a new diary, a new me...

debrag

MrsPitcher2b wrote: »

Hello Debrag

I am not very experieced with advice/becoming debt free as i only found this site just over a month ago - but i would like to say that i was exactly the same.

I saw the debts mounting up, work problems basically life problems etc and i got depressed - and i would spend. The more i spent the more i got depressed because of the bills etc. Until i finally sorted it all out and decided i had enough of being depressed/worrying evry night.

I can honestly say that knowing you have cleared a large chunk of your debt/anything towards your debts it makes you feel a whole lot better. I am nearly debt free now and i am not planning on going back!!!

Of course there are days - especially now with things being 'so cheap' and sales etc - that you just want to go and buy everything in site!! But the way i see it is another pair of shoes is not needed, and that extra X amount of pounds would be better used on the debts.. I would rather pay X off the Credit card than get a pair of shoes i dont need.

I think if you are really determined to do it then you will do fine - but you will need to cut back on your spending.

Hopefully everyone will help you with tips etc how to do it and if you get depressed and feel like buying something why not come on here and post - we will convince you out of it lol

Good luck!

well I have most things paid for next year i.e. theatre, gigs etc I rarely go out for meals or the pub.
I think I will increase my payment by £50 from Jan then see how it goes for a few months.

debrag

Upgraded my mobile today, cost me nothing

For 2009:

1) A payment a day - into my spare account to pay off a creditor (hopefully)
2) CCA my 2 DCAs

Had to rethink the SOA as I forgot my tuition


SOA

Income = 1135 (min i expect but could be more)

Rent = 346.66
Mobile = 35
Tiscali = 20 (TV/Broadband/Phone)
Debt payment = 350
Web = 20
Mum = 30
Travel = 50
Food = 50
Household/personal = 20
Entertainment = 32.50 (weekly skating)
Tuition = £50 (min)
TOTAL = 1004.16

LEFT = 130.84

Other

Skating = 40 every 6 weeks
Emergencies = ?
Presents = ?

I really don't think I can increase my debt payments unless I get an extra job but I'm finding it hard getting one

I may even loose the job I have

debrag

So TSB OD have been paid £255 by mistake!!!!!!!!!

The Open Uni, even though paying me their grant into the correct account, they haven't told the SLC so I've lost £255. I can't get at this money & TSB won't send it back. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

They now claim:

'The account number that was advised to the Student Loans Company was the one that you put on the financial support application. If you have not advised us of the new account details please could you send them to us.'

debrag

around 2 months ago TSB rang me telling me that I no longer had an OD etc but when I went in they said it was £500 something.
Checking on my reports today and:

07-08-08 report: Balance £227, last updated July 2008
02-10-08 report: Balance £227, last updated September 2008
30-12-08 report: Balance £205, last updated December 2008

The bank must have gotten it wrong when I asked then. Also I'm confused about where my SLC grant went (can't find letter at present). My Nationwide account is down as £198 on my credit report but is actually £222 in my account and no sign of the grant payment. It doesn't appear to have gone into my TSB account as I would have no OD now, unless the new report came out before the payment went in. Maybe I'll find an email from th Open uni saying that the money was taken back out who knows, just means I owe them £245 for th computer grant which I diddn't need and was going to pay back with this grant.

EDIT:Found my SLC payment letter and it was meant to go into my TSB account on 10/12/2008. My lasted report update was 14/12/2008. Maybe the payment hadn't gone through yet, if that is the case then I am one creditor down yay!!!!!!!!

debrag

New plans for 2009

1) Use Jan pay for NY
2) Use Feb pay to pay off Nationwide - currently at £222 but increases by £22+£2ish a month
3) Use Mar + Apr pay for Open Uni residential school in July - need £400
4) From May onwards up my debt repayments by £50 a month

debrag

money is main account = £56.02
money in savings account = £402.78

next payday 21st Jan
bills left to pay:

web = £23

will need to take money from savings for food.

debrag

17 days till pay day and £50 left in account.

Will need:

more milk
food for work
£20 web bill still to go out

thats about it I think, I should have just enough food in to last me.

Food in house:
instant noodles x 2
mixed veg x 1 bag
bread x 1
chicken roll x 1
crisps x 12
quorn pieces x 1 bag
noodles x 8 servings
meatfree mince x 1 bag
yorkshire puddings x ?

Planning on a few NSDs

Fire_Fox

debrag wrote: »

]

Skating and web design are really the only thing I do other than sleep & work.

I have NY in March & NOV and LA poss in Sept

well I have most things paid for next year i.e. theatre, gigs etc

Are the trips for work, if so why are you paying for them? Have you added up how much you actually spend over the course of a full year on skating, holidays, theatre and gigs? None of these are cheap hobbies.

How are you paying for all this stuff? Have you cut up your credit cards?

debrag

I haven't use my credit cards for years, I couldn't if I tried.

all trips are holidays, will not be doing LA and NY in Nov is family. I pay of it with what I have left after my bills.

NY trip = only £200 more needed.
Theatre = 4 shows - max £30 a ticket.
Skating lessons = £40 for 6 weeks course only term time prop around £160.
Web = £20 a month - £240.

I suppose I could just eat, sleep & work for a year.

debrag

yet another SOA

Income = 1135 (min i expect but could be more)

Rent = 346.66
Mobile = 35
Tiscali = 20 (TV/Broadband/Phone)
Web = 20
Mum = 30
Travel = 50
Food = 50
Household/personal = 20
Entertainment = 20 (skating)
Tuition = £50 (min)
TOTAL = 641.66

LEFT = 493.34

Debt payment = 350

LEFT = 143.34

Other
Emergencies = ?
Presents = ?