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Countdown to Part Time…

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  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    I was the same as you, I started my debt free journey in December 2022 but it wasn't until April that something just clicked.
    Post in your diary everyday, even if you have nothing to say. Thats why a lot of people like PADing as it give them a reason to check in everyday.
    If your debt figure is going down rather than up, you are on the right track. Be Proud!!
    Thank you - I have been trying to PAD most days. I definitely need to work on doing it every day. I do like reading other people’s diaries too as it helps me to know I’m not on my own.
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thank you @Blackcats- I’m still reading your earlier diaries.

    work today - and then a few drinks in a pub to say good bye to some work colleagues. Didn’t cost me any money because I was given some money back for the gifts I had bought.
    Worked a couple of hours overtime then got a takeaway for me and my daughter. Probably could have found something in the freezer but I chose the easy option. But I have enough leftover pizza for lunch tomorrow and Friday so when I look at it like that, it’s not all bad.

    Got a “lucky box” from Approved Foods and it really was lucky. Cost £1 and I got a large bag of kettle chips, sweet potato crisps, a small bottle of raspberry and rose soda, a bar of Tony’s chocolate, 2 packs of noodles (teenage daughters will eat), a protein bar, some chocolate covered rice cakes and a box of brownies. 

    I’ve had to book a couple of days away to visit a family member who is unwell. I’ll take the cost of it from my overtime money. It will be £100 for hotel, maybe £60 for petrol and probably at least £60 for food. I will think carefully about taking food with me to help keep the cost down.

    Pay day on Friday. Yay! Time to reset the budget and keep on track. We go on holiday in a few weeks but I have money put away to enjoy. It’s also a big birthday and my lovely in-laws usually give me some birthday money so that will be a bit of extra spending money too. Depending on how much it is, I’ll either use it as spending money just on holiday or if there’s more, it can go into savings for some of the other trips I’ve got planned. It’s a busy few months coming up.
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Evening all.
    I think I’ve had a personal no spend day. I bought a couple of items for my Etsy business but they were paid for by the business.
    Overtime has finished now but I will only get a few small payments this week then next week. Should get a big lump later in August. To be honest, it’s a relief. I have not had a proper day for two months. 
    Moved a little money that had been collected by “save the change” over to the emergency fund. I was able to colour another square in my little colouring sheet. Going to aim for a no spend week - until I go on my little trip to the coast to visit my relative. Having said that, it is our wedding anniversary next week so I at least need to buy a card for the hubster. 
    Spending this evening chilling out and knitting.
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    So the plan for a no spend week isn’t going to happen. We’ve got dinner out on Tuesday for our wedding anniversary. And I spent £3 on snacks at work today. 
    But - payday today which included an extra £20 that I wasn’t expecting. Not sure where that came from but I’m not going to complain. Paid £126 off my overdraft and put £40 in the Christmas account. Also got a small payment from my overtime which has topped up my holiday spending money and a bit towards my trip to the coast next week. More sales on Etsy so that’s good.
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Evening all. Spent most of the day attempting to sell my goods. Only problem was heavy rain ALL DAY. All the traders said it was a terrible day of trading. I didn’t take enough money to cover the cost of the stall so that was very depressing. Came home cold and wet. Of the little money I took, half is going to the holiday cash account and half to the emergency fund once it comes through the system. 

    I spent £2.85 on a bacon cob and I’ve paid myself for petrol and parking out of the business account and I stopped myself from doing any unnecessary shopping from the other stands. Having a few gin and tonics tonight as I have plenty in the house, so no spending there. It’s a very nice Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle gin.

    Looking forward to a lazy day tomorrow. Got a few things to do but hopefully I can chill and knit or crochet pretty much all
    day. Oh and I’m hoping to have sold a big item today - waiting to hear back if it’s suitable or not. If it is, it could be £200 in my pocket. Well, in the emergency fund. If not, I must get it listed on Facebook selling groups. 
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Not been feeling very well today. So far I’ve spent most of the day sitting on the sofa, but I have got all the washing done. We’re trialling smol laundry tablets currently. 
    I need to source a birthday present for my great-niece. Hoping to get something she likes but at a reduced price. Might be a trip to Home Bargains this week… I have 32 in my gift pot for this month. I do have a supply of birthday cards at home so hoping to use these. I also have a colleague leaving this week. I contributed to her main leaving gift but it would be nice to give her something personal as well. Hmm… maybe I should go into town this afternoon and see what I can find. 

    I’ve also found a new site for charity giving. It’s called Lendwithcare and is all about helping people in very poor economies build their own businesses. I like to support charities and this looks like a highly ethical way of helping people in extreme poverty work their way out in a long lasting way.
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Well, I’ve spent a bit of time this afternoon reading through other diaries on here - so many helpful ideas. Thanks to @Blackcats I have discovered the app Olio and that it is very active in my area. Managed to get some cinnamon swirls, 2 x loaves of delicious cheesy bread, 4 little gem lettuces, a big bag of parsley, 3 x garlic bulbs, 2 avocados, and 2 packs of leeks today. I’m amazed by it. The avocados and salad will be used in my lunches this week. Although if I’m honest, I think the avocados could be beyond saving… The leeks are definitely a bit sad looking but I chopped one up and gave it to the chickens and they seemed to enjoy it. I wonder if we will get slightly leek tasting eggs…

    I cut the loaves in half and popped 1.5 in the freezer. I might look at volunteering a few times in the summer holidays while I’m off and help distribute this stuff. Such a good idea though. Maybe when I’m away next week I’ll see if there’s anything local that can feed me a bit - sandwiches or similar could be really helpful.

