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

Sarahwithlove

CreditCardJunkie said:

Just caught up on your diary! I do find when you've been sick etc you do spend a lot (medicine is ridiculously expensive especially night nurse) and little comforts are a must to get through it!

Personally I'd try and get rid of the debt then do the mortgage overpayments. You got a great rate on your mortgage! Mine is due for renewal next year, if we got around 3% I think I'd go 5 years this time too.

Could you cut the luxuries (like nails and massage etc) and pay down the debt faster? I found giving myself a really tight allowance for everything including birthdays, coffees, lunch etc worked for me. It allowed me to pay down the debt faster and any additional income came straight off the debt, although I know this approach isn't for everyone!

Yes i had alot of takeaways this month, more so than usual as just haven't wanted to cook. That's something I definitely will be reigning in next month. 

I think I am going to focus on debt and building a savings buffer. My mortgage isn't going anywhere and when I don't have the monthly credit card costs I will have spare cash to throw at mortgage. Rates are supposed to keep going down a bit more but I don't want to move to SVR and chance it. 

My massages need to stay as they are what keep me going when my back gets too bad. But the nails are due to stop from July as prices are doubling and I have been honest and said I can't afford it. 

I think I need to be stricter with my personal money as I do feel like I have gone off the rails a bit with it. I want a good balance but I seem to struggle to find that. 

Sarahwithlove

OK so I've changed my monthly personal spends back to £150 as that should be more than enough for eating out etc. That doesn't include health and beauty stuff or clothing. So actually not sure what I spend it on. Hence why I need to keep myself accountable. I seem to drink alot of coffee out and lately it's started to include lunches. 

That £50 will now to towards credit card and my aim is to clear it by end of year. So need to find another £400 between now and December. 

OK so just downloaded Mays statement for monzo and it's scary to look at. I've been for 2 massages, 3 course meal at Pizza express, perfume, coat, clothing on vinted, trainers, Costa trips, mcdonalds, greggs, takeaways, local bakery and convenience store (junk food). I also paid for 12 weeks on sw and a years membership for nutracheck. So yes an expensive month for me and alot to think about for next month's budget. 

Sarahwithlove

I've requested to move my 2 direct debits that come out later in month to an old lloyds account. I am then going to use that account with the 2 direct debits to do another bank switch. I don't want to move my main monzo account as prefer that but want to take advantage of the one switch off available to me. 

Chocolatefund

1. Credit Card 
2. Dad Loan
3.  Long term savings/Emergency Fund
4.  Mortgage 

You’ll feel so much better getting that debt out of your life for good.

Sarahwithlove

Chocolatefund said:

1. Credit Card 
2. Dad Loan
3.  Long term savings/Emergency Fund
4.  Mortgage 

You’ll feel so much better getting that debt out of your life for good.

You are right. I'm trying to save along side paying off my card. Currently I have £250 a month going into sinking Fund and £50 in to longer term savings. 

Sarahwithlove

Afternoon! Semi successful day for me. 

- 20 items listed on vinted. 
- 4 items on FB, once has already been sold and collected. £20 now in my purse. 
- closed am old Savings account and transferred the interest into my CC Overpayment pot £2.91

- coffee and sausage bap purchased £8 
- cleaning/household shop completed including new shower curtain and bath mat £36

I am rounding up all purchases and the difference being transferred into my CC Overpayments pot. This has been locked until 31st December. It now stands at £12.78 

Plans for the rest of the week 

- clean kitchen 
- tidy and declutter living room
- put away clothes 
- strip bed and remake it
- put more items on vinted 
- sell bikes in shed 
- declutter spare room

Pretty sure there are more jobs to do but that's more than enough for me to start with. 

Sarahwithlove

Good news, I've sold two items on vinted already. Both are packaged up to be sent tomorrow morning. So glad I've kept all my postage bags from my vinted orders lol. That's £9 to come to me via vinted. I still have some items left to put up for sale over next few days. 

CreditCardJunkie

You're flying! I definitely think you can find the extra £400 for the credit card, you got this!💪

Sarahwithlove

CreditCardJunkie said:

You're flying! I definitely think you can find the extra £400 for the credit card, you got this!💪

Thanks I'm determined to go into the new year without the credit cards. 

Sarahwithlove

Parcels have been taken to local shop and sent off. I also returned the coat I had ordered which arrived this morning. It was too small on arms and a rather impulse purchase. I had to pay £2.95 postage to return it but get £32 back once processed. 

Today's purchases 
- coffee £4.85
- top up shop £8.50
- sw bars and raffle tickets to be purchased later £2.95 

This has all come from the £20 I got from FB purchase yesterday. I have transferred the money into the CC overpayment pot. This is starting to build up nicely. I need to find £57 a month to clear the £400 before Xmas.