Freedom and Independence.

BudgetingBelinda

A NSD, was a close call.. ended up at a park near a chip shop at dinner time 😬 but we all stayed strong and eating leftovers and fridge contents 💪🏼.
Good day, one meeting for DS2, some decluttering and pottering and chilling and did my savings research and future plans and set up the S&S ISA. Changed it to medium risk 🤔Planning £150pm into that next year and for 10 years+ 🤞🏼but only after emergency fund is up to 2k, then will pay into another easy access savings account and holiday etc fund. 

Roll on debt freedom and savings plans. 🎉🤩💯

BudgetingBelinda

Posting a lot at the moment as I’m on a break from work, head in the budget and mindfulness game and want to notice and note while I have the brain space and time…
I’m just halfway through my dinner, leftover pork in a creamy sauce with mushroom, goats cheese, spinach and pasta and GB. Delish, rich and half still to go but I am full up. 

I think usually I’d overeat this by 2/3 and throw the rest 1/3 away. What I am going to do is pop the 1/2 leftover now in tupperware in the freezer for a work lunch in future.
I need to portion control massively. Grocery budget could be cut and saved on right here. 

✅ 
I think I’m carrying this debt and spending a lot around my waist/waste! 🤔

debtfreewannabe321

I have massive plates and realised I was portioning up too much for DD and myself. DS and DP ate it all. So I went and bought two pretty plates that were smaller (normal sized!) and we have those now and let the boys have the big plates. So I rarely get bloated now and feel sick after carrying on eating well past when I'm full. And I usually have a portion of whatever I cook (as I've not yet learned to cook smaller amounts 🤣) left for lunch or to freeze so win win. 

BudgetingBelinda

@debtfreewannabe321 everything is super sized isn’t it! Definitely need to 1/2 dinner amounts here. I do cook enough for lunches when I’m at work and love that win win of not worrying about work lunches, but didn’t plan on that last night, just slowing down and noticed the huge portion 😳. Also just not keen on that really over full feeling I keep getting. Will be downsizing for sure. Good idea on smaller plates… If I wasn’t being so tight I’d go and buy smaller plates! I’ll just have to be very mindful and change the habit of these larger portions, been eating less the last few nights and think my stomach has shrunk a little 👌🏼💪🏼 must keep head in the game with eating. I am going to do some exercise too, nothing fancy but I am not moving as much these days, aside from the dog walk- which I enjoy. I’m feeling pretty stagnant and old. 

satchmo1

Maybe check out the local charity shop for a pair of smaller plates at much lower cost? 

debtfreewannabe321

i got some similar to this so they had the ridge meaning I was only filling the bit in the middle. I have some other plates that are really pretty but they are massive and I was filling them right to the edge 😂 so these work for DD and myself. (I got mine either dunelm or the range can't recall which but think I paid £2 for each one and my style is eclectic so I chose two different designs 😁).

BudgetingBelinda

debtfreewannabe321 said:

i got some similar to this so they had the ridge meaning I was only filling the bit in the middle. I have some other plates that are really pretty but they are massive and I was filling them right to the edge 😂 so these work for DD and myself. (I got mine either dunelm or the range can't recall which but think I paid £2 for each one and my style is eclectic so I chose two different designs 😁).

Nice!!!! Thank you! Will be on the lookout xx

BudgetingBelinda

November payment sent.. so

£442 left of DMP. 🎉
7 steps left until DMP & debt freedom! 🎉🎉

Friend visiting today/tonight so heading out for a nice day with DS’s crabbing etc and then hopefully heading out to dinner. Atm DS2 refusing to go to his dads tonight but hopefully he feels better about it later. 

Aubergine has not paid maintenance for DS’s again.. so far. This is becoming a standard now. He seems to be about a week late and has been for the last 3 months, just means I have to ask again.. and again… and the auberginey nonsense comes back. I will ask just once this month & will phone CMS in a week if still nothing, perhaps a little letter from them to him would help him realise it is something that is ‘essential’, contrary to his beliefs. Eye roll! Anyway I shalt not let the aubergine nonsense take up anymore space. 

One more payment to DMP and I’m debt free! 

Well, aside from student loans, and phone contract and those things- but I’m not counting that!

I’m nearly there! Freedom!… Braveheart vibes. 

Will contact Payplan and get a final payment figure confirmed and be able to pay that off at the end of November. All credit agency reports and all my statements align so should be around or at the £442 amount. 

Hopefully my budget holds out this month and I can lower those groceries, keep the EF ticking on, and fly into December ready for the Xmas season without the debt, financial dread and anxiety I have been used to for so long. 

Exciting times! 

BudgetingBelinda

Had a lovely evening out with an old friend. I got the bill for dinner and it felt so nice to treat her as she has always been so generous and kind. It was nice to be able to do so without feeling anxious about money and what will
be left for groceries and bills! I am really enjoying feeling like I know where I am with my budget and have a workable and realistic plan. 

Finding joy in these little ‘almost debt free’ freedoms already 💪🏼💯🎉

BudgetingBelinda

Last day before back to work/school tomorrow.
jobs: walk dog, sew a blazer pocket back on, clean floors, little shop- bread etc. Back in pjs by 1pm 🤞🏼
Doing well on groceries, must stay strong in ‘little’ shop! Going to Aldi so should be ok but need to go to co-op for specific item that DS2 will only eat that they have. 

Aubergine has still not paid, in a weird way it’s helpful as I’ve budgeted without CM due to lateness etc and when it comes late, which so far it does it’s like having spare money! When it comes it will go to fixing my kitchen tap and I hope an overpayment to PP and/or into EF. 
This last month of DMP is being wished away! I so want to then focus my budget on snowballing what was the DMP payment to EF, savings and holiday fund and house maintenance.