A Fool and Her Money- CAFCGIRL's Debt Diary

Imelda

awww CAFC girl,
Sorry to hear that you're feeling down. Ok, so you have spent some money, are you sure you can't take any of it back? Can you keep any of it for presents/ just stock your cupboard so you don't have to buy anymore for a while? I think now you just have to put it behind you and look for ways to cut back for the rest of the month to make amends. Take a look at your spreadsheets and budgets, get yourself remotivated but please don't beat yourself up over it.

CAFCGirl

Found one thing, £6 to take back

Imelda

That's better than nothing! In the grand scheme of things how bad was your spending spree? Will you use everything you bought?

CAFCGirl

I will,eventually.
There are a few things i can put into my present box for christmas, but I just wish I hadn't done it.I feel like I've just really fallen off the wayside. My budgets are awful, I've been really slack with payments toward the credit cards.

I just feel like right now theres no way I'm going to get my debts to where I wanted them to be if I carry on like this........

It was about £50 today

Imelda

We all fall off the wagon from time to time, the best thing you can do now is learn from it. Whenever I do (which is more frequent than I would like) I go back through my spreadsheets (which are extensive, I am a true nerd!) and see how far I have come and set myself goals for the future. The thing is you have to make your budget realistic, there are people out there who can throw every spare penny they have to their debt and others who need little treats to keep them sane, that's fine, just make sure you allocate yourself a few pounds a month to do that. The way I see it, becoming debt free is like a diet, you're not going to lose half a stone in a week, one slice of cake isn't going to ruin it and you can't starve yourself!! Please re-read your thread and jump back aboard the wagon!

CAFCGirl

Thanks for your words Imelda xx

Gonna take 20 mins to run around the flat and do some tidying as a "punishment" to myself lol

8pnoodles

Ok, I've just read through the whole thread and I really do feel for you.

Your real problems seem to be comfort spending and boredom spending.

Firstly, can you simply cut down on the comfort spending? I go out and buy A pack of biscuits now or A bar of chocolate and that helps. Start buying cheaper brands too, test out tescos value stuff, even Tesco's own chocolate isn't too bad and does the job. Value pack of custard creams, huge and only 25p, enough for at least two crises.

Try doing other things when you are stressed/bored - do you have anything you actually do besides work and shop? (Sorry don't mean that harshly!) I did bar work for a bit to get me out of the house, made me feel like I had a social life and it brought in extra cash. Volunteer work? Local RSPCA or something similar?

I'm learning photography (ok expensive hobby but I'm using all my bloke's kit). Learning a new language can be fun (and good for your cv). Get out books from your local library. Or start a fitness programme - I do this and it REALLY helps with stress. I live in a shared house but there's enough room in my tiny room for doing fitness DVDs, or I go for a long walk when I'm stressy and listen to some music.

I really think you need to find something to do to chill you out a bit that's not just going shopping. It'll probably make you feel loads better about stuff too.

I even did judo for a bit at my local club and it was only something like £2.50 or £3 a week, so not a lot. But it made me feel absolutely FAB (until i broke my foot from falling wrongly!).

Also get onto these websites like pigsback.com and start collecting yourself points! Sign up to all the freebies on the freebies part of these forum boards. Then you still get treats, but for free!

Edited to add: My favourite treat is to chill out in a hot bubble bath (it can be cheap Tesco's own bubble bath - but I think you have enough bath stuff already!) and a bottle of Tesco's own perry which costs 84p a bottle. it's yum once you get addicted to it, me and bloke drink it on a Friday night instead of going out, or with strawberries in it on special occasions, still cheaper than a bottle of wine!

Floss

Chin up, chuck, you've come a long way and life isn't always easy - as we all know.

Keep on giving Peanuts the yogurt drops in exchange for bunny cuddles & you'll be able to manage without the BF (he may be having a poo time as well - he may be fed up with you being away from him & not wealthy enough to travel to where he is?).

Hoovering/tidying are geat punishments! i'm just not as hard on myself and ignore the dust building up on the piles of stuff!

I agree with 8pnoodles tho - bubble baths are great, especially with a good book & glass of wine or bottle of beer, you can put all your body scrubs & lotions & potions to good use and give yourself a super bod to delight your BF!

Hugs
Floss x

p.s. don't tell Peanuts, but when my little brother's Belgian lop-earred rabbit was stolen, there was only one lot of footprints in the snow.......the thief came over the 6ft wall straight into his pen & shoved him in a sack. Bet they got a HUGE stew from Patch!

CAFCGirl

I dont what to cry at first!
My own stupid behaviour or the story of Patch!

Life is mean.
Just chucked out two bags of rubbish, hmmmmmmmmmmmm indicates my flat really was a mess!

I really do appreciate everyones kind words, its my own fault and I can't blame everyone else for it.

Had long conversation with boyf at the weekend, whose convinced I'm depressed, so to help the situation was analysing my lack of friends and how I dont really leave the house, unless its to go to work, on my day off to kill the boredom or with him. So thats been going round in my head! Not helping matters!

sandybeaches

Hi

That's awful about your work but don't let them away with it, if they think they can place the blame on you because you don't realise what your entitlememts are they will.:mad:

Do you have an HR department? write them a concise detailed letter explaining the chain of events and why you feel your are being treated unfairly. Let them know that you wish to raise a 'grievance' against any disciplinery action that you manager wants to take. This is your legal right and you cannot be sacked for going down this route. This will show you manager and area manager that you are aware of your rights and are not going to take the blame for something that wasn't your fault.:o

I am in the process of this myself for other reasons and you will be amazed at how much more your listened to once this process gets under way.

hope this help:rotfl: