Betti's debt free diary

betti911 · 30 January 2007 at 1:02PM

Thought it might help to post it on here. Saw another person's similar post and hoped noone would mind if I copied them.

I've just discovered that I used to spend so much money on items I didn't need or could get cheaper elsewhere like designer clothes, buying lunch out etc. Now I've got my flat I really want to pay off my debts and be able to enjoy my money.

Am not living in the flat yet but hope to be able to do so by next year if I can get my finances in place.

Am hoping for a no spend day today. Have brought in my lunch and am going to the gym (which I pay monthly tonight). Am limiting myself to a budget of around £35 per week for socialising and saving. Have spent £3 so far on a game of netball with my friends last night.

Big things I need to save up for coming up include Road Tax (end of April) £100 which I've saved £81 so far and passport renewal which I need to save £66 by May. Car insurance is also coming up in July and I def def will this year follow Martin's advice and try to pay it off in one and try to put the rest on an interest free credit card.

My boyfriend is also desperate for us to go on at least one of our usual twice yearly holidays but I told him last night that I couldn't afford it. He really wasn't very pleased with me

He eventually said he'd pay for us both to go but I would still need spending money plus I'd feel like I would be taking advantage of him

Oh well this was never meant to be easy!

Wish me luck!!

Skint_Catt · 30 January 2007 at 1:24PM

Where do you usually go on hols? Is there any cheaper alternative? A break would do you good, and doesn't necessarily have to involve silly costs if you put a bit away week per week between now and then.

Hello and welcome anyway, and no worries about copying!

S_C

betti911 · 30 January 2007 at 1:26PM

Forgot to say also have sent away for my Credit Report from Credit Expert. Actually sent for it around 3 weeks ago but they STILL haven't got it to me. Have been e-mailing them and they have been awful at getting back to me. Wish I'd just paid £2 to get it

Also have sold £28 pounds of stuff on ebay. It was all old lush stuff and beauty sets that I found in my room. Going to use that to make an overpayment on my car loan when it comes into my bank account.

My Mum gave me money to get my hair done on Thurdsay. Feel guilty taking it though as I still live at home (even though I have the flat) and my parents have told me that they don't want digs they would prefer me to pay off my debts. Feel so stupid for running them up in the 1st place

betti911 · 30 January 2007 at 1:29PM

We usually go away somewhere just in Europe for a week. It costs me around £380 for the week and thats B and B but know I could get somewhere cheaper if I shopped about. Maybe I could put some money aside a month for a shorter but cheaper break

My boyfriend seems to think I'm getting obsessed with money saving. Think thats what I'm like about most things though. I have to put 100% into them otherwise its not worth doing.

Skint_Catt · 30 January 2007 at 1:30PM

Don't feel stupid! You've taken the first step to sorting yourself out!

It's costing me and my boyf £152 (exc food & spending) for 4 nights in a self contained cottage in North Wales. Not hot or tropical, but a beautiful place with lots of free walks, and things to see!

Big hug

S_C

angelavdavis · 30 January 2007 at 1:33PM

betti911 wrote:

We usually go away somewhere just in Europe for a week. It costs me around £380 for the week and thats B and B but know I could get somewhere cheaper if I shopped about. Maybe I could put some money aside a month for a shorter but cheaper break

My boyfriend seems to think I'm getting obsessed with money saving. Think thats what I'm like about most things though. I have to put 100% into them otherwise its not worth doing.

Sign up for the special offers email on www.Explorers.co.uk. They very often have last minute deals to Egypt for £199 bed and breakfast. Its only a four hour flight and cheap when you get there (3 course dinner £9). They do diving holidays, but the hotels aren't just for divers.

GettingThingsDone · 30 January 2007 at 1:37PM

My boyfriend seems to think I'm getting obsessed with money saving.

Join the gang! We're all obsessed in here I think...

betti911 · 30 January 2007 at 1:39PM

Thanks

Have just signed up. It looks like a good site.

I've also changed my phone contract this week so I get 3 times the amount of minutes for £5 more. Was always going over my limit. I need the phone for work to phone clients and the office from court. Have asked my boss for a firm phone but he said no. Really need to change jobs soon

betti911 · 30 January 2007 at 4:04PM

Thought I'd move a copy of my SOA here

Monthly Incomings:

My salary - £1,385
Travel allowance - £75

Total - £1460

Monthly Outgoings:

Mortgage- £465 (Just taken out)
Council Tax - £0 (have an exemption as am living at home for 6 months)
Phone - £28
Car Insurance - £49.50
Petrol - £180
Car loan- £124.87 per month Balance £4192.56
Personal loan Debt consolidation- £241.33 Balance £11,275.14
Gym membership- £33
Cineworld cinema card- £10.99 (I use both of these v reg)
Pension- £100

Total: £1232.69

Savings: £800 in ISA RBS (Money left over from house deposit, agreed with Mum and Dad who provided £10k of house deposit to be used to do up house)

Dunfermline- £81.00 saved for my car tax which is due in March (need £100)
Also need to save £66 for my passport renewal at the end of May.

Have arranged a meeting with my boss for a couple of weeks time. Am going to ask him for a payrise. Am also looking for another job.

betti911 · 30 January 2007 at 11:41PM

Spoke to my parents this evening and they have agreed to let me take £300 out of my ISA to make another one off payment to my carloan so am going to do it by switch tomorrow.

Also sent off my post office ordinary account book which I had £15 in since I was wee. It went up to £24 in interest so will hopefully also get that extra money within the next few days. I know I won't be able to make such dramatic payments off forever but have to start somewhere I guess.

Still waiting for my money to come in from ebay. It takes AGES!!!!

betti911 · 31 January 2007 at 10:27AM

Am so depressed!! Paid off £300 early to my car loan agreement and found out that I'm not actually saving any money as interest has already been added. So really unless I settle the agreement in full I'm not saving any money by just making overpayments. Am really disappointed

Going to try not to spend any money again today on me. Just need petrol so thats a must for all the traveling I do at work.

Am so depressed about the car loan agreement. Feels like I'm taking one step fwd and 10 steps backward! Still haven't got my credit report yet!!

Betti's debt free diary

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