Too many bad habits.

MissNumNums

Habits are routines of behavior that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsiously, without directly thinking consciously about them.

Hi all,

This describes me perfectly. I do alot of things without thinking about them only to find out there's nothing in the bank and no money for a week.

My major bad habit is - Gambling. I don't have a serious problem. But it's bad enough to effect my lifestyle. I always make sure I have enough money/or stuff in the house to care for my kids DS (4) and DD (16mths). But I can spend anything up to £500 a month on gambling. I don't realise how much I've spent until I sit back and count up, £20 on this site, £40 on that site and multiple times a day.

My dilema here is, I work for online bingo sites. Soooo I'm always around this aspect. I have tried self excluding, closing accounts etc. This will probably now work by the end of this month because believe it or not. I have played at every site ever known. You name it, I've played it.

Free bingo doesn't quench my thirst. For some reason my body doesn't feel happy until I've spent a huge amount and then have to make up lies to my DH about where the money has gone.

Another bad habit...

Laziness! This leads to my second big spender - Take aways.

Me and my DH can spend up to £20 a night on take aways. And this is probably up to around £150 this month already.

Both of us work full time and 2 kids. I work from home, mostly from 5/7pm onwards. I always feed the kids and get them sorted in time for work. But I don't feed myself and hubby hates re-heated food. He's usually happy to make something himself. But I always give in and opt for a Take Away. We do enjoy our food, so I'd like to cancel this to pay days. Roughly the 15th and 1st of every month.

Another habit....

Boredom!

This is one of my main reasons for gambling... I get bored. I used to be a very active person. But since the kids and finding out I'll be blind by my mid 30's. I don't go out very much. I actually do my most to avoid it. It's hassle I feel I don't need. To the point my brother has referred to me as a hermit. I take my DS to nursery and I do a shop at my local supermarket (I don't drive).

Also when bored... I spend money on things I think we need... extra toys for the kids etc etc. This pushed my christmas budget from around £700 to probably around £1000-£1100 mark, I don't actually know.


I try to talk to DH but he's so laid back I swear he should of been a turtle. I poddles on and on and on. He knows we have debt, he does complain about it. But he doesn't discuss it with me. We start all these good ideas and we don't follow through with them.

So I'd like to take control now.

Total debts....

£3200 OD
£2000 Credit Card (was originally £4000)
£4000 Loan from mum (was originally £1000) (Only wants £2000 more back, but I want to pay it all off)
£4100 Loan from bank (was £5000 + interest)
£920 OD from shared account (with brother who wont admit liability.)

= £14220... wow it's alot more when you add it up.

Recently paid off £2000 credit card too.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

And could anyone please suggest some good money saving tips. I'd love to pay off that by next year.

Hubby can earn anything from £1200 to £3000 a month and I clear around about £900. We don't get much in tax credits or anything.

If you're still reading, thankyou. I appreciate it.

MissNumNums

Joined pot saving - WOOP! I always have loads of change lying around the place, I reckon I'll probably be off to about £15 once I collect it up and something safe and secure to place it in that I can't break into easily lol.

DS thinks I've lost the plot.

I've decided, I'm going to phone the bank tomorrow and tell them that my bank card has gone missing and to send me a new one. This will give me a new card number as I know mine off my heart, which doesn't pose well when you're trying to avoid using your card online. Also going to open a new bank account in my name with a cash card and place my wages into there every month to help me save up to pay off the debts in lump sums, but also for paying for food shopping when I don't want to have to ask DH to use his debit card like a teenager when I'm the one who's supposed to be taking control!

MissNumNums

Household Information[/b]
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned....................

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 900
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2000
Benefits................................ 384
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3284

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 450
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 100
Electricity............................. 50
Gas..................................... 70
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 25
Mobile phone............................ 30
TV Licence.............................. 11
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 25
Internet Services....................... 25
Groceries etc. ......................... 400
Clothing................................ 50
Petrol/diesel........................... 60
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 50
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 8
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 100
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 50
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 20
Total monthly expenses.................. 1544


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Loan...........................4100......150.......0
Credit card....................2000......50........0
Overdraft......................1000......25........0
Overdraft......................3200......0.........0
Mum............................4000......100.......0
Total unsecured debts..........14300.....325.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,284
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,544
Available for debt repayments........... 1,740
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 325
Amount left after debt repayments....... 1,415

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -14,300
Net Assets.............................. -14,300

This really makes me wonder why I don't have money left over every month. I must just be spending it in rubbish!!!!

I should have £1,400 left over every month... and I was generous with some things. I don't currently have any fees towards a car as my hubby gets a company car...

And that's going by hubby having £2000 wages, sometimes he gets less sometimes it's more. But usually around the £1600-£2000 mark...

We paid off a credit card last month as he had a good wage .