The Last Leg

I'm starting a debt free diary to help me get through the last of my debts.

I'm definitely an emotional / stress spender and could have paid off my debts a lot quicker if I could be more focused about it.

So....current debt is around 3k split between two 0% balance transfer cards, I owe my mum 1.7k and I've got 300 quid in savings. I have about 545 disposable income a month after bills, food, travel, mortgage etc so really I should be able to clear debt in around 9 months. Although in reality I don't mind leaving the credit cards running for longer as I'd really like more emergency savings. For example I just discovered a major moth problem in my flat. Rentokil advised I won't be able to get rid of it with cleaning and proper treatment is needed. For two water based insecticide treatments it's 360 plus bought vacuum seal bags to store clothes in once moth free and I envisage spending more on Hoover bags as will still have problem after that for up to two years. Anyway I digress. But this is going on the credit card to be paid back next month.

My main source of frittering is Waitrose as live opposite one and work from home. Thinking to give myself 5 pound budget a week. Maybe could make it treat and go for weekly lunchtime cup of tea then avoid like plague rest of time! Also just bought second second hand freezer (actually bougjt it as have to freeze clothes for two hours to kill moths, gross I know, or wash at sixty degrees which cant do for all), so can make and freeze more home made meals. And get off lazy !!!! and go to Lidl more.

Social life is not expensive. Maybe posting my weekly budget here will help for some mutual cheerleading.

I've also been helping brother manage his step change account. Pleased to say since Feb he hasn't missed payment (he has schizophrenia and I have been managing his money). Sadly tho some debts were miscalculated plus water bill keeps being added on to it so doesn't seem to have gone down much. But spoke to Lowell Financial and they agree to 5% reduction. Thinking to write to others and ask to be forgiven as he was given more credit than ability to pay (catalogues increasing credit limit when he wasn't making repayments). Working full time plus always doing extra hours so do what I can to help him. Mainly just keeping roof over his head atm as he has ground floor flat and has had Windows smashed and been assaulted inside his flat twice by niwmmeighbours. Don't know how he keeps it together. He is very stoic about it all. Anyway got him appointment with support worker and they are making case for him to be transferred. He needs a flat with secure entrance as vulnerable adult.

Right mse friends - this is my commitment to better budgeting and doing positive cheap things and the reward will be seeing those debts go down.

Good debt free vibes to you all X