Our journey from debtdom to freedom…take 4,5,6? I’ve lost count!!

hazeldreams

Just realised that its been a long time since I posted on here! I've been so focussed on updating the challenges, I keep forgetting!

It's been a week of learning. Learning where things haven't gone right with money and how to get them right next time. We went over on our £150 grocery budget last week by more than £50! It wasn't our proudest moment! BUT, we did learn that we're not buying enough from Aldi on our weekly shop at lower cost and then topping up with essentials (and those extras that just jump in your basket!) at Tesco, practically every day of the week. So that has to stop! There will be no trips to "top up" groceries this week! No money will be spent on groceries until Friday 16th September!!!

I haven't been 100% this week; strained my neck and the pain is radiating all down my shoulder and back. I've also had some weird headaches and stomach aches too - not sure what that's all about! Hopefully, this will all pass soon.

Such sad news about the Queen and whilst I think it important to celebrate her life, I am shocked at the volume of coverage on every channel. You can't escape it. And poor Charles and the rest of the family. When on earth do they get to grieve?!

hazeldreams

I've been finding it difficult to update my own diary as I've been so invested in the challenges (which have helped so much!), so I think I'll use the diary as a way to summarise my months - a review of each month as it passes, to document the wins, challenges and learns.

Here's how September went;

Wins
- Managed 7/10 NSDs (massive leap forward - in August we managed 1 NSD!)
- Came in under grocery challenge budget at £744.80/£750 which I'm just incredibly thrilled about. I honestly think this is the first time ever that we've set a budget and managed to stick to it when it comes to groceries!
- Today is day 24 on alcohol free journey (1 blip in there which I very much learnt from)
- We managed to save £1500 into savings from all of the measures we took. We've had to switch our goal from debt repayment to "stockpile cash fast" as we're a one income family and things aren't great at work currently. I'm not super scared the worst will happen, but I need to put ourselves in a position of strength if it does come to that
- We sailed through a number of emergencies including a smashed bifold door (£700) and our induction hob giving up meaning we had to buy a replacement (£200). It's been a long time since we used credit cards, so I was glad to have our £1000 emergency fund. This has duly been replaced now I've been paid and is part of the £1500 mentioned above.
- I've not missed a takeaway or meal out at all! And the amount we've managed to save just shows how ridiculous this habit had become since lockdown restrictions were lifted.


Challenges
- Work - its just mental busy, very volatile and unstable and there is so much infighting which I try my best to keep out of but end up with both sides moaning at me
- Eating - the craving for sweet things often feels uncontrollable. I'm eating nowhere near enough fruit and veg
- Really missing date night - may have to build in something to compensate just once a month.

Learns
- I am getting much better about being aware and conscious of my eating and drinking choices. This is giving me back control, even if its not as quick as I like.
- Having OH completely on side has contributed hugely to all the wins above. He's really being conscious of everything that's spent and is listening to me for the first time on this stuff which feels amazing.
-Yoga and meditation really do get me through the tough times
- How much I've always wanted to be debt free and how easily I get distracted from this path, despite coming back to it every single time.
- Focussing on just today - 'just do today' mentality, is a game-changer

Feels so good to get all of this out and down on here. It's been a fab month for our finances, despite the challenges. 

Now I'm off to join the October ones and focus on one day at a time....