Washing Away My Debts By 2024

Squirrelz92

LittleMissDetermined said:

Just checking in to see how you’re doing and to say I hope Arwen is recovering?
LMD x

I had just finished writing a response to you @LittleMissDetermined and then I got overexcited using the mouse and crossed off the webpage instead of minimising it  

Arwen is getting better slowly but surely. It's a long road ahead but she isn't having to wear any more bandages and she is becoming more willing to having me gently brush around her incision to try and clean off some of the hardened dirt/sweat that has accumulated under her bandages since the operation. She is developing more of a spring in her step too when I do her twice daily walks for 15 mins around the arena!

We took a trip to our local new giant B&M on Saturday as we wanted to check it out and see what the hype was about. It was monstrous! Two floors and the aisles just keep going ang going! I found a good few items for my living room at long last as I am going for a particular countryside/Scottish theme of chequered red and creams. Found the perfect sofa cushions and throw but couldn't afford it so my partner said he would buy them for me as an early birthday present On the hunt for two tall lamps and some curtains now! Oh, not forgetting my big houseplant for the corner!

I have been researching into what is best to do with either overpaying on the mortgage or overpaying my credit cards and I am starting to edge towards the mortgage. I know that I want to be clear from my credit cards but I know I am efficient at making sure they are all on 0%. If I continue to pay just over the minimum and put more money towards my highest interest debt being the mortgage it makes more sense to me. Of course I wont use all of my surplus cash on payday eve as I would like to put some aside for picking back up on the renovation on my home plus starting to pay off my Mum. This is really starting to eat away at me still owing my Mum the original amount. I will still keep this diary to keep track but I think my priorities will shift once my new salary comes into play  

Continued to make daily £1 PADS over the weekend and today to the CC1 pot x

Waywardgirl3

Squirrelz92 said:

LittleMissDetermined said:

Just checking in to see how you’re doing and to say I hope Arwen is recovering?
LMD x

I had just finished writing a response to you @LittleMissDetermined and then I got overexcited using the mouse and crossed off the webpage instead of minimising it  

Arwen is getting better slowly but surely. It's a long road ahead but she isn't having to wear any more bandages and she is becoming more willing to having me gently brush around her incision to try and clean off some of the hardened dirt/sweat that has accumulated under her bandages since the operation. She is developing more of a spring in her step too when I do her twice daily walks for 15 mins around the arena!

We took a trip to our local new giant B&M on Saturday as we wanted to check it out and see what the hype was about. It was monstrous! Two floors and the aisles just keep going ang going! I found a good few items for my living room at long last as I am going for a particular countryside/Scottish theme of chequered red and creams. Found the perfect sofa cushions and throw but couldn't afford it so my partner said he would buy them for me as an early birthday present On the hunt for two tall lamps and some curtains now! Oh, not forgetting my big houseplant for the corner!

I have been researching into what is best to do with either overpaying on the mortgage or overpaying my credit cards and I am starting to edge towards the mortgage. I know that I want to be clear from my credit cards but I know I am efficient at making sure they are all on 0%. If I continue to pay just over the minimum and put more money towards my highest interest debt being the mortgage it makes more sense to me. Of course I wont use all of my surplus cash on payday eve as I would like to put some aside for picking back up on the renovation on my home plus starting to pay off my Mum. This is really starting to eat away at me still owing my Mum the original amount. I will still keep this diary to keep track but I think my priorities will shift once my new salary comes into play  

Continued to make daily £1 PADS over the weekend and today to the CC1 pot x

Any news on your exam results? X 

Squirrelz92

HI @Waywardgirl3 Sadly I didn't pass Wasn't too much of a painful fail as I sort of expected it. Just debating whether to pay for the resit myself and sit in December or give myself until March knowing it will be funded. Could do with the extra time as I struggled with some of the content. x

LittleMissDetermined

Glad to hear that Arwen is progressing still   It's a shame you didn't pass your exams, there has been a lot going on for you though recently so maybe March would be the better option?

