What Not to do When You Move House

lantanna

Great idea about the weekly spend, I do the same transfer myself a monthly amount to spend. I’m going to try weekly I can totally see how that would work

meerkatpie

CL21 said:

Great news on going down to the next £k bracket - so satisfying! 

Looks like you’re making great ‘mental’ progress with the debt too 🙌🏻

It really does feel great! It is a small win but it is great to see it going in the right direction. 

I can really feel a mindset shift, getting in the right headspace is absolutely half the battle!

meerkatpie

lantanna said:

Great idea about the weekly spend, I do the same transfer myself a monthly amount to spend. I’m going to try weekly I can totally see how that would work

Honestly it has been a bit of a game-changer for me! The monthly budget works as I know my bills are accounted for, but I find I spend more when there is a larger amount in the account at the beginning and then towards the end of the month I am coppering up. 

This way, I don't have as much each week, but what I do have is consistent and it's nice to know it is only ever a week until there is a bit more cash to use. It's helped me keep my shopping bill down too as I know I need to budget that amongst everything else!  

meerkatpie

Hello Everyone! Happy Monday!  

I am sorry for the silence from my part. I will be honest this month I have been so up and down emotionally… at times having so much motivation and at others feeling overwhelmed. However, I am staying strong and persevering. 

One thing I wish I did the first time was to tell my family sooner. I am incredibly close to my grandparent and they are who I confided in first. I spoke to them again this month and told them the truth. 

I would much rather face telling them than trying to hide this like a secret as one way or another it would come out eventually… and I could do with the support!

They were so kind and understanding, it felt so good to tell them as each week I keep them updated about how my weekly budget is going and they will go over my monthly budget with me to make sure money is going to the right places. They don’t have to, but they are happy to listen and it just helps me to remain accountable!

I have given them my physical credit cards and they have already been removed from my Apple Pay and Amazon wallets. The Barclaycard has had a wonderful cut straight through the chip! My Santander one is my emergency card. It has the lowest limit and so if I need to use it for a true emergency until my find is built up, I have the option to… however, we will discuss it first to make sure it is the right choice, that it is a true emergency and there are no other options. 

After all has been paid I am so far keeping on track with my budget and I was able to up this to £100 a week temporarily thanks to the overtime. 

I have about £250 in the car fund with a further few hundred of overtime expected at the end of the month. This should hopefully cover all my cars needs but I am waiting for my car insurance renewal. The last three years it has been cheaper to stay with Admiral even when shopping around so I am looking forward to seeing what they do this year. 

As soon as the car is sorted, I am building up a small emergency fund and then hammering every extra penny onto the debts. 

I had a few trips planned at the end of the year and a few frank conversations later, they have been cancelled. Honestly, can’t believe how receptive people are being. I have sort of approached the mindset of ‘If people don’t understand and don’t support me, they aren’t right for me.’ I am sure it will be their loss in the long run. 

For my debts this month another £176 has been paid off my car loan and £300 off the Barclaycard. This is now under the £8k bracket! Yay!

Overall my debts stand at £16,409.19… next month that should be under the £16k bracket too! Slowly but surely, we will get there.

Sorry again for the delay in update. My head has been a jungle. But I am still on track and still trying my best!

Have a great week everyone! 

Humdinger1

You are doing brilliantly @meerkatpie! Interesting that friends are so receptive; everyone is reining in spending it seems. You will get there.  Love Humdinger x 

meerkatpie

Humdinger1 said:

You are doing brilliantly @meerkatpie! Interesting that friends are so receptive; everyone is reining in spending it seems. You will get there.  Love Humdinger x 

Thank you very much! Really trying even though it feels like a battle and a half!

I must agree, even those without hefty debt I think are feeling the reality of the cost of living at the moment.