Raychee's DFW diary - cutting back to move forwards

Raychee · 12 January 2009 at 12:09PM

I thought it was time to start my diary.

Although I've been reading this board since the summer, I finally joined at the end of last year, and have already signed for some challenges.

Today was the day when I finally built up the courage to see how much I owe. Happily (or not so happily) my calculations were just about right. I'd estimated £4500, and as you can see from my signature, that wasn't a bad estimate. But now I know how much there is! :eek:

Why now? Well my OH and I have started on the road to adoption. I hope that this year there will be a little Raychee or Ritchee to spend all our money on, and to complete our family. I am unable to have children due to a spot of cancer a few years ago. (Thankfully, I'm now 5 years free and all is well.

)

So, what's my plan of action? I have 2 jobs, one of them as a supply teacher, and the other working in a pub. There are many reasons why I don't teach full time - it is personal choice, and my debt is not going to change that. I have worked out that with my weekly pub shifts, and at least 12 days teaching a month (that's a MINIMUM...) I should be able to pay off my debts by the end of the year AND have saved over £1000. Some of my budgeting is guesswork, but those are things I can't be sure of. I also need to budget for the summer as I don't teach then, but I may look to getting a summer job on a playscheme - depending how things are going. (Or a few extra pub shifts...)

My OH is unaware of what I owe. He is in credit, and also pays the mortgage, council tax and most of the utility bills. I pay for anything we need in the house (food, cleaning products, other odds and sods), phone bills and a few other bits and pieces (birthdays etc). He earns nearly three times as much as I do, and is happy with this.

I suppose my finances went haywire when I became ill, and haven't really recovered since. Now it's time. I don't want to start family life with debt - especially as I hope to take time to bond with the child when he/she joins us.

Raychee

Olderbutnotwiser · 12 January 2009 at 12:15PM

Good luck Raychee with health, babies and debts :-)

hopehope · 12 January 2009 at 12:22PM

Wishing you all the best with your new family and debt busting!!!xxx:D

Raychee · 12 January 2009 at 12:31PM

Thanks for your replies guys - that was dead speedy!

Today I paid off £150 from my CC (I really need to change to a 0% but I'm so worried about rejection! lol) and also paid off my Monsoon card in full. :j I hardly use the Monsoon card, but my OH's brother got married in November, and I needed something suitable! It will be worn again...

I've finally had that crashing lightbulb moment about payments a day. At the moment, with Overdraft the way it is, I don't feel that it is an option for me. Instead, I will make a payment a week - I get paid weekly and think that to use a little to pay off CC weekly will help alot, and avoid that mad scramble to find enough once a month. I do make more than minimum payments on it, but to pay it off by October, I need to put in about £300 a month. I think weekly payments will help me reach that target more easily.

I'm lucky in the fact that my OH does most of the financial stuff - makes me wonder what I spent my money on!!! (I am keeping a close track on that now though...) This means that I should manage the year on £5000 (though I'd like it to be less) and so have plenty to sort out my finances!

It's going to be tough, but I like a challenge...

hopehope · 12 January 2009 at 12:34PM

Well done with the payments today:D

My hubby thinks we only owe the credit card £900 so I too am telling little white lies:o

What he doesnt know and all that?!?!

xx

Sweetpeanut · 12 January 2009 at 1:49PM

Well done:D,for realising you want to get sorted, can't wait to read your diary!! Good luck, with your adoption plans:D, GOOD LUCK< with your diary:D:D

Raychee · 12 January 2009 at 3:53PM

I have so much clutter round here... But I'm not sure whether to box it all up ready for a car boot sale, or get into the whole ebay thing. I'm not the best at organising myself to get to the post office to post stuff, but wonder whether I would get better prices online. What do you think?

Been into town (no work today, but working for the rest of the week.

except tomorrow afternoon when I meet with my social worker) and not spent a penny - had a happy afternoon pushing my neighbour's daughter round in her buggy.

Filled in an SOA, but they didn't like the fact that I didn't seem to pay rent, mortgage, etc... so I ignored it. Liked the Snowballer, but don't know where to find it now. Any clues?

Olderbutnotwiser · 12 January 2009 at 3:59PM

mine is here ...

http://www.whatsthecost.co.uk/login.aspx

Not sure if you used the same one though, I am seriously in love with my snowball- makes me stroke my PC :rolleyes:

hopehope · 12 January 2009 at 4:00PM

Hello again,

I would say that if you have things worth money put that on to ebay etc but for bits n bobs do a couple of car boot sales.

My OH done a car boot sale mid Nov and made £210 and we still have enough to do another 2 or 3.

I pulled the best of stuff out and sold it on ebay and made a very good
amount- I think over the last 5 months it is just under £1000.:D

I sold a lot of my old gold jewellery and that has made me £900- broken gold as well.
You could flog that if you have any?
Just get a set of kitchen scales weigh the gold (in grams) and stick it on ebay as scrap.
Hope this helps xxx