Good afternoon Diaryland,

Today is a chore day, so tempted to go outside but i know ill spend money, did venture out to get some shopping £69.08 spent..higher than expected but was in need of food, cleaning products, loo roll the lot. Did manage to get a good few bargains and gain a workout carrying the lot back- (not doing that again lol). Good old Aldi.

Have sent dp of £10 to cc1..and have done 2 loads of washing, hoovered the flat and now killing time on here whilst OH is at work.
Think ill do a meal plan for this week, im not to sure what the usual food shop spend spend should be for 2 people...may have a mooch and find out? how much do you guys spend on average for a weekly shop? though the I think on average mine is about £30...(exp when cleaning products/toitleties etc are needed).

According to YNAB I have £140 left until next payday mrrhh! so that £6 spend per day...my payment a day will be cut to £1 so £5 spend per day just in case. anything left before the day before payday will be sent to cc1. Will try not to spend if i can.

day 3 of no drinking...not much to say about that, need to do exercise vid later...so out of shape..and maybe plan my budget for June/July...going to be a spendy one- friends hen night (already paid for/OH birthday (not paid/ car insurance also not paid)mnot looking forward to that..

best get on...have a fab day all xX

The old style board is great for meal planning and cutting food budgets.

We are a family of 5 (2 adults, 8 6 and 3 year old) I budget £30 a week includes everything but nappies for the 3 year old.
To stick to this though I have to make everything from scratch. I bake 99% of all snacks and treats etc.

You're doing brilliant BTW I read but havent posted yet x

Hi Hidden Identity & Thank you so much!!
Wow That's Amazing budgeting on your shopping, I'm so inspired! That's incredible... Definitely means I've got room for improvement and savings here!! Thank you..I Will definitely check out the recipe's and meal planning board..I'll confess I'm not much of a cook or baker but am willing to try anything to reach my goal...May even surprise myself...Thank you for posting and sharing xX

I'm okay with the basics, not much of a Master chef but the kids are young enough that they don't care

I've swapped from sainsbury to aldi and that's cut £10 a week of the shopping bill at least!

I dont have a car so don't go to several different shops. Plus I hate shopping so I'd rather go to one and get it done

We don't really meal plan for set days as it didn't work for us some day's we just didn't fancy what was planned. We do agree on 7 meals though and stick to a list x

I love that...trying to get meals sorted...have made little progress with debt busting. Did move my balance from cc2 to cc1 so it's all I one place...as don't have banking access to cc2...so new plan all debt sitting in one place so I have one beast to slay! Bit by bit!
Today was a nsd as have been off work...and house bound. OH has looked after me though bless him. On the money front I've been paid but actually only made small payments, decided that all larger payments will be made later in the month...sick of getting caught short...
This month is a spend one OH birthday, Hen do, nephews birthday, festival, 2 friends birthday...oh and car insurance. Though am thinking of selling my car...though doubt I'd get that much for it..classed cat d. Have made a budget but don't really feel like I have control...will be making daily payments (small ones) try for some nsd' s..ok dinners ready so I'll update more later...hope everyone's well..Sx

Hey Diaryland, So the debt has risen slightly following a bank holiday birthday trip booked with other half which went onto the card. I have moved balance to one card so I have it sitting in one place- and easier to make the daily payment on one banking app.


Havent paid anything yet this month bar £50 as I decided against selling my car after a chat with a colleague who advised that I could still get a few good years out of it. which was reinforced by driving up to Cambridge for hen do, id be stuck without it and would probably want to buy a new one if I didn't have one. so its staying and ill just pay down debt the good old fashioned way.


Paid my car insurance, renewal cost was cheaper than a new quote..which was weird but lovely so was for the first time nice and easy a steal at £420 for the year. Paid in full to keep cost down. Have £900 remaining in my account (ear marked for debt payment) but will hold fire in case anything pops up. Will make mini daily payments in the mean time to keep motivated.


Dropped mobile in the sink so it keeps crashing, but am resisting urge to buy a new handset..(its hard) lol.


