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Original poster

Debt Free 2007?

551 replies

Flamesparrow · 28/11/2006 17:42

Keep thinking about this since yesterday...

Am thinking that my aim for 2007 is to be in a decent(ish) money situation next Christmas BUT I don't wanna take the swing out of the budgie's cage completely...

I need to work out how to save money, pay all the bills, but still be able to have the odd treat here and there.

I thinking:

  • Decent food budgetting/planning
  • uswitch (I think I am on the cheapest anyway)
  • s/o for savings AND a s/o for treats
  • Work out the birthdays that will be coming across the year and make sure I put aside enough each month to cover the hell months.

What else should I be doing?

OP posts:
ska · 26/01/2007 17:22

oh yes, and a quick tip: we had half an hour at the weekend sorting out the freezers (little1 in house and big one in shed) and we took everything out, sorted it, listed it and put it all back in. Gosh we're dull but we had fun! But it meant that stuck up on my fridge door now is a list of everything in both freezers and I can see at a glance what we have/what we can eat and what we can cobble a meal together with if we're pushed for time. Found all sorts of nice things I'd forgotten about and made it much easier to write my weekly food shopping list today. Thsi weekend I plan to do the same with the tins/dried stuff cupboards. Will use for meal planning.

nikkie · 26/01/2007 19:05

I have 2 freezers and each drawer has a theme.1 has ready meals (homemade before anyone jumps on me!),1 for frozen veg, 1 for bread, one fro puddinge etc

pookey · 26/01/2007 20:01

Hi all

Can I join, we are trying to be debt free this year in preperation for remortgaging and me possibly leaving work after birth of second child. FF and F i am afraid you kind of sum me up - starbucks is a big weakness and i lose all track of how much i spend even on a daily basis. I basically live a lie by spending on credit and our family ends up paying for it.

nikkie · 26/01/2007 20:29

Welcome Pookey

Sky phoned me today to ask about me leaving them and when I said cost they offered 10% off , still ont enough though I'm holding out for half price or less It hasn't even been a month since I handed the notice in so I'm sure it won't be too long!

nikkie · 26/01/2007 21:12

ebaythread

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 27/01/2007 10:01

Hiya Pookie

Ska - That's a bloody good idea!! I need to do the freezer/cupboards thing!

OP posts:
ska · 27/01/2007 13:18

thanks!!

GreedyGecko · 27/01/2007 20:41

Hi Pookey

What package do you have with Sky nikkie? Is it Sky+ or normal?

I had my appt with my MP today. He says that it will be 4-6wks before they reply to him, but it's all been passed onto him now. He was really good. Thanks again for that nikkie.

DP does have his good points. This week he has brought home a huge chocolate fudge cake that one of the drivers gave him, and yesterday another driver gave them a boxful of chocolate muffins to share, so we have a bagful of chocoalte muffins too.

That sounds like something off the Fast Show. "This week I have been mostly eating chocoalte cake!"

nikkie · 27/01/2007 20:59

Just normal sky with two groups on (£15 ish amonth)
Glad the MP could help, ours used to be very good but he is a high up minster person(and one of Blairs cronies) so you never get much chance to see him but his people are helpful!

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 28/01/2007 14:14

Yay for MP help and chocolate cakes

Someone just mentioned to me about washing nappies in the night because the electric is cheaper then - thought it might be a handy tip (as long as you don't have neighbours who can hear your machine at full spin at midnight )

OP posts:
nikkie · 28/01/2007 16:26

The electricity thing depends on what tariff you are on though.

I've had quite a good w/e money wise.My ebay stuff is going up and up! We went to the pictures yesterday in a different town and even factoring in petrol and car parking it was cheaper than the local one!Whist we were in that town we did some shopping as they have a greengrocers.We got loads of f&v much cheaper than Tesco etc.Bought big bag of chopped veg (40p) and have made 5 portions of veg soup today to freeze.Have also made up little jellies and bags of raisins for packed lunches

FatFikAndFugly · 29/01/2007 09:20

I've had a crappola weekend moneywise but have listed a pair of shoes on eBay, have meal planned but not had chance to get to the shops so now have to buy my lunch. Fed up with myself today (just in case you hadn't noticed)

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 29/01/2007 09:35

I took photos of my highchair to chuck on ebay... but haven't done it yet

I have got a shop space that I am starting to set up though so hopefully the money thing will start happening soon!!!

OP posts:
jenwa · 29/01/2007 13:37

Reading all these and taking note!

Dh has good job and I work 2 days a week and still moeny seems to disappear, we have mortgage and loans and are currently trying to renovate our house!!!

I would love to be a lady of leisure and not be megga rich (althoug lovely) but would love to not have to work and if i really needed something be able to just buy it but be good with money too!

Money is so stressfull!!

nikkie · 29/01/2007 19:05

My Sky finishes this weekend but I'll be saving £15 a month!

GreedyGecko · 29/01/2007 20:13

Just done my shopping. Not as good as last week, was £64, but I did have to get washing powder & some toiletries. It's half what my shopping was a few months ago.

nikkie · 29/01/2007 21:04

Try Soap nuts my free samle has lasted 6 weeks and I've just ordered a massive bag for £9

GreedyGecko · 29/01/2007 21:35

wow, they look fab. No need for any cleaning products at all!

charliecat · 29/01/2007 21:41

I went proper shopping today for the first time in 3 weeks.(dp didnt get paid for xmas week then we had the week where the food money went on the CSA bill) I have just been buying milk and bread and rice and spuds and eating out of the freezer.
I went to morrisons and got 52.40s worth of stuff.....a whole trolley load oh and it was goooooooooooood

FatFikAndFugly · 30/01/2007 09:43

DP bunged my a fiver this morning as I didn't make lunch again. bless him.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 30/01/2007 09:54

How did you get a free soap nuts sample?

OP posts:
AlwaysTheMummy · 30/01/2007 10:29

Hi all, I noticed this thread the other day and have just made my way through it, lol, I would love to join you as I'm terrible with the budgeting lark.

Can you pwetty pwease email me the spreadsheet majingy to pinklaura2501 @ aol dot com, thanks.

The only money saving tip I have at the mo is that Instore do greeting cards for 29p and they are really nice not cheap looking at all.

xx

FatFikAndFugly · 30/01/2007 10:31

Oh is there a spreadsheet going round? Mascaraohara at hotmail dot co dot uk please if you don't mind.

FatFikAndFugly · 30/01/2007 11:00

Sorry if this has been done already but if not it might help someone..

I hardly ever use my house phone and I'm always in credit by the tome my bill comes, this time I was ~£60 in credit, as usual I phoned and they will put it back in my account but they will also now reduce my d/d to £15 a month so I'll get £60 back and I'll be saving £5 a month on that

Jelley · 30/01/2007 11:11

free sample of soapnuts
I've had this bookmarked for ages, and not done it