I found my credit card statement. I pay 22.95% for cc#2, 39.9% for my catalogue. I am now going to focus my attention on the catalogue while paying a little extra to cc#2. I usually hate to revise my goals but I think this will be worth it.

Snowflakes will still be divided 70/30, only to the catalogue instead.

Thank you to everyone for making me see sense.

Today has been a NSD, thankfully. I love those.

I redeemed two 3GBP my survey rewards over the past few days. I also redeemed 5GBP opinion outpost rewards. I'm still working on Swagbucks, 300 + to go now. If I keep at it I can probably request it this week but I'm trying not to spend too much time on it.

I'm just really looking forward to those rewards so I can payoff debt and add to my emergency fund. I am easily pleased these days.

I updated my sidebar the other day. My goal for the year is to obtain 150GBP worth of snowflakes, for the first two months of the year I'm at 49.99, which is 29%. I think it could still go either way though. I had zero snowflakes last year so I'm not complaining.

I think I'm the only one that's pleased that this year is almost over. It's been my worst year to date so I'll be glad for 2015 to be here.

I was thinking about snowflakes last night - the money kind, that is. I haven't really got any disposable income since I put all extra towards debt repayment so I will take "snowflakes" out of my budget. I'm not sure if this will work, I'll see next year. For example, if I save £5 off my shopping I'll just include that in my budget as spent. The only exceptions will be direct bank deposits and Paypal, which I am considering aiming for most of the time from Swagbucks, or at least every other time. It costs more than an Amazon GC but I think it will be worth it.

I was also wondering whether I should aim to find x amount of snowflakes. When I tried this almost two years ago I didn't do well, but I never made a goal and I don't think I was as motivated then. So my goal will be to find £150 worth of snowflakes. Realistic? Who knows? We will find out in 2015.

I just checked my bank balance there and noticed that 5GBP had been deposited. I done a survey a few weeks ago and the reward was 5GBP. I know it's not officially January yet but money from this pay will go toward January until I get paid on the 9th. So, as per my new 70/30 rule:

- 3.50 to cc2
- 1.50 to EF

It couldn't have came at a better time because I'm feeling particularly happy today. This time last year I ended up having emergency surgery; today I finally got round to doing some baking with SG. All in all, a good day.

I'm pretty sure I really have no reason to update my blog today but I decided since I had some time, that I would.

I went to the doctors this morning. I've had earache since Friday and today was the first day I could get an appointment. Turns out I'm fine.

After the appointment I went to the butcher's to order our turkey for Christmas Day. I got the smallest turkey crown for 12.00 and also half a pound of streaky bacon. I'm picking it up on the 23rd, it was either that or Christmas Eve and I'm refusing to go anywhere on Christmas Eve. I'll pay for it when I pick it up.

I wrote out a list of what food I'll need over Christmas. When I get paid on Friday I will do an online order and get a few things that I either can't get at Aldi or refuse to get it because it's too heavy.

I wrapped two more of SG's presents today.

I'm feeling a bit optimistic about next year's financial goals. I'm out of the habit of tracking snowflakes, if I remember I used to track any extra money, under budget and now probably SBs. I'm not sure if I ever get any Amazon gift cards if I should track it when I get it, or wait until I use it and it's officially been used so is a snowflake, if you know what I mean? That really doesn't make sense. For example, if I redeemed a gift card now but didn't use until March say for SG's birthday, would I just count it then?

I've been thinking about this year's goals, if I accomplished them, and next year's. I decided on minimal goals at the start of this year when I was recovering from surgery, and off sick from work. They were:

1. start a housing fund: FAIL
2. CC1 min. payment top 25: unsure - I transferred it to a 0% card and now min. payment is 25 but it wasn't all down to me
3. earn enough SBs to claim £25AGC: DONE- i might not have done this if I hadn't been off sick**

Next year I would like to:

1. increase EF to 280/300
2. decrease CC2 by x. amount (haven't decided figures yet)
3. cash only Christmas using vouchers plus extra cash savings
4. not order from my catalogue (exception being using rewards, but only up to that value. If I don't use them I lose them)

These aren't set in stone yet but this is roughly what I'm thinking.