Good news- checked free Experian (thanks MSE) and credit score has recovered nicely actually in the good zone- working to get it upto excellent...so happy about this!!!.


Quidco claim successful -£5.44 on route.- yippee!!
Amazon prime- £5 credit on account- will wait until prime day to make use of this- (double savings- hopefully)- yay!!
redoing budget to make better use of monies- (ongoing)
£3 interest sent to cc, weight- (12st 6lb)- ahhh!!! work in progress.
Brought in lunch so nsd so far, trying to keep it that was.
have £6 Tesco vouchers will boost them and trade in for a lunch at pizza express.


Events still to come- nephews birthday, cousins birthday night out, Festival, dinner/drinks with friends (x3)/ OH birthday lunch& day out- I need to work out how I can get round all this cheaply and protect my £900 remaining- damn hadn't realised I still had so much to do..


Cant think of anything else to mention....hope everyone has a blessed day Sx

OMG will payday ever come....so haven't been around much of an update Ive literally just been waiting until payday to arrive. 1 week to go.


MSE activities done today: Free lunch (paid with lotto scratchy winnings I found)
Played FPL.
downloaded QUIT Smoking app- sent £9.69 I would've spent this morning to CC. apparently I could save £1759 a year if I quit...may as well give it a go...we could make good use of that lol!


Going to be a busy weekend, with a little luck some of my IOU's will come in.- Fingers crossed!!! Sent a few items back of online shopping (needs must). Awaiting refunds...Agreed with OH to pull in belts (right after ive had a spend up for his birthday- Jammy git).


attempting a nsd today, so far so good! I'm gonna need a lot more of those to achieve my goals. Have perfected my budget to within an inch of its life- literally every penny is accounted for.


Hope all is well with everyone x

Ok so I've managed to spend my salary in a few days! Not too bad considering I paid my bills sent money to the cc. (Saving till the end doesn't work- I spend it). Positive money moves- paid £1200 towards debt & iou's(cc grew alot from last month) now have £300 left to last me till next payday.
Though all events covered- birthday gifts/wedding gifts etc)...so I should be ok! Got meerkats movies for £1.40 for the year...handy as the Mr had he's eye on watching Dunkirk (will save £12 odd in that visit alone) also want to watch girl trip next week(cheap cinema near work has for 5.00 so split with my friend will only be 2.50 (2.50) saving there! Well worth it! Just need to smuggle in some homebrought snacks!

DFW tasks- * lunch and breakfast for work- prepped (just gotta remember to take it.
*check FPL (why not it's free)
*continue to try not to smoke- honestly I keep having to restart this..but haven't brought a box for 2 days now!
*Chase up any outstanding refunds expected
*nsd if I can or maximum £10 spend tops.
Nothing else really to report, just happy to be back on task ...for the 100th time...feel like Dr Jekyll and Mrs hyde- one minute in frugal spendthrift Shelbi the next I'm swiping my card like its not mine and I don't have to pay the bills! ...I have issues lol! But let's keep it positive...im here, I'm admiring the problems, I'm working at it...

Anyway I best get some sleep I'm rabbling...sweetdreams diaryland X

Hi Diary so I haven't been gone for that long this time- However in that time Ive managed to increase my debt back up to a shocking- £9421.29!! Its like I'm addicted to debt or something. I've figured out a few things, Im far too generous, I am far too free when the drinks start flowing (money wise- not any other way lol).
Anyway my partner and I have been talking about the future, marriage, kids, financial stability- all the things I don't have yet at the ripe age of 35. It was a conversation I really didn't enjoy mostly because I have a sh#t load of debt still and as soon as I clear it I get more. So heres the thing I really want to sort myself out now its really screwing with my future. So Im back in MSE rehab to help fix my finances...and get motivated again. I have 1 credit card, 1 loan and £1500 in savings that I cant touch until March 2018 but once I can I will be transferring it to help pay off the loan (already offset against the debt total).
I really want to get rid of this and sort my life out once and for all- I want things like a wedding, kids general security for myself. It occurred to me the other night that if I lost my job today Id have no way to comfortably pay off my borrowing. Im far to old to be living like this I need to sort it out! I don't have a date to do it by but Id say As soon as humanly possible would be a grand idea. Its too serious not to be sorted, so join me if you will for the 100th attempt of getting out of the red and back into the black.


