The Final Bite of the Cherry- Journey to Clear £66k

Sarahwithlove

I used to love ynab but the price wasn't worth it for me as my finances are fairly straight forward and could be managed with a spreadsheet. But I found it really helped me and I still have same list that I use for my sinking fund so I know how much to put away each month. Have you set yourself goals on ynab? That way once you reach the goal for that pot you stop adding to it unless you take something out in which then you would build it back up again. Might help with your pots not getting too over full. 

outoftheviciouscircle

Sarahwithlove said:

I used to love ynab but the price wasn't worth it for me as my finances are fairly straight forward and could be managed with a spreadsheet. But I found it really helped me and I still have same list that I use for my sinking fund so I know how much to put away each month. Have you set yourself goals on ynab? That way once you reach the goal for that pot you stop adding to it unless you take something out in which then you would build it back up again. Might help with your pots not getting too over full. 

Thanks for popping by @Sarahwithlove. I actually think I was reading your new diary this morning. YNAB has really changed my life, changed my attitude towards money etc. I have only been using it since March and maybe when the debt figure is a bit lower and I feel more in control of my money I may consider using a spreadsheet. However at the moment that £12.99 a month extra I am spending is probably saving me £100's a month.

Sarahwithlove

If its worth while for you then definitely keep it going. Eventually you may decide you can manage without once you're in a routine with it all. 

Jrcoal5

Hi just popping in to say a massive congratulations on getting the debt down to the 4s! I’ve yet again failed to be on here for a few weeks so sorry it’s a bit late! What a huge achievement well done!!

outoftheviciouscircle

Its been a while again, I got struck down with Covid. I'm still testing positive but getting better everyday. The cough seems to have developed now. Please tell me this does not hang around as its keeping me up at night and making me grouchy all day!!
I have a bit of work to do on the moneys front, update all my bank accounts etc. I hope to get that done over the weekend and see where I am from there.

4 weeks tomorrow until Florida, I'm so glad this covid came now, I'm kind of hoping DH will get it from me so we should both have a few antibodies for when we are away but on the other hand its my sisters 40th next weekend and we are hosting a small gathering for her so I don't want to be cancelling that.

Hope everyone is well and enjoy Friday, the end is in sight!!

dawnybabes

Hope your recovery goes well, I know more people now with Covid than ever before and it’s really wiping them out for a couple of weeks x 

outoftheviciouscircle

Here I am again!!
Seems like its been a crazy couple of weeks and don't feel like I've had 2 minutes to myself.
My sisters 40th Birthday party is proving a bit more costly than I'd planned. My parents are paying for the food and I'm paying for the decorations but I find myself picking up bits and pieces constantly that are all adding up. We are going for an Italian tonight as part of the pre celebrations but my parents have already said that they will be paying for that.

It's payday today, so all money has been allocated to a category. This month I've started to make the inroads on the Sainsbury's credit card. It has a balance of £7500 that is on 0% until September 2024 and paying the minimum payment every month is not going to get me anywhere near this. The plan is to carry on paying the minimum but to put an extra £450 a side in a savings account (to earn the interest) so I can just pay it off when next September comes.

I've had a good run of not having to go away for work, but next week it starts again. Luckily, I only have 3 weeks until holidays now so it won't be a run of weeks on end that I'm away. I'm WFH today and I have tomorrow booked off for the party prep, which reminds me, I really need to sort my expenses today.

Well I hope everyone has a good day, hopefully I'll catch up sooner next time!!

outoftheviciouscircle

October has turned into a really expensive month and at the moment I'm looking at really big shortfall. My sisters party turned into quite an expensive occasion and now I have another 8 days to go in October with next to no money!!!
We did have a nice surprise yesterday when the in laws gave us £50 instead of getting us a present from their holiday. I'm not sure they ever get us a present but we certainly weren't going to be turning it down lol!!
The weekend has been a bit of a washout, after the party I spent all of yesterday recovering on the sofa and this morning cleaning up the mess.
Money wise, I do have £53.60 ready to pay out in Prolific and another £9.50 pending. The surveys were coming thick and fast the beginning of last week but they seem to have slowed down now. I also have a very small £2.05 in Quidco.
Tomorrow I head away for work again, I have the washing machine going to get all my clothes ready and need to go through my toiletries to make sure I have anything.
Well I best get on, have a great day!!

outoftheviciouscircle

I'm back with my tail between my legs. Its been over a month since I last updated and a lot has happened.
I've been back a couple of days now from my cheeky week to Florida. Overall when I think was the expense worth it, probably not. It rained all week and we were walking around soaking wet in soggy shoes. Of course it was Disney so we couldn't be completely miserable, we got a few bargains and ate amazing food so it wasn't all bad. We also came home with over £500 left in the budget, so this has carried over to next years holiday.

I am on track to finish my Christmas shopping by the 1st December. This is the first year I have ever budgeted for Birthdays and Christmas and I will never not do it again, I have 2 people left to buy for and there will be £250 left in the pot. I'm not anticipating spending a lot on the Christmas shop this year as we are going to my mothers for dinner and we have already bought a lot of the booze so any money left will carry over to next year and I'll just cut the amount down that gets paid into the pot. I also have £25.00 on my Nectar card, £28 in Asda Rewards and £55 on the Coop Card that will probably get used for any bits and pieces we want.

We had the annual statement through for the Kitchen a couple of weeks ago. I got a bit of a shock when I realised that we had taken the finance out over 5 years and not 4. At £300 a month that has taken the debt figure up by £3600. I will look into all the figures when I sit down and do my new year planning. A ritual on new years day. Although at least this years will be the most positive it's been for a while. I haven't taken out any new credit this year and will have paid at least £20,000 back in 2023. 

I don't think theres much else to catch you up on but I will certainly start trying to update more often. Have a great weekend everyone.

dawnybabes

Aww that’s a shame it rained all week, but as you say it’s Disney !