We will get this debt down & the savings up

Makingabobor2

Finally stopped sneezing as much, but still very snuffly & now its making me cough. Will get the humidifer out in a bit with some nice olis. Would say I feel 40% better, so that's an improvement. 
About to peg some washing out & hope it at least half dries. 
Once I feel more " with it" in a bit, I will see what other MSE things I can get up to. 

Makingabobor2

Just popping in to say I am still here. Just been so busy I haven't had time to post. But I have been keeping the MSE faith and got a few things to report, so will try and catch up soon.  Got DGS 3 & 4 overnight tomorrow and number 1 & 2 coming just at lunch time for a "pre Christmas, Christmas dinner", with a couple of early pressies under the tree, as we won't see them Christmas day (although the whole family are coming on 28th for a buffet lunch ). So will be a bit busy till late Sunday, but will report in as soon as I can. 

Newstartforme

Enjoy your time with the gk's

Makingabobor2

Well Christmas came and went, was nice and quiet but we ate too much.  Then Saturday evening I started to feel a bit "off" and now seem to have gone down with this nasty flu virus thing, aching limbs, really weak shaky legs, absolutely exhausted, snuffly, headaches. etc.  So I'm resting and trying to do things that can be done sat down.  I am starting to formulate plans for next year and intend to post on here more often and hopefully make it more interesting. Also the plan is to actually look like I am really trying to get these debts cleared...which I am, but I am also conscious of wanting to live a little and have savings as well.  So these are my plans so far for 2026....

I am going to start today, by checking freezer and cupboards and making meal plans for as long as I can from the contents. The freezer is full to bursting with turkey, gammon, pork, sausages, salmon, diced chicken, mince & veg, sausage meat, chicken bakes, several different bread products, carrots, spinach, green beans, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries...and that's just what I can remember. I have plenty of potatoes ( got a good crop of home grown ones that I dug up at end of November and they are lovely), also we had loads from a sack we got free at L!d!.  I have plenty of baking ingredients, and crackers, biscuits, cheese etc left over from Christmas. So I will do an inventory, and tidy the cupboards and see where we stand.     New 4 week budget period starts on Monday when my pension is due, so I won't need anything like the normal amount for groceries, but I intend to try and cut it down a bit this year if I can anyway.  Currently I allow £240 for the 4 week period, for 2 of us and no pets. I upped it from £200 earlier this year, but want to see if I can get it back down again.  DH buy his own beer when he wants it, from personal spends, and I only buy the odd Prosecco, for holidays etc, and some sherry at Christmas, which would also come from personal spends. In fact this year, I was gifted a bottle as well so I have enough  to last for months I suspect...LOL   And as I am intending to try and batch bake more, and maybe even venture into bread making, I am hoping I can save a bit of money along the way. 

Going to go through all the transfers that go to various savings pots etc and see if I can manage it better. I have just opened a 6 month saver acc with Pr!nc!p**!ty, and intend to make that to save for summer holiday spending money. Might see about opening some others for different things as well.  Once I've sorted it, I will report back. 

As I said, one of my main focuses is to pay more off debts, so I intend to start putting more in a Debt busting savings account, on top of the main money we pay each month, and see if I can get them to agree some final settlements to help clear them quicker. I did start this this year, and we did clear one, but then it all fell by the wayside, so I intend to be a lot better at it in 2026.  
I am going to be more focused on surveys/studies and listing things to sell, and will split the money from that between debts and personal spends. I will also be tidying all my oddments into the debt pot each day.....I hate odd amounts....LOL.  December was a good month for P/fc and so far I have cashed out £85, so hoping it continues into the new year. Also I am still very close to cashing out on Y/!*v*. 
Already started on the selling, I bought a Christmas jumper in CS for £3 and wore it for about 10 mins and it started to affect my allergies & make me itch. Checked the label and it was 9% wool....wouldn't have bought it if I'd realised.  So I listed it on V!n!t*d and made £2 on what I'd paid for it....way to go!!!  So that will go straight into debt pot once I receive money. DH dropped it at the parcel shop on his way to work today. 

I've also signed up to N**!s*n!Q app, where you scan receipts and bar codes to get vouchers. Not sure how effective it is, but will give it a whirl and report back.  Does anyone else do it? 

I'm starting again on clearing cupboards and wardrobes, to see if anything more worth selling. If not it will go to CS. Didn't meet my target of decluttering this year, so might just add an extra digit and make it 2026, and carry it over into next year. I still think there is a lot to declutter in garage and shed, but DH thinks not!!.....mmm   Luckily I didn't get any clutter for Christmas. All my gifts were consumables.....chocolate, biscuits and toiletries, or jigsaw puzzle, which I will pass on once I've done. Oh and DH says he's gifting me £30 towards either a massage or Reiki treatment ( from his personal spends), as he knows how much they benefit me. 

So they are my plans at the moment, will post again once I have more MSE finance plans in place and also my list of things I intend to try and get done this year. One thing that is going to cost us money, but I think is essential, is to get LPAs in place for the both of us. Been putting it off for ages, but I do think we really should do it. 

So please don't dessert me, I know I don't have many readers, but I will try and make it more interesting, and prove that I really can be more frugal.  

Sun_Addict

You probably have more readers than you think. I bet a lot of people just lurk and don't comment. 

I love reading about other people's goals for the New Year. I'm not a fan of resolutions as such but I like to have a few goals in mind for the year ahead. It doesn't mean I'll achieve them but the thought is there 🤣 It's good to have something to focus on and you have a plan in place for getting to your goal of paying off debt. 

We have loads of store cupboard and freezer stocks. I've made a rough meal plan based on what's already in stock and planning to only buy fresh ingredients and things that are needed. I might make the odd exception for things I use regularly that are on offer for a good price though. 

Debsnewbudget

Long time lurker here 

Makingabobor2

Debsnewbudget said:

Long time lurker here 

Ooh that's good to know....Hello & welcome. x

Makingabobor2

Sun_Addict said:

You probably have more readers than you think. I bet a lot of people just lurk and don't comment. 

I love reading about other people's goals for the New Year. I'm not a fan of resolutions as such but I like to have a few goals in mind for the year ahead. It doesn't mean I'll achieve them but the thought is there 🤣 It's good to have something to focus on and you have a plan in place for getting to your goal of paying off debt. 

We have loads of store cupboard and freezer stocks. I've made a rough meal plan based on what's already in stock and planning to only buy fresh ingredients and things that are needed. I might make the odd exception for things I use regularly that are on offer for a good price though. 

Yes, you may be right. 

I used to do meal plans, all the time, but seem to have got out of it the last couple of months. Will make sure I get into it again now. 

yes, its all about the "thought" isn't it? Which is why I like the word Intention, rather than resolution.  The other thing I intend to do, is more in the garden this year, I really need to do a plan for that, as I am not a good gardener and will forget things if I do not plan. 

Baileys_Babe

I read but rarely have anything to say.

I hope you make a full and speedy recovery.

We need to get back to meal planning, we don't even know what we are having today 🤦

Makingabobor2

Baileys_Babe said:

I read but rarely have anything to say.

I hope you make a full and speedy recovery.

We need to get back to meal planning, we don't even know what we are having today 🤦

Its nice to know people read, even if you don't say anything. Thank you. x

Think we have all eaten too much these last few days and could just do with a nice slice of toast and marmite TBH....lol