I'm really ashamed......

emilia_2

Ah Jenna's post just made me a bit emotional! Thanks loads. Just came back from another day at work feeling like a leper. I should wear a bell so they know I'm coming! The only glimmer of sunshine in this work stuff is that the management above me are being quite supportive and know I'm having a rough time of it. That said.... I'm finding it more and more excruciating every day.....( note don't let the bs'tds grind me down!)

I did say I had nothing to show for my debt which isn't totally true. I own half a flat with my brother but my debt is nothing to do with this really. We bought a flat before we were both in relationships and my brother now lives there with a flat mate who rents my room. I live with F who owns his flat (told you he is very good with money!) I really don't know if I could ever admit to all of the debt...and now I'm tackling it not sure I want to. Maybe I'll tell him after I've paid it off eh? (cop out Emilia....) Saying that though I take on board everyone's points about being honest..I mean we are getting married after all. I also know what you mean about my paying my debt off instead of contributing to the wedding but I told F I wanted to do this and he looked really touched. I'm determined to do both - save and pay off debt.

Cheap day - took own lunch which gave me chronic indigestion in my gym class tonight. I got a mad stitch and couldn't keep up so I pretended to tie my shoe laces instead. Everyone is a super gym bunny and the blokes walk around flexing their muscles and looking in the mirror.

So pleased to report I got the scissors out and cut up ALL the Credit cards even the brand new shiny Tesco one which dropped through the letterbox the other day. It felt truly liberating. If all goes to plan I'm going to love telling my mate that I've paid my CC debt off in approx 18 months (the one who relished the fact I was in so much debt!)

Also very annoyed I mucked up the figure on my loan I owe around £5700 still

So happy Tuesday - onwards and upwards in the life of Emilia the in-debt but- otherwise- quite -happy- lady (when not in work that is)XXXXX

emilia_2

Also just wanted to comment on the up your income advice. The 'Advertise on your car' idea from Jenna sounds good but I have a feeling they wouldn't accept me mainly due to the fact my car is a bit bashed up (the result of my dodgy driving...reversing into walls, lamposts you get the idea) not a total wreck but there's a few scrapes and dents.....

clearmydebts

Hi Emilia,

Just a thought re: work. How about sitting down with the team and having a planning day/morning/afternoon. You could start off by getting everyone to speak about their hopes and fears for the team, then you could maybe get them to fill out the Belbin team type exercises so they all see their role in the team, and maybe you could finish off with an action plan for the next 6 months. Might help with getting them on board and if they feel they are being listened to the attitude might change.

emilia_2

I think that's a good idea thanks. I've been thinking about work a bit more and I've come to the conclusion that even if I wasn't having problems with my team I'm not actually enjoying the work all that much, management above me are being supportive now but only because I complained about lack of support. I've decided that I'm going to look for a new job. Everyone is like 'no you can't' you haven't given it a chance but I've been there 6 months and I've got a flavour of what the organisation is about, how the staff behave etc and it's not for me.

Well I thought I was doing really well with the saving and paying off debts this month but then within the space of 48 hours problems with plumbing and central heating have set me back £130. Absolute nightmare but no choice but to pay up through gritted teeth. It's basically wiped out most of my savings this month dammit.

However think positively! I haven't used my credit card in over a month. I'm trying to save and know I've had the light bulb moment I won't ever go back to my old ways.

Happy thursday all -Emxxx

foster123

welll done with dealing with your debts

emilia_2

thanks Foster - I'm really going to do it this time. Just spent some time tallying up the debt again and after transferring the credit card balances plus fee - this months payment I'm at [STRIKE]£6,600[/STRIKE] to £6476 and loan [STRIKE]£5789[/STRIKE] to £5629 plus £600 overdraft. I'm also paying back over £100 a month on my student loan. I'm thinking I must be making a dent in this now surely? I'll ring today and find out the balance. Oh how nice would it be to win the lottery and cancel out all of my debt?

Still focused despite set backs with household stuff. I'm going to ring student loans now and maybe depress myself!!!

x

Doodles

Just wanted to say I'm enjoying reading your diary thread and wanted to wish you the best. Your thread is only one of two that I follow on the DFW board, yours is an interesting and witty read!

I agree with you on the job front, personally I've found that I know whether a job is for me within the first 3-6 months, so if it doesn't feel good for you by now, see what else is out there I reckon. Best of luck with that.

But stay positive, you'll get there.

emilia_2

Why thanks Doodles. Although I've been slightly down in the dumps this week. Maybe you should unsubscribe when I'm having a bad week...! I think you are right on the job front. I got the jobs paper yesterday and unhappily unless I want to work in a call centre or fancy being a sous chef there wasn't much up my street.

Well anyway had quite a good day today. The team seemed in a good (ish) mood and I even had a conversation with a couple of them. I spent £2.25 on bribery cakes ...and get this they hardly ate any. What a cheek. Most of them left early so I've come home feeling sick after stuffing myself with a doughnut and 2 cupcakes. Waste not want not.

Just been round the supermarket where F paid (always a bonus) he got his card out first and then well if he insisted..... I'm going to try and have a really cheap weekend although not sure how I'm going to manage this. My sister is newly single and I've got a feeling she's going to force me to go out tomorrow night. I've also got to write approx 100 wedding invitations. Is it wrong of me to feel slightly bored of the idea? I'm definitely not one of those Bridezilla types

So anyway I've got that Friday feeling. I'm going to get out the wine now and chillax. Here's to a cheap one folks x

emilia_2

Oh god knackered tonight. Again flung myself around in aerobics - quite good and managed not to pass out.

Had a semi expensive weekend and now I'm afraid to check my bank account in case the news is dismal for the rest of the month. This is where I'd normally use the credit cards when I've overspent to fill the gap but now this isn't an option. Still feels liberating but scary.

I phoned the student loan company and despite graduating 8 years ago now I still owe £11,000 because on my previous wage I don't think I even paid off the interest on it.. It was one of those 'do you laugh?' 'do you cry moments'.

The chirpy guy on the phone tried to cast it in a positive light by pointing out that now I'm paying back over £100 per month it will come down really quickly...yeah okay mate about 9 years - that's just swell. I think the student loans company must purposefully employ really enthusiastic people because they know how depressed the other person on the end of the phone is...

So total debt I'm currently paying off each month including student loan is around £500. God what I could do with an extra £500 per month - imagine the shoes I could buy with that??? or I could go on holiday every month!

Work is still dismal but let's not go into that :beer:

justruth

I think you need to set yourself a short term goal then treat yourself, but budget for it. Eg once you clear a debt, the next payment that would normally go on the debt might go to buy you new shoes. That way you feel the benefit as you go. Once done carry on paying out the same grand sum you already do and the rest will go down faster so you get the next treat sooner!