My attempt-at-being-honest-about-how-much-I-spend-in-the-hope-to-reduce-it diary

notenoughcash

Scrooge that mag article is fab! I'm going to forward it to all of my friends who laugh at my tight ways!!!!

notenoughcash

I can't sleep!!! I hate not being able to sleep!! And all because of the horrible people at first credit (see my other thread)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=12312993&posted=1#post12312993

Although not all blame can go to them, my mind doing overtime today over so many things. Don't you just hate days like that? Just made myself a hot chocolate and got no-one else to moan to so hopped on here to moan at you lot!!

pollyanna24

Just thought I'd add that I'm a proud member of the No Spend Days. Me and bf have £200 personal money a month. When I started making a note of exactly what I was spending money on, I was horrified (sometimes I used to spend £125 on alcohol!!!), and now every penny is accounted for. Bf thinks I'm mad, but I usually have more money left than he does each month.

I don't think I could change my ways now even if I won the lottery. Everything is down on a spreadsheet and I can go back and look over old spreadsheets.

So far this month, I have had 6 No Spend Days. Stuff like bills and groceries have their own budget as they come out of the joint account.

The two days I did spend money was on dinner out at a pub, a round in a pub, and 6 bottles of non alcoholic beer. I know it sounds sad and like I don't do anything, but once I get in from work, if I'm not going anywhere, I don't spend, simple as. I avoid the shops like the plague at work (I work just off Oxford Street).

I don't even really see it as a problem these days. Lots of people would say how can I live my life this way, but I'm not a natural spender any more, more a saver.

zekepes

I have banned myself from the local spar. I was spending an absolute fortune there! I find it much easier to simply stop going than to 'cut down'.
Good Luck!

notenoughcash

Thanks for that scrooge. I know I'm right and that the muppets are just going to get laughed at but sometimes I just need a bit of reassurance. I worked in a mortgage redemption department for 7 years for a major high street bank so have seen every trick in the book. I have also written to barclaycard to reclaim charges, reckon that will be at least of half of it, possibly more, their 40 day deadline is next monday so more ammo for me!!

pollyanna, i am similar with alcohol, when I go to supermarket and aim to spend no more than £30 I don't buy any, but then I nip into co-op for newspaper or mag or something and they have wine on offer so I think ah, go on then!

Zekepes, local shop is cripplin, you will see from my earlier posts that it is my biggest downfall. Had a wake-up call last week, mine is co-op and I have their dividend card. Figured out I can mange this online and I've spent £406 there in last 8 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

notenoughcash

I have just prepared my next letter to go to first credit and wondered if you could have a quick read though it to see if this is acceptable?


I write further to a letter dated 26 June 2008 from LCS solicitors regarding commencing legal proceedings on the above debt.
As I have previously explained to you I am only in a position to offer you payments of £20 monthly as I do not have the money to repay this debt in full. I am making every effort I can to resolve the debt but cannot possibly repay in full if I do not have the money.
I would ask again that you re-consider your decision regarding my offer of repayment.
I would also like you to remove my telephone number from your records. Further to your calls to myself on 18 June 2008 11:04, 20 June 2008 15:03, 24 June 2008 20:21, 26 June 2008 12:24 and 17:20, 2 July 2008 15:14, 7 July 2008 14:51, 8 July 2008 14:40 I am not prepared to either answer or respond to these calls as previously this has only resulted in 1st credit refusing to accept my offer of payment and demand payment in full immediately. I hope you can appreciate that I do not wish to enter into a telephone conversation which I know will result in me being threatened with being taken to court when I have already made you aware that there is nothing I can do to resolve the situation beforehand other than the payments I have already offered.
I also enclose a further cheque for the next monthly installment on this debt.

notenoughcash

RAS has given me a great template on my other thread, just what I was looking for, mwahhahaha!!!!

Any way, back to my spending, sorry, saving habits! I have had a few good days again, spent £5 on top-op groceries the other day and have enough to last til the weekend at least now. All of my bills are up to date (other than the 1st credit hoohaa but that's a whole different matter) However I am being a little naughty today. My friend's children are with their grandparents on holiday, mine are in school and I have a free day so we are going to make the most of it and go for a girly lunch! The local does 2 for £10 so it isn't going to break the bank.

sam89

Have a lovely lunch, you're doing really well and deserve a treat .

Sam,
x.

shopaholictiedtheknot

You are doing well not enough, enjoy your lunch out!!:T

notenoughcash

Aw, you know what guys, we really made the most of it, had some girly time early on and involved the kids after school too. I was feeling a little guilty about spending but I haven't used any of my 'bill' money and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, not laughed so much in a long time. Thank you for everyone's support x x