My Intentional Journey to Debt Freedom

PennysIntoPounds

Covering your water bill and phone bill is brilliant. Do you think you'll have a few quid spare to put into a pot or is it all consumed by cost of living rises?
I'm currently using an elemis cleanser I got free from Olio and while it's very nice, it has shown me that I'm far too lazy when getting ready for bed to be faffing around with water- my usual (significantly less fancy) cleanser is one I can put on a flannel for a quick swoosh. So that's a few quid saved on not getting tempted by a posher product!

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

To be honest @PennysIntoPounds we could pull our purse strings in a bit more and I think we will at some point.  We do have a reasonable amount of slack in the budget. I think, as with weightloss, small and consistent changes are what’s important.  I have been the master of all or nothing previously. This is wonderful in the “all” phase - pay off debt quickly etc but it doesn’t equip me for the “nothing” phase when it all goes in the opposite direction. So my focus is on small changes that stick.  

On the Elemis - I have used Elemis a lot. I love the cleansing balm. I don’t have a complicated routine but I don’t mind a bit of water🤣.  I haven’t decided where I’m going with cleansing when that runs out.  I also have some Liz Earle cleanse and polish which I also like. I don’t want to pay the Elemis price as I like it but not that much!!!
I’m a bit all or nothing with skincare as well - either a good routine or off to bed with makeup on 😱. 

L x 

PennysIntoPounds

You're doing great with budgeting and pots and making yourself mentally and practically aware, as you say no need to rush as long as everything is in hand and you're still earning and paying the bills. I maybe misinterpreted though that if a couple of bills were paid for by the payrise, then you might potentially have some of the money you were already spending on them freed up? Would that be absorbed into general living/expenses or could you fatten a pot a little/hasten a debt paid off a bit?
I really object to water on my face at night, it wakes me up too much! And I don't like having to get undressed in the bathroom to not get my top soggy. This may be less of a problem for people not as clumsy as me 😁

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

You are right, of course, @PennysIntoPounds.  We should put away money that we previously didn’t have as we can do without it.  I think I more meant that I allocate it to bills in my mind so that it appears more worthwhile than it would seem if I just considered the actual cash amount after tax.  Does that make sense? 

We will have another review of progress at the end of the month so will consider all surplus then.  As well as my pay rise I can see what the NI changes do and my tax code will change as HMRC recoup tax on various work benefits.  I am lucky that I gave a very good salary and we could be doing more without stretching ourselves too far.  You have prompted me on that - thank you. 

I can’t wash my face without putting about an inch of water on the bathroom floor - I tell myself it’s the angle of the sink but it doesn’t seem to happen to Mr L 🤣.   I quite like the hot cloth cleanser at night as it seems quite relaxing.  

L x 

beanielou

Night cream & neck cream for me ~~when I remember

EssexHebridean

Aldi hot cloth cleanser is pretty decent. I tend to use that in the mornings (definitely need to feel I've "washed my face" first thing if you know what I mean!) rather than the evenings. 

vampirotoothus

Hi, if you are not already maxing your pension contributions, could you increase them? It may be even more beneficial if your company matches what you pay in? Either that, or just ask for your mortgage DD to be increased by the pay rise. You won't even notice the change, but your mortgage will V x

debtfreewannabe321

Afternoon LTaMA hope you don't mind me chiming in. I have had a read through your diary and had a few thoughts:

The skincare- I used to always use Est33 Laud3r. (I worked for them for a few years when I was younger and kinda got brainwashed into their expensive several steps routine for a long time ) I also used cl1n1que, d@rphin etc as they belong to the same company and I got discount....After I stopped working there it was costing me a fortune. So I swapped over and now mostly use Ne@l's yard - I prefer their ethics as well and no animal testing. One of the things we used to teach though was how to apply the moisturiser for best effects- so massaging it in right, no dragging skin etc (you probably know this) but having tried many brands myself over the years from very expensive to mid range to cheap I have settled on a mid range one being my preferred one and it is something I won't compromise on. So if you have found one you love I would suggest keeping it and buying cheaper products around it- the cleanser, toner, eye cream etc. I don't think cl1n1que is all that expensive compared to many so if that's your preferred wait until they have their offers on. My skin is still good, I'm 45, barely any wrinkles and when I do have them most of the time I realise it is dehydration so I up my water intake for the day. So if yours is particularly dry try to drink more water. Also don't be afraid to ask them on the make up counters when their next promotion is they have all the POS in a book for the year usually and can tell you (if they are so inclined- I always was) when what is on offer. 

