Freedom and Independence.

BudgetingBelinda

So footy done, dog walk done, nice sausage and mushrooms stroganoff type creamy ness made for pasta to be added for dinner/lunches. Saw the bottom of the wash basket briefly earlier- gone again now though! Puppy is asleep tummy up and dreaming with tail wags next to me on the sofa! Boys chilling, I’m watching telly. Feels like a good Sunday. Have a slight niggle.. I wanted to do a bit more decluttering but im
also learning to just chill when the opportunity presents. So I’m taking these moments as personal development! I’ve been busy, work and home and I am allowed to sit and relax! 

February plans are:
still to declutter more wardrobes..
&
bathroom/airing cupboards 
Utility room
(big frogs!)

and to get from 20 to 23 steps out of 100 of debt paid off...! Also feel frustrated that if I do get to 23 then I’m only 2 steps from 25 which is a quarter of debt done! But that’s way out of reach I think this month. Though the toilet has now decided to behave and stop flushing when it should. Regretting slightly that step/£60 I spent on the cordless vacuum as I now realise I’d prefer being a quarter of my debt paid off in two months over less dusty carpet edges! We will see what happens. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Mindful month on the rest of the groceries and no major blips, freezer fun with groceries.. hello fresh at a discount to be a treat..? Oh to smash more of this debt off.. it will be so worth it! 

BudgetingBelinda

Heard today Amigo are upholding my complaint in the scheme and settling my loan of which there is just under £800 left. I’ve accepted the decision and notified my DMP. 

I am awaiting new debt amount but I was working on the idea of them settling the loan so overall debt/paid off is around the same I think. Really looking forward to seeing that debt number come down, by overpayments and by amigo writing off what’s left of my loan. They were the last loan/s I took just before my DMP. It was a terrible time and they were awful lenders. They haven’t ever accepted the offer from the DMP payments and continued to threaten CCJS, they were the most stressful lenders at a really tough time. I’m so glad to be shot of them and that debt. 

Having said that the pressure they put on me in numerous calls, emails and threats every day meant I got much better at understanding affordability! And in turn got my DMP and crawled out of debt these last four years. 

Goodbye hideous toxic debt, and all the corresponding toxic ness! 2024 is definitely looking good for this debt free journey and the light is at the end of the tunnel! 

Once I hear amigo are out of the DMP payments I will send an overpayment from
my overpayment pot just to celebrate! 🤩🎉

BudgetingBelinda

A NSD.. much needed. Might not be too many of those this week. A smidge of a shop required tomorrow - can’t avoid it, and dog to the groomers for the first time on Thurs. 
utilising my new purchase- the cordless cheap vacuum! Really good for the decluttering motivation and sort the house out vibes. So quick and easy. Kitchen floor hoovered and mopped (squirty mop!) in a couple of minutes. Bedroom much fresher from having the edges done with the cordless, still needs more work. So looking forward to seeing where I am with updated DMP debt amount without amigo I have estimated it will be where I think it is and therefore 80 steps left= £4800 left to go! 

When I was at -20k I didn’t think I’d be able to get here. 

I am soooo looking forward to paying the rest of this off! Roll on payday! And bye bye debt and all things that are related. £4800 til freeeeedom! 

debtfreewannabe321

You're doing a great job on the debt reduction! I remember my worst creditor was a big high street bank ... I had a credit card, loan and also an overdraft. I owed them thousands and thousands alone ..never mind my other creditors. They were relentless in pursuing me too. I had bailiffs at my door multiple times. It was really scary and I always keep it in mind because I refuse to ever get there again. 
I was glad to see the back of them. It was pure relief when they accepted some f&f settlements. So I hope yours is done soon so you get to feel the same relief. ❤️

BudgetingBelinda

debtfreewannabe321 said:

You're doing a great job on the debt reduction! I remember my worst creditor was a big high street bank ... I had a credit card, loan and also an overdraft. I owed them thousands and thousands alone ..never mind my other creditors. They were relentless in pursuing me too. I had bailiffs at my door multiple times. It was really scary and I always keep it in mind because I refuse to ever get there again. 
I was glad to see the back of them. It was pure relief when they accepted some f&f settlements. So I hope yours is done soon so you get to feel the same relief. ❤️

Thank you! Takes such a toll doesn’t it. Well done on your journey and thanks for supporting mine ❤️
I hear you with refusing to get there again. My boundaries are so much more intact … all over the place! 

