Zig's new start (again!) on a budget!

zigmeister

I have just walked down to Sainsbury's for some exercise, and bought a dvd for my sister (seasons 1 and 2 of The Office for £6). I'm not getting anything else for her now! I also need to collect the money I'm owed for all these presents.

I have borrowed £100 out of money I am holding for my Dad because I am overdrawn and I don't want to go over my limit. It will be replaced when I get paid so that's ok.

I don't even know what I'm doing for dinner tonight, and I'm meant to be going home to take my Mum shopping. I feel so disorganised with everything.

ETA - I'm having such a rubbish morning. My Mum has rang a hairdressers to book in for her and my sister's hair to be done for this wedding we are going to in August. She was quoted £120 for cut and colour. I said that's ridiculous and that this wedding isn't the be all and end all. So my sister rang up having a go at me saying that this is the first time she has gone out in years etc and that I didn't have to take all Mum's debt on board etc.

I said I need some money cuz I'm right near my overdraft limit and I don't wanna go over and soon they are gonna take the money for her CC payments. She said she can give me £20.

I'm just upset cuz I'm trying my best but no-one else seems to be helping. I've asked my sister to keep pushing Mum to sort her budget seeings as she's at home but she doesn't. I hate not having my emergency overdraft. I feel really vulnerable not having it.

Birdie85

Sorry you’re having a hard time today Zig. I think money problems are so hard for people to deal with and changing old habits can be really difficult, especially when wanting a treat for a special occasion! Can’t you try to get your Mum booked into cheaper hairdressers so she gets the treat but for half the price? Is there nothing like a Hair Express nearby? I think they do quite good cut and colour deals and it’s nowhere near as much as £120!

Your sister really needs to understand how important it is to help your mum sort out her budget; it shouldn’t all be on your shoulders, especially as it is putting you in a vulnerable financial position now. I know you didn’t have to do it but your sister needs to know that you did it to help your mum out and if she’s going to sort herself out your sister needs to help too, and that doesn’t mean encouraging her to spend £120 on a haircut and colour! What’s wrong with a home colour kit and a £20 haircut?!

zigmeister

Thanks Birdie

My Mum rang me to say that she has cancelled the hair appointment. My Auntie has said she'll pay for the hair to be done, but Mum agreed that it was too expensive. So that's good!

I'm feeling a bit better now about my money. I went home yesterday and Mum has sorted out her change pot which she has been doing for ages. It had £90 in there and she has given me it to go off the money she owes me, not her debt. I feel kinda torn though cuz sensible me says 'pay it off the Tesco CC cuz it's 1.9% APR' but it would be quite nice to see my overdraft at £500!

We have also agreed that I am going to take £20 a week off her to pay her debt with. I think that's a good compromise. I'm feeling positive! :T

It's my sister's birthday today so we are going out for a meal later which may cost a bit. Today I am also seeing my Nan and need to ask whether me living with them is a possibility. I'm scared!

Ooh, yesterday I went to Tesco, spent £8.80 and used a load of coupons and had to give £1.68. Yay for coupons!

wendz86

I would say you should pay it off the cc. The OD isn't such a problem being interest free but at least you would be paying less interest on the cc.

Well done on the tesco shop, that was some brilliant savings!

zigmeister

I'm back! :j

The internet has been down for the past few days and it's been horrible!

I played monoplay with the family yesterday and I won! It was nice to be the one with money for a change. :rolleyes:

I have decided to put the money my Mum gave me off my overdraft, even though there is interest on a credit card. If the interest was 30% rather than 2% then I'd put it on the credit card. But it's not so I'm gonna 'treat myself'!

I can't wait to get paid on Friday, even though it will be a bit less than usual cuz I was off sick for one shift. It will also be mine and OH's 4 year anniversary so we are going out for some food! It won't cost too much though.

I made mini quiches yesterday and I've eaten tons of them and feel sick

Anywho, my overdraft is baffling me cuz it's not adding up so I'm off to sort that out!

zigmeister

Payday!

I got paid a little bit more than I thought I would, which is always nice. I have allocated £100 for food for the next 4 weeks, which I am determined to stick to seeings as I messed it up last month. I have also paid £25 off my overdraft, and £50 back to my Dad. Annoying that I had to borrow some off Dad in the first place cuz it means I can't put much to the overdraft!

I managed to pick up some more overtime at work which means £200 off my overdraft when I get paid in September

Slowly but surely I am getting towards being debt-free!

Dinah93

Thats great Zig, you've been a bit quiet recently so glad you are still on the debt busting path.

wendz86

The over draft is looking fab! You are doing much better than I did at uni. If you manage to keep on top of it before you leave you won't be in the situation i am!

Well done on the over time as well!

zigmeister

Thanks you guys! I am feeling positive today, but then again, it's payday! :T

I'm not quite sure why I've been quiet on here lately, I think sometimes you can get too into the moneysaving (as Cinny has found out lately!) It's good to get off here for a bit, then come back feeling sort of recharged.

Even if I don't manage to pay off the overdraft by the time I go back to uni at least it won't be going up! I can't wait to start saving. It's so exciting! But I'm gonna make sure that I use my savings to buy uni stuff that I need (like books) rather than using my overdraft. I don't want to get back into the habit of chucking it on my overdraft. Also, I'll be more reluctant to spend if I know it's coming out of savings! :rolleyes:

zigmeister

I had a really lovely but tiring weekend! Spent the entire day Saturday shopping. I got bought a gorgeous dress for a wedding I'm going to (http://www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion/Dresses/Polly-Jacquard-dress/200781906?colour=black) And cuz it's not too weddingy I can wear it again.

I didn't plan on spending any money on myself but I saw some boots in Next and I have been looking for boots for months and these were perfect. I have fat calves and it's a struggle finding boots to fit nicely. They were £80 and I had that inner struggle of 'should I wait and look online and see if I can get them cheaper somehow' but I was persuaded to just get them there and then!

So that has pushed my overdraft up again but it won't be happening again so I don't feel that bad. Some friends have invited me out tonight but I have a feeling they will want to drive round in their cars (chav-like behaviour, but they aren't chavs!) and I don't wanna waste the petrol! I don't know whether to go and be sociable, or think of a reason not to go, cuz driving round town is not one of my favourite things to do. Hmm.

Today is the start of back on Weight Watchers. I'm off to weight out a bowl of sultana bran! :rolleyes: