My debt free journey

bramble1

I haven't done a budget :-S I don't really know how to do a budget as my OH is self employed and I have no idea what income he will get from 1 week to the next.... Plus i get paid on commission and have NO idea what i'm going to get paid till my pay slip arrives. But i know out of that £400 is going to my mum to pay off her debt, about £100 needs to go on council tax, i need car tax AND a MOT too. Other than that only outgoings will be fuel and food. I hate that I've got myself into this silly situation! Plus my tax band has been on emergency tax for the last 6 months so am losing £100 a month through that.... REALLY need to sort that out Monday...

First thing is first. No more drinking. That is a silly spend. I need to look at how I do my food shop and see how i can cut down on that. Fuel - not much i can do about that!

Ohhh this is such a mess.

bramble1

Whyyy do i do it? I bought in a tin of soup for lunch with every intention of having it, but noooo i step out to get ingredients for dinner and the evil money spending side of my brain made me go and buy a tuna baguette!!! Not only did i just waste £3, i ate more calories than needed to!!

I really need to sort this out!

penguin83

Hey Bramble don't beat yourself up, it is hard to change habits that you have probably had a lifetime.

First off, make yourself a list of all your outgoings, my OH is self employed too (taxi driver) and we have no idea of what his income will be one day to the next but it is still good (I think) to make a list of your outgoings - absolutely everything including that tuna baguette! Start a spending diary as well and write in it everything you buy - you will soon see where you are overspending and things that you need to include in your outgoings that you forgot about.

Stay positive xxxx

bramble1

Thanks Penguin!! I'm making my list tomorrow, luckily now we've no rent or bills most of my income from january is disposable. So i can really start making dents in my debts.

I applied for my 'safe' account today, no over draft nothing! From the Co-op, hopefully i get it all through in the post soon

I know i can do this, i just need to accept it won't be plain sailing the entire time, there will be bumps!

bramble1

Food shopping today! Going to make a list and be good and stick to it. Just need to come up with some tasty meal ideas. Preferably ones I can stick in the slow cooker all day!

Got to sort the garden out today too, already done the house work! Motivational me today!

bramble1

Hurmmm my application for a bank account with the CO-OP was declined. I don't understand why... I didn't want an over draft but they said it was because of my credit rating. Not sure what to do now...

Brother is getting me a piggy bank you have to smash to open for Crimbo!
Spent £58 on weekly shop today, only thing i didn't get was mince, they didnt have the basics one.

bramble1

Right, have £60 to pay into bank account tomorrow, £10 (this months min payment) is going to next account. £50 is going onto Credit card.

Phone bill is paid for this month
Pet insurance is paid of this month.
Just need fuel and 1 more christmas present.

bramble1

Put £2.80 into my sealed pot today. It's spare change that was kicking around in purse. If it's in the pot I can't spend it!

Lunch today is soup, Dinner is stew - it's in the slow cooker as we speak!

Other dinners this week are
Burgers
Lasagne
New York Chicken
Curry

Lunches for the week
Noodles x 2
Left over lasagne
Sandwich.

Quite worried about how we are going to survive January. 6 weeks in between pay and £530 of my money is going to my mum. well atleast it will be one debt written off! Will only sadly be able to do minimum payments this month I think. Too risky otherwise.

bramble1

Made a little saving today, need an MOT and got a MOT for £26 voucher with my parking ticket today, booked that in for Thursday - hopefully it passes!!

bramble1

Put some more money in the pot today, and haven't spent a penny Impressed with myself for that.

Planning a little party with my best friend on Saturday, luckily she's in a simmilar position to me, so is all for fun times on the cheap, we're making nachos and a american platter and going to lidl to pick up some vodka and watching the telly!

OH is getting lots of work in, just waiting for him to give out invoices and then we can start getting money in from him too!!

Can't believe it's Christmas, next week. Where has the year gone? Bring on 2010 anywhoo, Looking forward to a new start.