The ups and downs of the budget- I think you've done amazingly well, especially sending back the handbag! I am recently back on here after my LBM dimmed to a distant memory and I had all but forgotten my MSE ways so I am re-learning how to budget and I am also noticing it is different to the first time I was on here. The first time I was here I was in huge amounts of debt (comparable to income) and with a husband who didn't support MSE ways, 3 young kids and I was struggling with a bad spending habit (I was unhappy it was my fix). I struggled but got it all paid off. This time I am with a new partner who is much like your husband, supportive and let's me do the budget how I want and has input along the way. It is so much easier, so although you have the ups and downs of trying to find what works for you, you are doing well. AND it will be all that much easier with support in the right places. Plus you have to remember (reminder to me too) this is a long game, not a short one, we have to have fun, treats and parties along the way -and holidays if we can afford it. The pots are invaluable and I think this is what I missed the most when I fell off the wagon. When I was first here years ago I had about 10 on the go, kids, dog, emergencies, car, christmas etc etc. I still have 2 out of 3 kids at home so my new budget isn't far different from that one to be honest, but as time moves on our priorities do change so don't feel bad about going with the more expensive car insurance because it isn't MSE....it is peace of mind instead. That is just as invaluable and important. My grocery budget used to be SO cheap. However my ideas around nutrition have changed and I have specific wants and needs and will not compromise even if it might annoy hardcore MS'ers (I don't think it does but just in case...) food to me is like your car insurance, something not to be changed no matter what the argument for money saving  

Coffee---I am not the coffee drinker here, DP is. He does a lot of miles- similar to you in fact and he did like to stop for his coffee and wee breaks too I also introduced a PM pot- pocket money. We both get £100 a month and if he wants coffee it comes from there now. It worked well on reducing that I think. An idea I had to spur him on - every time you really wanted one, but resisted, send the money over to your hobby fund (this could be substituted for over payments to CC or loan )...just an idea. It helped him see how much he was spending beforehand and also was a bit of a thrill to watch the pennies tally up elsewhere....

Also You're not the only one who seems incapable of writing small posts I try and fail each time. So on that note I will sign off here now, DFW  

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

Hi everyone 
@debtfreewannabe321 - thanks so much for your post.  Skincare experiments are ongoing and still using up existing stocks.  I’ve use Neal’s Yd in the past. Bit mixed on the skincare but love their orange and geranium handwash.  Fortunately I get this quite often in presents 😁.  

The use of personal spends for coffees on work related occasions is an interesting discussion point in our house. For various reasons the personal spends plan didn’t work well and is being parked for now.  Broadly we agree that work related coffee (I travel a fair bit) shouldn’t be out of any personal spending as it’s related to work travel.  I have committed to reducing this expenditure (also because I begrudge the cost) and have been reasonably successful in doing that since Christmas through various strategies.  Now if I have a drive-thru coffee it is a genuine “need” ie feeling really really tired usually.  Rather than a “want” which it has mainly been in previous months.   Going back over my card spending on my banking app over Christmas (I know how to live 😂) was a shock realisation as to how much I was spending on those coffees and that had helped my discipline enormously.  

Totally agree on the budget comments - I think we are at a good point and will get where we want to go.  Definitely slower than some but right for us. I am flexible and we keep everything under discussion so open to more actions as we go along.  This ongoing focus is what’s new for us.  I am of the same mind re food.  We could definitely reduce our food budget but it is at a place we are happy with based on all the outcomes we want.  

@EssexHebridean  - thanks for that info.  I’ve tried one from Superdrug but never Aldi and I do like a hot cloth cleanser/balm.  
@vampirotoothus  Thanks so much for commenting.  Once I see what the pay rise is net we will decide what to do with it.  It will go somewhere rather than being swallowed up by general spending.  

@beanielou I am like you on the when I remember front. Trying to improve that and sometimes I think that consistency is more important than what I use.  

This weeks money saving:

- good meal plan that we stuck to has brought control to the grocery budget. Assisted by a more focused approach to my weight loss.  

- at least a £10 saving when I didn’t call into a shop near work to buy rubbish (which I would have previously) but reminded myself that consuming 2000 calories on a car journey would not assist this.  I’m posting on @CRANKY40 thread on this section and the old style weightloss thread on my weightloss journey if anyone’s interested.  On the other hand, given my tendency for long posts, if you have a life you may not want to bother 🤣.  I have over 100lb to lose so it will be a long haul. On a more serious note it is inextricably linked to the debt side for me so equally important to find a sustainable and long term approach.  

- car serviced this week.  Money put aside and no sign of the credit card (who am I 😁). No nasties  identified and I watched the little video they sent telling me about my fantastic tyres and amazing brake pads and discs. All good. 

- one drive-thru coffee this week.  Definitely a need and not a want. 

Nothing else much happening as it is mid month and everything paid.  Going out to look at fence panels this morning. We need to cost this to replace fence.  Husband and friend will do the work.  This has been a job for about 5 years (since we moved in) and they won’t survive much longer so need to suck it up and get on with it. 

Hope you all have a good weekend.  

L x 

jwil

I didn't realise Cranky had set up the thread, I'll go and hunt for it.  I'm in the 100lb+ club too.