Sx

YNAB is a really good app for tracking spend and keeping yourself accountable. It takes some effort, but if you're serious about changing then I'd recommend it!

Thank you MagicMoneyTree, I had it but didn't resubscribe when they updated, used the free trial though, it was ace! Will definitely subscribe come pay day...Much appreciated!

Hi Shelbi

I've just read through this diary and a couple of your older ones. Can I make a few suggestions? I really think you need a proper, realistic budget. You seem to follow a pattern of setting yourself very grand targets of paying off huge amounts of money in a very short amount of time - and then inevitably fail and disappear for a few months. I don't want to be harsh so I hope this is constructive - but I feel as if it might be better to have a realistic budget that you can succeed with. The SOA you posted much earlier in the thread didn't look realistic - you obviously don't have £1200 a month leftover - in fact your debt seems to have increased by £5000.

Your point about being addicted to debt is I think a valid one. Losing debt is like losing weight in that often people tell themselves their lives will magically be much better if they could just lose 20lbs/pay off £20K - but that thinking can be a way of postponing life indefinitely. I don't know whether you have actually had your lightbulb moment yet - you are living at home and still overspending despite a good income. I really don't mean to criticise and want to be constructive, but nothing will change unless you change. You recognise that this debt is now holding you back in so many ways - but you need to DO something about it.

You talk a lot about 'motivation' but what you need is discipline. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline is what keeps you on track even when you don't want to be. I am not motivated to go to work every morning, but I am disciplined enough to make myself.

It would be good to see a comprehensive, realistic SOA from you. I am sure you could cleat this debt in a year given your income but you have to really WANT it, and you need to accept it will take longer than a few months.

Good luck!

Thank you Magpie100- youre absolutely right I definitely lack determination, I get completely motivated and then lose interest and do something else- usually involving spending- Ive sifted through 3 months worth of bank statements to get a better idea where this money went and my general spending habits- it wasn't a fun task at all, but I really need to get a handle on this before it grow beyond my control- here it is:



Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Monthly Income Details
Income from Employment (after tax. . . . . . . . . 2,435.19

Monthly Expense Details
In Your Home
Mobile phones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.58 92 (2lines mine & my mothers- niether die for contract end sadly)
TV licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00 (OH pays this)
Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00 (OH pays this)
Home phone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00 (OH pays this)
Cleaning products/Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.00 (im addicted to buying domestos, antiseptic wipes and fabreeze)
Garden maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Household maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.61 (based on quarterly bill just paid of £151.83)
Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.11 (based on a quarterly bill just paid of £69.33- Although this will rise during winter quarter)
Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00 (OH pays this)
Council tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.00 (MONTHLY DD)
Overdraft cost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Bank account fee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Home insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Mortgage/Rent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325.75 (£65.15per week)

Food and household shopping . . . . . . . . . . 250.30- stupidly high- had spent £750.91 in 3 months for 2 people)
Drinks for home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.19
Motoring & Public Transport
Petrol/Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.00
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.33- (£100 Resident parking for the year)
Car tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.37 (monthly dd)
Car insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.55(based on £426.56 paid annually in July)
Car maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.17 (mot split for the year around £50)
Rail/Buses/Taxis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.08 (ubers- sad to say I spent 90 odd on these)
Breakdown cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.92 (£35 per year)
parking fines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57.43 (got a parking fine- don't expect to repeat that)
Debt Repayments
Credit card repayments. . . . . . . . . . . . . 120.00 (minimum payment- I try to pay more than this)
Hire purchase repayments. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Personal loan repayments. . . . . . . . . . . . 222.26 (paid monthly)
Car loan repayments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Savings & Investments

