Allys debt diary.....

Ally16

...ok so although im just new here I thought keeping a diary would be a good idea to let me see where my pennies r going and maybe let me think how to save etc.....

So im Ally, im 21 and im in, what i consider, quite alot of debt for my age. I have just about paid off my car but thats really the only thing my money has achieved. I have 3 credit cards and a large overdraft (see my signature) which I basically used to buy a nice wardrobe and have good nites out, all fun at the time but im regretting it now. Ended up dropping out of uni last year decided the course wasnt for me and my finances stressed me out ALOT. Worked full time since i dropped out but have yet to save ANY money which is pretty bad....

Things are beginning to get exciting for me now...me and my boyfriend are thinking of getting a flat together (not buying), I have decided I want to have a career in business/management and managed to get accepted straight away into uni....one thing holding me bk though take a guess???

So Im due to start uni next month, £1700 to pay per year tuition fees :S Its alot, ALOT. Got paid 2day from work and for the first time ever Im thinking seriously about my wages so here is a run down....

PAID £774

£100 - Personal spending for the month, £25 per week
£126 - Car payment
£50 - Insurance
£100 - Petrol
£100 - Digs
£50 - Phonebill

TOTAL £526

Leaving me around £250 to pay off debt and put towards university fees

Lets see how it all goes!!:eek: :eek: :eek: ALL SUPPORT WELCOME!!! HA!

tealady

Petrol and phone sound very high. Can you not just email most people (I assume at Uni you will have internet access).
Could you put up a breakdown of the debt (APR's etc to see if we could help you shuffle it a bit (maybe a student loan?)

Bargainfinder_3

Agree with above, students get great deals on interest free, so if you are disciplined enough to use it to pay off - then have a look around.

All the best with your debt free journey! x

Ally16

WOOOHOOO i had my first nsd yup a complete no spend day!! went out with my boyfriend this afternoon for lunch he paid and drove , went home and had a wee giggle with my neice costs nothing:p went to work and made some pennies was supposed to be meeting my sister 2nite for some drinks but she cancelled at the last minute so GO ME!!! ha ha! im already feeling happier!

Also done got another payment towards the payment a day :T YIPPPEEE!!!

How is everyone else doing???? im only on day 3 and im beginning to feel like a new person! its so funny how it takes over ur life! Neway thats all 2day, achieved plenty i think :cool:

Ally16

Wee reply to the previosu 2 comments

Im gonna try emailing people etc, my fone bill is really only supposed to b £35 but im such a txt junkie!! i cant help it.....time to change i suppose. As for petrol, its expensive and getting more expensive by the day I fill up my car once every 2 weeks....maybe i should try once in 3 weeks??? that would save a wee bit i suppose!

Im defo gonna look into getting a student loan shall b emailing the finance department at uni 2moro x x x

tealady

Hi when you are a student if you give some one a lift regularly then don't feel mean about asking for a contribution to the petrol. When I used to give lifts we calculated it as 50% of the bus fare which seemed OK with everyone.

Ally16

NOt so amused today. Spent a fortune yesterday

£43.00 on petrol
£8.00 on drinks
£11.00 in boots
£5.00 for a bag

Yup so the latter two i should have i KNOW! but that is where my addiction comes in, i cant actually stop myself from shopping only plus point is i paid cash, cash which was already in my purse, cash from my monthly allowance How do we all manage to avoid the shops??? And the drink money wasnt so bad, it could have been ALOT worse...was at a house warming and decided to be the driver (so owed £10 in petrol money) and the £8.00 was on some J20 soft drinks....2 4pks for £5 which was waaaaaaay to much, then a wee pack of bacardi breezer which i bought incase i decided i did want a wee drink.....remind me not to buy them again coz I never even drank them and i forgot to bring them home for next time im going round to someones house grrrrrrrrrrrr.

My boyfriend asked if i fancied going out for dinner 2nite....i sed yes but i think il txt him and say just to leave it 2nite and I shall try for a nsd also I have missed yesterdays payment a day AND i have yet to make one 2day things r not good

Words of encouragement needed please.......im slipping and falling already! that was the first hurdle!!!!

x x

tealady

If you are a bit of a spender then only take out as much money as you need for that day, it certainly stopped me.

Ally16

So.... I was working 2day only took a couple of pounds with me (as suggested in previous post) and i spent the whole £2 on juice and a scratchcard which i didnt win on, then i thought that could have went towards my payment a day or something and it sounds silly but it felt like a completely wasted £2! Still usually when i finish at 3pm i go a wee drive down town and c what is in the sales and stuff I RESISTED! i went straight home, tidied my room, done a load of washing and in about an hours time my boyfriend is taking me out for dinner good times! I actually feel pretty good now - tidy room and found some bits and pieces for ebay!

Didnt manage a nsd though and had planned one for yesterday so gonna defo have 2moro as a nsd, hopefully wed as well coz my aim was 5!

ooooooh also managed to get 14 hours overtime in the next few weeks so that can go towards the bronze award yipeeeee!!!

Not got much more to say 2day hope we r all having a good day x x x:rotfl:

Ally16

So yup, i set out 2day to have my second nsd. Was bored this morning and thought i'll nip up and buy a magazine to read before work but then STOPPED and thought "this a nsd" so instead tidied up, done some washing, hung some washing out, made some lunch then headed to work a wee half hour early to catch up with my boss and the other supervisor who i dont really get to see that often. SPENT NOTHING

While at work, had lucozade in the fridge (which i bought yesterday because it was on a two for one deal) so had that and there was a burst packet of cakes in the kitchen for staff so had one of them also - that was tea. SPENT NOTHING

Then.....the bombshell. Phonecall. "Will you make sure u stick a tenner in for the xmas nite out, first instalment was due by 2day" SPENT A TENNER. NOT AMUSED ONE BIT!

Then it was all down hill from there....ended up buying the couple of magazines which i was going to buy this afternoon and a scratchcard (which i won a £1 back on, wonderful). Usually get fashion mags and decide what Im gonna buy for my next nite out, this time I got 2 cheaper magazines with real life stories and plenty of competitions....so hey i could b helping my finances!

Wont b a nsd 2moro...got some ebay things to post Will need to try for thursday! I need 5.....i only have 1 :eek:

Hope we r all enjoying the beginning of the week ! x x

tealady

Hi If you are a mags fan see if you can get a discounted subscription. Or share with a friend (either buy one each or split the costs). There is a discount codes forum which might help with the subscription.