bobble_hat's Debt Diary

bobble_hat · 25 October 2006 at 4:23PM

Right, I'm starting this so that I remain on track and sort myself out. My own conscience is susceptible to bribery so I need my fellow DFW Nerds to act as my incorruptible conscience.

So, my situation:

I've sold my flat to get out of debt; I still have a little way to go. I've moved into rented accommodation. This week I've had a mega-spending spree to update my working wardrobe and make my new home comfortable (my housemates are lovely). I allowed myself a little of the profits of the flat sale to buy some luxuries I've not allowed myself for several years. e.g. a Winter coat, new clothes and a camera.

Pay day approaches and I still have money in the bank. I've worked out my new budget, including the things I want to be able to do next year.

So here is my projected Monthly SOA and I intend to stick to it. I vow to regularly update these pages with my progress.

HOME
Mortgage / Rent £300.00 (Includes all bills)
Mobile Phone Bill(s) £10.00
HOME TOTAL £310.00

INSURANCE
Pet Insurance £5.11 (Cat is being re-homed in 4 weeks,at Mum's currently)
INSURANCE TOTAL £5.11

EATS, DRINKS & SMOKES
Food & Household Shopping £64.95
Drinking Out £86.60
EATS TOTAL £151.55

TRANSPORT & TRAVEL
AA / RAC Membership £4.13
Rail / Bus / Coach / Taxi £43.30
Car Maintainence £10.00
Car Insurance £18.21
Car Tax £10.00
Petrol / Diesel / Gas £30.00
Other Transport £5.40
TRANSPORT TOTAL £121.04

DEBT REPAYMENTS
Credit Card Repayments £250.00
Other Loan Repayments £34.40
REPAYMENTS TOTAL £284.40

SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS
Other Savings / Investments £146.00 (10% of earnings to me)
SAVINGS TOTAL £146.00

FUN & FROLICS
Hobbies £43.30
Pet Costs £8.10 (only 1 more month)
FUN TOTAL £51.40

BIG ONE OFFS
Cost of Christmas £42.00
Cost of Summer Holiday £184.00 (Saving for Australia)
Cost of Birthdays £15.00
BIG ONE OFF TOTAL £241.00

CLOTHES
New Clothes £20.00
Work Clothes £15.00
CLOTHES TOTAL £35.00

ODDS & SODS
Dentistry £21.80 (I’ve had a great deal of surgery, so covers insurance, and future work-car crash)
Haircuts £13.00
Optical Bills £26.00 (Toric contact lenses-cheapest option)
Other Odds & Sods £43.30
ODDS TOTAL £104.10
TOTAL OUTGOINGS £1,449.59

INCOME £1,457.79

DEBTS
Student loan £1.352.66
Credit Card (0%) £1,495.67

All figures shown are the maximum I have allowed myself, I'm hoping to come under budget for all figures which are not Direct Debits or standing orders. For example Bus Fares will only be needed when I don't cycle to work. So basically I've overestimated.

Sorry it's a bit long-winded.

D&DD · 25 October 2006 at 4:32PM

Hi Bobble wow you're organized I still haven't even got round to posting my SOA yet! I think the diaries are such a good idea and do tend to read everyones even if I don't post as they act as a source of inspiration and a very many great ideas for all of us.Will be following your progress (it'll keep me from checking the 'other' blasted thread too :rotfl: )Good luck in your efforts to become debtfree.:T

gallygirl · 25 October 2006 at 7:47PM

bobble_hat wrote:

Right, I'm starting this so that I remain on track and sort myself out. My own conscience is susceptible to bribery so I need my fellow DFW Nerds to act as my incorruptible conscience.

So, my situation:

I've sold my flat to get out of debt; I still have a little way to go. I've moved into rented accommodation. This week I've had a mega-spending spree to update my working wardrobe and make my new home comfortable (my housemates are lovely). I allowed myself a little of the profits of the flat sale to buy some luxuries I've not allowed myself for several years. e.g. a Winter coat, new clothes and a camera.

Pay day approaches and I still have money in the bank. I've worked out my new budget, including the things I want to be able to do next year.

So here is my projected Monthly SOA and I intend to stick to it. I vow to regularly update these pages with my progress.

