A day in the life of....me

Mrs_Tradition

Well hello and welcome to my first ever brand new DFD. I have so much to write but no idea where to start. I am fast approaching 30 and have 1 gorgeous little girl. I am at a fantastic point in my life for 2 big reasons. 1 – I have had a LBM at the beginning of August this year which has enabled me to decide (along with OH) about #2 which is to try for another baby. What!!!! I hear you cry – well that’s what people would say if they knew my situation – but they don’t. Friends and family think everything is rosy – and partly it is now I have taken control – I just need to “shake this debt off” LOL – What a thing to say about nearly 30k of debt.

It all started at Uni. I worked part time and spent a full time wage as they offered student credit cards and loans and knowing no better at the time (oh how I wish I had) I took 2 credit cards out (surprisingly the same company allowed me 2!) and things spiralled since then. It seems to be a common story amongst the threads – I took a loan to pay the cards off and added a bit extra to the loan to pay my overdraft off then I used the card up again and it continued. So now I am in the situ as per my signature – but I have the new love of my life, my trusty spreadsheet which has everything on and is updated daily. I constantly play with the figures for what if scenarios but also conscious if I sit and wait to be debt free I am wasting my life. I will not add any more debt to my current debt – if I don't have it I don’t spend it and my pledge is to be 100% honest in this diary otherwise I am failing myself and my family.

I started looking at the other boards and threads on here – I am a member of the Grocery challenge as of this month and have tried for a budget of £200 for 2 adults and a toddler. So far so good and it just shows that the amount I was spending last month – double! – was ridiculous and I should have been shot! Not literally!

Also I am always on the DFW board and my ultimate goal is to be on the Roll of honour – how good would that be??? I am going to start the PaD board again as I did it last month but then I had my annual leave and couldn’t get on and haven’t done since – but looking at other people’s posts that has really helped them. – A plan me thinks!

I need to curb my impulse buying firstly which I have done so for a month now but I think it will take a while to lose the urge! Having had it for many many years (well, 10 or so!) I think it’s like an addiction. I have already started listing on ebay and a few things have been bought. I’ve joined some daily click sites and the free bingo too – won £5! Good or what!

I have good days and bad days – today is a good day and that’s prob down to being a Friday lol. I have £20 or so in my sealed jar and that’s staying sealed until next xmas when it can help out then. While I think on 10k of the debt is not from impulse spending – it’s for an extension at home and allowed but I have included it in debt as while I have it I am obv not debt free.

Sooooo plan for today and the next few days:

• Start PaD’ing again – even if it’s 10p! I used to spend more than that on rubbish at work – no more of that!!!!
• Go to Netto and Aldi to pick up some of their offers as per their newsletter email.
• Meal Plan for next week (Oh that’s another board I have signed up to and need to stick at)
• Start to plan Xmas pressies and the budget I have for them (£0)! Ebay here I come – lets hope they don’t ask for the receipt – true DFW style!!!!!
• Make at least 2 meals for freezer for next week
• See how much a jam maker is and add to my Xmas list – no way I will be buying myself one. I am doing well already – normally that would be an impulse buy!!!!

And finally for today – I will be surprised if anyone reading this gets this far – I want to start my diary off on a positive note and although I have a lot of debt – the good thing is it won’t be forever and I am dealing with it. It will not get the better of me!

xx

jacey98

hi mrs tradition

just wanted to say hello and welcome to the world of diaries, i have been on for a while and am amazed at how much it has changed the way i think and do things related to finance.

well done on your list of things we will all get there:j

jc

*Jellie*

Hi!
Good luck with your debt busting plans.

grandma247

Hi I just saw your post on the £4000 thread. If you stick with us you will become obsessive about being frugal but thats a good thing. Everyone is very supportive.

And unless someone gets you it as a pressie you do not need a jam maker. Any large pan will do it just has to have enough room above the fruit so it does not boil over (very messy) a pressure cooker pan would do and if you haven't got one someone on freecycle may.