Regular saving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250.00 (I used to save this- will not now I know how muchI spend- need to clear the debt)
Family
mum income money. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.33 (average amount I pay to my mum when shes short of funds)
Entertainment
Satellite/Digital TV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00 (OH pays sky bill)
Family days out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Cinema/Theatre trips. . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.29 (av per month on nights to movies)
Books/Music/Films/Computers . .. . . . . . . . . 0.00
Big days out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Shopping for fun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55.62 (have no idea what I brought but I spent it- statement vague)
Pet costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00

Drinking out. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 140.48- didn't realise this was so high basically statements showed I spent £842.89 on nights out in the last 3 months (food and drink- its absord) so total spilit by3 for months then by 2 spread evenly over drink & food (below) out)
Eating out. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 140.48
amazon prime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.99 (used for deliveries, books, prime tv
lotto . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 17.00 (bad I know but scared to stop lest my numbers come up
Clothes, Health & Beauty
Complementary therapies . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Optical bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.00- this is quarterly not monthly
Haircuts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.33 (£10 pm)
Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Beauty treatments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.00 (beauty stuff & makeup etc)

Work clothes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58.68 (this is pm - I thought it was less)
New children's clothes. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
New clothes . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 210.23 (I was genuinely shocked by this- esp as I always wear the same damn thing)
Education & Courses

Your courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00 (based on £900 spent this year- hoping no need to spend any more on courses- but its for work and career progression)
Big One-Offs
Funeral expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Wedding expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . 150.00
Sofa/Kitchen/TV . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Birthdays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 (abut £600p/yr I think)
holiday1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 85.89 (£1030.73 spent- annual figure)
holiday2. . . . . . . . . . . . . 166.67 (based on about £2,000 spent) - probably wont be having 2 holidays in the near future
Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.17 (about £650 per year I think)
Odds & Sods
Newspapers and magazines. . . . . . . 0.00
Tax & NI Provisions (self-employed only). . 0.00
Regular charity donations . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Meals at work . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 60.00 (based on £3 per day)
Smokes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128.00 (trying and failing to quit)
Coffees/Sandwiches/Snacks . .. . . . . . 0.00

Total monthly income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,435.19

Total monthly expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,260.81
its shocking and sad, I actually told OH and he couldn't believe what I spend-to be honest I couldn't I always thought my finance's were ok- not great but not this bad. I need more control that's for sure...I would be grateful for any help I can get with this....Will work on a budget for September to fill the holes and stop the overspending Xx

Hi Shelbi,

Well done for taking my comments on the chin and coming back! I know it’s hard and please remember I am not perfect, either. I think you need to find the discipline and determination to turn this round NOW, before things really spiral out of control. You have a good salary, and you CAN pay this off.

Now, I’ve had a look at your SOA. My thoughts:

Cleaning products: Just STOP buying these branded items! The world will not end if you drop brands from your life. Not for everything, but I cannot see how these are worth the premium you are paying. Why don’t you at least try it?

Ubers: Again, just STOP. I think you live in London. If so, you are living in the one place in the UK where there are excellent public transport options, including the night tube. Are these Ubers late-night journeys home when you’ve been out? Can you PLAN your route home in advance so you don’t just fall back on the Uber app out of habit?

Savings: You have put £250 in your SOA for this and then noted that you won’t be saving this for now. So here will this money go? Can I suggest it goes straight to reducing the debt?

Money to your mum: I can’t wade in here too much because this is obviously between you and your mum. I’m not really clear on who lives with you and who is responsible for paying what, but I will just day that you really can’t be giving money to your mum when you have this level of debt. The way to help her it to get your finances stable, pay off your debt and THEN AND ONLY THEN if you want to you can give her money. At this rate your debt will become unsustainable and you will be in no position to help anyone out You MUST help yourself first.

Drinking out, Eating out, Entertainment: you are spending nearly £350 a month on these things. Cut it to £100.

