Teetering on the brink

EatingBeans

Evening @DrunklMunkee 👋 Breaking the debt down into baby steps seems like a great idea. When I set myself my targets for next month I am going to give this one a go! Thanks for the tip. 😁

ellen_vannin

Good point about tracking your spending with a card.
I do most of my spending with an M& S credit card paid off in full each month.
Small pay back with reward vouchers too.
Only times I spend cash is Charity shops and pocket money to grandchildren.
Talking about rewards etc make sure don't have any unused loyalty points on your cards. Some like Boots and Sainsbury's only give you a year to spend them now.
Also when you have time ( or you might have already) browse the shopping, discount, freebies forums on here.
Occasionally a good deal.
For instance the last one I got Colgate were giving sample small tubes out. Ideal for travel, overnights or just when you run out.

EatingBeans

Thanks @ellen_vannin I had not found that area of MSE just yet. So much good stuff to explore and learn from! I genuinely don’t know how I ever managed to get debt free all on my own before, it feels so much more doable with this wonderful community offering support. 😁

For me at least, keeping this diary has totally transformed the way I think about my journey. I know some people might look at my budget and think that’s not even living at that point, but I don’t feel like that at all. In fact it just feels like an awesome challenge that I am enjoying tackling and I have started stopping and spotting things I know i wouldn’t have given a second thought to before. 

For example, I took a bath this evening what previously I had only seen as my bomb site of a bathroom that has no flooring or toilet and a sink that doesn’t work. Instead of seeing all the money it is going to require to fit it (as I would have done previously), and then stressing over it, I instead looked at my two Musa Basjoo banana palms overwintering in my sink (which clearly they would never have done if my bathroom was actually a fully functioning bathroom!), and I was super grateful that 1, I had avoided buying a greenhouse which I desperately wanted to do last year but knew it was a want rather than a need so didn’t (I am proud of past self’s self control there!), and 2, I have still managed to nurture my wonderful baby palms through the winter in a place they clearly love so they can go out in the spring and become the lovely big ‘tropical’ specimen plants that I have always dreamed of, for the bargain price of just £17.99. In the meantime, I get to enjoy my bath next to their luscious dark green 40cm+ long leaves, giving me a jungle feeling indoors in the middle of winter! haha! 

Note to self, they are desperate for repotting (handily I already have all the compost I need) and at least one of them needs moving to it’s own table as they have well and truly outgrown the sink! 🤣 

If in doubt, reframe it! 

I’m off to check my Tesco rewards vouchers and to look for some freebies on the forums! 😁

EatingBeans

Last update for the day I promise! I just want to record for posterity just how over the moon level of proud I am that my girls have picked up an appreciation of money and have been sharing with others. 

dd2 realised this evening that she had a voucher for money off getting nails done, so, knowing her sister gets hers done, she pottered along to her bedroom and passed on the voucher! Such a little thing but at the same time absolutely massive (my future self will appreciate this even if noone else gets it, though if you live in a house with two teenage girls you might have an inkling! 😉)

dd1 took it a step further and tonight explained how she has been trying to get her bf to budget and has even sent him the spreadsheet I created for her so he has something to work from! He just has to type in the numbers she exclaimed! Haha Might need to work on the delivery but at least they are ‘talking’ about money. 🤣

I do love them both so very much. 

Signing off for the night.

Big day tomorrow. First day back in the office since weeks before Christmas. I am just desperately hoping I get to the other end and haven’t caught something! If I can avoid spending lots of money too that would also help. 

Hope you all have a good day, see you all on the other side. 👋

EatingBeans

Eek. Woke up to a cry that the cat has run out of food too. No getting around that one so off to the shops to get enough to keep her going until the delivery, and bought the pups a bit too whilst there. It leaves me with just £12.66 to stay on budget for the month. 😳 

Checked the app which gives me points based on how much I walk (which then converts to free coffee/lunch at work), sadly not enough even for the coffee. 😞 That’s what happens when you stop leaving the house I guess.

Ahh well, time to be super cautious about what I buy today. It really doesn’t help that it’s networking day so I am expecting people to want to go for coffee and lunch ‘out’. This is going to be fun! 

DrunklMunkee

Hey there, @EatingBeans

Just checking in early as I am away out, tonight. I shall be skipping the light fandango and turning cartwheels across the floor. Only joking, I will most likely be skipping a drink or two and eating wagon wheels by the door.

But before I venture out, I just wanted to say that I hope your first day back went as well as could be expected, and you weren't forced into too many lunches/coffees - and if you were, then I hope it was your companion footing the bill

Loving the jungle skinny dipping - so very decadent.

And yes - anyone with teenagers, boys or girls, will know exactly how proud you should feel. It's great when you realise they are all playing for the same team. #TeamBeans

Oh well - will catch up after the groggy head / wagonwheel-gorged stomach allow.  Take care

Andyjflet

EatingBeans said:

Thanks @trizzyrascal thanks for dropping by! Great to hear from someone in a similar position who is also just trying to furiously pay down their debt. You definitely sound like you have a plan which is awesome.👍

I’ll be honest, the user interview thing I will be sure to be looking in to but I am not sure I am brave enough to do the flipping thing. It is only a small town around here and I suspect the flipping might be somewhat frowned upon. I am actively avoiding facebook marketplace as the local community forum can be a vicious place sometimes. Ebay seems safer! 🤣

I wish you all the best for paying down your debt, you’ll have to let me know how you get on. 

We got this! 💪 

I think the above post could be a scam, do your research!

EatingBeans

Well first day back turned out to be pretty fun - am I allowed to say fun when talking about work? 🤔 I feel very blessed to work where I do and with such a lovely bunch of people, I know from experience that not all places are like it. 

The only main drawback is the cost of eating onsite. Really good, very yummy food, but super expensive. They had my favourite meal on today, Tandoori chicken, I just could not resist! Yes, it was £10.74 despite taking my own drink, but I resisted any temptation to buy a coffee all day so 🤞 I should still come in under budget.

Just 3 more days until I reach the end of my ‘first’ month - thankfully all wfh days! 

Hope you have a lovely evening out @DrunklMunkee Your comments about wagon wheels by the door properly made my giggle. Sounds like my kind of night! Haha

And thanks @Andyjflet     I didn’t like to assume the post was just a scam because what if it really is someone in that situation, but I have to say I always avoid links that anyone else provides. Once bitten twice shy in that regard!

ellen_vannin

Good that you enjoyed being back in the office.
But the cost of that lunch is a lot!
I reckon you could make your own for a lot less( and yes I know it's a treat)
Well done on resisting the coffee!

ellen_vannin

Hopefully you are getting Martin's weekly email.
If you haven't already seen it there is a good offer for newbies to Quidco cashback site. Spend £5 on Friday and get a £28 bonus.
Always worth checking who has the highest cashback between Quidco and topcashback , as they sometimes differ.