Mrs_Tradition

Goooood Afternoon me :rotfl:

I am loving these forums. Could spend, scrap that - do spend, all day looking through them. Must get back to work soon!

Firstly, update on to do list from above

• [STRIKE]
  
• Start PaD’ing again – even if it’s 10p! I used to spend more than that on rubbish at work – no more of that!!!! [/STRIKE] First new PAD made to Tesco CC this morning of £3. This would normally be £2 to Tesco and £1 to Cap1 but I am working on clearing Tesco first.
• [STRIKE]Go to Netto and Aldi to pick up some of their offers as per their newsletter email[/STRIKE]. I can't believe I haven't done this before. Got all sorts for £7 something. Very good move.
• Meal Plan for next week (Oh that’s another board I have signed up to and need to stick at) Ongoing
• [STRIKE]Start to plan Xmas pressies and the budget I have for them (£0)! Ebay here I come – lets hope they don’t ask for the receipt – true DFW style!!!!! [/STRIKE] Started a list which I need to maintain now. Going to buy some pressies soon. Very tempted to put on CC as last year but trying to resist at all costs.
• [STRIKE]Make at least 2 meals for freezer for next week [/STRIKE] Yummy chilli, enough for 16! Didn't mean to make that much but it kind of happened and is gorgeous even if I do say so myself. Also the base for a lamb pie. Made with redcurrant and rosemary sauce - gorgeous too so v pleased.
• [STRIKE]
  
• See how much a jam maker is and add to my Xmas list – no way I will be buying myself one. I am doing well already – normally that would be an impulse buy!!!! [/STRIKE]Listening to Grandma 247's advice as I have a huge thick bottomed pan which I could use. Need to know how to make jam now as I have a glut of plums from the tree

:AThank you to those who have taken the time to reply - it's so nice to see when you pop back in with an update or get the email to say there's a reply waiting for you. :T

my grocery spends are spent up but this is ok as I have enough food to last me but means i will have nothing in when I come to do my next shop. Loads of ideas and tactics from the OS threads so will be applying those with avengence!

I feel in control today again, started PaDing and everything seems ok **lighting stikes me for believing things can go well**

On the baby front, no signs yet but always hopeful. Can you tell I am impatient!!!

Spent this morning catching my tail, trying to avoid the lollipop lady stepping out in front of me (all 6 of them!), being amused at the one guy who irritates the [EMAIL="!!!!"]!!!![/EMAIL] out of me falling asleep during our meeting with our manager :rotfl: and finding it amusing how the people with the most money are the tightest yet not at all frugal. Can they shell out £1 for charity, Nope but they will spend £80 on a bottle of champagne when they go out to show off.....SAD/

This afternoon it's straight home from work to make tea and spend time with DD and DH. Quiet night for me :T which suits me down to the ground.

Right I am off to check another couple of posts and get back to earning those pennies.

I can't wait for the day when I am stood with the cash in my hand to pay off my last payment on my last debt. I will throw a party (even though no one will know what it's for as no one knows!). I sometimes wonder if I will miss it. Like when a prisoner can't leave prison as that's all he knows! LOL - NOT.

xxxxxxx

Mrs_Tradition

Quickly done some crunching of figures as while I can't do anything else it makes me feel that little bit closer to the light at the end of the tunnel that I have heard about
My LBM was August 09 and after reading many many insprational posts I love the idea of seeing how much the debt's coming down by as a figure and %. So far I have reduced it by 0.25% LOL way to go me!!!!
Next month's payments will bring the original total down by 1.98% YEY. 53 months to go - whoop!
xx

bevan840

Hi Mrs T

I'm similar to you with the numbers and wanting to know the % of what I've paid off although I have almost less than half your debt, I finally (after months of trying to work it out myself) found out how to do it last week Although haven't paid off as much as I'd of liked to.

