Where am I going wrong???

Flylady_Flower · 22 June 2009 at 4:14PM

Thanks FF, really useful - I have been to a marketing workshop today with Business Link and learned loads about this - I am going to try to do at least 90 minutes a day of marketing - including social networking, updating my website, contacting local papers for articles and writing newsletters. I really need to progress with this as I want to start being successful with my business instead of just surviving, which I'm not even doing that at the moment.

On the spending front, we're skint again, all savings gone and it will be tight until the end of the month as we have purchased Hubby's motorbike, which was £2,300. Most of the savings were from his tax rebate and savings from his lodge money, but we had to borrow £600 from a very good friend of ours who we have to start paying back from Friday week. The plan was to sell his car, but we have thought about this and we are going to hang tight if we can as sometimes he may need a car rather than the bike, plus he won't be able to drive anyone elses car if he doesn't have insurance. if it works out that he really doesn't need it, then we will sell it.

So I really need to start tightening the budget and also earning some more money. I have just got two new clients and will hopefully sort out my current client and finances tonight, so hoping that will be OK.

So, I MUST come and update on here every day to stop me spending, as I've noticed where I haven't updated I have been getting takeaways, ect and that has to stop.

The Good Stuff...
My brain is turned on again so that should help with good stuff coming in and me being able to keep it there hopefully (nothing at the moment though).

The Bad Stuff...
Had a business meeting today and had to pay £2 for parking (which I hate paying for, one of my many bugbears that you have to pay to go and spend money in shops) and brought a great book for £5.99 from the guy doing the course.

The Naughty Stuff...
Not a lot today, I aim to keep this at zero where possible... but did spend £0.99 on a bottle of water as I needed some change for the car park and £1.20 on a pastry for my DS when we went to get some hayfever tablets and he hadn't had breakfast (why do they tell you once you've left the house) and he was on his way for his last exam! (won't mention what I've done the last few weeks

)

So, watch this space, I aim to keep this up now...

Flylady_Flower · 24 June 2009 at 7:35PM

Have been a good girl this week... not updated much but the only thing I have spent on top of usual stuff is £8.50 and that was for a breakfast meeting today - brilliant meeting - it was on procurement of government jobs and I learned loads - not something I can do myself as I don't turn over enough at the moment, you need to turn over about 30-50% more than you are tendering for where possible - but my colleague does a good turnover, and we might partner on a few things if we can.

Anyway, I now have to take DS to Karate, and I will only have a coke while I'm there.

See you all later x

Flylady_Flower · 7 July 2009 at 10:25AM

Hello People,

I have been very lax in posting lately, and am going to close this thread at the moment, as I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to get on here - which is great work wise, but I need some me time too I think

Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone for reading my ramblings and keeping me on track with all your help and advice - it has been more than helpful and I thank you all for your comments, every one has meant something.

Take care, hope to 'see' you all again soon,
Flower x

fabfuture · 18 July 2009 at 2:54PM

Hi FF, I've also been rubbish at posting recently. However, I have moved my net worth by about £10K and have a much greater income this month; linked together with lots of others working on their 'impossible' goals and the energy has been brilliant. I've had more inquiries this month so far than possibly the past two months put together - don't know if that's related

Hope your business goes from strength to strength.

Flylady_Flower · 5 April 2013 at 11:06AM

Hi,

I haven't been on here since July 2009 and am disgusted to say that our debts have spiraled instead of coming down.

I will be posting a new update and new SOA shortly (hangs head in shame) bear with me...

Flylady_Flower · 5 April 2013 at 11:20AM

Right, so things have spiralled since I was on here last and I am STILL sick of having nothing left at the end of the week when we should have more than enough to live on so here's the NEW plan - to pay off my debts in the next 2 years and save more money.
Both myself and my hubby work hard and now earn well but we still never seem to get ahead in paying off the debts and never have anything in the bank for emergencies, so I AM GOING TO CHANGE THIS...
I was 46 when I first began this post - I have just turned 50 and if I don't do something soon, we will be retired with no money at all and no way of getting any either.
I am still the eternal optimist, every cloud and all that while Hubby is the eternal pessimist - he sees the bad in everything and is therefore never disappointed, only pleased when it goes right... (his explanation, not mine... :rotfl:)

We have 2 children - DS is now 19 and living at home (sometimes) - he is currenly unemployed but still wants to be a mechanic and still has the attention span of a goldfish, and can be a right royal pain, but is also a loving, kind and thoughtful child who could be brilliant if he only tried, so he is STILL a 'work in progress' at the moment until common sense kicks in (he now has a girlfriend who seems to be knocking more of it in that I ever could

)...

DD is 23 and still living at home - She is currently working as a CSW at the hospital and has totally changed her career ideas and wants to be a midwife - plans in action at the moment include courses provided by the hospital then 1 year of college in 2014 to get the diploma she needs before doing 3 years at Uni - all while working at the hospital. Really pleased that she has made a decision in her life and not let others dictate for her. Very proud

We also have two dogs - 1 7yr old Lurcher/Labrador who's scatty and scared in equal amounts, and a 6yr old Alsatian/Rottweiler who is massive, very hairy and as soppy and loving as anything can be... and eats like a horse, 2 10mth old cats - Lilly and Jack, a 20yr old female Tarantula called Raymond and still a pond full of fish.

