31k is a scary number

Waywardgirl3

enthusiasticsaver said:

Well done for posting up the increased debt figure and at least you know why it has increased.  Can you make a rule that you do not spend without taking 24 hours to think about it?  Spending some time thinking whether you really need that item before clicking buy now assuming you are buying online may be sufficient time for you to realise it can wait or you may even already have something that will do the same job. Ideally while you are trying to pay off debt it would be better for you not to use the cards at all.  Can you remove them from your purse and websites? 

 Pets are expensive though and as you have a dog, cat and horse realistically you will need to allocate a fairly substantial amount to them each month.  I am guessing a lot of the existing debt came from pet expenses too. 

Oh completely agree! Definitely trying to put plenty of time between me and my purchases to tackle the impulsivity. 

Waywardgirl3

A lovely long day out hiking with the dog today. He is exhausted and flat out in his bed. I am exhausted aswell but I’m on the couch with an energy drink trying to catch up on work - no rest for the wicked! 

17 pounds out my personal account spent on a round of drinks for 4 people at the pub (so expensive!) but my partner treated me to lunch and dessert. Tomorrow will be a no spend day and I had a bit of cash left over from last month so still seeing it as within my 20 pounds a week spend budget! 

Going to send a pound as a mini overpayment do my Monzo flex and write down my reduced debt total in my diary for a mini dopamine hit. 

Waywardgirl3

Another busy weekend day here. Horses, went for a run with the crazy dog and got all my overtime work done. 

Only spends were planned - fuel (made sure I checked where was cheapest in the area) and groceries from m@rksies (which is definitely not the cheapest in the area) 

I have quite strict dietary requirements and their GF selection is really good so I just got a few essentials and then next few shops will be l!dl or Ald!  We don’t do a big shop anymore as there’s only two of us with a small freezer and we found so much went off, so although we try to meal plan we do little and often (well aiming for when is necessary) shops. 

Filling my little car up only cost 37 pounds and I’d budgeted 40 so threw that extra 3 pound at my Monzo flex. 

Right I’m off to wash my hair and prep for tomorrow which is my long office day, I’m packing all my food and tea but going to treat myself to a coffee out of my weekly spends 

Greg89

Good luck!

I really hope this goes well for you. 

You've got this well organised and cut out.

Waywardgirl3

Thankyou @Greg89 !

getting more organised has definitely helped mentally 

checking in - busy busy office day today but my only one this week! Working from home the rest of the week which will save money. 

Planned personal spend for coffee - (4.50 - includes a pound sent to my round up pot!)

spending money left for the week out of my 20 pounds personal allowance - £15.50

nominal payment of £1.59 sent from my round up pot to my Monzo flex to keep the momentum. 

Other than that not a lot to report just plodding on

chemteacher78

Yay! Keep on keeping on.

I am in a similar postion, and only had a light bulb moment before Christmas. Added more to my debt over December, but then really focussed. I now have a workable budget, and feel I'm doing OK. Well even. I don't feel particularly limited, in fact I am not sure where the hell all the money went. 

I don't think we talk enough about the link between personal finance and mental health. I can see that I'm moving to a place where I feel much more at peace with money. 

Waywardgirl3

Helloooo, so I’ve decided to do a showjumping clinic in a couple of weeks and this is £25, no travel costs as venue close enough to walk horse to. I’ve taken it out of my personal spends and divided the rest proportionally so this means I have 15 pounds a week personal money until the end of February - still on budget but managing to squeeze in the things I love. 

Today should hopefully be a NSD so going to send a pound out my personal spends now to my Monzo flex - all about getting addicted to that momentum rather than spending! 

Soooo - 14 pounds personal spends left for the week. 

Will need to buy milk and cat food out of the joint account today but will walk to L!dl to do this.