Thank you @debtfreewannabe321 💪🏼

BudgetingBelinda

Another decluttering done. Wardrobe #3 in my room done = 3 rubbish & 2 charity shop bags. 

NSD today too. A lovely bookended chill, dog walk and sort out. Off for an early night soon.
Tomorrow… more decluttering- bathroom airing cupboard is on the hit list. 

Half term week off now so might have a pop at the utility room rubbish and maybe attempt the garden a little? Pushing it perhaps!?

On Monday.. all being well.. l would like to send a £60/1 step to DMP. In celebration of being amigo_loan_less now. 🥳🥳🥳🥳

Need to hang tight to groceries this month… already overspending again 😱.

Cooked up some more bits today for the freezer, I’m sure just that and the discount hello fresh boxes are more than enough for this month now so I should wind it in! Just snacks/lunches for the boys and I'm going try and be totally takeaway
free this month. Though the ‘eating out’ Monzo category might get a hit regardless as it’s half term…? Likely some half term expenditures in the mix but I think I’ve mostly budgeted for them- so as to allow another 1-3 steps by the end of Feb? 

Got it crossed. Jan was good, could do with being better on groceries- now Feb is to prove it’s a mindset that I can continue. Because if it is I may be completely debt free in August (if I’m *very* lucky) .. or October if I try hard, or December if I’m doing the minimum.

Every day I’m a teeny bit closer 💪🏼🎉🥳🤞🏼

Aimingforthegoodlife

I struggle with food spending, I have been getting better, but spend £30 on random snack shops on top of usual food shop so far this month! You are making amazing progress and I feel you will smash your goal completely! I feel that it is also good to balance what is needed- doing things and doing 'nothing' are both important!

BudgetingBelinda

Aimingforthegoodlife said:

I struggle with food spending, I have been getting better, but spend £30 on random snack shops on top of usual food shop so far this month! You are making amazing progress and I feel you will smash your goal completely! I feel that it is also good to balance what is needed- doing things and doing 'nothing' are both important!

Thank you! Lovely words of encouragement and much appreciated @Aimingforthegoodlife 👌🏼🥰
I’m a nightmare at the random shops. Hoping for a NSD tomorrow. On a bit of a shoestring atm to be able to stay on track 🤞🏼 

BudgetingBelinda

Chill day but productive! Pancakes (usually in the school hols get requested for breakfast but especially when it’s nearly pancake day) done 👍🏼.
Not a NSD, brought Will Smiths Memoir ‘Will’ audio book. I like the unpicking of how we become who we are. It’s quite interesting.
That frog of bathroom airing cupboard is sorted, 5 bags decluttered! 

Paid off £60 to DMP, that’s up to 21 steps now. Hitting those February intentions! 
Having a little chill until dog walk time. Might do some more decluttering today. Might not! Getting the balance right 👌🏼.
The rest of the week is quite busy, most days something is on for someone! So will see how I do! Need to do some batch cook this week to prep for when back at work next week. Think I’ve got enough for me but need to up DS faves- bolognaise/lasagne batch cooking up tomorrow. Cinema play date tomorrow too. 

The garden is looking worse for wear so I might get out there a bit if the weather is ok this week. The utility really needs some major sorting.

I also need some boys wardrobe decluttering. A new objective floated to DS2 and slightly accepted is working to change the spare room into DS2 bedroom as he seems to have moved into mine.! DS1 no longer wants to share rooms. It’s that time! Just need some sorting and to make that spare dumping ground box room a boy den 🤞🏼

It’s a bit like Tetris of clutter! Now I have room in wardrobe in my room, and in the bathroom cupboard I can sort the spare room out?! Running low on bin bags! I’m excited for the rest of half term, lots to do, chills and sorting. Reaching midway point of the month this week, thinking about getting that DMP down, this house working better for us all. Feeling in control and with good intentions 💪🏼🤞🏼👍🏼🥳

debtfreewannabe321

All sounds very positive well done on the extra step to debt freedom! 
I got out in the garden today, and even in the shade it wasn't too cold once you start working. The temperature must have gone up a little then as it was freezing last week even after a couple of hours working in the garden.
The decluttering sounds like it is coming along well too, I am needing to do my hallway cupboard (upstairs so all bathroom stuff and ironing board etc), and I want to declutter a few other cupboards too this half term. It feels so good to have a home for everything!