When you're in a "Debt hole"..Stop Digging!

Ellieseleven

Glad to here that your wife is settled into her new job, I'm sure that will make a huge difference to you. My OH is also now looking for a job which will take a lot of the pressure off us.

I wish you a happy and healthy 2014 and all the very best for the New Year!

Take care

Ellie xx

Chrisblue1962

Thanks Ellieseleven, my OH is starting to enjoy her new job and the extra income has made things comfortable but I'm not getting complacent. I hope your husband finds work soon and that you both have a good 2014.

This afternoon I re-jigged my Monthly Budgeting spreadsheet for 2014.

I also sat down with a cuppa and had an honest self-appraisal of what I need to do or do better in 2014 - financial , house, personal, etc - so far I have 28 items and counting!! :rotfl:.

As General Eisenhower said in the Second World War,

“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”

Hope everyone on MSE has a healthy, happy and prosperous 2014.

Chrisblue1962

Well, it's been a few weeks since posting and this is due to OHs job situation changing again.

Basically, she left her last job for reasons I won't elaborate here but things there were not as good as she hoped and due to the unacceptable behaviour of some of her colleagues, she resigned as their conduct was making her physically ill .

DWP have accepted this and the good thing is she has afound a few weeks Agency work and is now feeling better.

Budget-wise, things are positive due to having a small surplus, which will probably be put to one side in my Budget Contingency savings account.

Hope to post again soon. Bye for now fellow DFW'ers!

Chrisblue1962

Well, its a new month and a very small bit of positive news. Through being very, very careful with funds this month, I've managed to do £19.00 worth of "Piggybanking" and "Snowflakes":T.

"Piggybanking" - small monthly savings towards future bills.

"Snowflakes" - small additional payments off outstanding debt.

£19.00 is not a great deal of money in the big scheme of things but as another DFW'er posted "A pound paid is a pound less debt!" and also the well-known "If you look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves.."

Bye for now fellow DFW'ers!:)

Chrisblue1962

The good news...OH starts her new job tomorrow (Monday). Its an admin job in a local business / office. The really good news is her new employer is only 5 miles away and the post is permanent.:beer: .

Here's hoping we can get our lives back on track. Fingers and toes crossed for my dearest OH tomorrow :kisses2:

Chrisblue1962

Well, its Bank Holiday and have just updated the Budget spreadsheet. I should make it through to payday (15th) but it's going to be tight!

OH gets her first full month's salary so next month should be better ....fingers crossed!...BUT I have car MoT in mid June and I know it's going to fail as it makes knocking noises from rear when starting the engine, probably exhaust &/or exhaust mounting .

Well, things are starting to get better so it's Onwards and Upwards. Will post again soon. Bye for now fellow DFW'ers!:)

Chrisblue1962

Well, have been paid and so has dearest OH. Spreadsheet has black figures on it rather than red ones! lol :rotfl:

I an not going to be complacent as have some BIG and I mean BIG :eek: motoring bills coming in June so trying to plan for those, so it's "steady as she goes, all hands on deck", using a maritime metaphor .

I am more confident about the weeks and months ahead but like many DFW'ers, we do not lack the motivation to be DFW but find our efforts continually torpedoed by events...it's called life I suppose but we keep on going.

Good Luck to all, will update again soon.

Ellieseleven

Sounds like things are on "an even keel" to carry on the maritime theme;)

Life has a habit of bringing you back to reality...I can sympathise with the car

Ellie xx

Chrisblue1962

Well, payday arrives and next month is not looking too bad at the moment, despite the car bill - work getting done Monday and will be about £141.00, not quite the horror story I was expecting.

Budget looks ok and I just need to be sensible!

Chrisblue1962

Car went to garage today, cost £141.00, which has been budgeted for so that's another thing done. We are lucky that the garage both myself and OH go is a local independent one and the owner is genuine and charges only whats needed rather than hiking up the bills. .