Becoming debt free within 18 months

Getridofdebt66

This last 1.5week has been very busy and i have been chasing my tail constantly.

I have nearly finished my xmas shopping for dd, the bits for everyone else are done, my mum has brought us a turkey so only the fresh bits needed. I also need wrapping paper. Yesterday i took dd to the cinemas with free tickets had to pay £6 for the recliners and got some drinks and popcorn on the way, total cost £14 for a nice evening with dd. Today i am going out for a meal, it was paid for in September, oh is giving me a lift there so just a few drinks and a taxi back, but I will share with friends to hopefully reduce the cost. Tomorrow dd has her club, then we are going to put our decorations up, i brought some new ones last year in the sale so will add those bits too. 

This week i have been trying to use my sc a few more times and did my meal plan and it has been incorporated into that, oh doesnt like some meals in it so i havent used it as much recently but due to saving energy i need to, he can either eat it or not but tbh he has been eating it and saying it is fine.

Todays plans

Take dd to club - take drinks with me

Put washing away

Iron uniforms for the week

Ask oh to start getting decorations down ready for tomorrow.

Get ready and go out later

Get petrol

Do some washing

Try and keep energy low

Put tea in sc for dd and oh

All food from stores

Do a small top up shop for fresh things for this week this morning to collect tomorrow.

Thats all i have now i will try and check in later or tomorrow and get back onto keeping myself in order by posting as when i dont things go haywire.

Getridofdebt66

I really am trying to post more often but my weeks just keep getting away from me.
A nice but busy weekend this weekend, Friday i went for a Christmas party with work, just a few drinks i had already paid for the event, i drove to keep costs down but had to put £40 in my car to last until payday. We all free tickets to panto yest, again petrol used but saved a small fortune on the tickets, i also spent £9 on some drinks and an ice cream for dd. Today i have taken dd to her club and popped to grab some cards, tape and wrapping paper £35 spent...i nearly fell through the floor! I need to get 2 more things for dd then i am done for her and a couple of bottles of wine for friends and my secret santa gift. Had my new dryer delivered Friday, it was the last insurance product i had but couldnt cancel until January, it gave up the ghost and they have replaced it, very lucky indeed. It is also so much more economical than the old one, i did 4 loads of washing and drying yesterday we had the heating on etc and £8 spent, i know that still sounds a lot but we were impressed how low for that much washing, weve hit that in the week with 2 loads done easy.

This afternoon i have started to get ear ache badly, its come on quick and i have been in agony, normally im ok but this time its reduced me to tears, i have tried 111 kept getting cut off so hopefully painkillers can keep me going until tomorrow and the drs can help.

Right plans for tomorrow 
Work
All food from stores, jackets in sc for tea.
Collect dd from her club after school
Hopefully speak with a dr
Sort out some presents and get wrapping when dd is in bed
Sort postage out for a parcel.
Fill up water for windows in car, its driving me mad.
Keep energy under £6
Put washing away
Have a relaxing evening and try to heal a bit
Do a survey first thing and get oh to post it off for me.
Look at final 2 presents for dd and order if i find some at a reasonable price.

Getridofdebt66

I have come on here lots of times in the past week to post and not got that far. I have been busy busy, trying and failing to be money savvy. Today i have spent £17 on washing powder (it lasts me around 3 months] and something for tea, i used a voucher for Uber and for 40% off so with the extra charges cost me around the same as the powder would have but i got something nice for tea and the chance to not spend anything else. Me and dd are meeting my friend and her daughter later, £8.70 to get in for dd and i will buy myself a drink as I know it will be cold in there.

I have cleaned the house, sorted the clean and dirty washing out and dd has done some baking. A busy morning for us. Tonight we will have a quiet night, i plan on staying up late and make a start on some wrapping!

Getridofdebt66

Today went as planned, i popped into my cheap shop...i shouldnt have gone and spent £25 but it was things i needed so hopefully i will only need bread and milk until Saturday when i do a fresh food shop. My friend paid for dd to go today so i got the drinks, 2 hot chocolates and 2 waters, £5.40 i think it was too cheap for an adventure place as the usually are mega money but i am not complaining.

Going to have a quick bath then do some wrapping when dd is in bed.

Tomorrow's plans;

Leave purse at home only take £5 wash, £3 needed for dd club then hopefully come back with £2.

All food from stores.

General housework.

Sort my clothes drawers out for summer things to go up the loft to give me some space.

Washing and drying.

Put clean washing away.

Pamper time, even if its just 15 mins.

Find table cloth out.

Collect a parcel.

Reduce phone contract.

This year, i am not sure what is the matter with me but i feel really not into Christmas as i normally am, i am not sure if it is because i havent gone crazy with the ccs like previously, or maybe as dd does not believe anymore but even watching the films i am not feeling it yet. Maybe the more prepared i get then maybe i may feel more Christmassy. Maybe as everyone is feeling the pinch too thats all people think about altho i think its a good think people are lowering expectations and talking about expenses i just wish it was in a different circumstances but maybe thats helped reduce some of the normal stress.

Getridofdebt66

After 2 busy days i have not managed even half of my list, yesterday i took dd to her club, didnt have the designated tea but toast for me and dd wanted mac and cheese i got from my top up shop, she loves it! Today has been a hsd, i thought it was payday but that is tomorrow, had my hair done, £50 spent but it looks beautiful and i am so happy with it, popped to get some Christmas buts, oh paid in one shop i paid in the other, £26 spent but i think i am done. Popped into Mr T and treated ourselves to an airfryer, they did have slightly better ones in Mr A but bo guarantee of stock in our nearest, we spent £60.60 but that included 2 loafs of bread, it will save energy and my dad has sent us a cheque, the rest is going into debt funds though along with any other money we get as i know my mom has said she will give us some money and ohs mum may do, altho she normally buys presents but we shall see. Still not wrapped anything really must make a start tomorrow. I looked at my emails and replied to one that was important, had a film evening with dd as oh is at work now time for a cuppa and relax.

