Becoming debt free within 18 months

Getridofdebt66

Well its been a busy week, i have started my new challenge of £120 a week in my monzo account and thats what i want to start to see if it helps, i did order a big food shop on Tuesday so i dont need much at the moment, i am going to try and last until Monday so tomorrow i will sort the cupboards out and do a meal plan. 

I also ordered some bits for the house, £18 spent. I don't think its been a bad week spending wise, it could have been worse. 

This week i plan on focusing on using my monzo card only and spending my budget.

Tomorrow's plans 
Take dd to club -£3 to spend
Take dd to her friends as she is going out with her friend 
Buy birthday present for her friend -£20 budget (its her best friend so will spend a bit more)
Visit a relative in hospital- parking to spend
Iron uniforms 
Meal plan
Online food shop
Buy birthday cards
Washing and drying
Fill up water in screenwash

Thats all for now to get me started for my Sunday!

Getridofdebt66

Not sure how its been over a week but here we are, this week was half expensive (took dd out, £13 for parking and £9 in snacks to take with us) i also had to use ohs car so put petrol in it, the past couple of days i haven't really spent anything except for food shopping, £93 spent this week but i needed to get toiletries and some cleaning products, they made a mistake on my order and forgot 1/3 of it so i got £16 in vouchers along with one for the missing items, so i did another order that come today for the missing products and i used the extra £16 for meat for next weeks meals, they are on the freezer ready for my meal plan towards the end of the week. 

Today, i haven't done much just pottered around after work, cleaned the bathroom and tidied around the house, dd had eaten at mils so i just had some toast.

Plans for the week (i think mid week this is the way forward as I don't always have time to come on everyday to post)

All food from stores and in line with meal plan
Take dd to clubs x2
3 nsds (Tuesday. Wednesday and Friday are my aim)
General housework 
Fill up screenwash (this just keeps getting rolled over as each time i remember its raining)
Make a start sorting junk out of spare room
Get cash owed to me by family member and put it away - do not put it in purse as it will get spent 
Washing and drying 
Put clean washing away as i go
Find old purse and put bank cards and credit cards away in house to continue to use monzo budget account
Renew driving licence-£25 to spend (i think thats how much it is)
Print off forms for oh
Print off letter for oh
Post birthday card
Collect parcel (i have started with dds school uniform and ordered shirts and jumpers) next month i will order 1 more pack of shirts and trousers...this will save the rush in August and the scramble for the money to but it too.

Right im off to bed and will make a start on this list tomorrow after work!

Getridofdebt66

Wow its been a whole month, not sure how its been that long, we booked a last minute holiday and went away for half term, nothing on a credit card we were good throughout April's wages and managed to get some cheap flights to stay with friends, it sounds like it was on a whim but we had been tooing and frowing since January about when to go. I am just so proud we looked at our finances and didn't think oh lets put it on our cc or spend more and "worry about it later" which is something we have done before, many many times. We were careful when we were away as we cooked in the villa and took packed lunches, might not as been as easy as eating out 3 times a day but it stopped put cc or overdraft balances from getting bigger. I think we are done for holidays now this year, maybe a weekend camping or away in the summer just to break it up but it will be cheap.

Bills all paid for the month, and got my weekly spends, food shop done £85 for the week, i think thats about the average at the moment for our family and to actually last us the week. 

Today i have been to my mums holiday home, had a browse around the CS, nothing took my fancy and tbh i dont need anything i just fancied a little walk. Dd brought a book (mum paid -£1) so except for some petrol i haven't spent a penny but had a lovely afternoon out. 

I am really budgeting from now and sticking to it 100%, after petrol and shopping i have £20 left for the week, i have £3 in my purse to use for dds club tomorrow, i dont need anything once the shopping comes tomorrow so i am hoping to have the £20 at the end of the week if not a least £10. 

Tomorrow's plans 
Send a complaint email about internet, its so poor and the price is going up, nothing gets done on the phone. 
Take dd to club, £3 to spend
Iron uniforms 
All food from stores
Print off some more forms for oh
General housework
Use voucher for free hot chocolate before it expires, thanks to home insured 
Lsd
Relaxing evening with dd and oh

I am trying to take it quite easy tomorrow ready for returning to work

jusferbrowsing

Well done on such a great MSE holiday and from your post you are doing an excellent job of enjoying free time without spending a bunch of cash. Little wins can feel like big ones when you know they don't come at a price.

