Newbie - Taking the plunge!

Shoe_Gal

magicdogsbrain wrote: »

Isn't everyone so organised with their spreadsheets, diaries and todo's :-)

That SOA looks very good.

Be realistic on the amount you should over pay on the debt - don't use all your spare cash - otherwise you will build up inadequacies in your home etc and end up having to get another loan in a year or 3.

The SOA and admitting the issue is the biggest thing. The next (in my opinion - many DFW's may disagree) is to be realistic and not too severe in sorting it out.

I agree with this, have been guilty of being too strict then going off the rails

I also agree about a spending diary - I have just started one - and it's scaring me :eek:

Good luck with everything

Miss-Moneypenny_7

thanks guys, everyone is so supportive on this board, and its so great to be able to talk about debt honestly. Every post I have read on this forum has been so helpful and positive which I really didn't expect

I am under no illusion its not going to be easy but I am determined to do it, and I will just take one day at a time

david_hellier

Miss-Moneypenny wrote: »

I have got a little book for a spending diary - any tips on this?

Another way of using a spending diary is to allocate a weekly amount to yourself per week, from your budget after all essentials have been deducted. Using receipts, deduct as you spend through the week. Try to get to the end of the week leaving some over to carry forward to the next week. This has the effect of keeping your overdraft down and avoids overspend.

anh1904

Try to lower your weekly spend gradually.

If in week 1, you realise you fritter away £15 on coffee's, confectionary, newspapers, sandwiches etc., in week 2, give yourself £13 cash and "when it's gone, it's gone". Then reduce gradually so you don't necessarily need to go cold-turkey.

Spend diaries really are scarey though!

bank_of_slate

Hi Money penny, why don't you take up jogging? It's free, quite a few of us do it and there's a 'running club' thread on the DFW board for support and discussion!
Welcome to the site!
...Linda xx

hettiecarro

Hi
Welcome to the board. Best place to be.

Loads of support and practical advice.

The advice about not being too strict is spot on. If you are anything like me, a lot of your spending will be when you are feeling fed up. Be aware of your own temperament if that's the case - and be gentle with yourself.

P.S. Think what a responsible parent you will be in a few years time!!!

Good luck!

barneydee_2

Welcome.
As someone said earlier set Keep a spending diary, set targets that you can keep to, I am having to go back to my original SOA and look at things again as I had set figures to high so when something you haven't planed for Happens and puts a spanner in the works then ever thing gose wrong. Mine being my friend who dose my car for me for it's MOT quoated me £180.00, but when he turned up with the bill it was £341.00 as he had not called and told me that more work was needed than he thought ( I would have told him not to bother as the car is only worth £500.00).I know can not use the car as I have to pay him before I can Tax the car and also my dd2 run up here mobile bill £307.00 in one month:eek: so I am back to sqaure one where things are bouncing. But the good thing is I have the lovely people on these boards to help me out, so I am back to writting letters explaining how things are and making offers again but this time the amounts will be more realistic and I am going to put a small amount a month in my savings account so if something unforsceen comes along in the future it wont put a spanner in the works
Good Luck and I will visit to see how you are getting on.

Dee