Getting Started

nabowla

The trouble with getting started on a new way of handling my finances is that the old life keeps on spilling into the new life. It's all very well saying that I'll put a small amount of money aside each month to pay for things like presents but I've got to buy presents this month and there's nothing in the kitty yet (only had my full-on lightbulb moment last weekend). I'm also meeting up with a friend who bought me some cushions so I'll have to pay her and I'm supposed to be going to my best friend's housewarming in a couple of weeks' time (train fare + present). Oh, and I've got almost two weeks off work at the end of March - had been planning lots of days out but I guess I'll be stuck at home doing nothing because I've not had a chance to save up for that yet. Grrr. Am feeling really, really fed up this morning. How did the rest of you manage when you got started? Where did you find the money to cover existing obligations that cropped up before you'd started saving and planning ahead?

lou_lou_skinty_poos

i too have just started on the road to paying my debts off ie starting up with payplan am off work this week on my annual leave and i am sooooooo bored i think this has whats taught me a lesson more than anything i never want to be in this postion of having time off work and being too skint to go anywhere avoid spending where u can like maybe dont go to ure friends house party or if u can shop around for a cheap present. i know its hard just try not to be too disheartened your not alone.

climbgirl

That's true, it does spill over. The only thing to do is keep going with the kitty, it'll even out in a month or two. I started my christmas kitty (for the first time ever) in November. Obviously it wasn't going to help much with last christmas, but this christmas I'll be fine.

The same thing happened with my utilities kitty - all my bills came in at once when I'd only had the kitty going for a month or two. But next time the bills come round, I know they'll be covered so it's ok.

Keep going with your kitty - it takes a while to even out, but it'll come right in the end. Try and find a cheap solution for the presents you need to buy now and plug on with your kitty. They balance out in the end and start working in your favour.

summerday

This really is the hardest part, so stick with it and it will get much better when you have the kitty set up.

With your time off work- try to make it a challenge to see how much fun you can have on as little money as poss- loads of museums, galleries etc have free entry, you can take picnics out with you etc, look for money off vouchers... try looking on the days out board (sub board of holidays board) for ideas. You deserve to have a nice time while you're off but try not to blow the budget!

sarahx

D&DD

Hi Nabowla yes the starting off is the toughest bit it took me really til this month (since my LB moment in Jan) to get my budgetting really sorted..I suppose its baby steps really doing one thing at a time even though your mind is buzzing with plans!! I think once you find your right budget and stick to it it will all come together..Try the spending diary for a few weeks to see where the money goes and this will help you a lot.
As climbgirl says it will even out we're only in March and I'm actually now getting more left over than I thought

Lydia.42

Hi
Well done for starting your new life!!! :T
I know how you feel. My OH and i had our light bulb moment in Dec. We decided how much we were going to put aside for xmas, car tax etc. Even now we haven't put anything away. We have set up the savings account, and got all the technicalities sorted, but something always comes up.
We recently had to pay for repairs to the roof of our house (couldn't leave it as neighbours also had problem and needed to be sorted at same time), 4 new tyres for car, tax this month, etc.
On the plus side, we haven't put anything onto credit since then :T
So although we haven't saved each month, the money that would have been saved has helped deal with emergencies.
I'm just hoping that we will start to have months where we don't have emergencies, and we can start saving. :rolleyes:
Good luck, it'll take time but we'll all get there.
With regards to your holiday, is there anyway you could cancel it, or shorten it and save the days for later in the year when you have some money set aside? :cool:
L

shazzer22

Well done, it might not seem like it now but you are doing the right thing! I had to use up some leave in Jan/Feb as it wouldnt get carried over, had three and a bit weeks, it was my plan to jet off to the sun! (and just stick it on a cc!) THANKFULLY my boyfriend couldnt get the same time off as me so I spent the three weeks at home, best thing i ever did! Although you wouldnt believe it now I cleared out loads of old junk, did some decorating and generally enjoyed some of the simple things like having a nice long breakfast and drinking lots of tea! I'm so glad I didnt go on that holiday, I wont be going on one now til I can actually go and pay for it, with real hard money!

Good luck

nabowla

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. I've no idea how I'm going to get through the next couple of months but I guess the good thing is that I'm really thinking where the money's coming from before I spend it.

The fundamental problem is that the budget needs a cash injection to tide me through the budget overhaul. So I guess I've got to start thinking about fundraising as well as budgeting. Gee, this moneysaving lark is tough!!! The only thing I can think of right now is selling a couple of unwanted presents on Ebay - not done that before, so it's a start. Might also have to start eating less as well :-)

moozie_2

Hi there

I understand completely what you are going through. I started sorting my finances out about 4 weeks ago and I find it very frustrating when things before the 'lightbulb' moment come into play now. It almost feels like my previous life is sabotaging my efforts to sort everything out!

I have thought about this long and hard and I am now more at peace with this situation. It's life, isn't it? There will always be birthdays, hen nights, weddings that may not be budgeted for to the exact penny. At the end of the day, as long as I am not paying for things on the CC or OD, I am happy.

I am sure there will be a time where everything will be more streamlined and planned for but until then, we have to keep going with all our might. Things will get better.

Best of luck and hang in there, we're all in the same boat.

amosworks

climbgirl wrote:

That's true, it does spill over. The only thing to do is keep going with the kitty, it'll even out in a month or two. I started my christmas kitty (for the first time ever) in November. Obviously it wasn't going to help much with last christmas, but this christmas I'll be fine.

The same thing happened with my utilities kitty - all my bills came in at once when I'd only had the kitty going for a month or two. But next time the bills come round, I know they'll be covered so it's ok.

Keep going with your kitty - it takes a while to even out, but it'll come right in the end. Try and find a cheap solution for the presents you need to buy now and plug on with your kitty. They balance out in the end and start working in your favour.

Am I going cat mad here but I can't stop laughing reading this thinking you're talking about cats Your christmas kitty, your utilities kitty, like you have an army of cats helping you with moneysaving. I'm so sad, I apologise in advance lol

chivers1977

Hi there, how about listing on Amazon. I have listed our cd collection after ripping through windows media player and have made £150 after fees since last Thursday! :j