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Archive for April, 2016

My One Thousandth Entry

April 26th, 2016 at 02:19 pm

Wow, it's only taken ten years but I've finally made it to one thousand entries. One thousand entries about my financial journey.

I would have reached this number earlier if I hadn't taken two years off. I'm glad I came back. If anyone out there is reading this and has a retired blog but is still reading, I'd like to hear from you. Likewise, if you want to start a blog, you should give it a chance.

Thank you to everyone who reads for going through this journey with me.

If this works, I will have included one of my favourite pictures of me and SG.

Playing Catch Up

April 21st, 2016 at 08:11 am

It's been a strange month. I know getting the loan and paying off most of our highest interest debts was smart. I'm just waiting to see the outcome now; hubby's catalogues haven't updated yet. If my calculations are right I should be paying 150.xx to the catalogues as opposed to 500 I was before. That plus loan payment and my credit cards should take debt repayment to 460.51.

Im wondering whether I should start putting extra towards my 0% cards...

Husband got his new tv, he loves it. It's an early birthday present.

I'm behind inputting spending into my budgeting app.

Debt payoff

April 14th, 2016 at 01:20 pm

The loan went into my bank a few days ago. I paid off all of my catalogue, over a grand to each of hubby's catalogues, all of hubby's credit card balance, my bank of Scotland card and the balance on a kids catalogue I got when SG was a baby. I also paid off two buy now pay later items that were going on hubby's catalogue in a few months.

My loan payments start in a month.

I have to revise my goals and come up with a plan to get out of debt. I also have to cancel my catalogue since I don't want my 10k limit just sitting there, open to fraud. I also need to make sure we never order from Husband's catalogue.

After my payments to the catalogue, we had enough rewards to get an early birthday present for hubby: a new tv. There's enough left for me to pick something too, I just don't know what yet. We won't be out of pocket since they are all covered with rewards.

Meal Plan

April 10th, 2016 at 10:16 am

- fish and chips with mixed veg
- salmon fish cakes with cauliflower cheese
- slow cooked pork with potatoes, veg and Yorkshire puddings
- sweet and sour pork with rice or noodles
- eggs, chips and beans
- use up any leftovers day (or two)

One step forward?

April 8th, 2016 at 06:30 pm

I absolutely love my bank. Yesterday I applied for a loan and I was approved!!! The paperwork came today and I sent it away.

It's for 7750. I'm still planning how I want to distribute it between my debt and hubby's.

I'm so excited about this!!!

Oh the rate is 6.3%. Over three years.

First time

April 6th, 2016 at 02:59 pm

I'm the only one working in the household. This has meant that we're entitled to receive healthy start vouchers. We got our first lot last week. We have four vouchers each worth 3.10. The catch is we can only use the vouchers on milk, fresh or frozen veg and infant formula. This suits me fine.

I thought I was going to be embarrassed using the vouchers but I was fine. I never thought that our financial situation would be so bad that we needed them. I have until the end of the month to use the other three.

My Swagbucks rewards are in my PayPal account. I'm going to withdraw the money and put it towards the remaining buy now pay later balance (the cot)

Meal planning

April 4th, 2016 at 02:33 pm

I've got my meal planning hat back on. This is what this week looks like:

-slow cooked chicken with mashed potatoes, mixed veg and Yorkshire puddings (yesterday)
-Spanish rice (using leftover chicken)
-Italian style fish and rice
-baked potatoes with beans and cheese
-leftovers for other meals

Hello April

April 3rd, 2016 at 11:08 am

We're barely three days into the month and it's already not going to plan. Hubby ordered a few household items from his catalogue and put it as buy now pay later. I want to get it paid off before the year's up. In case you're wondering, I was oblivious to the fact that he was doing this. So much for being on the same page.

I owe 73 to my EF. I am going to do my best to meal plan and basically try to keep my money. 26 days until I'm paid again.

I've been spending alot of time on Swagbucks, too much actually. I want to redeem more this month to put towards the cot so I'm trying my best, I've even been playing videos on my phone. Minimum effort there although it takes a lot of battery.

I need to update my new debt total soon.