Crunchy's Final Debt Free Diary!

Nicnak wrote: »

Glad YNAB is working for you. I'm sorry your business didn't work out either, but at least you realised quite quickly and didn't spend a long time doing something that you hated.

I hope 2019 is everything you want it to be. x

Thank you - you too!

Im actually going to use everything I learned, just not in the way that was intended (if that makes sense).

Crunchy x

Evening diary,

Phew what a week! New job has been started - its such a lovely relaxed school compared with where I was used to and the children are lovely. I forgot how much I loved just being with the children and helping them learn and feel sad that the negativity around teaching got me down so much I actually quit. I can't imagine doing it for the next 30 years in its current form but I shall build my career around my love for it.

There might be an opportunity for more days after Easter so I have been doing lots of calculating around how much money that will actually be after childcare etc and it also made me think long term about what I want from September. DD is going to start school so in theory I could go full time but i want to be there to pick her up from school a few days a week at least and her not to go to club (and for me to work on my other side project etc so perhaps 3 days a week for the next 18 months or so will suit me down to the ground. the difference between full time and 3 days a week per month is about £600 ish so would be worth it and no constant liaising with a job share. I've probably chatted about this loads before but now I feel like I know where I am going in my career and would like to have more of a strategic plan in place. Being at home with my kids in the holidays is one for my priorities right now so it might be teaching for the foreseeable future - till they go to high school - and then I can go forward with my own dreams.

In other news, the dishwasher has broken and the warranty expired (although I am going to double double check this) so will be using the lovely emergency fund to pay for another one (£400).

YNAB is going well so far. Husband and I have agreed our next step is to check our budget on the app more regularly than we do.

We have also been looking at a snowball calculator. With current payments it would take is 6 years to pay it all of - 6 years! Not going to happen we MUST be debt free before 40 (2-3 years).

We have our big holiday this year and then we shall start hammering the debt down to be debt free by the time husband is 40 at the end of 2020. That's a nice target. If I work 3 days a week from September it will be paid off by then so it is doable so long as we stay focused and STICK TO THE BUDGET! That is the theme this year for sure.

I have a day off tomorrow without children so am planning to do a big house audit (after finishing some school work) and perhaps dust off my ebay app as I have a whole boot full of carp waiting to be taken to the charity shop and I'm sure I can find some treasures to be sold.

Crunchy xx

Evening all

YNAB was going great until somehow the HSBC credit card for some reason wouldn't match the actual balance. Husband couldn't make head nor tail of it so we have scrapped it and started again with a new budget. Everything is all in budget except for food but we still have lots in stock so will get frugal and hopefully we wont have to raid the emergency fund too much. I think I am too optimistic with food and perhaps extending our budget would be better from £450 to £500 and really properly plan what we buy.

It's time to talk about the holiday.

We have booked a big holiday this year in August to somewhere in the Carribean! We are mega excited of course and it is mega expensive but will totally be worth it. The balance left to pay is £5300 by mid-May which is not totally possible. Our aim is to pay it all off before we go so it must be gone before the end of July. We also have to get new passports for the kids and me, hotel for the night before, a couple of excursions, spending money and travel insurance so can add on another £600-£1000 on as well. I'm not too worried about that right now. Paying off the balance is £760 ish a month which is totally doable so long as we are careful with everything else.

Husband and I have agreed that this is a fantastic challenge for us and we are on it in terms of hitting that target as soon as possible. Getting some more days at work after Easter will go far towards this goal as well.

Payday should be this coming Friday. I'm going to ring up HR tomorrow to check I'm on the payroll so fingers crossed. If it is that should be the first £500 towards the holiday balance.

I've just renewed my home insurance and got cashback - it should be at least £75 if not £120. That will be a nice little addition to the holiday pot. When I get paid I shall do the same for travel insurance.

Hope everyone has a good week!

Crunchy xx

Afternoon all!

I've been 'on it' the last few days.

- I made a casserole from stores yesterday and it was lovely!
- I audited the summer (i know!) clothes from the suitcase on top of the wardrobe so I can start planning what we need NOW rather than panic buy at the last minute after we have stretched ourselves too thin. I have absolutely no summer work clothes so shall need to start thinking for me and the children.
- We seem to have smashed a few mugs and glasses recently so I bought some new ones today using my nector points - only £1.75 over.

Ive been emergency taxed on Friday but it should be enough to pay my own credit cards bills for the first time in a year!! Im also getting my hair cut and coloured for the first time in a year on saturday using my own money. Hurrah!!

Off to do the school run now!

Crunch xx