TravelGirl84's DFD

Hi All

Long time no post! Lots of late nights at work and then I went on holiday, so I haven't had time to post.

So what's been happening my side the last few weeks?
- Managed to stay in budget overall last month, however...
- Went over my grocery/work budget by about £21. Not terrible but not great being over.
- Went over petrol budget by £5 which I'm ok with. Sometimes it's unavoidable.
- I had a budget for my holiday spending and I think I stayed within my budget, or at least there about's (I deleted the budget before I checked! *rolls eyes*). I definitely did spending money wise, but I had a breakfast accident at the airport and had to buy a new t-shirt, so that may have taken me slightly over. I'm pleased with the amount I spent though.
- I had a car insurance payment free month! :j I didn't realise I was going to, but I had paid more on the first payment. I have put this aside because I'm concerned I have a slow puncture, so until I'm sure I have put it aside and if I don't need it I'll pay it off the B/Card.
- I'm getting a £10 credit back from my phone network for the minutes I bought to use whilst in Vietnam, which wouldn't work, (turns out they didn't turn my phone to international their end).
- I have 2 x £2 to stash away
- My mortgage is sorted and it is staying as is for now. Turns out that I may never have been able to pay back the Help to Buy anyway due to the estimates of the RICS survey and banks valuation. Based on my next door neighbours, I may never have had enough equity, and on paper I may now have less equity then I did when I bought it, but I've not lost anything because I'm not selling. It's a complicated story! Hopefully after the next two years I can take it on, but it's lead me to being a bit confused.
- I've paid more off of the B/Card. I have £200 sitting in the bank which I want to pay off, and if I add another £16 on it will take it down to £400. Was keeping it aside as the maintenance company seem to be mucking service charges around, but I may pay it off now. I am going to see how much I can sell my phone for vs and upgrade in December, maybe I can make a bit there to pay more off.
- I have started putting some money in to pots which I'm actually really excited about. It's already making me think a bit more because I want to see them grow. I have £25 in clothes which I'm probably going to use for some boots, but I'm already reluctant to take it back out :rotfl:
- I got £4.44 interest in my ISA, so I'll probably pay that off the B/Card as well

Plans for this month
- I have separated my grocery budget (food, household, toiletries) and work food budget in M0nzo so I can track it easier. Still figuring out what to allocate where going forward but will monitor it.
- Hoping to have some food and petrol money left this month as I was away for the first week after payday.
- I realised I have less on my T/Card then I thought (should be just over £4k by Jan instead of nearer £5k), so looking at how I can get this paid by the end of next year on top of my payments for my loan. I need to find another £183 a month on top of the £167 min payment I am planning on paying for that card (as long as the B/Card is paid off by the end of this year).

Just updated my signature and realised I am under £30k! :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Hope everyone is doing well and having a good month so far!

TG

BabyStepper wrote: »

Just read through your diary and didn't want to read and run. You are doing SO well! Some really great changes being made and planning happening. I've subscribed to cheer you on. Good luck!

Hi BabyStepper

Thank you so much! :beer:

I think I've made some great progress so far, I'm actually surprised at how much money I've been able to 'find' since starting my diary. Toying with different ideas of how to manage debts/mortgage/money for doing life going forward, but not get myself consumed with it!

Thank you for joining along

TG