Washing Away My Debts By 2024

Keedie

Thanks for reading and subscribing, that's so nice of you @Squirrelz92. Glad to be of an inspiration although I don't feel like one, but I'll gladly take it  .

I think holidays are so important and I was always travelling when I was younger and that's something I've tried to give my son. And this will be only our second holiday abroad with just the two of us, as we usually go as a wider family with my parents (when my dad was still alive), my siblings and their kids. We're going on 4 July 2023 and I really can't wait. I need to start a Monzo pot for excursions as we're going for 10 nights, so I'd want to go on at least one trip each week. I'll be mainly chilling out, but I know I'll go stir crazy if we don't leave the hotel at all. 

It's good to know that TUI is so on the ball with things, that's actually quite reassuring. I find it really hard to get any type of insurance because of my pre-existing medical conditions, especially the bipolar, as insurers see me as such high risk.

Squirrelz92

Ooh yes the excursions are fabulous @Keedie! Now my two are 8 and 10 I believe they are now old enough to go on the quad biking and camel riding excursion with me and also the scuba diving boat trip! Dead chuffed as the last time I visited Sharm they were both toddlers so I couldn't go out on an excursion (holiday was still fabulous none the less!).

Well the heavens have finally decided to open and its lashing it down! Everywhere truly needed it so I don't mind although the horse thought different when I turned her out without a on as per!

A small PAD again of £1 has gone to CC2 as I am really struggling with current account funds at the moment. With it being a 5 week month I am having to go 2 weeks without bill contribution from my OH which is stinging. That plus the one off £200 for spending money has crippled me Payday in 11 days so things should reboot and next month should be better (pending car results!). Desperate for fuel so once I have filled up my tank I will have next to nothing left. Think I am going to have to use EF as I wont make it otherwise. Gutted

sunshine_raincloud

EF is there to be used when needed so don't feel too bad! Better than going on credit. As you have said you have had some additional spends this month and it is a longer month than normal! Can reset the budgets on payday. I seem to have a couple of months where the budget goes out window then one good month then another couple of bad ones. Think it is just life! Keep going.. you're doing great! 

LittleMissDetermined

Exactly what @sunshine_raincloud said. EF is there so you don’t reach for the credit cards when you need something. Don’t feel too bad 
LMD x

Keedie

Yes, the prospect of excursions is very exciting. We'll be going on some quad bikes and he's excited that he'll be 16 then and doesn't have to be a passenger and can drive one himself! I've also seen an excursion to some place that looks like snowy mountains, but I think it's just the rocks or salt sediment and it has lots of natural mini pools. I've always wanted to go to Egypt, it's on my bucket list.

And yes, the EF is definitely for these type of situations, so don't feel bad. If you didn't have it there, then you should be worried. It's allowed to fluctuate as life happens. Mine is locked until December 2023, because I have another Monzo pot that I put money into and I dip into that if needed (I just need to be better disciplined about my reasons for actually using it as take away isn't a viable reason ).

Squirrelz92

Thanks for the reassurance folks regarding using the EF After spending £50 on diesel and gaining just over half a tank (booo) I have £26 left. 

Just cashed out £7.35 from Prolific which has just hit my bank so I am once again sending that straight to CC2. I have another £6 odd pending and shall continue to complete the shorter surveys as and when they pop up. 

Receiving the reimbursement for my exam fees from work tomorrow morning so shall throw that £143 back into CC1 where it came from. Receiving the £223 tax owed back to me from HMRC also. Still want to whack it into the Xmas pot but with how low my bank account is at the moment I am debating holding onto half of it as a buffer. Still hoping that the £1400 compensation will be received by Friday but no sign of it pending on my bank

Sarahwithlove

How exciting about holiday. I loved Egypt when I went. Guaranteed sun! 

Squirrelz92

Morning

Made my PAD of £1 to CC2 before rearranging funds that came in overnight. £143 owed to me by my work has been sent back to CC1 netting off the exam I purchased on Thursday last week. With the £223 tax refund, I decided to keep a small amount in my current account just as a little buffer. So £210 went to my Xmas pot whilst £13 has remained in my account. Also got the good news that the £1400 owed by TUI will hit my bank tomorrow morning so I can dish that out accordingly too

Nothing much else to report really other than waiting for the Prolific surveys to b approved so I can cash out once that reaches over £5 again. 

The farrier is coming to put some new shoes on the horse today which costs £80 but I have that ready and waiting in its own little pot as I set a transfer up to move £13 each week to this pot

LittleMissDetermined

I think you did the right thing by keeping a little bit of a buffer, definitely better than overdraft charges. You're doing so well considering you're still getting used to the whole budgeting thing - practice makes perfect
LMD x

Squirrelz92

That's kind of you to say @LittleMissDetermined Practice does indeed make perfect. Lucky for me I have 2 years working out my budgeting before hopefully becoming debt free. Then full steam ahead using all my knowledge gained to attack my mortgage! I have been reading the Debt Free Roll of Honour board and I cannot wait to be able to write my little piece celebrating freedom!