Lottery: you are borrowing money to gamble it. Can you just stop? And stop looking at the results? The odds on this mean you are not going to win.

Clothes: £270 a month on clothes is way, way too much. Cut it to £50 and go through your wardrobes and work out what you NEED to buy, not what you WANT.

Wedding expenses: Whose wedding? Yours? Can you put this on hold until you have made significant inroads in to the debt?

Holidays: Are these holidays booked already? Can you cancel one or both? If you can have a year without holidays you can get this debt sorted.

Smoking: ARGH. But I get it is not as easy as me saying stop.

The good news is you have a LOT of places where you could make savings if you really were determined. I haven’t even touched on things like lunch at work and drinks for home.

If you stopped spending on branded cleaning products, drinks for home, Ubers, savings, money to your mum, slashed the going out/drinking out to £100 and lottery, holidays and cut your clothes budget to £50 you could save roughly £1300. ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED POUNDS. And that’s without me really going to town on your SOA.

You could then clear your debt in less than a year. Why don’t you set yourself a challenge of clearing it in one year? You absolutely earn enough to do this if you just stop spending and start budgeting. I KNOW it is easier said than done but I hope this is a real wake-up call for you. So much of your spending is discretionary lifestyle spending (on which note – is it worth you running a car? It doesn’t look like you do many miles in it and I assume you don’t drive it to work) rather than absolute necessities.

What do you think of the list above would be the place to start? What one change can you make right now and start bedding in?

I know there is a lot here to think about but I hope some of it is useful and will be taken on board.

Good luck!

M100

Hi Magpie100,

Thank you for responding, I’m genuinely really grateful for the help and encouragement. I really do need and want to sort this out so am thankful for your comments and suggestions. I think a year is a realistic and achievable goal so long as I stick to it, which I mean to do now.

I’ve read through your suggestions (thank you for these)...I’ve added some responses to your questions and suggestions J


Now, I’ve had a look at your SOA. My thoughts:

Cleaning products: Just STOP buying these branded items! The world will not end if you drop brands from your life. Not for everything, but I cannot see how these are worth the premium you are paying. Why don’t you at least try it? - I will definitely try this, cutting down on volume and give non- premium brands a try...thank you!

Ubers: Again, just STOP. I think you live in London. If so, you are living in the one place in the UK where there are excellent public transport options, including the night tube. Are these Ubers late-night journeys home when you’ve been out? Can you PLAN your route home in advance so you don’t just fall back on the Uber app out of habit? I absolutely can was shocked how much I spent and no real excuse other than convenience and laziness here, usually following boozy nights out yes- Have already deleted the app off my phone to stop temptation.

Savings: You have put £250 in your SOA for this and then noted that you won’t be saving this for now. So here will this money go? Can I suggest it goes straight to reducing the debt? This is what ive been paying in the previous 3 months- will stop doing this from now on and agreed this should be going straight toward my debt.

Money to your mum: I can’t wade in here too much because this is obviously between you and your mum. I’m not really clear on who lives with you and who is responsible for paying what, but I will just day that you really can’t be giving money to your mum when you have this level of debt. The way to help her it to get your finances stable, pay off your debt and THEN AND ONLY THEN if you want to you can give her money. At this rate your debt will become unsustainable and you will be in no position to help anyone out You MUST help yourself first. – This is an average of funds I’ve transferred over when she’s been a bit short. I no longer live there but I know my family are on low income so I try to help when needed. Saying that, this is before I realised how poorly I was managing so I agree the only way to help is to help myself first.

Drinking out, Eating out, Entertainment: you are spending nearly £350 a month on these things. Cut it to £100. Will set my budget to £100 happy to give this a go, will be a nice challenge. I don’t know how I spent so much until I checked the statements but admit I go out a lot, need to curb this. Will endeavor this month (once payday comes) to take cash out and only use that rather than swiping my card at the bar. Thanks.