** From 17/12/13 - 21/5/14 (roughly) I worked eight shifts. I was off sick for about 18 weeks then I finished up on maternity leave/

I went shopping today, spent 6.83 at Aldi on fruit, bread and some meat. It was freezing. I had my warm jacket on but I was cold waiting on the bus. Hat, scarf and gloves next time I think.

I sorted out some of J's clothes today that we were given. It didn't take too long and now there's more space in SG's room. I also tried some of the clothes on him while I was doing it. It's so nice to have a willing model; SG is a different story.

I paid 30 to the new credit card yesterday. It will take a few days to update though.

I'm starting to think about next year's goals.

I made sausage casserole in the slow cooker today. It's all gone now, and so are almost all of our dishes (the slow cooker is still waiting but will be done tomorrow)

I'm using a ham hough for the first time in lentil soup tomorrow. So I guess it's really lentil and ham soup. I had to search for a recipe because I've never used it before; I only bought it because it was so cheap. Actually, it was hubby who bought it because he couldn't find a pork shoulder joint.

On Saturday I'm making a tortilla bake. I would normally only make one using the Old El Paso kits - a box with tortillas, sauce and seasoning, you just need to add mince, peppers and cheese I think - but I ordered a lot of tortillas from Approved Foods and they're sitting in my freezer waiting to be used.

I watched a Christmas cooking show on the Food Network. They made a mixed berry cheesecake and it looked amazing. I've decided to make that for Boxing Day.

Tomorrow after work I've asked hubby to buy a new pack of blank cards and envelopes. We agreed that SG will make a card for MIL even though they still aren't talking. I'll also include a few professional pics from J's newborn shoot that have been sitting here for months. We were supposed to give them to her ages ago but they fell out. I want the card made this weekend so I can send it second class on Monday.

I've been thinking about my goals for this year. One of them was to get CC1's minimum payment to 25. Well that's the minimum payment for my new card. Does that count? I don't feel as though I've earned the right to cross that goal off my list because all I did was do a balance transfer.

Baby #2 due in five weeks. I have an appointment to see the midwife today. Next week I've got three appointments at the hospital, although two of them are scans.

I borrowed thirty pounds from my mum. Payday is over a week away and I had less than five pounds in my account. I'm consoling myself with the fact that it was only thirty pounds, and not more.

I finished up at work yesterday. I'm taking holidays first then starting my maternity leave.

I found out that we have been overpaying our rent. It's my fault because I didn't understand the benefit letter that we got so I just kept paying the same amount. I really should have phoned them then but I didn't. The woman I spoke to said we could have a refund, or the council will just take our rent balance each month off the amount. I agreed to the latter then thought should I have re-considered? I will need to phone them soon anyway when my maternity pay starts because my circumstances have changed.

I want to start doing two things now that I've finished up at work: decluttering and freezing meals for when baby is here. Although I want to get a lot done I'm going to take things slowly. I can see myself writing lists, with small tasks to complete each day. I know for sure that I don't want to spend all day sorting out clutter because I can't manage to do that, so maybe a set amount of time each day? We'll see.

This morning I checked my bank account and was pleased to see that I had a bonus from work. I knew that today was the day that bonus was given, I just assumed that I wouldn't get one because of being off sick. Well I got 180. I sent 100 to Capital One (cc1) and paid off the rest of hubby's BNPL item (33) I might just order some food shopping for delivery online and that will be it.

Hubby thought I should put it to CC2 but I told him I was determined to get cc1 down since it's the lower balance. It makes me feel better. When I get rid of it, hubby wants me to use it for food shopping and then pay in full to help my credit rating.