I love the bit about the lollypop ladies, I have 4 although I seem to leave too early for one of them to catch me now Still got 3 to contend with and I always get caught out by the first one!! Grr :rotfl:

You've given me an idea on starting the PaD myself although I think mine will have to be a penny a day and put it into a seperate account until I can find a few extra pennies to throw in

Ok if I pop back in every now and then? I find these diaries are wonderful, especially when you have someone there to give you a good old kick up the **** when you need it I do have my daft moments hehe

Take care xxx

Catzpaws

Hi Mrs_Tradition

I love a good diary and will be reading your updates with interest as we have similar amounts of debt and I will also be trying for a baby VERY soon!

This whole thing is exciting and daunting at the same time, isn't it?

But, good luck with it all. I can't wait until I'm debt free. Don't know adult life without debt (like you, it started at uni).

Onwards and upwards :j

CP x

Mrs_Tradition

bevan840 wrote: »

Hi Mrs T

I'm similar to you with the numbers and wanting to know the % of what I've paid off although I have almost less than half your debt, I finally (after months of trying to work it out myself) found out how to do it last week Although haven't paid off as much as I'd of liked to.

I love the bit about the lollypop ladies, I have 4 although I seem to leave too early for one of them to catch me now Still got 3 to contend with and I always get caught out by the first one!! Grr :rotfl:

You've given me an idea on starting the PaD myself although I think mine will have to be a penny a day and put it into a seperate account until I can find a few extra pennies to throw in

Ok if I pop back in every now and then? I find these diaries are wonderful, especially when you have someone there to give you a good old kick up the **** when you need it I do have my daft moments hehe

Take care xxx

Hiya there!
Most definitely welcome to pop back in any time you like. :TI appreciate the comments and people taking time out to read my journey. We all have something in common which has brough us to the forums and I love hearing about/from people. I find it so inspiring - which is why I am in such a good mood lately - long may it continue!!!:beer:

Guess what - we won £8.7 each in the lottery at work so I don't have to pay for the next 2. something weeks :-) that's one thing I daren't stop! Guarenteed a win if I stop!!

I would love to have your amount of debt - if you know what I mean!!! :rolleyes: When you say you figured it out last month - what's your secret - or do you mean your spreadsheet/calcs all fell into place?

Regarding the PaD - I love this thread as you can literally make a 1p PaD a day if that's what you have for the day, pop it into a sealed jar or something and then pay it off as and when you can. Better than nothing!!

Do you have your own diary? Keep in touch and let me know how you get on.

xxx

Mrs_Tradition

Catzpaws wrote: »

Hi Mrs_Tradition

I love a good diary and will be reading your updates with interest as we have similar amounts of debt and I will also be trying for a baby VERY soon!

This whole thing is exciting and daunting at the same time, isn't it?

But, good luck with it all. I can't wait until I'm debt free. Don't know adult life without debt (like you, it started at uni).

Onwards and upwards :j

CP x

Ohhh how exciting to have someone in same/similar boat as me.,......What a fab thing to find.
Even our grocery budgets are similar lol. I have hit mine already this month - pay day's 25th - whoops! Will just take it 1 day at a time and plan all meals until then.
Slight problem is my hubby likes to eat as the weather goes - sounds strange - i mean if it's hot, he likes salad etc, if it's cold a nice stew with mash so even when I plan it's subject to change. I am thinking I might tell him to cook his bl££ding own :-) which I couldn't as I love to cook.
in fact - will do the plan tonight. Going to make a list of all freezer contents and pantry and see what I can make from then. YEY!!!

Take care and speak soon xxxx

bevan840

Heya Mrs T

I meant working out the % of what I've paid. I thank God I learnt how to use Excel though, if I didn't have my spreadsheet I'd still be trying to work out where all my money was going now if I'd had to do it all by hand!

The 1p PaD I thik I'm going to transfer 7p every Sunday to a seperate account (if I can find a spare one) otherwise it will all get muddled up. Will make me a few pennies more than the interest

Well done on the lotto win Yay

I have got my own diary, but not much going on at the moment

xx