Everything's An Opportunity

LookingForPeace

Thank you both as always! 😊

The LISA is a great idea - you reminded me I have £50 in one from a few years ago! I'll make sure I can login and have the details soon, and think about diverting the debt payments there after it's all gone.

I think for 5/6 months in between repayments and house saving will be emergency savings though, with the aim of a £4K pot. If I get my emergency savings to £1k minimum by the end of this year, I can get to £4K in 5 months if I'm still paying the £600 in.

I'm also planning on asking for a raise at some point mid-year. I'll decide how to play it when / if that happens, but right now I'd want to point it at the debt to speed things up.

I just want it gone! I can't believe what a 180 I've done in the past few months 😂 I've spent years not really fussed. Now, all I can think of is the day that all my income is mine and I owe no-one...!

LookingForPeace

Evening everyone 

I thought I'd say hello. The weekend went well, but included an impromptu pop in the supermarket which was about £10 more than I really planned on spending. I think it was because it was like a hellhole - people everywhere, chaotic lines, didn't know where anything was. Something about the madness in there made me forget what I was there for! No massive problem in the grand scheme of things, though 

The big news is that for the first time that I can remember I bought something I wanted that I SAVED UP FOR! 🥳 I'm now the proud owner of a shiny pair of new running shoes - the ones I wanted - all because I've put a bit aside each month since November. And I knew it was a good decision because I still wanted them. Of course I'd prefer if it wasn't 0'c all of a sudden but I can deal with the pain 

I was so proud that I told my mum  I've been telling her about my goal here, and we've switched to cooking for each other rather than meals out often. She thought they must have been thousands if I had to save up for them!!

Better head to bed now, my sleep has been dreadful as is often the case these days. I've learnt it helps to not stress about it though, that just makes it worse and gives you 2 problems 

SueP19

Yay another YNAB fan, will go back and read but just wanted to 👋  hello 

savingholmes

Well done on saving up for shoes. So many of us have gone into debt for something as small as a chocolate bar and borne the cost later.

LookingForPeace

@SueP19 Yay thanks so much for being here and saying hello! ✌️I'm in love with the YNAB way of life  But I'm putting together my own version of the software to save the dosh - I'm sure they would approve? 

@savingholmes Thank you as always! Yes I'm sure I've done the same over the years. No more though 

SueP19

Very Ynaby lol in truth I've not used it as I should have until this year 

LookingForPeace

It has a certain spell doesn't it @SueP19

The week so far has been as expected - not spent much, if anything. Took a shirt back for a refund at the weekend and that has come through, part cash part gift card. It's where I get all my clothes so not too fussed about the gift card part! £45 back in the budget then, and I decided I didn't want it to go towards clothes anymore, so added it to the Paypal Credit payment I'll make next month. 

Couple of things coming up - a night out with a friend Saturday (not sure of the plan yet, but I have some money aside for it) and a date (!!!!!!) next Wednesday so I'll need to make sure I have champagne money ready for that too 

I'm determined to finish the month having not spent all my discretionary money, to have a bit more to put against Paypal. Right now I have £210 planned for February's payment, made up of £140 that was going to Argos before, £35 regular payment, and £35 extra added during January. If I can make that £250+ that would really give me a head start on smashing debt number 2 ASAP.

Hope everyone is well! 

LookingForPeace

Happy Monday everyone! 

Thought I'd say hello. The night out on Saturday was the most raucous I can remember for a long time  I still feel a bit peaky. I'm a bit disappointed that at 34 I'm already unable to recover the next day, but I drink about 3 times a year now so I'll put it down to being out of practice...

It was a great night with a great friend! And best of all it wasn't very costly, about £30 in the end. 

Wednesday's date is off. They were a personal trainer who (after not having met yet!) asked to borrow £20 to cover their bounced gym membership  I couldn't cancel fast enough.

I really wasn't prepared for this app dating world. It's just as horrific as I thought. I think I'll put my faith in bumping in to someone in the veg aisle  I'm not in any rush... quite enjoying my own time in many ways.

It looks like, all being well, I'll have £100 ish extra towards Paypal Credit left over from not spending it in January. I think that should take me close to total remaining debt of around £8500 at the end of February, which would really feel good. I cannot WAIT to get below £5k for some reason! 

Hope you're all well... appreciate you reading as always

Matt

CL21

Good lord, that’s a red flag if ever I saw one. Maybe point them in the direction of these diaries - sounds like they could use them 😂

bekah89

Wow you dodged a bullet there 🤣🤣 how cheeky! 

You’re getting the debt down so quick well done!