Good luck with the complaint later. Personally I've had some excellent successes after a little time spent on the phone, the most recent being a £40 discount on a wardrobe delivered with a small chip missing from the back. 

Its lovely to see you're doing so well fixing a budget and sticking to it... AND having nice things.

Enjoy the sunshine

Getridofdebt66

Today has been very productive, completed my list and done really well. I did spend £2.30 on a pizza for dd earlier and filled my freezer from iceyland 10 for £10 but no further spends planned for the week

Tonight i plan to have a chill ready for tomorrow. 

As i started previously i am going to make a list for the week and hopefully catch up through the week. 

Plans for the week
4 x nsd
Take dd to club on Wednesday 
General housework
Keep on top of washing and dry as much outside as i can
Call energy provider about reducing monthly dd as i have almost cleared debt...i plan on putting extra into a separate account.
Chase up letter from doctors
Write out a list of jobs i need done in the house and what maybe needed for them and audit what i already have to form a budget 
Back to work
Complete forms with oh
All meals from stores

Thats my list to get me started.

Getridofdebt66

Its been a good couple of weeks since i checked in, i have just been really busy in RL and not had any money so just been plodding along, it does make you think "there has got to be more to life than this" but then its that thinking that got me into debt and I know when its gone I will have more money left each month to live a bit more comfortably and have some savings. 

RL has been work mainly, and its been full on just fed up of it now, I have a lot on the next few weeks and not sure how I will do it all but I will try. 

Mentally i feel I am struggling due to do much going on and mainly negatively around me in people where i work, not sure how I deal with it as its the parents rather than staff (i am in a school) i just need a break, as i feel the more I try and help the more people seem to want to knock me back.

My list for the week has some things rolled over but mainly due to opening times and waiting on the doctors etc.

This weeks plans
Try not to melt in the heatwave
£15 petrol in to see me to payday on Wednesday 
Put washing away
All food from stores
Strip sofas, wash and dry outside (this will be done Monday after work) and put blankets on sofa untip dry and put back on on Tuesday.
Book dentist for dd
Chase up letter from doctors 
Complete ohs forms
Hose down camping chairs as cobwebby from the shed
General housework each day
Washing and dry outside
Change dds bed
Order new shirts for next year for dd when i get paid
Sort out old clothes from wardrobe and put into car boot stuff to create some space and hang clothes i actually wear up
Call energy provider about reducing monthly payment 
Create standing order to unused account for remaining about as an emergency fund
Set up new water dd as this is something i forgot in April
Start planning free/cheap days out for over the summer

A lot of this isnt big time consuming stuff but i need to get it done and i usually forget until it is too late in the day to make calls or im too tired as it has been recently.

I really want to get back to how i used to be and I know when its the summer holidays i will be posting most days to keep me on track so for now i will try for weekly and see if i can update my list around the middle of the week...heres hoping anyway x

Getridofdebt66

@jusferbrowsing sorry i didn't see your post on 2nd June. Whilst i didnt get a refund i did get the help and support i had been trying to get before...i will return this week and see if they will offer something of goodwill....probably not with my luck but it is worth asking. 

Hope all is well!

Getridofdebt66

Well so far this week the heat is winning and i am struggling to cope, i have slept more than usual and also been sick due to the temperatures and tomorrow is meant to be even hotter here.

I made a good start with my list yesterday and think i made myself unwell with it so tonight i fell asleep for an hour and then i have made a quick tea and had a cool bath, time to catch the last of the football and chill.

