Single and in Debt Part II

sarahb123_3

Hi Rosa, was just thinking the other day that you hadn't been on for a while, was wondering what you were up to, glad things are going well for you.

Have been lurking about reading other people's diaries for tips, one I saw was that you should only deal with the money you have now, not money which you think/hope is on it's way, ie I am always doing sums based on what I think I may have coming in in the future, but I need to just deal with what I have now and managing to pay all the bills etc with what I have and maybe only being able to pay of £1 extra to the debts means I am going in the right direction. Maybe the next month will be better and I can pay off more, but managing on what I have means that all the minimum payments will be paid and the debts will still be coming down. Even if I only manage the minimum payments each month eventually things will be paid off. Will be sooner than that though.

I am never getting a loan again, I find those the most difficult to deal with, I only have one left now but that has another 3.5 years to go and I hate not being able to make overpayments to it, at least with a cc when I have the spare money I can overpay. I have had a really awful couple of months workwise and only getting minimum salary and I have been really struggling and had to dip into the savings which has really upset me as that is supposed to be for my future, but I have avoided missing any payments and getting any charges, it really annoys me to think how much expenible income I would have if I hadn't got into this mess. However, I know the day will come when I will be in that situation so I will just have to muddle through to get there.

I know I can be free of everything in a couple of years from now if I put my mind to it, maybe even sooner, am just very annoyed that the current work situation has slowed everything down. If work was going well and I lived very frugally I could get it done in a year apart from the loan, which is not too big and I could save to pay that off the year after. I am just feeling very anxious at the moment as I have had to raid my savings several times, feels like things are slipping out of my control.

I must get back on top of this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate feeling worried all the time. I must start to feel that I control the money rather than it controls me.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend, off to look for good things to watch on iplayer, do some housework type things and do lots positive thinking.

RosaBernicia

Aaaw thank you both! :j

sarahb123 wrote: »

Have been lurking about reading other people's diaries for tips, one I saw was that you should only deal with the money you have now, not money which you think/hope is on it's way, ie I am always doing sums based on what I think I may have coming in in the future

Oooh now that's you doing the Sarah mind-reading thing on me this time! I always think I'll have something different next month or somehow manage to survive on £200 less than I ever have before! And then it's always a surprise when it doesn't happen! I've set up an Excel tracker thing now so I can actually watch the lines for each debt go down, and play with paying off different amounts. And I update my sig every payday - am trying to focus on the total going down, instead of whether I pay off something in 4 months or 5. I'll get there, and I'll have some fun on the way!

Now, am I going to study or watch more episodes of House on DVD? Hmm, maybe alternate both!

Hope everyone's having a fab weekend

Rosa x

sarahb123_3

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Now, am I going to study or watch more episodes of House on DVD? Hmm, maybe alternate both!

Ooh, I love House! In my pre LBM days when I thought nothing of sticking everything on the card I bought the first 3 seasons on DVD:o Maybe a little studying and then some House to wind down;)

RosaBernicia

I'm halfway through season 3 - used to watch it but missed a few and got out of the habit. Will pick up season 4 when have finished these. I really want a decent TV - old one went with ex housemate - but am doing v well at putting off buying one!

Rosa x

makeup

Rosa - have you thought about Freecycle for a new TV? There are often lots on offer on mine - and not dodgy ones either?!! I only found that out once I had spent money on a new one myself :mad:

Sarah - sounds like a good idea to think about things in the moment. And every week you manage either to pay off something or not go into more debt is a week closer to DFD date.

I spent £42 on books, a nice lunch, and some frozen stuff from Iceland! I managed not to spend £35 on a really lovely second hand sewing box with cantilevered shelves. It was lovley and really big and was on wheels. I really wanted it but dont' really have space at the moment.

It was a really nice afternoon in the end, I live in a part of London which is less than salubrious but has a very small and nice area of leafy streets and it includes a lovely bookshop and some cute cafes. Sadly the chocolate shop was closed (although prob better for my waist)

As I walked back through the main street which is a mix of cheap high street shops (Iceland, Peacocks, Primarni) and pound shops I thought how much I like cheap shops, then I realised I like expensive shops too and in the end the reality is that I love shops, all shops even supermarkets......it makes sense how I got in debt really!!!!

Buffythedebtslayer

hello ladies,

haven't been around work is super stressful and things at home aren't great either. I am also ill which is making everything so much worse!

I have also spent money pointlessly today.

Oh I don't know! I am loads better then I used to be and I do know I can "afford" it. ie being fat and miserable needs to be solved just as much as the debt does. but some days I wonder how I'll ever get out of this rut.

any sorry to just come on and whinge.

I 'll let you know if any of the books I bought work!!

love to you all xxxx

makeup

Ooh, what books did you buy Buffy??

I bought Making Stuff - An alternative Craft Book and a novel called 'My Dirty Little Book of Stolen Time'

Try not to be too hard on yourself Buffy, when you aren't feeling well it is hard to keep to things - if you are also under stress from work it will make things harder for you as well so don't worry too much.

Have you thought of doing something like swimming or running or yoga to destress??

TDQO

Hey all, I've been pretty slack this week, was ill for 4 days with a flu-type thing so I had 2 days off work but when I went back it was awful and I've done sod-all this weekend. Got an inspection on my flat in 2 days so really should tidy up but... meh.

Eriberri

With you on "meh" to tidying up TDQO. I so need to tidy my lounge, so I can happily study (can't study in mess), but I can't be arsed. I hate tidying. So I'm in a vicious circle! blah...

eco

I'm with you both on the cleaning, my answer is to go out in the garden and work on that, then I can't see it, but I'll start tomorrow I hope and clean the house a bit at a time during the week.
Make up I buy a lot of craft books, look at the stuff and think one day I'll do that, then put the book away, get it out a year later and wonder when did I buy this.
Hope everyone had a good weekend even if you spent a bit of money.