Single and in Debt Part II

Shoe_Gal

TDQO wrote: »

Evening all... I'm going to confess that I haven't fully read the above posts, mainly due to my hungover state. This weekend has been expensive, about $200 expensive! However it has resulted in much drunkeness, much flirting and some hilarious photos!

I didn't get anywhere but this was a combination of not wanting to scare the new housemates and also the fact that there were 5 other incredibly frustrated guys there who were trying awfully hard to impress the girls and failing. I hate those kind of situations so I just sat back and played it cool... hence massively boosting my chances in the future haha!
Apparently one of them couldn't keep her eyes off me and kept flirting but I was oblivious... luckily she only lives 5m from my front door so there's plenty of oppurtunities to find out for sure.

Hope you ladies are all having a fabulous weekend!

Well done you :j What a fab weekend

PinkTwirl

Shoe_Gal wrote: »

Hi Pink

I'm sure you'll do it but please don't set your targets too high. I've been guilty of this, thinking I can live like a hermit and then getting really down. My new way of thinking is don't increase my debts, pay off what I can but still have a life, accept any invitations and don't put life on hold. 2 years is a long time to write off

Shoe Gal x

Yeah, I know what you mean, it's just staying with my dad (I can't call it "home" or living with because I know it's a relatively short term thing.) We don't get on a lot of the time now because he's retreating into his own little world and really isn't too interested in what is going on in my life or anyone elses. It's not a great part of Glasgow, but to be fair the area consists of one street which is being bulldozed and new flats are being built around. Every other area surrounding this one street is a good area so it's just a weird part of Glasgow but soon it will be better. I still don't really want to be here though (how many times have I said that now!)

My dad doesn't keep it nice at all, it's so depressing, got to clear these debts and it depressed me now buying clothes, spending £50 on a top and then it looking like crap in 3 months time. Seems to happen with everything.

I'm also thinking that if I were to have a new boyfriend at some point, or even want to have any friends round, I have nowhere to bring them!

I'm really wondering why at some point a little elf in my brain didn't kick in and say "Pink, you've got £5K/£10K/15/20 of debt, what the hell are you doing?"

When I write that, it looks scary!

On the plus side (and I am still upbeat) my new hair straightners are really great!!!

sarahb123_3

Hollyberry wrote: »

That was on my list too... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: But I decided he had other redeeming qualities that would compensate, particularly as he is a happy soul and makes me laugh loads. Plus he is in no position to complain about my domestic inadequacies.

Am willing to give up most things on the list for someone who makes me laugh, it is the most important thing really will still secretly wish for a Mr Fixit as well though. I will definitely need someone who is laid back about domesticity, I can hardly keep one room clean and tidy.

Shameful confession time: I have not only paid for my laptop with eBay, I have also paid for my holiday, and I suspect there is plenty left in my wardrobe which will pay for next year's holiday too. When I was working, I used to cheer myself up buying loads of clothes, with the result that I have several wardrobes full. When I think of all the money I could have saved...:o However, I will not be doing it again.

My debt started with the exact same thing, you should definitely think of ebaying everything as "working with what you have" which makes it a nice, positive thing.


Thanks for the links, I do not have an ebay account or paypal but I will definitely look into it later in the summer when I know work will be quiet, have bookmarked this page and getting a digital camera is on my 100 things to do in 2009 list. I really would like to give it a go, I do have a low boredom threshold but I do tend to perk up if money is involved:D

PinkTwirl

sarahb123 wrote: »

Pink, I agree with ShoeGal, a lot of my debt is down to thinking I can manage to live very frugally, getting sick of it and going on a splurge.

I would love to be able to get it sorted by just watching every single penny and I could probably get it done in 12-18 months if I did and I admire the brilliant people on here who do just that, but I just cannot live like that.

You have to have some fun or those 2 years will feel like an eternity. :eek:

Yeah, I know you're right, I just see more debt at the end of it. Then I'll have to replace my car, another £5K, and then extend my lease on my flaming English flat, £8K.

Argh. and all my dad does is sit there and frown at me judgementally as he thinks I'm loaded and that I should be giving him lots of money. He's worked his whole life and ended up with nothing because he smoked and drank it all and blamed everyone else. My debt is my fault.