HOME
Mortgage / Rent £300.00 (Includes all bills)
Mobile Phone Bill(s) £10.00
HOME TOTAL £310.00 What about contents insurance??? You really need this. Do on quidco & you may end up in profit - promise!!!!
INSURANCE
Pet Insurance £5.11 (Cat is being re-homed in 4 weeks,at Mum's currently)
INSURANCE TOTAL £5.11

EATS, DRINKS & SMOKES
Food & Household Shopping £64.95
Drinking Out £86.60How much!!!!!!!! Cut this out - or at least down a lot!!!!!!
EATS TOTAL £151.55

TRANSPORT & TRAVEL
AA / RAC Membership £4.13 Way too dear - I've just doen through this site - Europ Assist - £31.50 for full works.
Rail / Bus / Coach / Taxi £43.30 Ahem - did I see taxi in here?????
Car Maintainence £10.00 Does this include MOT????
Car Insurance £18.21 Quidco when renewed
Car Tax £10.00
Petrol / Diesel / Gas £30.00
Other Transport £5.40 What else is there not already covered - water taxi??????
TRANSPORT TOTAL £121.04

DEBT REPAYMENTS
Credit Card Repayments £250.00
Other Loan Repayments £34.40
REPAYMENTS TOTAL £284.40

SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS
Other Savings / Investments £146.00 (10% of earnings to me)?????? When does interest free CC end? Are you planning on using savings to pay off CC? Unless you are getting a higher interest rate than your CC when deal ends it's silly. How much savings do you have?
SAVINGS TOTAL £146.00

FUN & FROLICS
Hobbies £43.30 Thought that was the drinking out???????
Pet Costs £8.10 (only 1 more month)
FUN TOTAL £51.40

BIG ONE OFFS
Cost of Christmas £42.00
Cost of Summer Holiday £184.00 (Saving for Australia)
Cost of Birthdays £15.00
BIG ONE OFF TOTAL £241.00

CLOTHES
New Clothes £20.00
Work Clothes £15.00
CLOTHES TOTAL £35.00

ODDS & SODS
Dentistry £21.80 (I’ve had a great deal of surgery, so covers insurance, and future work-car crash)
Haircuts £13.00
Optical Bills £26.00 (Toric contact lenses-cheapest option)
Other Odds & Sods £43.30
ODDS TOTAL £104.10
TOTAL OUTGOINGS £1,449.59

INCOME £1,457.79

DEBTS
Student loan £1.352.66
Credit Card (0%) £1,495.67
All figures shown are the maximum I have allowed myself, I'm hoping to come under budget for all figures which are not Direct Debits or standing orders. For example Bus Fares will only be needed when I don't cycle to work. So basically I've overestimated.

Sorry it's a bit long-winded.

Sorry if you think I'm being harsh - but debts now are v small and you could probably clear in 12 -18 months if you put your mind to it.

Oh, hello by the way and welcome!!!!!!;)

bobble_hat · 26 October 2006 at 9:28AM

ali007 wrote:

Sorry if you think I'm being harsh - but debts now are v small and you could probably clear in 12 -18 months if you put your mind to it.

Oh, hello by the way and welcome!!!!!!;)

Hi ali007, :hello:

And thanks for input, I don't think you're being harsh at all, I posted my SOA because I wasn't sure I'd got it right. (My 'Thanks' button doesn't seem to work)

I hadn't considered contents insurance, will defo check Quidco.
The Drinking out amount is a just incase, I have the odd weekend away with the girls because we all live in different counties, so that amount includes the weekend's travel, accomodation, food etc. It doesn't happen every month, but I'd rather have it available and if I don't use it, it's money to put against the debt. You're right it is a bit high.

I'll check out the breakdown cover, I went with the civil service motoring authority because I was convinced it was the best value, I have a v.old car and want the security of good cover, but if I can get this down, great! :T

The Travel for £43.30 is if I got the bus to work every week. I usually cycle but the weather is getting yucky now. Again if I cycle this is money against debt. :santa2:

The Car Maintenance - Old car, yes, does include MOT. Due in May, might scrap car then.

Will do Quidco for Car Insurance in July. :T

Other Transport is Humber Bridge Fee, once a month.

The 10% savings are going towards building up 3-6months income in the bank. I have 6% interest at Alliance and Leicester so am slamming money in there, as CC is at 0% and any extra cash is going to pay off, will be making more in interest on money in the bank, than I'd be losing in interest on CC. Even Student loans at lower interest rate. Am planning on clearing CC in under 6 months.

Hobbies £43.30 is Salsa dancing lessons. Only use that amount in a month if I go every week. Again accounted for it in case I need it.

Am planning to clear CC ASAP and then Student Loan. Then will put money towards 3-6 months income savings.