I like the idea of saving the interest "saved" from paying off the BNPL item. Do you think it's silly to set up a transfer of 1/wk to my EF? (if my bank will let me, that is)

I've been clearing out the fridge today. I made tuna fish cakes for SG from leftover tuna mayonnaise and leftover potatoes. I put two in the freezer to use another time, so I hope she likes them, I adapted the recipe to what I had. If SG doesn't like them, then we will have them. For lunch I will use up some more cooked potato and have a sandwich with that. When hubby comes home from work, he will have the last of the chinese from last night. There's also two baguettes that MIL gave us that I might try turning into garlic bread then freeze that.

I've got a lot of potatoes and sweet potatoes that need using up. I'm going to parboil some of them today then put into a container in the fridge to be used for wedges or mashed potato. After that I will make the tomato and mozzarella pasta that I was meant to make a few days ago. There will be leftovers so we will probably have that for lunch tomorrow.

I've got a rough idea of what I'm going to make this week:

- tomato and mozzarella pasta
- cottage pie
- pizza with pepperoni, leftover mozzarella and peppers (forgot I had a pizza base mix from a while ago)
- corned beef hash

I was playing about on Whats the cost this morning. If I am able to pay 100 to CC1 every month I will have it clear by the end of April 2015. Then, if I pay 180 to CC2 that will be gone by June 2018. Of course, it sounds great in theory but I will try my best to put it into practice.

I also want to make sure that we have some sort of an EF because that's what caused a lot of the credit card debt in the first place - that and unnecessary spending . Part of me wants to save 10/fortnight rather than every four weeks but I don't know if I have the room in the budget for it just now. It does work out as only ten pounds extra every pay period.

Do I really need to post twice in one day? Well, no not really. However, I do actually have some more financial news.

I opened hubby's catalogue statement earlier and noticed that in April a new BNPL item will be added to his bill if he doesn't pay it off. Ok so I know that he has a lot of BNPL items so this isn't news; what bothers me is how little it is: £39. His statement basically said you can pay this amount OR pay an additional £41.65 in interest and have it added on to your minimum payment. Let me think about that... no way! I'm sure we can come up with the money by April. I'm not sure if DH will be as bothered as me by it - probably not - but I'd like it to be gone. After paying off two BNPL items last year I'd like to at least know that I paid off *something* albeit it's only 39. Hmm I'm going to check the calendar - how many weeks until 4/4?

My other news is that, for the first time ever, I have made my daily SBs goal for three weeks in a row. One more week to go.

First of all, thank you for all of the birthday wishes. I had a lazy day. Hubby got me a new phone from the catalogue - which I wasn't happy about - but it was a nice thought. I made sure he is at least paying it up now and I think he used his rewards towards it too. I'm now totally against putting anything on Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Or, should I say, anything else that is. There are a few things I wanted to get paid off this year but that isn't going to happen so I've accepted that; I just want to make sure that we don't make things worse for ourselves in the future by constantly paying for past purchases.

My mum and friend came over yesterday with presents. Also, BIL gave me thirty pounds which I transferred to savings - and made a mental note to spend the same on his birthday. I'm hoping that I won't need it.

I had an appointment with the consultant on Tuesday. He thinks my bladder problems are long-term. He said catheter needs to come out because it's been in too long. His solution? I do it myself. I will need to get another sick line from the doctor.

We were talking about goals last night. Hubby mentioned that we need to get a carpet for our room and we need blinds etc. We agreed that we need to save up for these things. We didn't agree or an amount or when to have it saved by though. The money will go into my savings account rather than keeping it separate since I am allowed to save over 5k per tax year tax-free (which has never happened) I'll just keep track of it in my notebook.

I complained to hubby that CC1's balance is barely moving, the balance only went down by under thirty pounds. Right now, my minimum payment is 44. I'll aim for getting it to 25 by December.

So, as a summary, my rough goals are:
1. start a housing fund
2. cc1 min. payment to 25

Thoughts? Anything else I should consider?

