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

zigmeister

A small bit of good news - my bursary cheque has arrived so that will pay off my sister which I'm very pleased about. It's her 18th birthday in July so my savings are for her birthday present. I think it's going towards a Wii for her. I'm going to put the cheque in her birthday card because I think she's forgotten I owe her that money so it should be a nice suprise. :T

I've decided I'm def gonna do that pay for everything on the Tesco credit card thing. I'm just hoping that there isn't a hidden catch that I'm missing.

I hate it that the amount on my overdraft has increased so much. Even though £350 of it is my Mum's debt.

I go up North to my Nan's on Sunday for two weeks so I'm sure it'll be quite an expensive time cuz I have to drive up, then I wanna take her places and treat her. I don't see her very often so it'll be a good waste of money

After that I don't have uni again 'til September so I have a good amount of time to try and earn some money! :j

Zig x

zigmeister

I received my bursary cheque today, so that's £150 off my debt

I also won a Galaxy book too, after AGES of trying! :T

And I finished uni today - I passed the first year!

So all in all, a good day.

This is a rubbish update, but I'm tired lol.

Zig x

zigmeister

Update

I got a nice surprise today: my uni had paid in £74 that I wasn't expecting for travel expenses so that was good. I have used it to pay some more off my overdraft. It is now at a round total of -£800 and I'm hoping that's the lowest it will get!

My sister is now paid off so we're both pleased about that

I am at my Nan's which is three hours away from where I live so I have spent more than usual going out and stuff, and petrol, but I will deal with the damage when I get back. It shouldn't be too bad tho cuz I haven't been food shopping and I have been good not buying clothes when I went to the Trafford Centre!

Plan of Action thoughts:

* Want to get rid of my overdraft by September if possible. Or at least reduce it as much as possible before I start my 2nd year of uni.

* I am owed £100 for my sister's birthday present, so that will go straight off the overdraft bringing it £700.

* I can use £50 from my wages each month towards my debt - by September that will bring it down to £500.

* I can earn £20 per overtime shift (3.5 hours) so I need to do 25 shifts to clear the overdraft. This works out as approximately 3 shifts a week for 10 weeks which is definately do-able...if the overtime is available! If not, then I don't have a clue! :rolleyes:

x

Dinah93

Loving the plan Zig

zigmeister

Hypno has inspired me to do my own spending diary, as I'm sure that's where I spend a lot of money - on all the odds and sods. I will try my best to write down every day what I have spent, and as some genius suggested on Hypno's thread, write down what could have been avoidable spending.

Starting from now! (4th June)

zigmeister

I did a SOA last night, hopefully I'll get some tips to help me cut my spending down but apart from food I don't think there is... This is the link for the SOA - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=22149837&posted=1#post22149837

Day One of my spending

Lunch: £12 (treat for my Nan)
Dress: £15
Exfoliating mitt and leave-in conditioner: £2.72 (paid for with Boots points)
Keyring: £4 :eek:
M&S Meal Deal: £10

Total: £43.72

Avoidable spending: £31.72

Tbh I didn't need the dress and stuff from Boots, but the dress was really nice and I can wear it dressed up or down which is good. When you think that £4 could have gone off my overdraft but I spent it on a keyring (from Accessorize lol) it seems ridiculous! Not a great start!

The M&S £10 is usually really good. I got it because when I get back home I won't wanna cook so I though I could just get that deal and shove it in the oven for an easy dinner. But when I looked at the receipt I only saved £2.89 so I wish I hadn't bothered. So I'm calling it avoidable spending *sigh*

MUST DO BETTER!

Dinah93

Okay I think I would feel sick if I spent that much in one day!

zigmeister

Dinah93 wrote: »

Okay I think I would feel sick if I spent that much in one day!

I do... You think you haven't bought much but when you sit and write it down it's shocking!

I think I find it all too easy just handing over my card without realising how it's all adding up. I need to pull out my spending money at the start of the week and not use my card. That way I'll see exactly what money I have available.

I'm so annoyed at myself! :mad:

zigmeister

Day Two

Petrol: £28

This is to drive home tomorrow. The tank is now full, and I think I'll use about half a tank getting home which will leave me a fair bit for next week.

I don't intend to spend any more money today, but I am going to a gig later so I may buy a drink - but only if I'm thirsty! Not for the sake of it.

:j

Dinah93

Hmmm think we can let you off one drink on a night out. Not two though, oh no