cookiecrunch - it's crunch time

cookiecrunch_2

Right so i've been lurking for a while now but i think I need the extra motivation of a diary to help me.
The story is that i've never been particularly good with money; not spending it i mean.
I'm financially savvy, i know the best credit card deals, i know the best loan rates and i know how interest works and people come to me for financial advice because i'm interested in money, i always knew how much i had in the bank and have always banked online.I like finance and subscribed to MSE for years now but.... I've still got myself into a hole! I did a long degree and have a substantial debt to the student loans company (not entirely sure how much.... they've not sent me a statement yet despite asking twice a month since May)
I also got into bad spending habits at uni, i never listened to my dad about drawing out cash at the beginning of the week and only spending cash.... oh no that would've been far too sensible. I fell into the trap of spending to cheer myself up, bad day at the office; buy some shoes. I'd like to blame my mother for most of this, she spends money like water and when we go shopping she eggs me on. However she has the money, has paid off the mortgage and is never in debt. I on the other hand should know better, and i am a grown up!

Situation with ingoings is.
I've just started a new job with the NHS- i think i know what i should get paid (28th of the month in my trust) however this being the NHS i haven't had a contract confirming my salary, evidence from people who've done my job before suggests they will vastly under pay me for the first 2 months, then it might catch up a bit but it'll be wrong every month.

Situation with outgoings:
I've just bought a new car- stupid. But it's the car of my dreams; i did my homework, got a great rate of interest and technically i can afford it.... realistically it might just push me over the edge!

The other thing:
my job actually costs me a fair bit a year to keep. Plus there's a course i want to do in March which will help my career (not in terms of money though sadly) downside is it's £4800.

As it stands now my regular monthly outgoings are:
Rent £300
Bills £160
gym £28.50
mobile £35
contact lenses £24
food historically £200 a month
petrol £60 a month (may change with new car and different job)

my one offs are.
professional subs £450 - all due on the 1st jan
professional insurence £180 - monthly from october
qualification fees £200 last month usually £306 a year
car insurence £412
car tax £135 - paid for 12 months by the garage
tv licence ?£143 in october

Loans and credit cards
overdraft loan (0%) £786 (£83.33/month)
overdraft (0% until september i think) £130
M&S card (0% till 3rd sept 09) £1500
MBNA card (0% till 23rd Jan 10) £2054
bank of dad (0% i hope!) £7750
student loan £15370 - which i don't ever really count as i can't avoid it!

It's just me, no kids, i have a boyfriend but our finances aren't linked- which is a shame as he could afford to keep me in the style to which i'd like to become accustomed to. :rotfl:I have a cat (who cost me £48 this weekend due to fighting! daft moggie)

So....
That's me, the things i want are; no debt except that to my dad by end jan '10. I need to sort out income protection which is usually £35 a month i think. I will have to save £4800 by march- which actually isn't do-able but i might get some help from work and mum said she'd loan me some, though i think i owe them too much already really.

ciao
Cookiecrunch

cookiecrunch_2

Ok so....as of today
current account -£106
savings (for paying cards off) £786.22
all direct debits gone out
all minimum amounts paid of credit cards
all spending on MBNA 0% till jan 10 card.

week 1 26th july- 2nd aug
spent £108.28 (cash and cards, food, eating out, taxi's and bus fares)

week 2 3rd Aug - 10th Aug
spent £412 (cards, food, petrol, presents for old work friends, a jacket and bag which i love but REAAALLY shouldn't have bought)

Week 3 11th Aug- 17th Aug
spent £127.01 (cash and cards, food shopping and a vet bill!)

week 4 17th Aug - 23rd Aug
it's not over yet but...
£52.04 - food shopping for the week, a new kettle cos the last one blew up- thankyou John Lewis!
number of NSD (no spend days??) 3
number of times gone to the gym, 2: body combat and spin, did i mention i want to lose a stone??

ciao
cookiecrunch

cookiecrunch_2

make that 3 times to the gym! just been for a swim.
And... made a payment of £700 to my M&S card. So i have £100 to last till payday- assuming i actually get paid....
As to what it could be
a) £1610 (old wage)
b) £1744 (new basic wage)
c) £2,143 (new wage wrong band)
d) £2,270 right wage right band AND right tax code.
e) i don't get anything!

My sums say £1610 leaves me £477 short, £1744 (most likely outcome) leaves me £343 short and the other two options would be fine. Obviously the getting no money option would be a disaster.
wish it would hurry up so i can start to plan, and clear the M&S card.

cookiecrunch

cookiecrunch_2

Update:
not such a good day yesterday- work was fab, ended the morning on a high so we went for lunch. Nandos wrap which had the benefit of 20% nhs discount.
£8.50
then my friend came back from Leeds so we went out for tea- £21.59 pizza express- didn't even check for money off vouchers!
Because lauras around no doubt I'll go shopping tomorrow; find it so hard to resist!
May have to write off this week!
On the plus side went to the cash machine to get out £30 paniced went it cancelled my transaction thinking it's all gone wrong but turns out it'd just run out thank goodness
cookie crunch

Lemon_Tree

hi, never write off the weekend, just try to control it by keeping a record, it can always be improved the next time you have a visitor. sometimes you need to know the worst that can happen so that you can prepare for it the next time.

can you return the jacket and handbag if you know you shouldn't have bought them?

just to let you know, you're not the only person who know's everything about being financially savvy yet still manage to get themselves into a mire. I'm a great example, whilst working very hard to help my employer keep their company afloat cashflow wise i built up a huge amount of debt just trying to survive. but we all live and learn and start tackling everything.

good luck on the road to debt freedom.

cookiecrunch_2

Thanks for the encouragement Lemon tree- unfortunately i faltered and ended up with two new shirts for work, £18 and £22, not so good really- i'm blaming Laura. She's the sensible one of all of us who only buys stuff if she really needs it.
As for taking back the bag- deffinately especially since the stitching is now coming away!! it just means a trip south of the river after work one night very annoying but.. cast iron excuse to return and get back the money.
cookie crunch
(making creme brulee for nana's 80th right now)

ZiggyStardust_2

At least the clothes were for work very important to look smart!

Hello, and welcome by the way! :hello:

cookiecrunch_2

Thankyou, It has been 2 years since i last started a new job and this one seems to involve far more being smart than the last one. Plus it's the hottest hospital i've ever been in, my previous uniform of twinsets and shirts-with-jumper-over will have me passing out from heat stroke. So it was a case of scouring the highstreet for smarter t shirts and new shirts that fit my surprisingly large arms. Is it just me or are they being really skimpy with arm material??
Just counting down the days till payday now 5 to go- i will be checking my account at midnight!! And probably calling payroll at 8 in the morning because they've paid me half a bananna instead of a salary!

Lemon_Tree

lol to the banana, lots of things you can do with half a banana but pay your debts isnt' one of them.
glad you're returning the bag, just don't them talk you into swapping it instead of getting a refund.

Catzpaws

Hi Cookie

Good luck with your debt free journey!

I agree, smart clothes are important for new work.

CP x

ZiggyStardust_2

I hope they pay you properly... so frustrating when you start a new job and the pay doesn't go through right