It's been six days since my last post. I've found myself making a few impulsive purchases after work, mainly on reduced items. Apart from that, I have been trying my best to rein in spending.

My credit card statement updated so I made a payment. My minimum payment is now 68.54... so close to my goal of 60 for this year. I hate the fact that it's so close, yet so far.

I didn't meal plan this week, we've just been eating what's on hand. Surprisingly, our cupboards are still quite full. Although hubby did say that we really need to get more paprika in. It's one of our favourites to use when making wedges.

Now for the news... We found out last week that we're expecting baby number two. I tried to get a doctor's appointment on my last day off (Monday) but had no luck, so I will be trying again today. We haven't told anyone yet, although we will be telling our parents soon.

It's two weeks until payday tomorrow. I get paid every four weeks. Is it possible to go six weeks with minimal spending/no spending? I've done a No Spend Month before, but we were in a different situation then: it was just the two of us and we were living at MIL's.

Speaking of MIL, it's her birthday next month. Wonder if I can get a "free" gift for her?

I spent just over six pounds today, bought a 2.5kg bag of potatoes, a pack of yoghurts for SG, 4 pints of milk and a loaf of bread.

I paid off the rest of the fridge freezer today so no interest will be added and my minimum payment won't increase. I've got a few other Buy Now Pay Later items that need to be paid off next year, so I will make that one of my goals for next year.

It's almost March and I haven't found any snowflakes yet. I have decided that whenever I save money shopping - either from my colleague discount or coupons - I will add that to my credit cards. Not too sure whether to start with the card with the highest balance or the one with the highest interest rate. What do you guys think?

I bought invites, thank you cards and bags for SG's party. Invites and cards were £1 each for a pack of 6. I need to buy more thank you cards in. Bags were 55p each, bought two lots. I've also bought baby fruit bars and milk buttons. Wrote invites out this morning, will send them later today. I already have a pack of stamps so don't need to buy more.

I checked my email yesterday and there was an email from chef Nick Nairn about food waste. There was a link to one of his recipes to prevent food waste. Here it is: http://landing.greenerscotland.org/foodwaste-nick-nairn?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6683+Nick+nairn+Malay+Curry+recipe&utm_content=6683+Nick+nairn+Malay+Curry+recipe+CID_89f4180cd3c274969e90024e9c78800e&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=my%20delicious%20and%20easy%20Monday%20Malay%20Curry

Not too sure if the link will work but it's called Monday Malay Curry.

Basic Goals:

[] Pay off fridge freezer by September 2013 (£259)
[] CC1 min. payment to £60
[] CC2 min. payment to £60
[] Snowflake towards debt - and track snowflakes

Would-love-to-achieve:

[] Savings to (at least) £200
[] CC1 min. payment to £30
[] CC2 min. payment to £30

Right now, both CC min. payments are close to £90.

If I don't pay off fridge freezer by September I will be charged interest.

I need to think of ways in which I can get "snowflakes" to put towards debt.

My dream world would be to cut my CC debt in half but that isn't realistic - not in one year anyway.

I can't remember what goals I made for this year - and then had to abandon - but I've been thinking about next year's goals. They have to be realistic. Yes I want to get rid of my credit card debt but it's unrealistic for me to think that I can get rid of half of my CC debt in a year. Especially since I have used it more than I would have liked since we moved into our own place. I spoke to DH and he suggested that I just aim to get my minimum payments down, instead of focusing on the entire balance. Obviously I won't pay the new lower payment when I (hopefully) achieve the goal, I'll pay as much as I can. Actually I think I will find a notebook to keep track of extra money towards debt repayments in 2013. It would be nice to total it up at the end of the year.

This year I was on maternity leave for ten months, in fact I go back to work in two weeks. Next year I will not be on maternity leave so money should be better.

