2025 WILL be the year

lilian1977

Hi all

I've started so many diaries over many years, and have managed to get myself out of debt and back in so many times that I am fed up with it now. So, 2025 WILL be the year I crack this - starting now!

About me - homeowner (mortgage free, at least I cracked that one!), live with DH and DS. Work full time with an additional 4 hours pw job that pays me £150 after tax. 

About my debt:

Post Office loan which was supposed to pay it off last time, took out £5k in Dec 2022 and now has c£2k left to pay (no online banking so need to ring them for an actual figure). Paying £158 pm on this. 
Two Credit Cards, which I have just combined on a 0% APR/0% transfer fee for 12 months - £4429 total. Hoping to be able to pay this off in the 12 months 0% APR offer period, but that's £370 pm which is pushing it. However, I will get as close as I can, and then balance transfer again if needs be. 

My main issue is my active credit card, which I will resort to towards the end of each month. My other issue is the tap tap tap mentality of having my card registered on my Google Pay - it just makes it too easy. I much preferred the cash envelope system pre-COVID where you could have your money for the week in an envelope - now nowhere takes cash, it makes this harder. I think the solution to this is to get a Monzo card and set up locked cash pots - does anyone else do this?

I'm already very good at cheap meals and Ebaying, as have been doing this for years, but I just want to get it all sorted and gone before DH's next big birthday. 

Please do follow along! Thanks

WinterWarrior

Good luck. I have the free Monzo account, but not one with locked cash pots (I don’t think). I don’t know how that would work. I use the pots to save sinking funds although it’s annoying that they don’t pay interest on those! Well I say I use them to save sinking funds…they are empty at the moment, but November is the start of the new me hahaha 🤣 

lilian1977

So, more about me. I am a little addicted to travel, and love nothing more than looking forward to a holiday! So I need to try and rein in that impulse for the next year, perhaps even considering no summer holiday next year

I've recently started a new job, and my tax code is a bit of a mess, so I have no idea really how much I'll be earning - spent ages on the phone to HMRC yesterday to try and sort it, and hopefully will have more of an idea come November pay day. 

Going to start doing Payment a Day again, but while my cards are in the process of transferring, I can't do that - but have put £1 from my current account aside to pay off, and will do so daily until the Barclaycard balance is available. 

I've also just opened a Monzo account, and set up four pots to manage my weekly spending. I've added it to my Google Pay as my default card, and set up a save the change so any spending goes into the following week. Hopefully that will work in the same way as my previous cash envelopes did. I do need to add it to Airtime Rewards as well. 

Lunch today will be a stir fry, using noodle bits that have fallen off previous noodle nests and gathered at the bottom of the tupperware I store it in - love doing this, it's like getting a free nest DS will have a picky lunch - sandwich, sausage roll etc. Then tea for all of us will be burgers and HM chips, using up YS bread rolls (assuming they're not furry!)

Off for a day out tomorrow but hoping not to spend too much - will take breakfast on the train and try and use Meerkat Meals or similar for a cheaper lunch. 

Have good days everyone!

Sarahwithlove

I've found moving to monzo has been game changing for me. Makes budgeting so much easier as I have pots for everything and just transfer it from that pot when I need to pay for something. 

Have you considered keeping a spending disfy on a spreadsheet on your phone or a physical notepad. I find that sometimes help me keep track of what I've spent my money on throughout the month. Also makes you think twice about some expenditure and helps you learn to adjust your budget as needed. If you are resorting to a card that means your either over spending and need to reign that in or your budget isn't generous enough for all you need. I'd suggest using November to track your expenditure and keep receipts so you can go through it at end of month and create a better budget 

lilian1977

Thanks for dropping in

I already have a spreadsheet that I monitor religiously, it's just my one off spends that cause the problems, so I think I will also have to monitor those. Thanks for the tip

BudgetingBelinda

Here here for Monzo. Pots, what’s left of the budget, sorting what is spent on groceries etc has been a game changer here also. Upped to the max subscription and got lower travel insurance, (I wish atm) phones in the family insurance and car breakdown cover included. As well as some extra treats.. better rates. I’ve found it so much more empowering and I am more mindful with its support! Best of luck 🎉

lilian1977

Hi all

Haven't updated as I've been away for the weekend, but am back now and ready to save some money! I am away again in 3.5 weeks, so hoping to spend very little in those weeks to ensure I have spending money while I'm there. 

WFH the next two days, so will get some batch cooking done and try and run down the freezer as it needs defrosting. I'll then be in the office on Thursday and Friday so will take lunches and snacks to avoid spending. 

Hope everyone is keeping well!

lilian1977

Morning all

Up early to get DS back to school. Now doing banking with a coffee staying warm in bed! House smells odd after a weekend away so have lit some candles around the house and opened all the windows. 

Need to get the washing done so will check the weather forecast and hopefully get it on the line. No tumble drier so if not, will have to put it on the maiden with the dehumidifier under it. Uses electricity but better than all that moisture going into the air and settling on the walls.

Need to lose some weight, battery is flat in my scales and my charger is broken for my fit watch but that's no excuse! Going to head over to the Slimming World thread for some ideas.

Paid £10 off the new Barclaycard this morning as finally got the PIN and it's 9 days since I said I would start doing PAD, so rounded up to £10.

Need to return four pairs of jeans to Next that don't fit (hence the weight loss measures) but haven't paid for them yet (Next Pay). Also need to return a top of DSs to JD Sports but that's in town so will wait until Thursday when I'm back in the office.

Right, time to get running stuff on and try for mh first Couch 2 5k in months! Wish me luck! 

lilian1977

Good morning

Hope everyone had a good day yesterday. I got a lot done, so hoping to crack on and get the same amount done today!

My things for yesterday:

PAD £10 to Barclaycard
Home made veg and bean soup for lunch with leftovers
HM Shakshuka for tea
Went for a run - free, so no gym cost
Washing - one load, got it mostly dry in the garden then had to bring it in and use the dehumidifier
Food shop - £15 including roundup to Monzo pot for next week and then £1.88 back on Shopmium - £35 left for this week
Banking - all looks good
Listed an item on Vinted

Today - another wash, hopefully put on the line again. Maybe another run or perhaps an exercise video. DS dinner from last night that he didn't like for my lunch. Will try and find another item for Vinted. Get a few hours of 2nd job done before starting 1st job. Also need to take those jeans back to Next, and make some pasta for tea (and for tea tomorrow as straight out to the football from work so will eat it at my desk before going).

Hope everyone has good days

lilian1977

Morning all

Don't know if anyone is reading this but I'll still update just for my own sanity.

I don't feel like I've achieved much which is why I haven't been posting. Managed to earn about £90 on Vinted but have paid that off the extra concert tickets that I bought by mistake - had hoped to resell them but the resale option doesn't seem to be available so I might be stuck with 3 extra tickets I don't need.

Haven't done any PADs and can't afford to round it up right now - can't believe it's been 19 days since I posted last, I guess I need to try and find £20 to catch up!

Off to work but need to return something to JD, something to Sports Direct and something to Primark, but unfortunately the JD money has already been accounted for and Sports Direct only give credit notes, so it's just the £8 from Primark. DS gets overwhelmed in shops so I have to buy different sizes rather than make him try them on there and then, and he needed new school shoes and winter clothes.

Not feeling that well today and I don't think I have much on at work, so I'm going to use time we're allowed for training to upskill with a free course. 

Lunch is leftover salad from last week and snacks from home.

Have good days all xx

dawnybabes

Could you sell the tickets locally ? Maybe meet them outside the venue if you can’t transfer them ?