I love a good browse around B&M, yours sounds brilliant! It was nice of your partner to get you them for your birthday.
LMD x

Waywardgirl3

Squirrelz92 said:

HI @Waywardgirl3 Sadly I didn't pass Wasn't too much of a painful fail as I sort of expected it. Just debating whether to pay for the resit myself and sit in December or give myself until March knowing it will be funded. Could do with the extra time as I struggled with some of the content. x

So sorry to hear this! I’d do March I think so you can just focus on your new job pre Christmas xxx

Squirrelz92

Morning,

The usual £1 PAD's have continued to go into my CC1 pot over the last few days.

Two days left of working in my current role before moving to my new job in Skelmersdale Very excited to get stuck in. Thought I would have to contend with the children and holiday clubs during my first week at my new work but luckily they are off with my Dad over on the east coast to visit Flamingo Land for 5 days with their cousins. Completely forgot it had been arranged over a year ago (teaches me to add stuff to my diary there and then in future)! So I shall be driving to Leeds Sunday afternoon to drop them off halfway before heading back to Preston to get ready for a Halloween Scream event in the evening We went to one in Blackburn last weekend but sadly it wasn't as good as what I have previously experienced in York. Hoping this next one will receive a better rating! 

I have done nothing but budget and calculate my finances over and over for the last few days in prep for when I receive my first salary from my new job at the back end of November. I believe I will be in a much stronger position financially come the end of each month (24th will become my new payday eve excl weekend or bank holidays). After accounting for all bills/expenses that come out and all money that comes in during the month, I am expecting to have just under £900 disposable income. All luxuries however will come straight from this depending on what is needed e.g. children's haircuts, clothes for them or me, special coffees, takeaways, days out etc. I don't like to put aside money for these things as for me I personally feel as though it makes things more complicated as my spending in these areas varies so much month on month. With me being happy in splitting up the remaining amount each payday eve to various things be it mortgage overpayments/debt/holiday/EF, I think that the way I am budgeting now as worked really well so far

The plan is to put £300 aside for the above luxuries in the hope that I will have around £500 left to split at the end of each month. My first goal will be to get my EF back to £1000 as I will have had to use some of this to make up for loss of salary due to them claiming back holiday days. After this I plan on throwing £200 every month straight to the mortgage and whatever is left will either go to my debt or to my reno pot. I am sick of living in a house that is screaming for work to be done so it's now important for me that I start back up with paying for home improvements. 

LittleMissDetermined

I think we have all been in that position where we are awaiting a pay increase and trying to work out how much we will get and how it can be most effectively used.  It's definitely sensible in the first instance to retain it until pay-day-eve so you know you're not going to be left short. Do you have a pot/account where this can be held so it's out of the way of everyday temptation?  I know I'd end up feeling like a baller and want to buy stuff off my wishlist   
LMD x

Squirrelz92

LittleMissDetermined said:

I think we have all been in that position where we are awaiting a pay increase and trying to work out how much we will get and how it can be most effectively used.  It's definitely sensible in the first instance to retain it until pay-day-eve so you know you're not going to be left short. Do you have a pot/account where this can be held so it's out of the way of everyday temptation?  I know I'd end up feeling like a baller and want to buy stuff off my wishlist   
LMD x

Glad it isn't just me @LittleMissDetermined! I have spent it before I have even received it I will see how it pans out the first month but I reckon I will give in and create a pot to whack it into until payday eve. I have been fine without the extra cash up until now so I shall pretend I don't have it and squirrel it away ready for depositing. Will create another pot on top of that for the £300 fun spending money. I haven't had much leftover funds the last few months so I cannot wait to use this to take the kids to Chester Zoo! We have never been and it has been on our list for so long. x

LittleMissDetermined

Chester zoo is lovely, you will enjoy it I'm certain! My hubby surprised me with a trip for our anniversary last year as he knows how much I love it there. 
LMD x

sunshine_raincloud

Good luck for starting the new job if I don't get chance to post before then! I'm sure you'll smash it!