My car has to go next year. It's making a noise, I know it will fail its MOT in February since it hasn't passed yet. I don't have savings to pay for it, or enough on my CCs so it has to go. Me and DH can share a monthly bus pass until I get a new car. We should have at least £150 extra each month when it goes. I know it will be a pain getting public transport, but it makes the most sense to me. I think I will have to scrap it since there has been so much wrong with it, it's not right to try and sell it to someone.

It's the end of January and I didn't make any goals. Things will be different next month though. In February I'm going to aim to: pack my hospital bag, but in any last minute baby items and take some time to relax. I know none of these goals are financial.

I only have a couple more weeks left to work then I finish up for two weeks holiday then my maternity leave starts. I can't wait, I'm always tired after working all day so it will be nice to get some rest.

The baby fund is almost gone. We've got a lot to show for it though. Our list is done to about half a dozen items now e.g. sheets for moses basket, cot blankets and teats. We need to get formula too.

I've got a hospital appointment this week and I'm seeing the midwife. I have a feeling that when I finish work my time will be taken up with seeing the midwife every few weeks until baby's here.

Happy New Year everyone!

I've spent a while thinking about my goals for this year. I've tried to make them realistic. After all, we will have a baby to look after this year and I will be on maternity leave for most of the year.


2012 Goals:
[] Reduce CC2 by half
[] Reduce CC1 by half
[] Car fund to £100
[] EF to £100
[] Savings to £700

I have withdrawn the money from savings to buy the pram. We will be buying it soon. So it will be nice to get our savings back up. However, I'd also love to get rid of most of my credit card debt.

Well so far I've managed to achieve one of my goals for this month: tell friends about baby. I told my close friends and work colleagues on the same day. That night I updated my FB status to let everyone else know. The news went down well.

My mum has been desperate to buy baby things since I told her the news. Well, this week I gave her the go ahead. She's going to go the shopping centre this week and pick up a few things. I wrote her a small list of essential items that she can pick up if she wants to - scratch mitts, sleepsuits, muslin squares. She is desperate to buy some bigger items too, but I'm trying to get her to shop around and compare prices first.

A colleague of mine has offered me a few items that she no longer needs for her grandson.

I took some time yesterday to price cots and prams online. I didn't realise how expensive they are. We'll be saving up some money first before we buy anything.

Husband will FINALLY be clear of his debt to MIL when we get on Friday. Woohoo!! Next month the money he would have given her will either be divided between savings and credit cards, or will all be put into savings. We need to decide exactly what we're doing.

I looked into my maternity leave at work. I'm entitled to one year off. For the first six weeks I will get 90% of my average earnings. Statutory Maternity Pay for weeks 7-39. The last 12 weeks are unpaid. I think I will take nine months off, as I doubt we could afford three months of me not having any pay.

In other news, I haven't used either one of my credit cards

Well I made it through August so I'd better make some goals for this month now. They are:

[] Start baby fund
[] Cook one family meal

I've been really bad, I still haven't said to my friends. In fact, one of my friends text me and I haven't had the nerve to get back in touch with her yet. She doesn't even know we've moved into my mum's so I know that will lead to questions.

I want to make lasagne this month. It's been so long since I've cooked. Apart from feeling sick on Saturday, I've basically been okay so I think cooking is feasible. Plus, I'll actually have space in the kitchen to do it.

Hubby and I spoke again today about our situation. We've reached a new decision: if we're not out by Christmas we're going to my mum's. Hubby wants us to try to save to buy our own place. The only way to do that is to get on the LIFT(Lothian Initiative for First-Time buyers) scheme, and that fell through the last time. Also, it's really popular now, and it would take us ages to save up the money needed.

There's no way we can afford to buy, but at least we've made a decision. I guess if we don't get accepted for the scheme the money can be used for renting a place.

I checked my bank balance and noticed that a payment had came out earlier, so I actually had some money spare. I added £15 to my moving out fund. Only £5.85 to find now!