Maybe I'll have one treat a month, at a set limit, pity everything costs so much. Maybe a top off Boden or something. A couple of nights out. Probably the equivalent of £150 a month? Might mean I pay £950 instead.

Shoe_Gal

PinkTwirl wrote: »

I'm really wondering why at some point a little elf in my brain didn't kick in and say "Pink, you've got £5K/£10K/15/20 of debt, what the hell are you doing?"

When I write that, it looks scary!

On the plus side (and I am still upbeat) my new hair straightners are really great!!!

Hi Pink

I understand how you feel, and I know paying off your debts is very important to you - it is to me too But I have realised that if paying debt is the only thing in my life - my life is pretty dull :mad:

We both have large debts to pay, my total is about £25k , so I have made myself accept that there is no 'short term fix' and that I have to make it part of my life - not my life!

I so wish I'd had a 'brain elf' to warn me too, before I got in too deep :mad:

And GHD's rule - without mine I would actually never go outside!!!

Shoe_Gal

sarahb123 wrote: »

Am willing to give up most things on the list for someone who makes me laugh, it is the most important thing really will still secretly wish for a Mr Fixit as well though. I will definitely need someone who is laid back about domesticity, I can hardly keep one room clean and tidy.

When you find him please make sure he has a brother for me - one with an Irish accent would be a bonus :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Shoe_Gal

PinkTwirl wrote: »

Maybe I'll have one treat a month, at a set limit, pity everything costs so much. Maybe a top off Boden or something. A couple of nights out. Probably the equivalent of £150 a month? Might mean I pay £950 instead.

Fantastic plan! You should definately do this

sarahb123_3

PinkTwirl wrote: »

Maybe I'll have one treat a month, at a set limit, pity everything costs so much. Maybe a top off Boden or something. A couple of nights out. Probably the equivalent of £150 a month? Might mean I pay £950 instead.

Definitely agree with everyone about a treats budget and £950 is still a very good amount to be able to pay each month.

I have been buying odds and ends without really thinking and no set budget. I have decided that from this month I will have a £100 treats budget, but that everything must come out of that i.e. no sneaking bars of chocolate, magazines or wine in the trolley, they are treats and must be budgetted for accordingly. Clothes, shoes wine, chocolate, going out, books and nice things will all have to come out of that.

£100 does seem quite high as I am not buying clothes or shoes at the moment (although will need to get nice top for party this week) but I would rather have it a bit high than put say, £50, find it's not enough, get cross with myself and have a splurge. I can't actually think of anything else I need at the moment though.:rolleyes:

PinkTwirl

sarahb123 wrote: »

Definitely agree with everyone about a treats budget and £950 is still a very good amount to be able to pay each month.

I have been buying odds and ends without really thinking and no set budget. I have decided that from this month I will have a £100 treats budget, but that everything must come out of that i.e. no sneaking bars of chocolate, magazines or wine in the trolley, they are treats and must be budgetted for accordingly. Clothes, shoes wine, chocolate, going out, books and nice things will all have to come out of that.

£100 does seem quite high as I am not buying clothes or shoes at the moment (although will need to get nice top for party this week) but I would rather have it a bit high than put say, £50, find it's not enough, get cross with myself and have a splurge. I can't actually think of anything else I need at the moment though.:rolleyes:

Yeah, I've budgeted £160 for petrol, £100 for food and £150 for entertainment and clothes. the rest are bills and that leaves about £950 for debts.

£50 doesn't get much these days in the clothes department. I'm going to get myself a top or something like that or jeans (I have 6 pairs now but only 4 I really wear. I was supposed to pick up 2 mended pairs yesterday but couldn't afford to because of damaged chip!)

My gym membership is very important to me, trying to go more often as it helps me combat those depressed feelings and I must say it is working a treat. Better than the !!!!!! anti-depressants I took that, for me personally, were the worst thing as I ran up the £22K in the year I was taking them. I've not got any more debt now, but I've not got any less either.

Shoe_Gal

Treats budgets :j:j

I love this idea and am definately going to have one. It makes sense to have 'budgeted' treats and less mad splurges