A New Day

One of my favourite blogs is A Slob Comes Clean. I first found it shortly after getting married four years ago and I think it was a couple of years old then. I still check in every few months. I love a lot of things about it. I love the honesty and the humour. I love the practical advice and the motivation. But what I love most is that she isn’t afraid to acknowledge that she’s on a journey and share when she slips up and be honest about it. It wasn’t a simple quick fix but a lifestyle change that needs work.

I’m am telling you this as I’m feeling a bit ashamed that we’re in a worse financial situation then when I last gave you numbers. I’m not ready to give you our new credit card number debt but they’re a bit more than they were. But life happened. More importantly a beautiful little baby happened.

Our gorgeous daughter Zoe was born on the 2nd of July. Some money was spent on her, some was spent as we were too tired and overwhelmed to be careful with money.

Whatever the excuse, it happened and here we are. And we’re ready to take it seriously now.

We have short term goals and long term goals but more importantly we know that actions we need to put them into practice.

I’m going to aim to be much more deliberate with my blogging. I intend to post our monthly goals and budget at the start of the month and a review at the end, and then maybe a blog in between with things I’m learning or challenges we’re experiencing.

But the point of this blog is that even though we’re not in a great position we’re determined to get back on track.

Our ‘get out of debt’ plan

I have a few blogs connected to this account. Earlier today I posted this post, meant for this blog. I got a comment saying something along the lines of ‘wow! So honest!’

 

I thought that was weird because I’ve always been honest here. Then I realised that I put it on an old blog about interior decorating. How awkward! It now has three new followers… perhaps I should direct them here.

 

Anyway, here it is.

 

 

Once we found out I was pregnant, my husband kind of freaked out. Here is why

Remaining morgage: $270,000

Personal loan: $37,000

Credit card a: $6,000

Credit card b: $4,000

Credit card c: $2,000

 

So here is our plan. I get paid week a and c and get $300. Both those weeks the whole wage is going on credit card a. This is because we have things come out of there regularly, however that will cover it plus extra.

On week b we’re taking $200 out of Michaels wage to put on card b and on week d we are putting $200 on card c.

On the weeks I get paid, with Michaels wage we will either put money on savings or use the extra money to fill up our cars with fuel etc.

 

Card c is cut up. Card b is about to be put into a container and frozen for emergencies.

 

That’s where we are up to.