Lottery: you are borrowing money to gamble it. Can you just stop? And stop looking at the results? The odds on this mean you are not going to win. – I know I need to do this one, yes I can stop looking but always feel like I may win (stupidity I know- odds are not in my favour here) I will deactivate the direct debit and not look! Your right.

Clothes: £270 a month on clothes is way, way too much. Cut it to £50 and go through your wardrobes and work out what you NEED to buy, not what you WANT. – Thank you Magpie, I agree this is way too much, can definitely pull some money back here, £50 can work, will definitely try this.

Wedding expenses: Whose wedding? Yours? Can you put this on hold until you have made significant inroads in to the debt? Oh no sorry not my wedding this was based on the past 3months expenditure (gift/hotels/etc.) for friends and families. Wedding season…I only have 1 wedding left to attend and figured £150 spend that will now be reduced to £50. The savings will go to paying the credit card.

Holidays: Are these holidays booked already? Can you cancel one or both? If you can have a year without holidays you can get this debt sorted. This was what I had spent, holidays already taken. You’re right no more holidays bookings until this debts cleared.

Smoking: ARGH. But I get it is not as easy as me saying stop. I know I’m working on this one, will try cutting down and hopefully quit.

I had given thought to selling my car, No I don’t drive to work I rarely use it now days only at the weekends to travel up to see my family (one side of London to the other) occasionally mum/OH borrows it too, (OH when his is playing up). But I did think it’s an ok runner fully paid for and eventually id only end up buying something else so have decided to keep it. Will give this some thought though Thank you Magpie


I really appreciate you taking the time to look into my SOA and give feedback. I will definitely set the challenge to clear within one year, you’re right it is achievable, Im also going to challenge myself to log in and update on progress and stay the course rather than flip flop in and out every few months.

I think the comments you made and list above is great, given me some great changes which will help massively. One change I can make is cutting down on my going out spends- A lot of my clothes, cab and drink budget stems from there- £100 will be a fun challenge. Clothes budget to £50 will also be good. I will delete my shopping apps today will stop me browsing. In truth I have clothes I just like to buy things…That will stop. I really want to get control of my spending and sort this out before it becomes more than I can handle. You’ve given me a great start, Thank you so very much!


S x

Shelbi - my heart swelled with pride when I saw your response! Well done for not running away screaming. Don't expect to make all these changes overnight, but pick a couple to start now and get them bedded in. I know you can do this. I hope putting the SOA together was a wake-up call for you. However bad it looks it's always such a valuable thing to do because then you can identify clearly where the problems are. Well done on facing up to it - it is not easy and I am very proud of you!

I'm not around much this weekend but will re-read through your comments when I can and give you a few more suggestions. I know you are a caring person and want to help your family, but the way to do that is by being in a strong position yourself first.

Just re your car - if you own it outright then yes, that would sway me more towards keeping it until it can run no more.

Don't lose heart. You can do this and your responses above show that your mindset is changing already. Have a good weekend. Mx

Aww Thank you Magpie,

Honestly putting together my SOA and sifting through my actual expenditure over the last few months was a game changer for me!!!8230;I had no idea how much I was actually spending.
Thank you so much for encouraging me to do it. Your comments on tasks helped massively, you!!!8217;re right I won!!!8217;t change all over night but even a few things will make a massive difference. Ive started with the clothes and going out expenses, axing the Uber too.
My car is owned outright so I don!!!8217;t pay anything other than the car tax and petrol until next year when the Mot, Insurance and parking needs renewing.

I can!!!8217;t thank you enough for your help!!!8230;any further ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Hope you had a fab weekend J

Sx

This weekend I did ok (I think) - I spent £32.99 which consisted of a birthday present for my friend!!!8217;s child!!!8217;s birthday. A bottle of wine to take round to friends and another bottle which OH and I shared last night. No Ubers & no takeaways.

OH did a food shop on Saturday so should be ok for a week or so, have cleared a space on the white board to write what we actually need, agreed to do this and not just buy things. So far only brown sauce, honey and ketchup left (my things not his, hence he forgets)...though am thinking better to go get them today before I get topped up, will then only get whats needed.

