The Three C's - Coffee, Clothes & Credit Cards

Sarahwithlove

Urgh so I ended up popping to local shop and basically spending a fiver on crap. Now I feel rubbish and fat and wasted money. I've taken it out of my personal spends but really need to do better. 

I think it's because I'm back to work tomorrow after a week off and know there's going to be carnage to go back to. 

I really need to make it back to the gym as well this week but not sure tomorrow after work will happen. Did consider before work but my 7.30 alarm is going to be a shock let alone a 6am one. 

Hopefully we still don't have to go into the office this week which will save me some pennies on travel costs. Also means I could try and do the class on Wednesday I've been wanting to try. 

Sarahwithlove

I don't know what's wrong with me at the moment. Another £4 spent on junk food. Need to get a grip. I'm gonna sit down and work out what spending money I need for my plans this month as a way to straighten me out. It doesn't stretch far when you have meals out and activities booked. 

In better news I had another refund confirmed so should be back on my card within 3-5 working days. That's another £62.99 back and still waiting for one more refund which is the big one at £89.99. The parcel is showing as still with Evr1 grrr. 

I phoned and got my final DD changed today to my monzo account and updated my bank details for my pay on works system. I also submitted my expenses claim, was only about £15 but better in my pocket than theirs. I've also updated my mftp spreadsheet as well. 

Going to try not to spend anything else today by not leaving my flat. First day back after a week off and I'm feeling shattered already. Almost time to log off. 

Sarahwithlove

OK so plans for this month  

Football x 2 so food and drinks should be about £25-30. I may have to choose to only go to pub beforehand once. 

Afternoon tea £20-30 - not sure if expected to go halves on relatives for their birthday - may have to take this from presents fund if that's the case.

Days out with friend and kids £25-30
Dinner out x2 £30-40

That's more than I have left in my spending pot so I am going to have to try and find ways to either say no or make them cheaper. Might suggest a cheaper dinner out of fish and chips down beach when my friends visit for one of the evenings. 

No more wasting my spending money for me! 

Sarahwithlove

Just realised I was £4 away from being in the £6ks so had to pay that off my card. I got the confirmation of the refund being issued so should within 3-5 days show on my credit card. So that will be another £62.99 paid off of it. 

I was worried that VM were going to take my DD despite paying the bill by card so I could change where DD comes from. But they haven't so used £4 to make card payment and moved other £23 into my other expenses pot. I did debate taking it off the card but decided that it would cover the afternoon tea costs almost without having to withdraw it from the saver. 

I'm still slightly concerned at how I'm going to make my money stretch this month but it may ne I need to rob some of my other spending pots. urgh I don't like doing that but I may have to start a fun pot that I save some spending money in for the 3/4 times a year I see my bestie and her kids. 

Sarahwithlove

I've been thinking about my long term plans and some of the Financial goals I want to set myself. 

- clear credit cards 
- get emergency fund to 2k
- Overpay on mortgage 
- save for a new car 
- save for a holiday 
- get a month ahead 
- have full Sinking fund so only needs topping up once I've spent from it. 
- save to do DIY on flat. 

I was looking at my budget again last night and it was interesting to see how much I'd have spare each month once these debts are gone. It would be about £400 to top up sinking funds when needed, overpay mortgage and save towards future pots. That's a pretty good amount and before any potential pay rise this year. Though in usual LG fashion we never get paid it until January and it basically covers increase of bills in April. So I generally try not to count on it, though the lump sum is always nice in January and will help towards the short fall on my credit card. 

Sarahwithlove

This is how things stand at the moment. 

I have £260 a month to go towards Sinking fund and credit card payments. This doesn't include my fixed DD to each card. 

Virgin CC I will need to pay an extra £125 a month to clear it before end of 0% at end of July 25. Then the £50 per month fixed DD I currently pay will switch over to Natwest. 

I have paid £1.68 off my natwest CC which with the refund due in next few days and the bit already saved for this card will then leave me with £65 to find every month for to pay it off before 0% ends Dec 25. 

This would leave me with £70 a month to go into the various pots for my sinking fund. Other than my Christmas fund this is fully funded at the moment. But I do have another birthday this month and one next month to pay out for so present fund will need topping back up.

October is mot month, November is car insurance and December car tax. So that pot will definitely take a hit. However I am thinking that my backpay which usually comes in Jan will help towards topping this pot back up. Which then means it's less to find each month for that pot. 

I'm beginning to feel like it could be doable to be credit card free by Dec 25. My loan to my dad currently would end May 26. But I'd like if possible to bring this forward as well to Dec 25 which means I'd need to find an additional £525 before then. Would be nice to go into 2026 debt free. This is my goal now. 

Stand_up_8

Hi there

Your goals look great - debt free going into 2026 looks totally manageable. 

You can do it!  

birdsfoottrefoil

Well done on the goals and targets! 

Sarahwithlove

Stand_up_8 said:

Hi there

Your goals look great - debt free going into 2026 looks totally manageable. 

You can do it!  

birdsfoottrefoil said:

Well done on the goals and targets! 

Thanks both. I'm feeling optimistic about it. Even if that's 15 months away I know time will fly by. 

Sarahwithlove

Wow I hadn't realised how many threads I was behind on. Slowly catching up but it's all the biggie ones left now. 

Yesterday was a bit spendy in the end. Popped to Mr T after work £19 spent after my £12 voucher which I transferred the value of into my football fund. Also withdrew £10 cash from personal money and got myself a chippy dinner as my leftovers smelt off and didn't want to risk it. 

I have rejigged the budget a bit to give me some extra funds for the birthday spends this month. That should then give me a little more freedom with my personal money without having to withdraw from present fund itself. 

I need to crack on with selling stuff on vinted and fb marketplace as the pile in the spare room is getting bigger and bigger as I declutter. Though won't be today as I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through my work day with less than 3 hours sleep 😴😴😴