Thanks for all the advice, think I can cut down even more. :T

Paula_anne · 26 October 2006 at 9:48AM

don't scrap your old car when you've finished with it, if its got a full yrs mot, it would be perfect for a new driver, prob get couple of hundred for it, just a suggestion as my oldie cost me £50 with no mot, gonna sell it next yr:D

bobble_hat · 27 October 2006 at 9:11AM

Paula_anne wrote:

don't scrap your old car when you've finished with it, if its got a full yrs mot, it would be perfect for a new driver, prob get couple of hundred for it, just a suggestion as my oldie cost me £50 with no mot, gonna sell it next yr:D

Thanks, BTW does anyone out there know how to get the 'Thanks' button to work? Do I need to change PC settings for javascript?

bobble_hat · 2 November 2006 at 2:18PM

Gah! New month, new bank account and new budget. And I'm already in a pickle!

Due to my accounts being in the process of swapping over, the standing order for my rent has come back unpaid. This isn't a major crisis as I've been able to withdraw from another account until the transferred amount clears. They aren't going to charge me because the account is still in transition.

But, it's the first rent payment to my new landlord, so I'm going to have to apologise and give him the cash tonight.

It also means I've got to juggle cash around my accounts now, which is annoying as I'd set everything up to be nice and easy. Doh!

It should all work properly next month, fortunately the Direct Debits to companies have all gone through ok, so no awkwardness there.

I just hate that sinking feeling when you think, ohmegod, I've not got enough money! :eek:

bobble_hat · 6 November 2006 at 4:20PM

Not for me, although I caught the bouquet, apparently I can jump really well for a short person :rotfl:

It was my brother's wedding, I caught the bouquet at my sister's wedding last year, and I still haven't even got a boyfriend. I am a bit picky though :rotfl:

Anyway was a DFW nightmare! I woke in the morning and remembered I had left all my makeup in my desk drawer at work, due to cycling in and getting showered at work. So had to go and buy all new makeup. Most annoying as it had to come out of money put aside for clothes and treats, and this is the first month I've put anything away! Still at least I had some put away and did not use debt.

Was the only single person at the wedding, this doesn't normally bother me, but my ex, and the woman he cheated on me for, were in attendance too. That stings, and the feeling was compounded when the photographer asked to photograph me and mine, I was like 'my what?'. :rotfl: So had to explain it was just me.

Consequently I spent quite a lot of money getting rather plastered! :beer: :eek:

This on top of the wedding gift meant a weekend of too much spending.

However, I'm now staying at my brother's, whilst he's on honeymoon, to look after the dog and cat. They've left food and drink for me and he's got a huge stack of DVDs. So I'm going to have a quick grocery shop tonight for my pack up for the week and I'm going to spend the next 2 weeks dog walking and watching DVDs, all for free, so I should recoup what I spent for the festivities, plus lose more weight with all the walking. :cool:

anniestar · 6 November 2006 at 4:41PM

Welcome to the site. You have made fantastic progress well done. You must be gutted at having to re home your cat, I couldn't be that brave. Anyway good luck and keep up the great progress.

bobble_hat · 7 November 2006 at 2:58PM

anniestar wrote:

Welcome to the site. You have made fantastic progress well done. You must be gutted at having to re home your cat, I couldn't be that brave. Anyway good luck and keep up the great progress.

I am gutted about my cat, I've had him since he was a kitten, he's such a cool dude. He's being rehomed to a lovely home and a lady who knows him, she's so excited about having him, they have a lovely big back garden and surrounding countryside, so I think he'll be really happy. Plus they have a web cam and are going to post piccies of him for me.

As I don't know where I'm going to be living or what I'm going to be doing over the next few years, it is not fair to drag him around with me.

bobble_hat · 9 November 2006 at 3:29PM

Woohoo! Just been to the bank and removed my overdraft facility, I've had an overdraft of £2,050 for 7 years! Cleared it in August, my bank is now back in credit so I've removed the temptation. :T

It feels soooo good. Just the CC to go. Have no real savings to speak of but am going to take ali007's advice and hammer the debt with the money I was going to put into savings, so I can get rid of it sooner rather than later. :cool:

I've got enough of a buffer in each account for it not to be a worry. Feel like I'm really getting somewhere. Plus have just bought food for next week, including packed lunch ingredients for £4.27. It may not be the most nutritious but it will keep me full and it's only for 1 week. :cool:

bobble_hat's Debt Diary

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