Cleaned the fridge Saturday, put new things to the back and old to the front, used up what we could this weekend of the older bits- Sunday breakfast was eggs and Roast ham (left over from Fridays tea) same as bacon and a pineapple that was on its way out. OH Is natural at this stuff, I am learning though.

OH and I went for a walk on Sunday...rather than drive out somewhere for lunch we walked to the local park, stopped at Tesco on way back and got a few things OH forgot (I still forgot the condiments). Not having the car helped a lot as we could only carry a few bits and bobs we got what we needed and saved on petrol. OH paid for those Bless him. I need payday to hit!!!8230;Thankfully its tomorrow! Rest of the day was spent making bedside cabinet that!!!8217;s sat in living room for the past 2 months... followed by dinner and a movie on TV...was actually a really lovely weekend.

Managed to bring in lunch today, which I will aim to do this as much as I can this month.
Have written down what events & occasions I have in my diary for September/October. So I can ensure I stick to budget and can forward plan.

This month consists of 1 wedding, 3 birthdays, 1 anniversary (ours) and 1 girl!!!8217;s day out.
Birthday & anniversary budget £50, Wedding budget £50!!!8230;Means no buying anything new to wear- basically that!!!8217;s the gift only. If I do it!!!8217;ll be taken out of the clothing budget, though I don!!!8217;t want to touch the yet, haven!!!8217;t looked in my wardrobe for what I can already wear and what I may need. Will try to get everyone!!!8217;s gifts cheaply and using cash back if available.

OH has said not to do gifts for our anniversary, we!!!8217;ll just go out for dinner but I want to get him something- even if it!!!8217;s something tiny and inexpensive/ free.

Plan tomorrow is to pay all bills not on dd as soon as monies hit (rent etc.) and minimum payment plus the additional £250 (that was savings) onto my card (total £368). Then baton down the hatches and stick to my budget paying any savings onto the credit card at the end of this month.
I will remove my credit cards from my purse tonight and just keep my debit card on me. I will also pull out the cash and place in envelopes for the following- Going out £100 / Clothes £50. Will try to use cash for most purchases. Food spends will be pulled out in a week or two when we need a top up.
I will also try to have 15 No spend days this month (26 sept- 25th October).

Nothing much else to update on. Just excited to get started with a plan.

Sx

Hey Guys,




Was Just thinking about my plan of action for debt repayment ...I have 2- 1 loan which is at £4603.46 at the moment with 6.8%apr and a creditcard which is at £5482.83 which is 0% interest until 1st May 2018. Logic tells me I should concentrate on clearing the loan first as it has the most interest and is the smallest. However I cant pay that in dribs and drabs but will have to save and make a final settlement payment when I get enough. I'm sure there is a fee though I don't know what it is yet but should be less than letting it run for the 24 months. It's been active for 2 and interest per month is between £21.99 and £27.19 (2 int charged so far). So would it be better to do this and just pay minimum on credit card and aim to clear the loan in the next 4 months. Then concentrating on the Credit card for the remaining months?


Any Thoughts...or better idea's?




Sx

Finally payday...


So have paid £171.17 to credit card, have sent additional loan repayment of £500 to account which I don't use (don't know the debit card pin, but can do transfers) to build up for my final settlement payment. Rent has been paid, IOU's paid in full.


Lunch brought in from home (left overs), it tasted nicer than my standard meal deal sandwich, saved me £3 too...need to try to be organised and do this most nights. Attempting to not spend anything today. Have checked free post code lotto and updated my excel budget for the month. Decided against YNAB although amazing as it is!! will save me $50 join fee. Will use my phone to note anything I spend in mean time until I update my budget. I will eventually buy it though just not this month.


Nothing else to report really just waiting for dd's to hit and take it from there. Haven't withdrawn my £100 on going out as no plans to go anywhere until the weekend so will hold out until then. Nothing else update with really....Im just feeling good, much less anxious.




Sx