Becoming debt free within 18 months

Getridofdebt66

Today has been a relaxing day. We went to the shop and oh got some bits we also topped up with snacks for lunch boxes as b and m are much cheaper than supermarkets for the goodies, oh paid. I havent done much of my list today so it will roll over until tomorrow. 

List updated below
Todays plans:
Go to the tip to take all the cardboard that had somehow been building up in the shed. Put some out for the scrap man and going to get the rest in my recycling.
Take car for free car wash - raining so will go next week instead
All food from stores. - done
General housework - done with the help of oh
2 loads of washing, hopefully dry outside - managed 4 loads unfortunately its been raining all day so had to go in the dryer
Meal plan and online order for food shop - done to collect tomorrow 
Go to shop with oh - hes paying. - done
Put clean washing away - roll over until tomorrow 
Sort uniforms out ready to be ironed over the weekend. - roll over until tomorrow 

Tomorrow dd has a club in the morning so will take drinks and snacks. I also used some browning bananas to make some banana bread today so will have some as a late desert later. I also need to collect food shop tomorrow and a film night with dd, have been planning it for a week as its a series she wants to start.

Not sure I am ready to return to work on Monday....i have been bored but not quite sure my head is there yet! 

Getridofdebt66

I have had a somewhat productive day today, not done everything but done a lot, i took dd to her club and took drinks and snacks with me, did some more washing and drying, general housework  collected the food shop, all food from stores, i did spent £5 in the shop down the road as i didnt realise we had run out of tea bags and toilet roll (had some on the shopping but ran out about 3 hours before) toilet roll is one thing you cannot be without or at least we cant in this house, had a lovely evening with dd had some popcorn so made a night of it, we both enjoyed it. Maynot be the most exciting of nights but its free or v cheap and we find things we both like and can discuss for days afterwards. 

Whilst my original plan was to be debt free within 18 months and it isn't far off 18 months and i still have lots of debt, we are getting through each month and the debt is coming down just not by as much due to ohs work and everything seemingly breaking down in the house but it isnt going up by crazy amounts, it feels sort of manageable, thats not that i dont want it gone because i do but i cannot remember the last time when i couldnt sleep due to worry about money, it was becoming so regular that i didnt know what to do. So thats my perspective for tonight also that my diary maybe the most boring on the who site with my random ramblings and my endless lists...but keeps my somewhat on a plan and thinking in a more positive way about my finances, well most of the time. 

I do like to read back from where i was initially to see how i am doing, feeling and my progress. 

Tomorrow's list
Take dd to club £3 to spend 
Iron work uniforms 
Get all work and school lunches ready
Remind dd about home work
All food from stores
General housework
Change beds
Put old metal items out for the scrap 

I forgot today I also used my free car wash it was for a £7 was and got one a month for a year, costing £84 now whilst i wouldnt have used all those oh usually does his every other month so we have decided to take it in turns each month for a car wash this reduces my home insurance down to £35 a year due to this win, me and dd were talking earlier about the offers available and working out that this was more financially viable dd understood it all and was taking it in, i am so proud. I hope to teach her by my mistakes so she has an idea of working out the best deals for herself and making her money savvy early on in life. She doesn't need to repeat my mistakes to learn from them. 

Anyway i am off to bed as its an early one tomorrow and i will be tired. 

Getridofdebt66

Well this week I am back at work so half and half with coming online. Today has been a good week, had a nsd monday, Tuesday and Wednesday i did need petrol today so £25 spent had food from stores except yesterday when oh brought us a takeaway, I was so tired I just couldnt move and he didnt want what i was going to cook. Been busy all week especially today, i went to work them the inlaws for fil birthday then home to cook tea, after that i gave up and came to bed at 9pm and i am watching tv in bed.

Tomorrow's plans:
Go to work
Lsd as i am having lunch at work tomorrow, £3 to spend.
Put washing away
Tea from stores 
Do meal plan
Online food shop for the weekend
General housework

Thats all for now with how tired I am unfortunately the lists cant be that long during the week.

jusferbrowsing

I follow your diary as I like to see how you tackle the progress of your df journey and 'to do' lists are something that work really well for me too.

Your diary resonates with me as each step taken no matter how small is movement in the right direction and that includes df, declutter, or mental health. 

Diaries come in many forms here and I like that. Some are more chatty than others and some post daily and others yearly. Its a motivational tool both for the writer and reader and though I mostly follow from the sidelines without comment I enjoy reading the successes (big or small) of others and it makes me more inclined to be MSE throughout my day.

I hope with the lighter nights you feel a little less tired Getridofdebt66 Its frustrating to know you have a ton of things to do and run out of steam part way through. 

Lists are the way to go   

Getridofdebt66

Hello @jusferbrowsing thank you for your kind words. I like my lists and to be organised even if it is just organising my own thoughts which in itself is hard enough. I need work to calm a little i think, i am very concerned about how much I am taking on but its the last part of the academic year...this bit is the hardest. I like to keep a note of even the small things as it is a step somewhere and also makes me feel like i have done something in a day.

Getridofdebt66

Todays post, after a week of struggling with everything moneywise and really feeling down I am now back. 

Work is still crazy busy and today I have been to dds club, had a drink at the in laws collected food shop £87 spent but 9 meals so a bit of overflow for next week. £2 spent at dds club and went out with oh and dd this afternoon, nothing spent as we had tickets to an event. Oh treated us to a kfc as it was late but back to meals from stores tomorrow.

Tomorrows plans:
Take dd to club -£3 
I am also taking dd out afterwards but will get some sweets on the way and buy us a drink each from inside
Book parking for day out online as its cheaper
Take ohs car so no congestion charge
Tea from stores
Have a relaxing night after this weekend so far
I am budgeting £15 for everything tomorrow. 

Bank holiday we arent doing much but we do want to sort out the shed and see what gardening supplies we have and if it is dry make a start on clearing the decking but I will make a list tomorrow.

I have been thinking about a no spend month, the problem is i do actually need some foundation and also a new charger as mine is not charging properly, so maybe £20 to buy those bits along with some lightbulbs then a no spend rest of the month? To try and give me some motivation??il get my diary out ive never used before and look to start from 1st May, no spend may only on food from budget and petrol, obviously dds clubs but thats a different pot just no everyday spends.

Getridofdebt66

So yesterday was a lovely day, i budgeted £35 for the whole day including the bits i needed, i came in at £37 but got everything i needed except a phone charger and the drinks were extortionate but they wont allow you to bring your own! We did all have a lovely afternoon and then a relaxed evening, which was nice. 

Todays weather isnt great here and oh has woken up really unwell, i think its a migraine so hes in bed, dd is in bed but has asked for a breakfast sandwich so thats cooking and im sitting in the peace for a bit before i get started. Todays focus will be inside my house as it needs a blitz through it in every room i think by the state of it.

Todays plans:
All food from stores 
General housework
Put mountain of washing away
Change beds
Order phone charger 
Order some pegs for c+c
Sort diary out to make note of spending on the go.
Clean handbag out...the rubbish is endless.
Wash all our coats 
Pamper time for me later.
Iron all uniforms for the week
If it brightens up tidy outside.

I plan on starting this in about an hour as i am actually going to have some relaxing time with a drink, i do have a  busy week and tomorrow is crazy busy so I will be having some free time for a little bit. 

jusferbrowsing

I'm with you on a quiet ease into the day. Morning coffee out in the garden is my very favourite thing.

My day 'off' will be driven by washing, gardening between washes and cooking a bank holiday fry up. I bought some under the bed storage containers for the winter stuff which i desperately need to move for space (like you I plan, though everything may not get ticked off) and I need to move the keyboard from downstairs to a bedroom as its only the cats that play on it atm. 

Have a great day.

Getridofdebt66

Hello @jusferbrowsing i defo had a slow morning got up and did some of my list then had a slow afternoon too! Hope you enjoyed the moving winter stuff and getting out the summer stuff, its my favourite thing as I always forget something that i have and it ends up being my go to item all summer! Have you looked at the vacuum packed bags? I am on the look out, or should I say my friend is for me as her local market sometimes have them for £2 for 4 to help with the storage.  My day has been very much like yours too except the gardening due to the laziness i didnt make it out there.

Getridofdebt66

Relaxed bank holiday, i managed to get some pegs along with some reduced glasses for 62p each, £5.50 spent today and I went and collected them, also got free prime for a week so ordered a new charger thats just been delivered then cancelled it straight away, £6 spent on 2 so me and dd now have a charger each that actually works.

I changed my meal for today as none of us fancied a dinner so we has hm burgers and chips, was beautiful and I will do the dinner in the week. Oh sent me out for some bits he likes, i refuse to pay as only for him and so £26 of ohs money spent i also topped up on chocolate and lunch box bits so ns for me. 

I have also dealt with a complaint i put in a few weeks ago, they finally called so have free return tickets to a day out in the next holiday...starting to have some sort of plan in place atm for days out etc.

All food from stores -done
General housework - done eventually 
Put mountain of washing away - done
Change beds - oh offered to do tomorrow 
Order phone charger -done
Order some pegs for c+c - done
Sort diary out to make note of spending on the go. - done
Clean handbag out...the rubbish is endless. Will do it later.
Wash all our coats - oh will do tomorrow as no room outside to dry.
Pamper time for me later. - in progress currently have a hair mask on and about to jump in the bath
Iron all uniforms for the week - done
If it brightens up tidy outside - passed this one to oh for this week! 

Considering how relaxed i have been today i am quite pleased with how much I have done. 

Tomorrows plans:
All food from stores
Take lunch with me to work
Put tea in sc for tomorrow as dd has her club.
Take dd to club and take drinks with me.
General housework, not in much but a general tidy around will suffice and oh can do the majority.
Make a call about internet provider.
Nsd.

I think thats all i can really manage tomorrow due to how busy it will be.