A Fool and Her Money- CAFCGIRL's Debt Diary

Open_Wallet_Surgery

ok so I'll let you off with the Sky bit then!

Do you realise *how* many folks have viewd this thread ?
23202 times !

Wonder if we are one of the top thread on Martins discussion boards ?

MCBIRNIE25

Hi CAFC girl. WOn't refund your bank charges eh? Lots of people on the consumer action group website have had success reclaiming charges from orange, maybe you should change suplier and go after your charges back?
Hope youre good by the way, ain't spoke to you in ages...:)

ZTD

Sorry for this abbreviated reply. Circumstances have intervened.

CAFCGirl wrote:

Evening all,

Had a wee think-a-thon this afternoon about how things have been going, and how far they need to be!

I dont think I've made as many changes as I could have. I dont really see my debt as unmanageable so thats probably why.
For example....
Orange phone bill was circa £45 this month
Have sky t.v admiteddly only £9 per month, was meant to stop me spending all my money on dvd's!
Still have no clue when it comes to meal planning.

Why don't you start small? Plan your weekend meals for example?

CAFCGirl wrote:

I've got the heating on

If you're sitting there with a jumper on, and the heating going - then that's fine. It's cold - you need it. Pardon the pun - don't sweat it.

If you're swanning around - barefoot - dressed like Jordan on a Playboy photoshoot, then you'll get the wagging finger...

Once I've popped my eyes back in of course...

CAFCGirl wrote:

Now I've spent about £100 today. SHOCKING :eek:
Now I did plan to spend money today, but already I can see that November is another month of going into full overdraft...
And I have spent money on my credit card in the past month. Another stupid move.

After reading thru so many threads, the most important thing at the moment is to be honest with myself, and dont skip over minor details like amounts!!!

That's right. That's exactly right.

CAFCGirl wrote:

None of my direct debits come out till around the first, so my wages from previous employer are sitting there, waiting to get spent.

I've taken my cards etc out of my purse! They snuck back in, one by one!:rotfl:

So what do I need to do this month?
Any advice welcome.

I dont want to give up sky, thats all I'll say lol, its my entertainment. Small price to pay really.

How much do you really use it? Often it's not how much it is, but what value do you get from it.

CAFCGirl wrote:

Basically I'm asking for an update on what changes/alterations I can make going forward. Much like I did at the start of my diary.
I've realised that so many people have literally come so far because they have been obsessed with their debts, and the money they spend, and to an extent I'm still in the clouds.

You have to find the road that works for you. Other people travel different roads, because they are different.

CAFCGirl wrote:

And yes ZTD, it is all in my spending diary

So now is the other part of it. Look through your spending diary. What "crap" do you buy? Why do you buy it? Who do you buy it for? Where do you buy it from?

Do you notice any patterns?

Did you do my suggestion of writing down your emotional state at the time you buy stuff?

You need to find a pattern in it. And then you'll be able to try to avoid the triggers

Open_Wallet_Surgery

ZTD wrote:

Sorry for this abbreviated reply. Circumstances have intervened.

If you're swanning around - barefoot - dressed like Jordan on a Playboy photoshoot, then you'll get the wagging finger...

THIS I GOTTA SEE :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

CAFCGirl

tut tut you boys!!!

Thanks all for the replies.

ZTD- I have noticed that I spend more money when I'm feeling low, normally BF issues (hmmm!?)
A lot of money recently has been on 'hobby' stuff, which as I've said previously, I have all the enthusiasm for, but lack the ability. I have therefore decided no more!!!! I will make something from what I've got already if it borderline tries to kill me!!!
I buy a lot of stuff in places which have more available, if that makes sense, places like The Works, books,paints etc, and then Wilkinson, pet food, toilettries, homewares. More specialised places I'm doing ok with!
What can I say, I'm a wandering browser

I like the idea of starting small. Noticed over the past couple of days I've started having giddy spells again, losing all my colour, feeling really faint etc, mainly because I let my eating slip a bit as I'd starting feeling better, so that will go hand in hand with the meal planning too I think.

I was watching tv, (sky to be exact, ) and made up a little brainstorm in my head, of ways to make money, ways to save money etc, which I feel should be achievable in the short term.
One way in part' is new housemate, who has already asked for blow by blow acc of everything I pay out for, and she basically wants exact halves, which is lovely of her, so that includes the line rental and internet which will save me £17.50 a month straight off!

I desperately need to look into getting some photos uploaded for ebay. I know its mostly clothes in these two bin bags of mine, but in hindsight, there are some good High Street designer names in there, Oasis, Coast etc, which even if I got a quid for would be better than giving it to charity (given my present situation!).

That and my mobile has given up the ghost completely, screen has bust! So it keeps bleeping with txts that I know are there but I just cant read. Its gone a lovely white colour! Orange had better be ready for me when I ring them!!!

Open_Wallet_Surgery

That and my mobile has given up the ghost completely, screen has bust! So it keeps bleeping with txts that I know are there but I just cant read. Its gone a lovely white colour! Orange had better be ready for me when I ring them!!![/QUOTE]

Perchance you mobi a Sony Erricrap K750i ?????

skintasusual

CUT UP THE CARDS!!!

it feels gooooooooood :j

CAFCGirl

lol i cut up one. I think the other cc is gonna have to get the chop too, now that i know the pin number!

And no Open, mine is a Motorala (we can spell but reckon it looks good) Pebl!!!

Open_Wallet_Surgery

If your Motorola phone is out of warranty then forget it, Orange wont give a fig unless you sign up to a new 12month contract, and I've had a shufters at their "low user / off peak" tarrifs, and practically every other telco beats them on inclusive minutes and charges

ZTD

CAFCGirl wrote:

tut tut you boys!!!

What? :A :whistle:

CAFCGirl wrote:

ZTD- I have noticed that I spend more money when I'm feeling low, normally BF issues (hmmm!?)

You said it not me...

You could always try what I said before. Get a couple of sticky labels and put them on your cards front and back. Write the letters "ZTD" on them. Whenever you use them to buy stuff you shouldn't you will be struck by the patented "Sense Of Impending DOOM" (tm).

That should cut down on it.

CAFCGirl wrote:

A lot of money recently has been on 'hobby' stuff, which as I've said previously, I have all the enthusiasm for, but lack the ability. I have therefore decided no more!!!! I will make something from what I've got already if it borderline tries to kill me!!!

Don't worry about ability. Call it modern art. Make everything that you'd planned, then see what went well, what went badly and take it from that.

CAFCGirl wrote:

I like the idea of starting small. Noticed over the past couple of days I've started having giddy spells again, losing all my colour, feeling really faint etc, mainly because I let my eating slip a bit as I'd starting feeling better, so that will go hand in hand with the meal planning too I think.

Yep. That's going to have to be a pretty high priority then. So start today. You are what you eat. If you eat crap, you'll be crap, and you'll feel crap. Your health takes priority over everything.

CAFCGirl wrote:

One way in part' is new housemate, who has already asked for blow by blow acc of everything I pay out for, and she basically wants exact halves, which is lovely of her, so that includes the line rental and internet which will save me £17.50 a month straight off!

New housemate? Did I miss this?

CAFCGirl wrote:

I desperately need to look into getting some photos uploaded for ebay. I know its mostly clothes in these two bin bags of mine, but in hindsight, there are some good High Street designer names in there, Oasis, Coast etc, which even if I got a quid for would be better than giving it to charity (given my present situation!).

Could you not take all your photos, then use a mate's PC to upload the pictures, then email them to yourself?