My energy bill for last month has come through and it is depressing i am hoping between the new more economical dryer and the air fryer to get it down but it has been really cold here, heres hoping it stays how it is.

Tomorrow's plans

Payday but a nsd. 

Stay at home

Sort some clothes out.

General housework 

Put clean clothes away

Do some wrapping

All food from stores....end of the month so it is getting creative, maybe a chilli in the SC.

Reduce phone contract.

Pamper 15 mins minimum

Write Christmas cards

Sort 2 parcels out, one for presents (it will prob get there late) and one item dd has sold

Banking admin - cancel dd of insurance product that has ended as you never know.

Getridofdebt66

Yesterday was very productive managed to get my list done, i felt so much better. Today has been a hsd, petrol for the month (hopefully) and food shop, £80. I still need to make a start on dds presents for Christmas also i have run out of gift tags so will see if i can print some off save buying them.

Yesterday i managed to reduce one phone contract from £37 a month to £19, my mom pays for this line and has said out of the £30 she pays i can keep the rest, so thats another £11 a month which helps. I have also spoke woth oh about our various points, we use the same supermarket and i have found no real difference between the other for what i buy so if we continue like this i am going to save up all loyalty point for next Christmas, i am also going to make sure i use this supermarket for mh petrol too to help boost the points.

Tomorrow's plans

Maybe go to a shop who last year had the most amazing deals on food on Christmas eve to fill up my freezer.

Takeaway for tea - oh is paying and its our tradition 

Make a start on deserts for Christmas day, trifle and a cake.

Send 2 parcels

Change beds

General housework

Wash bedding and put away

In laws coming to drop off presents in the day.

Christmas film evening.

Iron tablecloth and set table.

Sort out tableware for Christmas dinner, wash it and have it ready for Christmas day.

I am feeling very excited atm and looking forward to the Christmas period. I was thinking earlier this is the first year i have not put a penny on a cc for Christmas, whilst my debt busting isnt going as fast as i would have liked due to the situation with oh it is going down and more importantly it is not going up. I have not spent as much and thankfully a small pay increase and backdating that has helped pay for this Christmas otherwise i am not sure we would have been celebrating but on the whole we have spent around half what we normally do and that figure was beyond our means and there was no need for it at all, but unfortunately i think we started having all these presents for people then it was hard to stop, until now and i plan on continuing with this reduction in presents as it is not what this time is about. 

I have also been thinking a lot about my mental health recently, this time last year i was struggling with debt, thinking there was no way out, having my dd really helped me as i kept thinking what would i want her to do if she felt like that, obviously come to me but that is not an option, i dont have that kind of relationship with my parents but it did give me the push to look on here, feel inspired and hope one day i can be df. I have my off days but overall i am trying my best. 12 months ago i was in a much worse situation, i mean it still isnt great but im getting there and the situation is too, i keep imagining how i could be in another 12 months...

jusferbrowsing

Great to read lots of lovely positives in your post. Have a fab Christmas and New Year x

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on avoiding putting Christmas on credit. You will thank yourself in January. 

Come over and join one of the savings challenges for next Christmas maybe? 

Enjoy Christmas Eve. Family time is way better than a debt hangover. 

Getridofdebt66

Thank you both for posting.

I am really trying to be a bit more positive, yes i am in debt, yes sometimes i feel like it is taking over me but most importantly i am trying to get out of the hole, it won't be easy but compared to 12 months ago i feel so much more in control, i feel like i can breathe. Still got a long way to go but i am trying.

The presents are out for Christmas and whilst there isnt as many as usual i know dd will love everything and more thought than ever in the gifts i have given to everyone. I have been preparing ready for tomorrow, the turkey will go in first thing in the morning along with a homemade cake. Today i treated myself to 2 blocks of chocolate and a trifle as the packet i got wouldn't be enough but i used vouchers and my clubcard discounts, £5.50 saved, £4.50 spent. Me and ph went and got one present dd asked for and we forgot...she literally asked for this one present. Went to a local store rather than a big well known one, lovely customer service, better prices and oh paid so a win win. Had a lovely take away oh paid again and we hsve watched a film, dd is in bed, wont go to sleep as she is excited but we are all set for tomorrow. We are hosting my mum and i have said bring pjs and we will have a Christmas quiz with the inlaws, no money spent on entertainment but I know we will all have a good time, its the memories not the money. Thats my Christmas motto this year.

I will look after tomorrow at the Christmas challenges for next year and hopefully make a start...

Getridofdebt66

Such a wonderful day today, unfortunately not a nsd as i forgot to get baking butter so i nipped to the local shop, £1.69 instead of the 75p in supermarkets ouch and lesson learnt. 

Dd was over the moon with her presents, i had some lovely presents too. My mum came for dinner she enjoyed it, i baked my cake it was really nice and much nicer than shop brought. Had inlaws this evening that was nice too we played games and had a laugh they havent long gone and my brain is a bit fried. Dd is playing a game and i am enjoying a cuppa in peace. 

Tomorrow's plans:

Sort freezer out.

Half a big shop in discount shop in their sale, just hope its good.

Housework...try and put my house back after today.

Party food tea.

Visit in laws.

Washing and drying.

Try and keep energy down. 

Ohs phone contract has ended look for a sim only deal.

My contract is also up and will look for a sim only deal too.

Meal plan for the month and click and collect for extra stuff for the end of the week. 

I think thats enough for tomorrow i am going to put pjs on and fall asleep on the sofa i am guessing!