    I went shopping earlier to look for gifts. I had picked up a gift box with Prosecco and chocolates for £10. Then I realised the same Prosecco was £7.99 by itself and there couldn’t have been more than 2 chocolates in the box! And then I saw a little raspberry and peach gin and candle set that was only £5.99 and I think looked a bit nicer and I remembered I had a nice box of fancy looking chocolates that I had bought last week. So I saved myself £4. And then I looked for a present for my lovely great niece and found a toy set that I know she’ll love reduced from £16.99 to £10.99. I will shop from home for cards and gift bags and I still have £8.62 in the gift savings pot and I don’t think there are any more gifts to buy this month.

    Husband told me today that he thinks we will get a rebate from our gas and electricity this month. If that’s the case, he’s told me we’ll use it to pay for one of our excursions we’re planning to take on holiday that I’ve currently got the money saved for. And that will then mean I’ve potentially got more money to put into my emergency fund. Really hoping I’ll hit the £1000 mark by end of August especially with that rebate and my final overtime payment.

    DH’s parents have given him some money as they have given his brother some to help him out. We’re going to put it away in our household savings. At some time we really will need to replace our boiler. Or the windows. We’ve lived in this house 27 years and not replaced either yet so it’s only a matter of time.

    The item I was hoping to sell this weekend has been returned, so I need to photograph it and put it up for sale on a couple of Facebook sites and pray I can sell it safely to somebody reputable. Think that’s it for today…
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 24 July 2023 at 11:52PM
    Work today but it was a quiet one. I’m relocating my workspace so spent a couple of hours boxing up items but also having a very thorough clear out. When you find documents dating back to 1995 you know you’re a hoarder… The woman I got avocados and salad from Olio last night messaged me to say she had a no show so I went back to her this afternoon and got more avocados and salad. We had Mexican bean salad tonight - with plenty of avocado!

    Money wise - had money come into my accounts today from my side hustle. Most went into the “business account” but a very small portion has gone into the Emergency Fund.  Also I’ve reset my direct debit for my Barclaycard repayments to stay at a consistent amount rather than reducing to the minimum payment. In a couple of months I will be overpaying it significantly.
    I started listening to a book on Audible that I first listened to maybe 5 years ago- The No Spend Year. It’s quite interesting but very London-centric which gets a little annoying.

    Having said yesterday that I didn’t think I had anymore gifts to come out of the gift pot, I then realised I really ought to buy the husband an anniversary card… 27 years, so it’s probably important. We’ve got dinner out tomorrow - 6 course meal for £24.95 then another £20 for a bottle of wine. Good job I’m not working on Wednesday.

    Took photos and listed the big item I have for sale. Going to take my daughters to see the Barbie movie on Wednesday - I’m pretty sure I have enough free cinema tickets still from my bank account. I’ll make them buy me the popcorn in return! 



    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Yesterday we got our gas and electricity rebate. It was £430. We used £100 on our wedding anniversary meal out last night, including wine and taxis and £300 has gone into my Emergency Fund which is a great boost. 

    I’ve been using the Oliol app quite a bit, picking up nice bread and putting it in the freezer. One lady had a ton of sanitary products that were in packs that had stuff spilt all over. She asked me if I wanted them. I’m post-menopausal myself but I have 2 student daughters so I said yes please. She gave me loads! I’ve taken all the pads out of the dirty sticky packaging and rebagged them. Great savings for my girls. I took her some fresh eggs from our chickens to say thank you.

    No work today, but a big order of raw supplies arrived for my Etsy business. Had a bit of an organise with the stock. Now going to chill out a bit and do some knitting.
    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
  • Spinayarn
    Spinayarn Posts: 230 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    A quiet day at work today and only needed to be in for a few hours. I also took myself to the shops in the area. I needed to buy some wool for a project I am working on for a friend. Half the cost of this will be reimbursed. I also finally succumbed to the wool for a pattern that keeps calling to me. I’ve seen it advertised lots of times but resisted. On the plus side, if I’d bought the original yarn, it would have cost me over £45 but I spent £23 instead. I’m taking that as a win and the money came out of my incidentals pot. 

    Dinner tonight was a cheesy pasta bake and we had toasted cheese bread (from Olio) with it. Went to Starbucks this evening for my knitting group - spent £3.50 on iced tea. Oh and I spent £7.99 on subway for lunch so quite a speedy day really but all within budget.

    Managed to get a few Prolific surveys completed today - I’m waiting till I’ve got £20 I’m there then will transfer into the Emergency Fund.


    My Debt Free journey - started 1 May 2023. Goal date October 2026 May 2026 April 2026

    CC1 £180 £0.00
    CC2 £1948.18 £0.00
    O/D £1400 £0.00
    Loan 1 £6231.57. £0.00
    Loan 2 £6993.30  £3900.68
    Car Loan £11257.28  £9,025
    Total Debt: £28006.30  £12,790

    EF £1939.73
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