A Fool and Her Money- CAFCGIRL's Debt Diary

ZTD

CAFCGirl wrote:

I feel really miserable now.........

You shouldn't be - it is do-able (yes...it's a word now). I would also suggest you save up your 97 quid for a month, so you have a tiny bit of float.

It's not impossible, in fact it is very possible, but you are going to have to be careful. Once june comes and you're out of contract, then things will be easier. The sky broadband thing may also free up a little bit of cash too.

Being careful is going to be key for the first few months, until you find your feet.

However, do send pictures...

CAFCGirl

ZTD wrote:

You shouldn't be - it is do-able (yes...it's a word now). I would also suggest you save up your 97 quid for a month, so you have a tiny bit of float.

It's not impossible, in fact it is very possible, but you are going to have to be careful. Once june comes and you're out of contract, then things will be easier. The sky broadband thing may also free up a little bit of cash too.

Being careful is going to be key for the first few months, until you find your feet.

However, do send pictures...

I guess I dont want to start feeling low about this new situation which has arisen, I'm solely trying to feel the positives so that I dont depress myself again.

BF asked me what I truly felt about the situation, and I told him I love this new flat, and feel like I'm actually going to be "a real live grown up" (LOL) and that I'll learn a lot from being totally responsible.

But then I also pointed out that my friend who we'll call S, was literally my closest friend and I did a lot to help her out. I know her situation is very difficult and I wont pretend to understand but part of me can't help but personally and selfishly feel like she's screwed me over in part.

That probably sounds really harsh and its not like I hate hre or anything, but I live for plans, and then when something changes all that I get a little bit lost in what I'm doing.

I dont want to dwell on whats going to really hurt, and I know a lot of it will. But I'm trying to see it as a challenge, to see how far I can push myself when I truly need to.
My minimum payments are covered, plus a little extra, and I'm not paying out more than I earn.
The only aspect that scares me slightly is probably the utilities, as I've never really focused on cutting it down to a bare minimum.... Nor am I truly aware of how much say a lightbulb costs to have on for an hour?!

so please all bear with me if I seem to be spouting on about the same old stuff,I know increasing my rent will hamper my debt payments for a while, and it wasn't an easy choice but I am hoping that with a little help from my friends (that'd be you guys) I can do it :T

ZTD

CAFCGirl wrote:

I guess I dont want to start feeling low about this new situation which has arisen, I'm solely trying to feel the positives so that I dont depress myself again.

Hope for the best - prepare for the worst. No reason for you to be depressed.

CAFCGirl wrote:

BF asked me what I truly felt about the situation, and I told him I love this new flat, and feel like I'm actually going to be "a real live grown up" (LOL) and that I'll learn a lot from being totally responsible.

I always find it amusing that kids say "adults" and adults say "grown ups". I say "adult" - I guess I'm a kid at heart...

CAFCGirl wrote:

That probably sounds really harsh and its not like I hate hre or anything, but I live for plans, and then when something changes all that I get a little bit lost in what I'm doing.

When making a plan - make plan B also...

If you want to go the whole hog, you do a whole SWOT analysis - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

It depends on the person you are - I usually do the over-arching "strategy" bit, then make the details up as I go along.

CAFCGirl wrote:

I dont want to dwell on whats going to really hurt, and I know a lot of it will. But I'm trying to see it as a challenge, to see how far I can push myself when I truly need to.

It shouldn't be that bad TBH. You do have a little bit spare. What I would recommend though, is that you pay *exactly* (to the pence) the minimum payments on your cards, and put the extra 3 quid (or so) a month onto your DP card. It doesn't seem like anything, but according to my "back-of-the-envelope" calculations, you'll cut a month of your DP card.

CAFCGirl wrote:

My minimum payments are covered, plus a little extra, and I'm not paying out more than I earn.
The only aspect that scares me slightly is probably the utilities, as I've never really focused on cutting it down to a bare minimum.... Nor am I truly aware of how much say a lightbulb costs to have on for an hour?!

You needn't focus that hard on it. Just cut down waste, that's all. Keep doors shut, don't have the TV playing to itself - things like that.

CAFCGirl wrote:

so please all bear with me if I seem to be spouting on about the same old stuff,I know increasing my rent will hamper my debt payments for a while, and it wasn't an easy choice but I am hoping that with a little help from my friends (that'd be you guys) I can do it :T

I know it wasn't an easy choice, I'm just trying to point out the problems before you encounter them, rather than you encountering them.

CAFCGirl

I think it just because I know I've increased on something to then have to cut down on something else.

If it wasn't for these pesky debts! According to the snowball calculator I'll be debt free in Jnauary 2009, which includes the loan, so its not too dreadful. All I want to make sure I do is:
1. Be controlled with spending on food
2. Cut down on use of utilities
3. Not focus on negatives of situations
4. Cut myself some slack so I dont get on a spending spree
5. Dont use credit card etc to live on

It'll all be fine...........:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

ZTD

CAFCGirl wrote:

I think it just because I know I've increased on something to then have to cut down on something else.

If it wasn't for these pesky debts! According to the snowball calculator I'll be debt free in Jnauary 2009, which includes the loan, so its not too dreadful. All I want to make sure I do is:
1. Be controlled with spending on food
2. Cut down on use of utilities
3. Not focus on negatives of situations
4. Cut myself some slack so I dont get on a spending spree
5. Dont use credit card etc to live on

It'll all be fine...........:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

None of which is impossible.

Have you looked for a low LOB card to stick some of your higher APR debts on to?

CAFCGirl

ZTD wrote:

None of which is impossible.

Have you looked for a low LOB card to stick some of your higher APR debts on to?

last two i've applied for have all been rejected so I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that at the mo, my credit score is a bit rubbish

After i've moved I'm going to request my credit file on paper (read somewhere it costs £2?) and see whats going on with it.

I have noticed that I'm not on the electoral role here, which i think is a big black mark when companies come to do credit checks. Plus I want to check what accounts it seems to think I hold and make sure any old accounts are cancelled and closed.

CAFCGirl

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Credit checks came back all ok!!!!

Agency just want me to name a time to come in pay my monies and get my keys!
So on the list................
Go and see landlord tomorrow and discuss what options there are for me there!
Start packing!!!!!
Oh yeah and tell agency I'll be there first thing monday morning to pay my dosh!!!

Anyone got any tips for how you organise house moving?

CAFCGirl

Good Day to one and all.

Apologies for not updating this much in the past few days,

I'll confess to being a bit tied up with the Giving Up Money for Lent challenge which I started up.
It's been going really well and I havent spent a penny since it began, not even on food (which is allowed!).

Moving is still going ahead. I think I'm on track. I've been packing up slowly, one room at a time. My Dad is hiring a van on wednesday to help move big furniture etc.

So all is going fine at this moment in time. I'm sure I'll be tearing my hair out by middle of next week but until then.... I'm happy

prophecy_grrl

Hi CAFC Girl

First - congrats on a very entertaining (sometimes emotional) diary. You're an inspiration.

Second - my number one tip for house moving is to clearly mark all the boxes by content/room - and to pack the kettle tea bags and mug on top on one clearly marked box - you'll need it!

Good luck

CAFCGirl

Thanks Prophecy.

I've been quite lucky as I've had a lot of time available to pack, so I've done everything in the bathroom and living room thats not immediately needed.

Tonight I'll be doing more of my room and on sunday it'll be the kitchen.
I'm gonna leave very little out for monday and tuesday so, it'll be the last thing to be packed and the first thing that comes out