezer, £5 spent. Had tea from meal plan was nice and healthy and we all ate every bit. Oh has gone to work so just me and dd, i am going to have a shower then we can chill together, not sure what dd wants to do but we can do something together.
Also my washing line broke today, the pole snapped in half, definitely at the point of no return, oh said he will buy us one as i usually buy most of the house stuff, i will get looking online.
Food spent now at £244 it is going to be a tough month for top up shops but i do have a lot in but i can already see how the price rises are in effect compared to last month.

Tomorrow's plans 
Take dd to her club £3 to spend 
Put dinner in sc so its done when i am back
Iron all uniforms 
Put clean washing away
Visit friend for an hour in the afternoon 
General housework
Look for a washing line online
Start looking at ideas for xmas presents and things to do.

Thats all for now i may update the list tomorrow depending on how i feel tomorrow and the progress i am making

Squirrelz92

You are doing so well @Getridofdebt66! Keep your head up. Definitely agree that a £5 vape is a much wise purchase than a holiday! Do you do a weekly shop or one big monthly shop and do tiny top ups? How are you getting along with your PAD's or overpayments? x

Getridofdebt66

Hello @Squirrelz92 how are you?i have been keeping upto date with your diary just dont seem to have much time posting atm...im struggling with posting on my own!
The vape was a nice treat after a rubbish week had a nothing much kind of day yesterday which is very unlike me but well needed. 
I do one big shop a month im 3 months into it now and i honestly cant believe how well i am doing, it has been much better for us and i know there are meals in and i have been sticking to the meal plan so I know if i dont fancy something one evening i have got a meal i love in the coming days  honestly we have never eaten so well. 
PAD isn't great i am trying to balance my books and overpay with my payments as something is cleared and not over spending. I am really trying with surveys and get the extra money in pots for xmas atm so it can cover as much as possible. As it is all good and well me throwing everything at debts then i get to xmas and have nothing and put it all back on if i can overpay using what i have already been paying then anything i can get elsewhere will help with that then after Christmas i will throw the rest at debts. Thats my thinking, probably a weird way for most but its helping me stay in control as when i am not that is when i just start spending and can't stop.

Getridofdebt66

A few days away but been money saving where i can. I am being careful with petrol used atm. Need to set up things at work to start claiming my mileage back, especially as they give 42p a mile not sure if thats good or bad but defo more than nothing by me not doing anything at all. Those 5 miles every couple of days add up...
Had some bad news regarding ohs work today, oh is gutted i am gutted and its an awful situation to be in. So it maybe that i take on a lot more of the bills due to now being the main earner for the next 12 months or so....i have been crunching numbers all night. Technically it is possible it will delay my debt busting but i could do it alongside just not as quick but for the sake of my family and his mental health...debt busting comes last as long as we can keep out heads above water for 12 months then thats what we should do. Oh has supported me in many ways over the years and i would not want to not support him when he needs it. Just waiting on dd to go to bed and we can have a discussion regarding going forward. A lot of positivity will be in out house tonight because i have a plan, it will involve cutting back more but we can do it together it will be much easier.

Today i have had a nsd as i was at work then came straight home, food from stores and just relaxed and fell asleep a little. Going for a nice bath shortly.

Tomorrow's plans
Lsd
Hospital appointment so will need to pay parking
All food from stores
Do some surveys, i want to get to £5 by tomorrow evening
Work in the afternoon
Plan things for half term that are free! 
General housework
Iron uniforms for friday as one shirt of dds wasnt dry when i did them on the weekend.
Make plans for the weekend
Look at selling dds old phone
Do survey worth £20 and post off
Collect parcel.

Thats all for now, i think tonight i am going to think about the different things to get through the next few months and Christmas, how things are at the moment i will focus on dd presents only as thats all that matters for now and try and get enough survey vouchers to help cover some of dds presents and start to get an idea foe those presents.

Squirrelz92

HI @Getridofdebt66, I am so sorry to hear about your partners work situation. That really must be tough for both of you to come to terms with, especially for yourself with wanting to continue on in clearing your debt as planned. Like you said though, so long as minimum payments are being met, your family comes first and I am sure your partner will thoroughly appreciate the support.

Definitely a good idea for claiming back your petrol if you are able to! Every little helps! x

Getridofdebt66

Hello @Squirrelz92 thank you for your lovely message. It was a hard few days, we discussed everything, i am a glass half full person and oh is definitely not 😉 he had a few days to think about things and agreed my plan would be best for his mental health and the family. It is a shame when the debts are there but as long as i am not increasing them i am happy. 

I have just done my £20 survey will.post it off this morning along with collecting 2 other parcels. Need to take dd to her club but i am feeling unwell again! And collect food shop, £31 spent for this weeks top up shop, i can cope with that amount. 

I have been chugging away at surveys i managed to get the equivalent of £5 across 2 sites but last night, i was really proud of myself, will try for another £2 worth tonight when oh at work and dd in bed.

I will pop back later and make a proper list for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

Getridofdebt66

A successful day today, shopping brought, claimed some money back from cashback apps, got the £5 for one survey site, sent off £20 survey items, visited a friend today, had tea from stores and a lovely evening with dd, housework done too. I am feeling positive again which is nice.

Tomorrow's plans
Lsd
Take dd to club £3 to spend.
Food from stores
Ironing for the week
General housework 
Washing and dry outside
Surveys - aim to earn £2 worth of surveys
Look at selling dds old phone - i didnt get this done in the week
Top up screenwash in car - its running low and driving me crazy with the constant notification.


Right off to bed.

Getridofdebt66

Half the week has gone and i havent posted....i havent spent anything since Tuesday and then it was bread and milk, i keep plodding away and trying not to spend. Next week i have decided to eat to sw where i can just to try and help me lose some weight as my diet is shocking. I will do the shopping shortly and it will be filled with lots of fresh fruit and veg, i will make sw chips too as its free. So tomorrow i am eating tea as normal then next week i am making small tweaks to make my meal sw friendly.

Tomorrow i have work, then i will try not to fall asleep....i am defo having an early night tonight. All food from stores, collect food shop if i can get a shop for tomorrow if not it will be Saturday. I also plan to cancel some dds of extra spending i can cut down on, make a list if what i have got dd for xmas with the price paid and the rrp, so we have some idea of the total cost, something we have scarily never done.

Half term plans are picking up nicely, got 3 days planned, had an email today about free swimming for dd in the holidays so will make the most of that to and take dd, so far only £3 in cost for the 3 days and thats for one of dds clubs.

Getridofdebt66

Another few days have gone and I have been trying my best, food shopping ordered and delivered, £61 spent i have gone over this month but i have noticed how much things have gone up so quickly, a bag if frozen chips rose 65p in a week....absolutely shocking. I need to do my shopping list for the big shop next week. I am looking forward to breaking up for the week, unfortunately i need to cancel most of my plans next week, dd is at the hospital on Monday and will be immobile next week so the plan is to stay at home as much as possible, will use that time to do arts and crafts for Halloween using things i have in! Dd will enjoy that and so will i. 

I have my £20 survey voucher come through on my emails so i am trying to find something for dd for Christmas. Still looking for present ideas within a budget and also need to spend next week looking at payments and what to reduce. 

Right off to bed, will try and catch up and make a list tomorrow as it helps.

Squirrelz92

Sorry to hear you DD is heading to hospital on Monday Hopefully nothing too serious? The arts and crafts for Halloween sounds like a great plan! I wish I had a creative bone in my body to do stuff like this. x