Macgirl's "Stop Procrastinating and Get on with it" Diary

hypno06

So, if the words "no debt" or "budget" don't resonate, you need to find the words that do, but that will have the desired effect.

If you are associating those words like "budget" as failure-words, ie negative words, then you will find yourself drawn to them because you are trying to concentrate on something that is actually very negative.

Find the positive way of describing it for you, and focus on THAT instead, and it will work.

positive schmositive indeed

macgirl

Thanks I do defo have PMT today which is not helping

If I'm honest and dig deep, I think anything that relates to numbers I find terribly boring. It takes me back to maths at school - yawn
Conversely, at work I have targets to beat and I relish the thrill when I do and work hard to improve margins. Perhaps I need to set myself a challenge (I feel like I keep saying this - then I get bored so it tails off - I know that sounds terrible and pathetic) but make it more competitive as I am goal driven.

I will think about this, because I AM going to change and sort it once and for all. Thanks again x

Keeping_Motivated

Hey don't be too hard on yourself, I am sure that if I was moving house on Friday that I too would be in the 'oh sh*t' camp this week on the finances front...moving is expensiiive! You must have been paying out more than the norm?

Ok I know its not ideal and I know its adding to the stress (which is high on your list to get rid of) but the fact you are admitting it on here shows that you really are taking it seriously and you have definately changed in your ways and will continue to change. You'll get there...did you list the keyboard? Would that help bring down the overdraft?

Don't be too hard on yourself...find a solution, its more positive than beating yourself up....AND most importantly you will be sat in your new house very very soon...smile x

hypno06

So, if the word "target" is a winner for you, then perhaps setting yourself financial targets will be better for you than setting yourself another set of budgets?

There is nothing wrong with being goal driven, or competitive. I know one or two people that way inclined myself :rotfl:

macgirl

Thanks KM :A I got out the keyboard and found that they don't got for that much, then DH said it might be worth keeping it as we're going to get the kids piano lessons and "at least they can practise on the keyboard with headphones on". Good point.

Well, I guess I do need to stop hiding it............
























my overdraft is now £3000 :o:o:o:o I didn't want to declare it here because it gets me down that I'm doing well with the cards - but really my total hasn't shifted. I was SO hoping and praying for a bonus last week to pay it off. The payrise was great and I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I'm sick of drip feeding it, to get rid of it on one fell swoop would be a real boost.
Anyway, we are where we are, and as I said, tomorrow is a new day. Thanks again x

Keeping_Motivated

Mac do you have DD's or SO's coming out of that account?

macgirl

Yes, DD's for mobile, dentist and cc's payments, plus a standing order for my share of the household stuff to our joint account.

Keeping_Motivated

Would it work to keep your wages paid into that account and leave enough in that account to cover all your outgoings PLUS extra to make sure the overdraft is going down each month and then have your 'spending money' transferred automatically into a new account that has no overdraft facilty and just a debit card for that account? You could cut up the debit card to the overdraft account so there are no temptations. This would be starting you off with a (sort of) clean slate and no temptations and one figure to work to. And your OD would be going down.

You don't touch your joint account for unnecessary spends from what I have read so you could use your overdraft account in the same way IYSWIM.

macgirl

Thanks KM, I should, no WILL do that. I opened another account to sit along side my current one to use for savings, but it would work better in reverse.

I get paid on the 23rd (counting the hours) so from then I will do that. Thanks

macgirl

Good Morning. It feels like the morning after the night before....
Little DD woke at 5.30am crying but I was already awake, so decided to get up. I've decided I'm not going to beat myself up about it, just continue to make changes.

There have been more expenses this year and as I said my goal was to move house and that's been achieved. So the next goal is to get the numbers down.
Fridays are free so I am going to start on my little idea, as I'll have the space and time to do it. Plus my pay will increase this month, so there will be more in the pot.

It will be ok.

This site makes such a difference, I'm so glad to be a part of it. So thanks KM and Hypno last night :A:A
If only I'd started posting in Jan 2004 when I first joined - I'd most probably be debt free now :cool: