So I know it's still a while away yet but I want to attempt to plan for Christmas.

We've finished saving up for our hgh street vouchers like we've done every year for the past five years I think. I only managed to get 10GBP saved on a supermarket savings card, so that plan was an epic fail.

Christmas stuff has started appearing in shops. I will probably write a list of non-perishable items I want and start picking them up.

Christmas dinner will be at home.

I still have to decide what to get the kids. SG is now at the age that she wants every toy from every advert she sees.

DH wants a couple of games. I can't remember exactly which ones, but I can check with him.

I haven't asked my mum what she would like yet but I am sure it will be pretty similar to what she usually wants: pyjamas, chocolates and wine.

We will be doing homemade cards for close friends and family. I think SG will enjoy it although I will have to buy more in soon.

Sometimes you just need to reflect. If you don't look back on things you forget what you've accomplished. I know most people reflect on their lives at the beginning or end of the year; I like to do it then too but it also helps to look back when you're feeling like you haven't achieved much.

It's not an exact year-on-year comparison to the day but in November last year I had 5172.29 worth of credit card debt. Today I have 4452.31. That's 719.98 paid off since then.

I don't have a year-on-year comparison for the catalogue because it was on the backburner and getting none of my attention. From my records I can see that it was sitting at 4441.68 in June (including bnpl) now it is 3766.23. That's 675.45 paid off since then.

My emergency fund last year was practically non-existent. Now I've finally reached the 300 mark.

If I hadn't started this blog way back then this probably wouldn't be the case. They say one small thing can change everything so, to me, this blog is the little thing that turned into a big thing. But I didn't even notice. I know I'm still on my journey to becoming debt free but thank you for your support guys!

It's going to be a long four weeks. Pay was less than I thought. Back to tracking spending since for the past few weeks the only numbers I've been counting are calories. (It helps when you have people cheering you on, otherwise I would have lost motivation)

Paid extra to catalogue and paid BNPL item.

Currently meal planning and ordering shopping online. Using up what we have first.

I think I'm in an okay place right now, financial and otherwise, despite the setbacks.

I should reach my EF goal this year. Fingers crossed.

Continuing as normal here. Payday on Friday.

Making an effort to use things up and meal plan.

Dh's birthday soon. Budget should be fine.

Extra to debt as normal on payday.

Still thinking about upcoming events so they don't impact the budget much.

All is well.

So I've spent some time thinking about my blog updates. I've decided that I tell more than I did way back when I first started this blog, which is a good thing because my entries were tiny back then, but I don't overshare and reveal too much.

I need to track spending when I get paid again. It's hubby's birthday soon so that will involve some extra spending and I want to keep track.

The first statement for the new credit card arrived the other day. Payment is due at the end of the month.

I still haven't done anything about Christmas shopping yet. In the last week or so, Christmas items have started appearing in the shops.

I haven't added any snowflakes to debt recently. PayPal was acting up and I'm still waiting on those survey rewards.

I will most likely be sending a parcel overseas this Christmas. What's everyone's experiences of this? Specifically, Cj, buendia and my English castle. Although if anyone else has any dealings with this, I'd be interested to hear. I'm not sure how reliable royal mail is at that time of the year.

Dh has decided what he would like me to get him for Christmas. I told him what I would like.

I'm on holiday from work now for a few weeks.

Still paying attention to counting calories. Teeny bit of progress there.

Whatever that is.

The person who deletes their blog entries and turns off notifications is gone. I was clearly having a crazy moment when I turned off my blog notifications and deleted that entry. So, if anyone has commented and I haven't acknowledged it, can you let me know? I'd hate to miss out because of a moment of stupidity.

The new normal seems to include a lot of talking, which is good.

I read an interesting thread about friendship on the parenting forum I read, but rarely interact with. One member commented that it's easier to find the love of your life than a true friend, especially as you get older.

I've been completely lax about updating what's the cost. It shouldn't take long to do when I finally get round to it.

I just checked BoS and my balance is now sitting at 236.13. Interest still hasn't been added though. If only I had actually paid this off rather than just transferring it. I'm now wondering if I can come up with some extra money over the next couple of pay periods to get rid of this card. It would delay catalogue payoff though. I've not had a chance to check numbers yet so it might be doable. It's in its hundreds now, it has to go.

Spending has been all over the place. I haven't tracked in it about a week or so. I wasn't up to it a few days ago. I've also been adding a lot of impulse purchases to my shopping. Bad, I know. But I'm not using a bad week as an excuse for no progress, and I never touched a credit card. I don't know, it's just been a crazy couple of days.

On Monday we finally went to the farm/museum. It was a last minute decision. I had time to pack some snacks for the kids but not enough for a packed lunch. We met my mum there. We stayed for a few hours, kids were exhausted by the time we got home.

Spending for Monday:

Entry: 18.00 (for three, under-3s free)
Food in cafe: 9.25

Tuesday and Wednesday was mostly shopping after work. Must have spent about forty pounds in total over the past couple of days. This included stocking up on nappies though so not too bad.

Things are home are getting better. Basically, for those of you who didn't see the entry, dh and I started arguing over something small which led to something bigger. We've spoke a lot and we're working on it. As for the new online friend that I made, that is going well.

Throughout this whole thing, I lost some weight. It's even been picked up on by my mum, although she waited a whole two days after seeing me before bringing it up. It's noted, believe me. As a side note, I'll probably have to increase the food budget for a bit. Maybe take some vitamins too.

Earlier I transferred 2700 from BoS to Nationwide. The balance transfer fee was 2.4% which is added on to the transfer. It will be 45 days before I receive a statement. Nationwide is at 2764.81, which works out as 106.34 per month if I want to get it paid off within the time period. I'm not sure I will manage to clear it all but it is nice to have the majority debt on an interest-free card for a change.

P.S. Copy your entries before you hit Publish. I almost lost all of this.

I'm going to do a long update tomorrow.

For now, Nationwide accepted me. Credit limit is 2800. I've checked BoS and I have a balance of 2936.13 before the interest is added. I want to transfer as much as possible. My question is, how close to the credit limit is too much? Will it just seem desperate if I transfer as close to 2800 - excluding 3% balance transfer fee, that is - as possible?

Waiting for a few things:

Payday. That's still two weeks away. No big plans for payday other than debt payoff, I just like the day.

BoS statement to update. It's not the end of the statement period yet, I'm just impatient. I want to see new numbers!

To hear from Nationwide. I'd really like to know either way, then I can make a plan, or continue with what I'm doing.

To pay my BNPL item off. But that's March/April time probably. Unless I suddenly find a lot of money to throw at it.

To reach my emergency fund goal. With four months left of the year, I'll need to be really patient for this one.

I'm just really impatient right now.

I think it's been a while since I posted a meal plan. I honestly can't remember the last time I did. Anyway, I'm thinking that we should have these meals over the next four/five days:

- chicken curry with rice and garlic naan
(homemade tomato soup for kids with wholemeal bread)

- pasta in a primavera sauce (jar, want to try making it myself if I like it)
(macaroni & cheese for kids with veg)

- steak, chips and veg
(frittata, or risotto)

- spaghetti and meatballs for everyone

Leftover soup will be used for lunches. I've got a ton of spaghetti and pasta needing using up. I was in the mood for ribeye steak after someone mentioned it, but we haven't got any in, so I will just be using the steak we already had from the muscle food order a few weeks ago.

I was tossing and turning this morning, worried that my alarm wouldn't go off and I'd sleep in. When I checked the time it was 4am and only half an hour until I was supposed to get up. For future reference, it is never a good idea to get up at that time. I thought I'd have lots of time to relax before leaving. Well, that only works if you're organised. I couldn't find my watch, so I was quietly searching for it. Inanimate objects don't care that it's practically the middle of the night; they'll fall off the table onto the shredder below. Sshh! Nobody woke up, thankfully.

Got to work and two people hadn't shown up. Ugh. One appeared later, looking worse for wear. He was away two hours later.

When I finished I decided I deserved a reward for surviving. I bought a cheesecake, and a meal for two because I knew I'd have no motivation to cook for us later.

I put ten on w Christmas savings card. If I can save 97 by Nov I'll get three pounds added, highly unlikely.

Spent 26.xx although ten was savings.

Both kids were asleep when I came home, so I had lunch then went for a nap.

Cheesecake later

First of all, the next time Dh goes on a night out, he won't be taking the bus ticket. He can just take cash. He can't remember what he did when he came in the early hours of this morning after his night out. I'll look today for it but I'm not optimistic.

There's five more pays between now and the end of the year. I need to add 110 to my emergency fund to reach my goal, which is 22 each pay period. Actually, there's still 6 GBP to be added this pay period so I guess that means 104 left. That's 20.80 each pay so I can manage that, hopefully. 18 is the budgeted amount so it's not much to come up with 2.80 extra each pay.

I've been reading up on different types of personalities since I done the test. I was talking about it the other day. It's quite refreshing to talk about something you never normally discuss.

We might be meeting my mum at the local farm tomorrow, weather permitting. I don't want to go if it's a horrible day.

I forgot to post what I was planning to spend today. My mind was elsewhere. Maybe I'll do it before my next pay.

Anyway, this morning I've paid:

- 200 to Littlewoods (min. 133.xx)
- 15 to BNPL items
- 40 to Christmas savings (10 is my mum's, so need to transfer that back to me)
- 70 to Bank of Scotland (56.xx min.)

I need to wait a few days for Tesco statement to update. I also paid extra to Bank of Scotland because that was my budgeted amount.

I only just transferred my mum's Christmas savings to me that I paid last pay for her. I'm going to use that to put on an Asda Christmas savings card. I really need to get started saving extra because I know it will help us out.

I almost forgot: Dh walked home from work yesterday. He phoned to tell me he couldn't find the bus ticket, and he didn't have cash on him. It was due to run out on 28/7, so at least it's not as bad at it when we had weeks left.s the last time he lost it.

Dh has requested cornbread for dinner. I noticed the note on the family planner when I was in the kitchen earlier. I've only made it once and everyone loved it. There will be less sugar in it this time though. I'm making us a roast dinner tonight, so I think it might be weird to have it with it, but if it gets eaten I shouldn't complain. I need to put the chicken in the slow cooker soon.

I don't know what it is, but I've gotten to the point that I enjoy going to work. It's not the actual company itself, it's my coworkers. Yesterday a coworker and I were talking about me having a degree. I was surprised he brought it up, because I had only mentioned it in a passing comment before. As it turns out, it reminded me that I actually enjoyed studying Psychology all those years ago at uni. On the way home, I found myself searching for recent articles on Psychology on the bus home.

How weird to find this morning that DP had commented on a very old post about me having a degree.

This morning I took a personality test and I was really surprised at how accurate it was.

DH thinks my positive attitude at work is due to the fact that I was on maternity leave for nine months before. Yes that has helped, but it's also nice to have some adult conversation. His attitude at the moment is the opposite, so we're clashing there. He's been at me to get in touch with my friends more/make new ones so I think I may have a new one soon. (I also got in touch with a few other friends too.)

After work yesterday I bought cot sheets for J, plus some milk, yogurts and a few treats.

I still haven't received the terms and conditions yet from Nationwide, so I will have to get back in touch with them. I'd really like to see what happens - if I get the 0% card.

This morning I spent some one-on-one time with SG. We went to the library then to a cafe for something to eat. That was 6.50 for a cheese and tomato roll, a BLT baguette (for me), a mocha and a juice. Afterwards we went to Co-op where I bought more than I planned to, but I only spent 6.xx, most of it was fruit.

I recently started posting on a parenting forum. For a few months now I've been reading about this one woman who is constantly struggling. She has three kids under five, and the younger two are really ill and hardly sleep because they're in a lot of pain. They're younger than SG so I've offered to send her some of SG's old clothes. She really appreciated the offer. I am aiming to get it sent to her this week. I think it's good to pay it forward.

We went shopping with my mum on Monday to get SG new shoes. She's up a size so she got new shoes, trainers and boots. That was 76.xx. I still need to get inside shoes for nursery and some clothes, but there's a sale on. I'll look tomorrow after work.

Nationwide text me to say that they can't process my credit card application until I've signed the terms and conditions. I thought I had, so I messaged them asking what I should do, since I applied online.

Speaking of cards, I've decided to close Capital One after reading Liz's post yesterday. I'll wait until I get an answer from Nationwide though.

I really enjoyed paying extra to my emergency fund the other week (8.25 Approved Food discount). I'd like to aim to do that every other month, at least. We'll see.

I spent 18.xx posting three parcels yesterday. One of them was over 2kg, which is why it was so much. I really wanted them gone though, so I think it was worth it.

I still need to gain weight. I keep having to fix my trousers at work and I don't really want to have to buy a size 6. I'm going to try to pack more to take with me to work, or something to eat when I finish.

I was doing some shredding this morning and I found a letter from Nationwide, dated May this year, explaining why they had declined my credit card application. That was only a couple of months ago, so I'm expecting to receive the same letter.

I redeemed 2.50 worth of Opinion Outpost rewards, and 3.00 from MySurvey. I also have to add the Tesco coupon to my snowflakes. It's all little amounts, but they all add up. I need to remember and pay back the swagbucks money that I owe too, which is 15GBP. If I can manage all of that this pay it will make for a great month - for me, anyway - for snowflakes.

This morning I paid two weeks worth of rent, so that's us up-to-date until payday now. I also paid 14.80 to the council for the overpayment.

I made a batch of wholemeal cheese scones with SG earlier. The kids were running out of healthy snacks, other than fruit, that is. If I can find the time soon I will make some more biscuits, although they're more for us than SG. That reminds me, I'll need to buy in some more raisins to make a fruit loaf for them.

I just went and applied for the credit card. They said I will hear in 10 working days. I'm not getting my hopes us though.

I worked five hours extra this week, and two last week.

My spending has been all over the place. I've done two little shops this week. Yesterday I did buy a lot of reduced items, which I've put in the freezer. I thought I would be shopping less due to my two big orders this month, but apparently not.

I don't seem to be having much luck with surveys these days. There's still a few more weeks left of the month so I'm trying not to give up hope. I checked and I've accumulated 128.24 worth of snowflakes.

I was thinking last night that I would ideally like to get rid of cc1 before the 0% promotion period is up. That works out about 72 a month though. Part of me also thinks I should focus on BoS, which is being charged interest. If I do get accepted for the new credit card I will transfer half the balance, I think that will be manageable. I can only wait now.

I will update better tomorrow when I've got more time - bed time for J is looming. But, for now:

I just opened my mail and Nationwide are offering me a credit card with 0% on balance transfers for 26 months. Loyal readers might remember I applied for a card a while ago, but I was declined. This time they've sent me a special code to quote. I'm thinking I should apply for it. Is there any reason that anyone can think of, why I shouldn't apply? Of course, I might get declined again because that other application was a while ago.

Oh, in case I didn't make it clear, I would transfer as much as possible from Bank of Scotland.

It was J 's first birthday on Friday. I made a cake made from fruit puree with wholemeal flour, topped with raspberries and cream. The kids loved it, dh not so much. I'm going to make it again, this time in a loaf tin for them.

SG had her nursery induction on Friday too. She starts in August. So far it looks as though we need to add nursery snacks, soft shoes /slippers and extra casual clothes to the budget between now and then. It's not a private nursery.

Dh 's mum and brother dropped off presents today. His mum basically brought us the stuff she couldn't sell at her last baby and kids market. His brother actually bought some pyjamas for him. I don't mean to sound ungrateful but doesn't he deserve more than her junk for his first birthday? They're getting donated or recycled.

J was easy to please on his birthday. A balloon and a bit of cake and he was happy.

My new debit card arrived the other day. I was impressed, it didn't take long. Yesterday after work I went to use it to pay for some shopping. It was declined. I tried again and it wouldn't even let me enter my pin again in the machine. The checkout operator asked if I had activated the card; I told her it was a debit card not a credit card.

I decided to take the cash out for the shopping instead. When I put my card into the ATM it refused it. That's never happened to me.

I went back to the checkout and told them I would have to leave it. I didn't even have dh's debit card on me.

I decided to get in touch with my bank this morning. I checked the website and they're undergoing maintenance until 3pm so I can't do anything until then.

I told dh that I want to pay off the debt with cash flow. He doesn't think we can do it without messing things up financially. To be honest, I checked the budget and we are minus -156.xx roughly by paying it, but that is with full variable spending and extra to debt.

Right now, I'm thinking that if we sell anything on Fb the money can go towards it, plus snowflakes too. I've got a cheque to cash once I get my bank card sorted (4.99) it's not much but every penny counts.

ETA: The aim is to not touch the EF in case we have an actual emergency. Unless this is one? I don't think it is.

That's how much we owe the council for an overpayment. Due 5/7. I'm hoping to cash flow it. Wish me luck.

My mum came over today. She told me that her fridge broke after I seen her a few weeks ago. Her friend ordered her one online for 160. My mum said she would get the money transferred from savings, which her friend was surprised to hear. I asked her what would she have done if she didn't have any savings, she said she would have put off food shopping for a couple of weeks to pay her back. After I transferred the money, my mum told me to still put money in. I told her I was anyway.

Dh thinks our washing machine may be on its way out soon. I hope not.

Dh and I came up with almost a full week's meal plan just by looking at the family planner and deciding what to use. I need to buy chicken tomorrow.

My bank has gotten in touch again. My current card and new one has been blocked and cancelled due to fradulent activity. I should get a new one in 3-5 working days.

That's

I just get the same gibberish message that I got earlier.

I can't read any of the posts when I click on them. I can read the summaries, but not the actual entry.

So, I tried to talk to dh again last night about the catalogue. I explained that the interest rates are high (39%) and that I thought that we agreed that we hated the company? He likes the fact that he can pay his items up when he doesn't have the cash. I'm tired so I'm trying to think of the phrase, but it's one of those things: if he didn't order from the catalogue he would probably have the cash. A paradox?

He told me that he has over seventy pounds worth of rewards to use! Why didn't he use them to get himself a game? Well, a while ago, we were talking about getting the kids something from the catalogue with the rewards. I ordered J's birthday present using my rewards (so it was essentially free) and I was happy so I never mentioned it to him again. He told me that I could pick what I wanted to get him with his rewards.

It's dh's birthday in a few months. I brought up the subject last night too. I asked him what he wanted. He still wants to go to York. What's your back-up? A game. I told him to pick a game he would like if we can't get to York.

As for the catalogue, he said he would still want to order so he can keep his reward status (10% back on his minimum payment, excluding BNPL) I don't know how I'm going to change his way of thinking. Hey, dh, set up a blog on SA and see what everyone thinks of your debt? No?

I asked him to give me a list of his minimum payments, debt and interest rates so I can put the details on What's the Cost. He didn't seem that enthusiastic about it, but said he would do it. I guess I could find the details myself since he gets paper statements but I'd like him to do it himself.

The only thing that has changed about dh's attitude is that we're still in agreement that we're going to buy a new hoover (vacuum cleaner) next pay, I'm pretty sure our one is going to stop working soon. Although, dh also said he would have a look at it. I found one in Tesco and Asda that was about 40 GBP, that was their cheapest. It's probably not a good idea to get the basic one but I think it might be the start of a good habit: paying for things with CASH when they stop working/need replaced.

I forgot to add that dh noticed my BOS statement last week. He read the interest charge, and noticed one month was higher than the other. He wasn't happy, you should phone and get this sorted. If only the catalogue listed how much interest was being charged on each statement, but they don't.

I've updated my details on What's the Cost, the best I could this morning. The reason I say that, is that I don't think my catalogue balance is accurate. Credit card statements are so much easier to read. Right now, WTC states that if I keep paying 295 per month to my debt, I will be debt free in 29 months. While that sounds good, come December, I will have to add over one thousand pounds to my Littlewoods debt when the BNPL item (kingsize bed/mattress/clothes for SG) gets added on.

I'm trying to remain optimistic because I am dealing with my catalogue debt. This is better than my old method of just focusing on my credit card debt.

This is what my balances are looking like (I'm still doubting the catalogue's accuracy):

- Littlewoods: 2409.82
- BoS: 2967.98
- Tesco: 1689.09

Total Debt: 6771.89

Interest still has to be added on when their statements update. But this is roughly where I stand.

Tonight:
Chilli con carne (from freezer) with rice
Cheesy vegetable pasta for J

Tomorrow:
Sweet chilli chicken (freezer) with rice/noodles and veg
Frittata for kids

Sunday:
Silverside with potatoes and mixed veg

Other meals:
Pork chops with potatoes and veg
Meatballs and spaghetti
Macaroni and cheese
Leftovers