Creating the life I want - and tackling my debt!

Artyfarty86

Thank you all, I appreciate you checking in to this space!

This week has had less no spend days than I had expected!  I am on NSD 2, and have no plans to spend tomorrow so hopefully that will make 3. 

Unbudgeted purchases that impacted NSDs have included one small thing - a digital card for an employee to get circulated out and then one big thing - a gift for someone that doesn’t have their birthday til November!  But its tickets, and while I bought a pair, someone will pay half next month as it will be a joint gift.  Future me will be happy, as the recipient is quite hard to buy for and it means I don’t have to stress about the costs when Christmas comes.  

In other money news, my Lidl shop ended up being £68 even with a voucher, but £10 of it was non food - car seat covers.  I had been considering these for a couple of months as my dog gets dirty paw marks on the seats, especially in the winter.  These ended up being cheaper than what I had been eyeballing online, so worth it.  Plus the shop was pretty thorough, so aside from maybe milk, there will be nothing more to buy til next pay day.

Vinted, the total now runs to £186.  I have one £2 item on its way out, but I could probably do with listing a little more over the next week as the sales have slowed down now. Might have a run around the house tomorrow to scoop up what needs to go.  I could also do with buying some more packaging bags and also depositing a large bag to the charity shop - stuff that isn’t worth selling.  

Also got myself a refund for another not fit for purpose item this week - £6.55 back in my account.  I am really tired of poor standard things!  Prices increase all the time and for what?

Finally, fuel might need to be bought this week.  I’m close to the red, while I don’t have many journeys, I do not like letting the light ping on!  

Payday on Friday - still cannot fathom that I have money in my bank account??  Looking through my spreadsheet, it’s very clear to me that my problem has absolutely been the ‘instant hit’ of my next day delivery Amazon purchasing and other similar sites.  I’ve been forcing myself to pick the free shipping option where ever possible this month to be more frugal, but also to train myself out needing this quick hit!  And there has only been a limited amount of purchases too.

I have been thinking about what to do with the excess money. I remain committed to clearing my debt as soon as reasonable, but a couple of things are creeping in with my house that need sorting.  One is related to the boiler, one to my kitchen roof.  I think I may need to reroute the excess funds to my emergency fund, as best as I can, so I can pay for these fixes without using credit.  I might make a smaller over payment on the credit card just to feel I am doing more than the minimum and put the rest in the savings.  I do have a long 0% rate and I would likely secure another after that.  

Doris17

I would put the money in the emergency fund and have peace of mind that the repairs cost can be met with out having to use credit. 

Well done on resisting the Amazon temptation.

Dakota_Rose

How nice to be coming out of January with choices as to where to put the leftover money. Well done on keeping such a tight rein this month. 

Another one for the EF. I was trying to do too much with my leftover money each month and not really feeling the benefit of it anywhere. Choosing to get the EF topped up first has been a real relief. 

ellenvan

Read your diary with interest.
I do think the gradual debt decrease while still having a social life is a good idea.
Things I recommend are -
Setting up even a small overpayment on the credit cards e.g. if your minimum payment is £50 pay a fixed amount of £55. This shows as not just making minimum payment on your credit card. 
Maybe consider a regular savings account.
These have a good interest rate. One opened now could pay off any Xmas spends .

Artyfarty86

Thank you all.

It’s been almost a couple of weeks since my last post, but things remain to be going well for the most part.

I overpaid my credit card by £30 last month, and channelled the rest of my excess income in to my emergency fund which now sits at over £300 - not bad considering I had only £35 in it when I started at the end of 2025! I will consider doing a similar thing this month - I like the idea for over paying enough of the CC to get in to the next hundred-bracket? If that makes sense. It feels better to me, anyhow!

All bills are now paid for Feb, with no surprises. The last of my dental payments were made, and that is almost £30 a month saved from next month - but it will mostly be swallowed up by the increase to my gas bill! I’ve filled up my car, so I expect I won’t need to fill up again for the month, and I have put money in my fun, emergency fund, Christmas and gifting pots, increasing the latter to £80 for this month due to one of the two birthdays I have being a ‘big’ one.

