Time to get the monkey off my back!

joedenise

I hate that YNAB empty box unless it's a regular monthly bill like gas, electric, water etc!  

Willow1403

Morning!

Didn't manage to get on to update yesterday, so thought I'd get on earlier today to make sure I check in
First of the month, which is fab! Means a new page in the budget and all those boxes in YNAB are nice and full again (the refund for the cat biscuits came so the cat is sorted )
Good news for the credit card. I had some vinted money and some survey money to chuck at it. My son also repaid some money I lent him last month. That went on too. Then taking any unspent money from July in the budget and the 'snowball' in my debt pot means that bloody credit card is now down to ..... £56.94!!!
I made a total of 54 payments to it in July. The lowest being £1.

Anyways, husband had yesterday and today off work so spent some time yesterday sorted out the attic. Bought some bits down to sell and also did a tip run. Felt really good to do that, and it's a bit more sorted and organised up there now. 

Not sure on the plan for today, got to start by sending off two parcels. Obviously at two different places in the opposite direction

Cup of tea first!

Willow1403

Happy Monday people!
Hope everyone has had a nice weekend. Mine was great! Parkrun on Saturday morning and have started a new cross stitch project.
The big news is that I paid off the rest of that credit card! Really feels like a milestone, it had a massive balance (highest balance card we have). For some reason I just got all feisty and decided that was the one I was going to start with I regretted it, but had to slog on through and now it's gone.
On to the next one, which only has just under £900.
Anyways, will be off for the next few days as I am going on holiday. Just me and my boy, we are off to the coast but have family there so staying with them. Really looking forward to it as I could do with the break. Also the last use of our rail card and cheaper train tickets, as it runs out this month and he's too old to renew the family and friends card.
I'm really looking forward to not walking to the post office everyday for a bit
Will check in when I'm back. Have a good week everyone!

Cara_

Well done for paying off your credit card.

Enjoy your break with family.

Willow1403

I'm back!

Also just typed out a lovely long message and it disappeared. 

Anyways, the break was lovely, really just what I needed. Spent lots of time with family and did lots of lovely walks with dogs. Managed to not spend too much as I generally avoid the tourist places when I'm there (Cornwall), as it's where I grew up so no need really. Also too many people! The journey was great, slight delay on the way down which means I could claim a little bit of my ticket price back, so have done that and it's in the bank already

Not too much going on it terms of bringing in the cash. Didn't really do any surveys whilst I was away and also had to pause my vinted account, but with all the outstanding transactions, I have managed to pay around £100 off the next credit card. I'm ready to jump back on everything from tomorrow.

I have been thinking a little bit about debt and why we just sat with it for so long. I really have no idea. I guess that it just feels so normal to have credit cards and lines of credit, I just somehow managed to get in to that mindset. It certainly didn't come from my parents, as my mum is always very careful, I don't think she's ever had credit in her life. My dad is a 'one credit card and pay off the balance monthly' kind of person. Ah well, it feels good to be getting rid now though. 

Net worth done this morning (it's a Sunday job!). It's slowly creeping up. Still negative, but every week getting closer to zero...

Anyways, better get moving. Need to get out with the dog before it's too hot

EatingBeans

Congrats on starting the new diary! I’m all up to speed now and have bookmarked it so I can continue reading along your journey. 🙂

Apologies that I missed your original mention, I am still amazed anyone reads my diary let alone finds it inspiring! But, despite all the ups and downs, I am still going right, so I guess there is that?! 🤣

Willow1403

@EatingBeans Yes! Just got to keep moving forwards. I like to do one thing a day which moves me closer to my goal, that might be making a payment or listing something for sale. Just has to be something

It's hot here today! The dog is sprawled out on the floor, we went out early today and she had a good swim in the stream. Have managed to get some housework done before it got too hot, so this afternoon I think I'm going to treat myself to a bit of cross stitch time. After all, I'm supposed to be on summer holiday, and I forget very often that this is my time off work, not my time to then use up in useful ways. I must not feel guilty for relaxing!!

I did treat myself to a new cross stitch kit as the one I was currently doing was massive and I needed something to take on the train. So this one is an owl, and I am enjoying it so much.

Also getting hooked on reading other people's diaries. I'm currently reading @Keedie's diary, which is well over 200 pages long. I'm on page 20 something, which was back in 2022 I know she becomes debt free, because the signature told me, but I knew right from the beginning. The determination was there. Also feeling a lot of empathy as my son also went through a tricky stage at 15, which ended him being suspended from school for a term in year 11. Not ideal.

Cross stitch then

Willow1403

Just checking in

Had a good day today, but very spendy!! Had my hair cut and coloured, which I get done every 4-6 months (I try to leave it as long as possible between visits). Anyway, I've been seeing the same lady for years and years now; I have moved away from that town but still take the train back to see her because she's just so good. It's a ten minute train ride, so not too bad  
After paying today I was seriously considering trying to find somewhere cheaper, but I'm torn. I do budget for this, but it's pretty extravagant, although I don't spend much in other areas. It does wonders for my confidence too. I don't know, maybe I'm just trying to convince myself it's ok?

But, in good money news, I also won an affordability complaint against one of those horrible pay day loan people (I know, I know, stupid!). They rejected it at first, so I sent in to the ombudsman who upheld my complaint. It meant they had to refund me all the interest, any late charges (none) and remove it from my credit file. So that money came through and it was a little over £600. I used some to make sure all the budget lines in YNAB were full for August, then paid the rest straight to my Vanquis credit card. 
I am still waiting to hear on two compaints. One credit card (Vanquis actually) and my Halifax overdraft/loan. I think I have a pretty good chance with the Halifax ones, as I was in a very bad place and gambling excessively using my current account with them, but they still approved me for a loan and overdraft increases. Hmm. I take responsibility for what I owe, absolutely, and intend to repay everything I have borrowed, but also recognise at the time I was quite unwell. Dark days, which I'm pleased to say are past and I intend to keep them that way.

badmemory

I would keep your hairdresser whilst you can.  Mine decided a few years ago to give up & work for her husband in his new business which is thriving & I sometimes feel like adding unfortunately.  I am sick of trying to teach the new one how to cut hair.  My friend having got fed up with me complaining took me to his barbers.  He had never cut a woman's hair before.  Best cut I had had for years & a pity about the distance & also a fraction of the cost.  I am going to have to admit defeat soon.

Willow1403

@badmemory It's so sad when they leave! Mine did leave once, and I called the salon to make an appointment and was just told she didn't work there anymore Luckily a little bit of social media stalking and I found her new salon. Apparently there was some bad feeling when she left and she couldn't take any client details with her, which meant everyone had to track her down online
I hate that things like this are so much more expensive for women. Anyone that doesn't think 'pink tax' is a thing just needs to look at hairdressing! Yes, it can be more complex and obviously things like colouring are going to cost more, but really as much as it does? I think minute for minute, my cuts are four times more expensive that my son and husband pay at the barbers.

So I try to make a payment every day to the debt I'm currently working on and I'm going to start recording those here. Yesterday I paid £10.27 to my credit card, make from surveys.

Today I have been and posted something I sold online, and treated myself to a new eye shadow (although they aren't eye shadows anymore, are they, they are like a creamy stick thing ) The lady in Boots gave me a free gift, which was a big palette of eye and lip colours. There was a promotion which I did not meet the conditions for to get the free gift, but I think she must have been feeling generous.

I did have a little bit of a spend in sainsburys too; I got the ingredients to make a biscoff cake. Been wanting to make one for ages so that's what I will be doing later!