Freedom and Independence.

BudgetingBelinda

KeepOnKnitting said:

Just had a read through your diary and seems you are learning some new habits. Some things that might work for you that definitely work for me:
- Use your spare change jar for the single item shops like the washing up liquid. Dig 70p or whatever it is out of the jar and take only that to the shop. I sometimes need to do this for milk or bread. 

- Preparation and stubbornness is key. Having to buy lunch out is my kryptonite, while having sandwich supplies in the house is the bedrock of managing my budget. If I can avoid meal deals, everything else falls in line. Sometimes I have to be stubborn and make myself go out to buy lunch supplies after dinner in the evening when I am tired, because otherwise tomorrow there will be a meal deal. I do it after dinner, so that I am not in the supermarket when I am hungry. This does mean it is late for me and I will be tired, but that is a bonus as I just want to get in and out.

- Find low cost ways to build in nice things to your budget. I can usually afford a basket of shopping from the posh shop once a month if I go around 6pm on a weekday and buy nice things with yellow stickers on. I prioritise things that can go in the freezer and make the treats last for a couple of weeks.

Look forward to following your progress with avoiding the little shop.

Great tips thank you!
I do need to be so careful on the groceries. I’m a sucker for treats! Need to build those into budget so I’m enjoying it. Very true. Thanks so much for reading good luck with the lunches! I’m home at lunch mainly as I have a puppy and only work along the road, that has helped a lot- or maybe evened out the budget?! Wishful thinking!

BudgetingBelinda

I was hankering after a takeaway last night. Typically spending £40-£90 on eating out/takeaways per month previously, sometimes more- school holidays and when I was commuting 🫣. 

I haven’t spent anything this month, and don’t plan to.

😳😳😳😳 April 2020 is the last month where I spent £0 on eating out according to my Monzo. That category includes coffee's too, but on the whole, a chunk of money has been going to eating out every month for years- I might add it up 🫣. I wonder if that money had gone to DMP if I’d have any debt left now? I was studying away from home a couple of days a week for two years which obviously didn’t help with the takeaways- Mc D’s/coffee etc but I cannot believe it’s been nearly 4 years since I had a £0 month on eating out. 

With that in mind I sent another step £60 to DMP last night. That takes me up to 9.5/100. I would have spent that on takeout this month. It’s left me with not much float in my current account, but I have a small EF £200 and £205 in my pot to overpay more DMP at the end of the month, and I have all food in/budgeted for for next week and fuel. 

I don’t think I can say no to takeaways every month, not sustainable! But perhaps every other month or just cut way down?! Half term next month too, which usually means some coffees in places and food for us out, or a takeaway. I’ll plan that in as my next time for anything coming out of the eating out category. 

I might do a rough calculation of what I’ve spent on ‘eating out’ in the last 4 years… 🫣🫣🫣 maybe later??
hang tight 😬… I’m scared to! 

Today is just walk dog with friends, try not to freeze at footy, drop off some bits to charity shop. And only a few £’s on bread rolls in the shop. Perhaps a smidge more decluttering later. 

BudgetingBelinda

‘….out/takeaways per month previously, sometimes more- school holidays and when I was commuting 🫣….’
So *more* basically all the time- as school holidays I spent more and I was commuting to study during term time! Amazing what writing it down does to your accountability!

BudgetingBelinda

£5899 that’s how much is in my eating out category over the last 4 years. And that’s very close to my debt amount. GULP. Quite shamed by the amount.
I was commuting/studying away couple of days a week for the last two years.. but holy smokes. Definitely had no idea it was so much while doing it, now looking back it’s almost £1500 per year!? Eating out and groceries are where I will WIN and pay off this debt as soon as possible … (and then have a takeaway guilt free!?) if all goes to plan I might be able to get £780 this month to pay off debt, that’s 13 steps. And in 8 months time… I could be debt free- for my 41st Birthday?! 

