Confessions of a (reformed??!) Shopaholic

misslauren

Hi all..... Wow... its been a while.

Well I still have debts but they are slowly coming down... its nice to see my ANZ interest charges going down... finally. They had been increasing the rate almost every bill so I'm so glad that one is starting to come down.

Starting to sketch away, trying to get into the fashion course I've been chasing for next year... Got into the right school but not the right course this year ;-)

How is everyone?

misslauren

Hi all! Well I've managed to get the nasty ANZ down to $1,640... hoping to have that completely paid off by christmas so I just have to worry about the St, George after that. Trying to save some money too... will need around $3,500 if I get into the fashion course I want at the school i go to for next year.. god willing.

Also have a few pretty little things I'd love to get... but might leave them as treats if I am doing well.

Hope everyone is going great!

misslauren

Wow.... Hi Everyone! It's been a while... and I must say that with recent events I think I have finally truly had my light bulb moment... It's taken long enough, and it's sad to say that I'm in more debt now than I was before.. but I've finally started to realise the cost of the debts I have.

This has definitely been brought on by the fact that I now have a full time job and live on my own, so while I may be earning more than I previously have, my discretionary income has come down to nada when taking in consideration bills, food and loan repayments. I hate that I am paying so much on loans, at the moment its around $130 a week... what I wouldn't do to have that $130 back in my pocket each week... its no small amount of money.

It's going to be a slow process for me... but I am determined now. I need to get rid of it... Guess I should list current debts... scary and angry with myself but here they are..

Car Loan: $16,400.00
St George Credit Card: $ 4,020.00
ANZ Credit Card: $ 1,994.64
Overdraft: $ 2,471.52

Total: $ 24,886.16

Ok.. no more grand statements.. Will just update with what I have paid off, ways I've found to save money... and my gradual progression to my DFD.

rupe34

welcome back misslauren - and well done for posting :T

misslauren

Well I'm currently doing a budget but mainly focusing on food and a meal plan.I have been putting aside approx $90 a week for petrol and groceries, but as my petrol bill is down to about $15 I'd really like to get the groceries down to $30-$40.. $45 at most, then I have an extra $30 a week to pay down debts...

It is a little difficult as I don't have a microwave currently, and my usual solution would be bulk buy/cook and then freeze meals, however looks like I might have one within two weeks so should get organised for it now :A

Currently like the idea of shephards pie..

misslauren

Still no microwave which is becoming a pain in the you know where... Having to wash up so much and hate to think what reheating things in the oven is costing me...

However, in positive news should get a big pay this week... My weekend on plus I took a horse to the trials and another to the races, hopefully another $100 or so for the week which will be nice.

So excited for the weekend, my old neighbour and step dad were going to try and get some things for my apartment together...Nothing new, but as long as its working it will be well received! Will let you know what as soon as I find out!!! :j

misslauren

Well much much cleaning to do, but I was lucky enough to get lots of things for my apartment care of my fabulous parents and neighbours. Got a microwave, iron, ironing board, tv and vacuum, plus as a bonus got my old printer to work with my laptop! Yay!! They're also working on a washing machine, though that might take a month... not that I mind, but it will be so much easier with one!

misslauren

Well its been an interesting few weeks for me. I'm off work on worker's compensation... One of the horses I look after decided it wanted to kick me. In the chest. Five times. :eek:

So I have six broken ribs that are starting to heal and a partially collapsed lung which is a !!!!!!! apparently and not wanting to heal all that quickly at all... Sigh.

At least I have time to work out finances/meal plans/study/plan life in general til I'm okay for work again... has to be a silver lining somewhere right?

Shoe_Gal

Hope you feel better soon :A

misslauren

Long time since I've been on here, so I'll try and cover everything. The ribs have healed up well and I've been back at work a couple of months now which has been good, two months off drove me stir crazy :eek:

Finances have been tricky... Haven't really moved from where I was a few months ago mainly due to the time off, which I was on a reduced wage for the entire time. However I am gritting my teeth and determined to have all credit cards, my overdraft and half my personal (car) loan paid off by the end of the year. Debts as follows:

ANZ Credit Card * 19.39% :mad: * Balance: $2,982.22
St George Credit Card * 13.24% * Balance: $3,775.89
St George Overdraft * 17.00% * Balance: $2,500.00
St George Personal Loan*14.74%* Balance: $15,825.27

So I'll be saving $578 per year in interest with the ANZ CC gone, $499 with St George CC gone, $425 with the overdraft and if I can get the personal loan down to $8,000 that'll be another $1,153.44 saved each year... all up $2,656 saved in interest each year... pretty good incentive hey

Try and post more often, find it helps me keep focused when I've got the MSE team behind me :money: :j