New Start

thatsit_2

Fresh new start for me - including my username!
I've decided I'm fed up with being depressed, feeling sorry for myself, blaming others for my own stupidity and not doing anything about plutting it right.

As a bit of back ground my credit history is completely shot, I've got a very high interest (interest only) mortgage, married, two kids have good wages coming in and apart from my mortgage have two huge debts which hopefully will be sorted out soon, two charging orders that I need to pay/sort out and 2 small credit card debts. The thing is certainly over the last few years when we've been earning decent wages we shouldn't still be in this mess. In theory we earn plenty to cover our bills and throw money to the debts, I've finally given up smoking so even more money towards them but somehow money just seems to disappear from the account - I know I should work out a meal plan and shop to that but I don't and this is probably where most of the money goes. But from now on it's all change for me.

Quick first post I know but I'm off to do a meal plan and write up a shopping list as my first task. I know there's much more I could do as well and if anyone's got any suggestions please feel free to post.

Karen_30

Wishing you lots of luck in sorting your debts. Maybe write a SOA on here and let the experts take a look? They may be able to give you a few pointers.

Meal planning is def a good one - one of my bad areas!!!

Will pop back and see how you're getting on,

K x

MinkyBoo

Hiya thatsit, I meal plan a lot and it has really helped keep my food budget down. I cook most meals from scratch and plan a different meal for each night of the week but I know that there will always be a night or two during the week when I've had a really horrid day and can't be bothered cooking so I make sure I have a few quick meals like frozen pizza, or fishfingers and frozen chips to save me from the takeaways.

Good luck Minky x

thatsit_2

Thanks Karen & Minky
Plan now wrote for the next week and a half just got to wait for OH to come home from work to go shopping as my car has now gone to the garage in the sky!!!
I've even included packed lunches for everyone which is another area I'm spending a small fortune on.
The biggest thing for me is motivation, I'll go and get the shopping but then when it comes down to it I can't be bothered just give the kids dinner money and end up throwing food away as it's out of date!!! I infuriate myself but can't seem to break the cycle - anyone with any motivation tips?

Karen_30

thatsit wrote: »

Thanks Karen & Minky
Plan now wrote for the next week and a half just got to wait for OH to come home from work to go shopping as my car has now gone to the garage in the sky!!!
I've even included packed lunches for everyone which is another area I'm spending a small fortune on.
The biggest thing for me is motivation, I'll go and get the shopping but then when it comes down to it I can't be bothered just give the kids dinner money and end up throwing food away as it's out of date!!! I infuriate myself but can't seem to break the cycle - anyone with any motivation tips?

I'm sorry but i'm quite good at the saying I will do and not doing thingy....however i'm sure if you start seeing the difference in pounds not being spent it'll be motivation enough.

I find posting daily on my diary a good way of keeping on track. I'll pop back to check up on you and tell you off if you're not making those packed lunches :rotfl:

thatsit_2

Just thought I'd add, as my posts sound very selfish compared to some people's situations, I have been at the lowest for a number of years when I really didn't know where the next penny / meal was coming from.

Thankfully I don't have that issue any more but I think my lack of motivation etc is a kick back from those days and I'm kind of saying to myself you've suffered now start enjoying (and spending). In fact writing that down it makes perfect sense, this sounds really silly but I've only just discovered that many people use fake tan and wax their eyebrows as I've spent so many years shutting myself off from any type of luxury because I couldn't afford it - I feel as though I've missed a huge chunk of my life through debt. I suppose that should be my motivation then to be sensible - it's just hard to remember sometimes!

Sorry for the waffle - don't know where all that came from - I suppose this is quite theraputic telling virtual people who don't know you things that you try to hide from those who actually do know you - there I go again - waffling on - sorry!!

Karen_30

thatsit wrote: »

Just thought I'd add, as my posts sound very selfish compared to some people's situations, I have been at the lowest for a number of years when I really didn't know where the next penny / meal was coming from.

Thankfully I don't have that issue any more but I think my lack of motivation etc is a kick back from those days and I'm kind of saying to myself you've suffered now start enjoying (and spending). In fact writing that down it makes perfect sense, this sounds really silly but I've only just discovered that many people use fake tan and wax their eyebrows as I've spent so many years shutting myself off from any type of luxury because I couldn't afford it - I feel as though I've missed a huge chunk of my life through debt. I suppose that should be my motivation then to be sensible - it's just hard to remember sometimes!

Sorry for the waffle - don't know where all that came from - I suppose this is quite theraputic telling virtual people who don't know you things that you try to hide from those who actually do know you - there I go again - waffling on - sorry!!

This is free therapy :rotfl:I don't blame you for wanting to start enjoying life - i'm still at the stage where debt too high to think about it right now. I wonder if I can master that 'i'm going to do this....but never get round to doing it.....by the time my debt is cleared.....hope so!:o

Good luck x