Progress so far on my list:
Try not to melt in the heatwave -failing at this
£15 petrol in to see me to payday on Wednesday - done
Put washing away- done
All food from stores- done so far
Strip sofas, wash and dry outside (this will be done Monday after work) and put blankets on sofa untip dry and put back on on Tuesday. - done and it nearly melted me
Book dentist for dd- done
Chase up letter from doctors - done
Complete ohs forms
Hose down camping chairs as cobwebby from the shed
General housework each day- done so far
Washing and dry outside- done
Change dds bed- donel
Order new shirts for next year for dd when i get paid
Sort out old clothes from wardrobe and put into car boot stuff to create some space and hang clothes i actually wear up
Call energy provider about reducing monthly payment 
Create standing order to unused account for remaining about as an emergency fund
Set up new water dd as this is something i forgot in April
Start planning free/cheap days out for over the summer

I am definitely working through the list nicely, tomorrow dd has a club and as its payday i plan on ordering shirts for next school year and maybe a couple of skirts too to continue my shop, next month i will get her shoes and stationery as they are also a struggle to get at the end of the summer.

Right off to put shirts and skirts in basket at Mr A...

Getridofdebt66

Its been a busy 2 weeks and work is overloading me so i am trying to do what i can. Last week i struggled to find shirts for dd for school so brought shoes and skirts instead, I have also been really careful and not spent anything except a cheap takeaway for me and dd on Monday, £16 spent. 

Today I needed to grab dd some things for her club but struggled to find the item she needed, we did have a splurge of £70 in the sale at Matalan, dd got lots of clothes she needed including some new underwear and a couple of pairs of pjs, I also treated myself to a new pair of pjs, honestly cant remember the last time i brought myself anything, £10.50 spent and i love them. I have quite a lot of clothes but underwear and pjs are something i never buy myself until i need to. So i have decided i am going to have £25 a month for myself to by pjs or underwear i am in desperate need for some new bras and i need to be measured again so next month I plan on booking myself in to be measured and treat myself to some new bras. The spending did hit me though as I have loved the past week knowing i have a little buffer thanks to my dad giving me £50 towards the summer holidays but he won't care what it brought as long as dd is happy and she is beyond happy.

I still have forms to complete and i did mean to do it tonight but after tea me and dd just crashed so it will be a tomorrow job...

This week i have lots on with dd so will be very busy, there will be spending but i am trying to keep it to a minimum, petrol, 1x takeaway (planned) and some sweets for dd that is all, i also have food shop done and meal plan completed so i am making progress despite being so tired all week.

I still haven't managed to change dd for energy as they close early, i may get the laptop out shortly and send them an email requesting to change the amount so its something that starts the ball rolling with that one, I also need to book in some repairs for the house for in the holidays...right off to wash up, make a drink and then send some emails and make the most of the free time i have atm as it is so rare to have free time lately.

MFWannabe

Getridofdebt66 said:

Its been a busy 2 weeks and work is overloading me so i am trying to do what i can. Last week i struggled to find shirts for dd for wschool so brought shoes and skirts instead, I have also been really careful and not spent anything except a cheap takeaway for me and dd on Monday, £16 spent. 

Today I needed to grab dd some things for her club but struggled to find the item she needed, we did have a splurge of £70 in the sale at Matalan, dd got lots of clothes she needed including some new underwear and a couple of pairs of pjs, I also treated myself to a new pair of pjs, honestly cant remember the last time i brought myself anything, £10.50 spent and i love them. I have quite a lot of clothes but underwear and pjs are something i never buy myself until i need to. So i have decided i am going to have £25 a month for myself to by pjs or underwear i am in desperate need for some new bras and i need to be measured again so next month I plan on booking myself in to be measured and treat myself to some new bras. The spending did hit me though as I have loved the past week knowing i have a little buffer thanks to my dad giving me £50 towards the summer holidays but he won't care what it brought as long as dd is happy and she is beyond happy.

I still have forms to complete and i did mean to do it tonight but after tea me and dd just crashed so it will be a tomorrow job...

This week i have lots on with dd so will be very busy, there will be spending but i am trying to keep it to a minimum, petrol, 1x takeaway (planned) and some sweets for dd that is all, i also have food shop done and meal plan completed so i am making progress despite being so tired all week.

I still haven't managed to change dd for energy as they close early, i may get the laptop out shortly and send them an email requesting to change the amount so its something that starts the ball rolling with that one, I also need to book in some repairs for the house for in the holidays...right off to wash up, make a drink and then send some emails and make the most of the free time i have atm as it is so rare to have free time lately.

Are you not able to change direct debit on their app?