That’s such a huge IF though. Not quite realistic really 🥴 definitely by Xmas 2024 though. That is realistic, and anywhere in between that is a win. Let’s hope there’s no major curve balls. My old car is the weakest link. I’m talking nicely to it every day 😅

BudgetingBelinda

A rather nice day really. Footy/park/dog walk with friends.

Some beige food from co-op for youngest. But nothing major though I am very close to my 400£ for the month on groceries.

This morning I went through last 4 years month by month of grocery spend and eating out spend. Going to make such progress this month in regards to that, even if I come in over budget a bit on groceries I’ll be better than I was! Monzo sent me a notification and said I’m spending 22% less this month... So that’s positive…. And that’s with overpayment 🎉 to DMP- I would not of been able to overpay an extra £120 this month had I been spending like before. I also still have £205 in my overpayment pot for end of the month and a rounding up pot EF with £200 at the moment which I haven’t touched this month and 🤞🏼 I don’t need to! 

I am counting down the days until pay day- but not because I want to spend, but because I want to pay off debt. First time I’ve felt like this! 

I keep thinking about the summer and being debt free… When someone says something about August/September/October I think- oh I’ll be debt free then or close! 

I still haven’t heard if amigo are upholding my claim. Though it has come off of my credit report- I’m still paying them via the DMP. That’s bothering me, that I could be paying them extra with my overpayments that I may not need to be. They say I will hear by end of Jan. I don’t want to have to hold off paying DMP overpayments, I just want to get it done.

De cluttered some old medicine and clothes. Bathed the dog 🤩

Plan for the week-
Mon, Tues, Weds- NSD/AF mini de clutters as and when. (Kitchen cupboard Tupperware 😳)
Thurs- let’s see- check online grocery order. Must be frugal.

Fri- (day off) wardrobe de clutter continued- my room. Chill
Sat - finish wardrobe/move on to boys wardrobe? Chill. 

BudgetingBelinda

Yesterday was a busy one. 

Not a no spend day as I had to get some cash out to give to the lovely person who takes Xmas trees away! Also was not a AF day as had a wine before dinner. 

No mini declutter either! However, ticked over well with the usual chores and life. 

Another busy day today with work and logistics of mum life. I’ll see how we get on. Probably going to be a NSD and AF day! 🤞🏼 I do need one little thing from the shop but am going to try and avoid/make do with what I have.
I did print off a 100 number square (heard something about it on the 100 steps challenge I think) and am colouring the boxes which equate to the steps I’ve paid off. It feels rather good to see the first line nearly gone! Really want to pay the rest off that is in my overpayment pot but will wait another week, just incase of an emergency before pay day.
right.. up and atttam. 💪🏼

BudgetingBelinda

NSD and AF day.
I see those end of month overpayments winging their way 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
very busy day… same tomorrow.. so not much time to declutter but I’m staying on top of life which is good. 

I really want to send overpayments! Can’t wait. 

BudgetingBelinda

I know they’ll be temptation to nip into the shop later after work to see what I fancy and get some wine? I’m going to get something out of the freezer for dinner and hope that pulls me back from being Non Budgeting Belinda. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼long busy day and habitually I know I feel tired at the end and wanting a treat. Just breaking that cycle. I might pay off one more step - £60 to DMP if I avoid the shop, as a different kind of treat! Actually even half a step would get me to 10/100!

debtfreewannabe321

Well done on the decluttering, and the food budget is still okay? Do you have long left before your new month starts?

BudgetingBelinda

debtfreewannabe321 said:

Well done on the decluttering, and the food budget is still okay? Do you have long left before your new month starts?

Thank you! 

I did my grocery month from 31st as that was the first online shop since payday. My Monzo/payday starts from 28th. 

I am not ok with food budget.. went to Tesco for bits tonight and £40 lighter. I’m at my 400pm budget limit. I need to reduce. Still I’m lower than previous months.. for over a year so far! 

I feel positive still but also know I have a lot to work on. I think I will send a 0.5 overpayment to my DMP tonight to get me up to 10/100 steps and feeling like I am turning the tide! Not long til payday! How’s your journey going? @debtfreewannabe321