I also, wildly, have spent some of the Christmas fund on a present for 2026! It’s something my mother wants, but refuses to buy for herself because of the price and it’s winter specific. It was £70, on offer for £50 and then a 30% off code took it to £35!!! First a birthday present 11 months in advance, now a Christmas present, I feel like such a keen bean!

In terms of saving and making money:

• All standing payments without fixed dates for renewal, have been reviewed for lowest costs, with the exception of my phone bill. It’s relatively low, sim only and currently rolling on, but my phone is getting slow and the battery is chronic. It’s an iPhone 12, over 4 years old. I need to decide how to proceed, I am not fixated on a newer model, but the battery is a problem. I think I will have to decide what plan to do next, or whether it’s worth buying a new battery or just buying a refurb handset outright, or a plan that incorporates the cost. I won’t do this until I have no choice though.
• Standing payments with fixed dates - next up is my car insurance, I expect to get the renewal first week of March. To be honest, it’s not expensive insurance, but I could do with seeing if I can shave a few pounds off. House, car and dog insurance all with Tesco and I don’t seem to feel any benefit for that loyalty.
• Not much on Vinted yet this month. Just £1.75! I need to list a few more things this weekend. I won’t get the amount I had from last month, but I can do better!
• Bought a couple of things from M&S last month and sent some back, so waiting a refund of £84. I purchased the wanted work shoes, £48 down from £60, and £26 was paid for with a voucher, so not too bad. Will try and put that money into debt or savings.

On my other goals, I have ploughed through some toiletries! 3 products tossed due to being ‘off’ and about 4 used up properly! Only another 3847228 to go😂.

I also had some spends for work trips already this month and I promptly put my receipts in for refund today! £40 winging its way back to me asap!

This month, while shorter, does look to be a little tighter, but I think, providing I don’t throw up any unexpected social events, I’ll be OK.

Artyfarty86

Evening!

The month is certainly tighter, I think it’s down to the fact I made so much Vinted money last month and I notice the difference this month. I think I won’t be overpaying very much into the emergency fund/CC, although I have put the intended monthly amount in already.

I have however, made a little more than I had last week, with about £20 in the bag or on its way. I have also got some prolific money that I am going to cash out before the month is up £23 and counting! I’m going to try and get it up to £30 and cash out right at the end of the month, unless I need the money sooner. I also have my monthly side gig this week that will bring me £35.

In other savings, I have one more birthday/meal, and I budgeted the gift money and intended to take most of the meal cost (preordered!) out of my funtivities money, but technically, the event falls on to the March pay day! I will of course, use this month’s money but it does give me a bit of relief if things keep being tight. I also have one more social event but it’s a very cheap one, probably no more than £15 being spent.

I’ve also done a food shop today, so aside from maybe dog food, I am good on that front til payday.

In more spendy times, my MJ order won’t be discounted at all this month - I had a code, but couldn’t make the order as I wouldn’t be home to receive it, and it expired. So I will have to pay full price.

I also have a work trip that I will need to pay out for, but that will be paid back a week later, so if I do run very low on funds, I will pull from the EF and immediately put back on return of costs!.

And the ultimate good news, I have received a little bonus in work! After taxes it will be between £500-550. I am thrilled with this, as these kind of things don’t really come round much in my sector, its normally lower value vouchers. I intend to put all of it in the EF. It will mean that I hit my £1000 goal for 2026 by April!!! I want to go beyond this as I definitely need the money for work on my house, but this will be most I’ve saved (not been given!) since I saved for a house deposit.

Then, finally, there is a potential job opportunity coming up. I am in with a good shot, but it’s not a sure thing. I want the role, so I will do my best to get it. If I am successful, it would been about £8k extra income - which we know I need! :D

New Totals:

Credit card debt: £5687.80/£5831.00

Emergency Fund: £302.61/£1000.

Dakota_Rose

Fantastic progress planned for the emergency fund - that will be a great feeling when filled!

Best of luck with the job application.