2026: The Final Year

crunchy_time

This week's win: A different plan of action.

I've spent the last few days working on a new spending plan (not a budget) after listening to Ramit Seethi's podcast. My husband and I have agreed to it and now its time to put it into action.

We are going to carry on chucking anything extra at the credit cards for now but in a few months we will need to apply for another 0% card. We will then try and put all of it on the card and then save up a pot to pay it off at the end of the term. Seems like a sensible plan, especially with what is going on in the world at the moment.

Nothing has really changed but we are just reorganising things.

Some of the vinted parcels have been delivered so I have chucked another £5 at the debt. I also got some of the pieces on as planned and have sold some of those as well so shall get those posted this weekend.

Crunch x

crunchy_time

Happy Spring Equinox!!

Today's win: Some money has come through for the Vinted bits so £16 off the cards today.

The total of the credit cards that is not at 0% is now at £1631.

I worked out a plan that if we had a month's break from paying into some of our savings pots then we will nearly have enough money to clear that. There may only be another £200 left. So we are going to do this in April.

This will then mean that my husbands credit card will be cleared (that isn't 0%) so we can begin allocating more money to paying off the larger 0% card and get that into a routine to clear it with a regular amount allocated to it.

I can then really work on just slushing my one down as I have been.

It is a huge day for me today. For the first time in my life since I have become a parent - 14 years - I will have my own dedicated space in our home to have a desk for I can actually get organised and expand my career. I have dreams of creating a product business, doing extra tutoring, all of those things but we have not had the space for me to have a place I can call my own. The dining room table was just not an option for me - I tried, believe me I tried.

I have bought myself a desk. It has arrived. I will be giving my new space (in the new garden office which is two rooms - one for my husband and one for me) a lick of paint and set the desk up.

I am so excited!!

Crunchy xx

crunchy_time

Todays win: I paid myself early as I needed the money to pay for some kid-related expenses so they were not put on the credit card. Because of kids related expenses I haven't been able to pay off as much as I would like as per the plan above. However I have paid off about £90 which is a win.

My husband gets paid on Friday and we should be able to shift more then. We might be able to get to about £2000 in total paid off.

Then the week after we should be able to shift some more once the interest for some of the accounts come in.

Still all going in the right direction!

Crunch

crunchy_time

Today's win: We are up to £1960 in total amount paid off since just before Christmas.

Things might slow down a bit now. We used money that we would usually save for holidays and we don't want to do that next month or beyond. We did discuss chucking all we have at it every month but we have done that before and it's a long long slog. So we are back to the scenic route for now. There may be a tax rebate on the horizon that we can use part of to significantly reduce it again but for now its going to be little and as often as possible.

Crunchy x

sudonum-mum

Your debt payment plan sounds a great idea.

I really must get organised and sort my finances out, it's been a few years since I last posted on my diary and I've just been coasting along although I have brought my first house in that time.

crunchy_time

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939110#Comment_81939110

Thank you!

Just get started - and make it fun. Those are my top tips! Ha ha!

crunchy_time

Today's win: There was £10 left in the joint account before the bill cycle starts again tomorrow so I have paid that towards my Virgin CC.

Tomorrow there shall be about £34 of interest I can chuck at the debt as well.

In terms of other money that may be available to chuck at the debt, I have budgeted for 4 weeks of school dinners but shall only be using 2 weeks of it. However, the kids are costing me a fortune at the moment so I might need to chuck it into the kids pot instead. We shall see.

Another small money win that won't involve chucking money at the credit cards is that I have decided to be more brunette than blonde. This means I only need one colour treatment per year as opposed to 4 and therefore will be increasing my personal spends pot by about £150. This means more money for body work treatments like a massage or a pedicure. Happy days!!

Oh and we also, just about managed to stick to our grocery and petrol budget for March so don't need to use other money to pay for it. Such as win. I shall be on it for April as well as I think May is a 5 week month.

Crunchy xx

crunchy_time

Today's win: £15 slushed off the credit card using some of the interest - more to come tomorrow.

We have a day out today as a whole family. Budget is £100 - determined to be under it!

Crunchy xx