Reducing Debt - being accountable and taking responsibility

Hiya peeps!

Just checking in whilst back from one work visit before heading off on another. Busy week.

Had another Ocado delivery arrive last night. We got given a free 3 month smart pass with our last order (thanks for the heads up Redo!!) so we have free deliveries until mid Feb, which is nice and means we'll probably make online orders fairly regularly. Feel a bit guilty not using my local Waitrose but to be honest, DF and I have seen a marked decline in the range of produce stocked over the past few years and have become a bit disappointed with it. The ready meal aisles have got bigger and fresh produce aisles smaller. Probably due to online shopping!! Anyway, we'll mix it up as I couldn't live without a good mooch around the supermarket!

Other than that, not much else to update on finances. Middle of the month slump. Budget is going well, bit tight but doable. I've bought an early xmas present for myself from my MIL :cool: Some shoes. It turns out that buying clothes / shoes is a nightmare for me as it really does open the floodgates for extra spending beyond what is on the list. Anyway, the shoes are perfect (I have difficult feet) and are within budget so I will pay myself back when the dosh comes through in December. I've since talked myself out of buying at least two other items of clothing that I saw and wanted But I'm proud of my new thought process winning, which is that I can make these purchase when I'm debt free. There's only 9 months to go, 9 short months to knuckle down and get this debt paid off, then I'm free to spend my discretionary money on anything I want. Cant wait!

In December, I've got to cover car insurance, final dental bill, remaining xmas gifts and about £100 of work expenses, plus I'm keeping £70 back for my slush fund as poorly family member will need another visit. Means I'll only, again, make about £358 of debt payments. Ugh. Hoping these 'life events' settle down soon so I can make some proper progress on the debt slaying again.

January looks a bit better but then I have to cover a big car service, more plumbing work / decoration and a weekend away with the ladies. In February, I shall be off duty from the world and on full debt slaying mode :rotfl:

My mobile phone contract expires soon and I'm now eligible for an upgrade but I'm going to keep iPhone and pop onto a SIM only contract at £10.95 per month. Will probably inherit DFs newer iPhone when he comes to renew his contract in the next 12 months or so.

Have a great day!

DSL :j

Had a successful morning of work meetings in town and then decided to come back home for the afternoon to work remotely and have lunch here to avoid any unbudgeted spends.

I've just done some more online xmas shopping and managed to get my penultimate pressie (for my sister in law). Just DF to buy for now plus some bits and bobs for DF, SIL and MIL. Also did an online Ocado shop to bulk buy some wine and fizz for the holidays.

Pay day next week -yay! I'll be glad to get this month out of the way and make a fresh start next month. November has been a very tight month with lots of unforeseen spends visiting poorly family member (getting better now, phew!) and work visits that have well and truly put a dent in my slush fund. Hoping to get my work expenses back fairly quickly since we will get January's pay in mid December.

December still has some big spends - car insurance and final phase of dental work to name a few - but by January, things should settle down and I can get back to making some bigger inroads into the debt.

DSL :j

Hello peeps!

Back from a short break down south to visit poorly (but getting better, yay!) family member. Had train, hotel and food to cover. Expensive but budgeted for.

DF ordered a food shop which arrived today. My new jumpers also arrived when we got back and they are perfect, so I'll be keeping both of them. Yay to being warm at xmas, finally! Will use cashback from the majority of the purchase but will top up with December's salary.

Other than that, not much else to report. Have work meetings in town tomorrow so will have a train fare and coffee to buy but my final £20 of the month should cover that easily. Got one day in the office this week and already have enough fuel in the car to cover the journey (and frozen soup for lunch) so should be okay with making the £20 last until payday

DSL :j

Smirk. I love the day before the day before payday. It's like xmas eve eve and all that excitement over the wonderful experience of giving gifts, except, the gifts I'm giving are to myself - each month, I get to give myself the gift of debt repayment and being one step closer to my debt free date.

I now have £3.06 in my purse and (technically) £2.97 in my bank account to last me to payday. There is more in my bank account there but its assigned to spends on my credit card associated with my ynab categories - I use my credit card for all my spends during the month and pay it off on the day before payday and reconcile my categories. That way, I get interest on my bank balance and cashback from my credit card company.

This month has been incredibly tricky and an accountants dream - I've shuffled money around my categories like a money launderer and have actually made some December purchases in advance using my credit cards (mainly xmas presents, clothes and a desperately needed hair cut). I feel rubbish about doing this as its not good money management but its been necessary to cover the unexpected circa £500 of family visits this month to visit poorly family member (who is now recovering well!). I can't wait for payday when I can pay off my December spends before my CC statement is generated. I won't be doing this again, since I can't cope with the guilt! Nonetheless, that to me, is a very good sign

Nearly a NSD day today - I used my £5 JL voucher in Waitrose to buy bacon and some stocking fillers but had to spend £0.08 from my purse to cover the difference! :cool:

DSL :j