1) Get savings to £500 by 28th July. To do this I only need to add £20.85. Small savings compared to last month. However, this month I know I have a cinema trip and I've actually budgeted for "fun" so we'll see how I do. The reason for aiming for 28th July? I get paid again on the 29th.

2) Read my new book. I just ordered myself a book from play out of my "fun" money.

3) Find Hajime no ippo book for hubby/Start ordering Naruto books for his birthday if I have no luck

It's the the last day of June and I haven't spent a penny I think that my NSM has been a success, despite a few setbacks - namely my windscreen and breakdown cover.

Here's what I spent this month:

£35.78 Beginning balance
- £2.78 (savings transfer)
+ £781.76 (wages)
- £13.00 (dental plan)
- £25.00 (savings transfer)
- £160.00 ("rent")
- £300.00 (hubby)
- £65.00 (credit card 2)
- £41.00 (credit card 1)
- £56.00 (catalogue)
- £70 (cash withdrawal)
- £20.00 (cash withdrawal)
+ £300.00 (cash credit - hubby)
- £2.40 (ASDA)
- £4.50 (candles)
- £45.00 (dentist)
- £70.00 (windscreen replacement)
- £50.00 (DH debt to MIL)
- £16.76 (AA)
+ £105.00 (cash credit)
- £90.75 (6 month road tax)ras
- £50.00 (savings transfer)
- £22.31 (phone bill)
+ £45.00 (dentist reimbursement)
- £98.42 (car insurance)
- £18.90 (Harry Potter tickets)
- £16.68 (AA)
+ £20.00 (money from mum for tickets)
- £49.04 (savings transfer)
= £0.00

Extra transferred to savings = £101.82


Cash envelope balances:

petrol £50 beg/£29 remaining
packed lunch £10/£3.40
snacks £10/£2.24
= £35.36 spent/ £34.64 remaining

I decided to add everything saved apart from small change (5p, 2p and 1p) I added £20 to my car fund and £14.40 to my emergency fund. I put the small change into my money bags which I'll take to the bank soon and add to savings.

All in all, I've done better than I thought I would.If my windscreen didn't need replaced I would have saved £70 more, but that's life. Now all I need to do is think of my July goals.

It's been an uneventful weekend. Last night we watched The Money Pit. It was my first time watching it. It was a dvd that I'd put on our Love Film list. I never would have put Tom Hanks and Shelly Long together. I enjoyed it.

Today I went to my mum's for a few hours. When I came back we tidied our room. Then we watched Cougar Town. We still have the new episode of Bones to watch, that probably won't be until tomorrow now.

Tomorrow I'm working till 5. I'm planning on withdrawing money to put into my cash envelopes before I start (£70) I'm going to try my best not to buy anything to take to work. I have a multipack of mini cheddars, cereal bars and portions of raisins to take with me. I usually buy portions of fruit but there's a full fruit bowl so I will be making the most of that.

Well, this No Spend Month is actually happening. TarWalker is partially joining me. She is aiming to save $150, I haven't actually thought of how much I'd like to save. It will be good to see how June turns out.

For this No Spend Month I will:

1)only purchase necessary items
2)withdraw cash for variable expenses which are already budgeted for - once it's gone, it's gone

Variable expenses: petrol (£50), packed lunch (£10) and snacks for room (£10) I've got a stack of envelopes waiting to be used.

Right now I'm thinking that all money saved will go towards savings.

May was a busy month, we had a wedding and a party. I overspent at the party. June will not be the same. However, I did manage to start both my EF and car fund.

I only have one goal for June: complete a No Spend Month.

My emergency fund and car fund, that is. I took TarWalker's advice - thanks! -and started small. Before I left for work this morning I put £1 into an envelope for my emergency fund and done the same for my car fund. After work hubby's mum phoned and asked me to pick up bread. She gave me the money when I came in. I put the small change into money bags that I take to the bank every few months and I put the pound coin into my emergency fund.