Freedom and Independence.

BudgetingBelinda

Today was a much needed NSD! Also AF day. 

General Jan Update..
Cons:
My grocery spend this month is shot. Probably £100 over budget?
Had one takeaway. Car making a weird noise. Plumber coming next week for sink tap and boiler service 🥴

Pros:
11/100 steps paid off. £665 so far this month. Additional £120 in overpayment pot that could potentially go to DMP too. £211 in emergency fund.

Declutter is happening in little bits now and perhaps not daily. However I am sorting as I go a lot so things aren’t building up. And the rest of project wardrobe is on. Also need to clear some of the utility room so the plumber can find a path to the boiler! 🥴🤣
I keep thinking I might be able to go to 12/100 steps but I’m going to take it easy with the sink/boiler/car noise situation. That could be gobbled up. So I will keep two steps/£120 in my overpayment pot just to be on the safe side for now. 

February plans…

Payday is coming but I’ve already accounted for what’s coming in and mostly I think it’s going out!. Groceries need to be more on point- perhaps a 4 week month and some more stock in the freezer will help? Maybe £400 again and try that again or maybe it’s not realistic… one week is half term. Will look into it.

My wardrobes need to be completely done and the other bedrooms wardrobes sorted and the airing cupboard. Lots, lots more to declutter. Going up to £1200 and 20/100 steps of debt paid off would be SO great by end of Feb 🤞🏼

enthusiasticsaver

Hope the car is ok and the noise is something simple/cheap to fix. Do you have a car savings pot? 

BudgetingBelinda

enthusiasticsaver said:

Hope the car is ok and the noise is something simple/cheap to fix. Do you have a car savings pot? 

Thank you! 🤞🏼 pumped up the tyres that seems to have lessened the noise!  🫣 I do actually have a car pot, but it has nothing in it at the moment 🙄🫣 I used to travel a lot of miles so had a fund in there as a lot of wear and tear. Currently winging it and doing hardly any miles. Hoping for the best. Car pot is on the list I must budget better for. 

BudgetingBelinda

Even though I’ve gone over with groceries and had a takeaway in my Jan budget… it’s the lowest I’ve spent on both per month since the beginning of 2021! So I am happy with that! Just done a big shop that will come out of Feb budget as I’ve been paid. Will hope for even better budget on groceries/takeaway in Feb 🤞🏼🤞🏼 
emergency fund at £314
overpayment pot £120
will be keeping a close eye on groceries 
now to enjoy a day off and a decluttering weekend with some future meal planning happening for the rest of the weeks! 

debtfreewannabe321

Well done on the debt payments Belinda I think when you are overpaying on the debt you can perhaps justify a takeaway in a month.
When I was paying down my DMP and CCs and I would be tempted by snacks, wine, take aways (I had young kids and was always tired), I would instead swap out say an expensive Indian for a kebab or chip shop dinner, and instead of a bottle of wine I swapped to SM brand vodka and cheap soda with some ice which lasted longer and wasn't as expensive and I would immediately send the money I was justifying to myself to spend on expensive stuff straight to the debt. It actually really helped me change my mindset seeing my DF date get closer and closer. Now when we fancy a takeaway I will prep a fakeaway in the morning when I have the energy to do so, and before work, and all we have to do is fry it up or re-heat it etc in the evening. I know what is in it and it's healthier so I find that justifies my decision most times to make my own instead of buying one. We do still have takeaways too but honestly our choice here is lacking which helps me not spend too much.

Jan is a long month so don't be too hard on yourself with the GC budget.

BudgetingBelinda

@debtfreewannabe321
owww the fakeaway I can get on board with! Got some sesame oil that’s making all the difference! Also I’m just not enjoying takeaways as much. I’ve been lulled back with 40% off to hello fresh but I think that will scratch an itch food wise for a bit. Otherwise I do seem to get a bit bored and want something ‘different’ don’t do HF for long as that gets samey too. 

Thank you for your post and support!

BudgetingBelinda

Paid off 12/100 steps today.
That’s £725 this month to the DMP. A £270 overpayment 🎉. Unfortunately 
amigo still dragging heels, March now apparently for a decision, but it is off of my credit file. Fingers crossed something comes back from that.
Otherwise still £120 in overpay pot, growing EF. Set for groceries and meal plans. Deal on the HF. Some good satisfaction so far. House is looking a lot less cluttered, have a plan, more decluttering on the agenda. Feel like Jan has been a fantastic learning opportunity! Onwards and upwards and out of that debt 💪🏼🎉❤️

BudgetingBelinda

Awake and checking finances and doing meal plans! I’m still struggling with the grocery budget.. I’m going to up to £500 in Feb and would hope I can stay in this budget.

Reflecting on my takeaway/eating out past finances I can see that 2020 was the last time I spent less per month than this month on that. So that alongside the last grocery spend lower than this Jan being in 2021 I’m feeling quite proud.

Mindful about the spending and I’m hoping I can keep up the overpayments. The thought of being debt free still is exciting me much more than the thought of spending on anything else. 

Been wearing my old work boots this week which are becoming sole destroying (literally) saw a gorgeous new pair online but I’m abstaining. It’s nearly the end of boot season anyway! 

If I can keep up with the overpayments I’ve made this month- every month… it could be August I’m debt free. *I could be turning 41 debt free*!!... I’m starting to think that really could be possible!

Ahhh! And to be up that £455 pm with no DMP payment would mean a holiday the following year- abroad with the boys?.. newer car? Emergency fund sorted, savings, more pots! 

The birds are singing, they were chirping away at 5:30pm in the dark but it sounded like a summer dusk tune! Now I hear them again at 4am reminding me of summer mornings.. these little moments make me feel like summer is coming/time is flying and if I hang on tight to the current mindset I’ll be debt free before the end of the year 🤞🏼🎉

.. right back to sleep for a while 🤞🏼 swimming and a roast planned for Sunday, with a dog walk, chores, and some declutter thrown in somewhere. 

BudgetingBelinda

Quick update.. busy busy.. falling asleepzz
785£’s paid off this month to DMP..
£330 overpayment.
13/100 steps 
13/15 NSD

grocery budget needs attention, as does AF days

more declutter in the mix. 

🤞🏼🎉

enthusiasticsaver

It sounds like you have done very well in January.  Getting rid of that DMP in August would be awesome and yes a big boost to your savings pots once you no longer have the debt to service.