We have now moved from the Housing association house which we lived for 3 years and now have a council house where we have been trying to update with no joy for the past 3 years.

We did have our own house which we loved, but after years of struggling and then a business going down the pan, we couldn't manage it any more and tried downsizing - we sold and purchased a smaller house, but were still struggling and ended up selling that after 9 months and moved into rented accommodation. We lived there for 6 months, but things were no better after hubby lost his job and the rent was horrendous (no help as I was working). So we lived with my Mum for 6 months before being made homeless and were given a temporary 2 bed flat by the council. During this time, we worked out that we really couldn't manage and ended up going bankrupt, owing £46,000. In reality, we should have stopped trying to pay everyone when we were in our first house. We only had the mortgage and a £6000 loan that we HAD to pay, and we could have sought help and maybe got a payment plan organised, and we may have still been there (if only I had known about this site back then...;))

Anyway, no looking back, what will be will be and we have moved on - we were moved from the flat because of problems after 6 months (6 month theme there I think

) into what were the worst 3 years of our married life living in another temporary house in one of the worst areas in our town - our car was broken into 7 times in a short space of time and my son was threatened, as was I. Hubby was working away from home during this time and it was hard going trying to manage on my own - I must admit I was not optimistic during this time at all... then we finally were given the housing association home.

So, life history over, we have been to hell and back and have survived - together we are stronger and are looking forward to a better life, and that is where this diary comes in, I plan to make the changes and put it into words so that it focuses my mind and makes me do it... fingers crossed...

Flylady_Flower · 5 April 2013 at 3:40PM

OK, here is a list of my debts. I am not going to post my whole expenditure as I have got this down to where we are comfortable with what we are spending - I could save a few pounds here and there but I have changes suppliers, cut back on TV, etc already and pushed it about as far as I can/am prepared to.

We still have a few bits to go and I will snowball these payments in as I go, but we have now come to an amount that we can manage while still being able to live - not the perfect way to go, but I really need to focus on these debts and concentrate on making these payments every month, not looking at other things I can save (I am easily distracted).

Please nag me whenever you see that I have not made a payment - nagging is good

This is as at 1st April 2013
Debt (Interest) (Balance) £minimum (currently paying)

I have done these in order of how I am snowballing them:

Debenhams (29.9% apr) (£ 113.06) £5.00 (paying off £60pm over next 2 months to get rid)

Vanquis Visa - Hubby (45.8% apr) (£2,999.41) £145.00 (was paying £150pm, now paying £280pm then snowballing) Should be paid up by Feb 2014

Vanquis Visa - Me (54.5% apr) (£ 2,832.34) £145.00 (paying £150pm) Shouldbe paid up by April 2014

Barclaycard - Hubby (29.9% apr) (£1,582.53) £49.00 (was paying £100pm, am reducing to £50pm to increase payment to Vanquis)Should be paid up by May 2014

F/Direct Credit Card (27.9% apr) (£631.64) £29.00 (was paying £50pm, reducing to £30pm to increase payment to Vanquis) Should be paid up by June 2014

Bank of Scotland CC (27.9% apr) (£7,274.97) £200.00 (paying £200pm) Shouldbe paid up by September 2014

Asda Credit Card – (24.9%) (£884.79) £28.00 (was paying £90pm, am reducing to £30pmto increase payment to Vanquis) Should be paid up by October 2014

Santander Loan - was £7,000 (£2,605.81) £253.02 (paying £253.02pm - set payments @ 9.2% apr) Should be paid up by March 2014

Loan from Mum (0% apr) (£ 950.00) £- (paying £105pm) Needsto clear by Christmas

A&L Overdraft (0% apr) (£800) £50.00 (agreement made for £50pm goes up to £100pm in June) Will be paid up by December thisyear

Barclaycard - Me (0% apr) (£620.00) £50.00 (have an agreement to pay £50pm) Should be paid up by April 2014

Freemans Catalogue (0% apr) (2,573.00) £175 (paying £175 for the next 10 months then £80 a month for new bnplpurchases next year) Shouldbe paid up by May 2014

F/Direct Loan - was £10,000 (£4,213.05) £280.87 (paying £280.87pm - set payments @ 9.5% apr) Should be paid up by June 2014

First Direct Overdraft (12% apr) (£ 1,000.00) £5 interest (last thing to pay off) Will be paid up by November 2014

RBS Overdraft (12% apr) (£ 1,000.00) £8 interest (last thing to pay off) Should be paid up by November 2014

Total Debts (£29,286.08) £1,726.89 per month

Flylady_Flower · 5 April 2013 at 3:57PM

These are my payments so far this month. :beer:
2nd:
Debenhams - £30.00
Vanquis (M) - £160.00
First Direct CC - £50.00

4th:
Vanquis (H) - £160.00

Today:
A&L Overdraft - £50.00
Barclaycard (M) - £50.00

This is my spending which is adding to my debt this month: :mad:

Spent £22.00 for shopping on BoS Card yesterday as no money in bank at the moment where I am off after an operation.

Flylady_Flower · 7 April 2013 at 6:25PM

Payments off my debt :j

None this weekend

Spending adding to my debt :mad:

Had to buy hubby some boots for work yesterday as his had holes in - spent £35 in Makro's on them plus a front door mat for £4.99 (£5.99 with the VAT) but aiming to pay this off quickly in a couple of weeks when I am back at work. But, at the moment, it is still a spend I did not want to make.