*** Living beyond my means - My diary ***

nearlyrich

cmjohnson_86 wrote:

Does anyone know any tips/tricks with Sky? Say if I rang them up asking to cancel my subscription saying I dont feel its worth it, they can offer me any discounts? Has anyone tried this or anything?

Why don't you keep a log of what you watch on Sky, we canned it totally last September, they offered me 3 months at half price, since we got rid of it completely I get a call every few weeks offering anything from free for x months to 66p per month for a load of channels. You get quite a lot for nothing on Sky too.

We just got a new TV with Freeview tuner built in, we live in an area where Freeview isn't available according to the website, with our new aerial ( that the NASA might complain about LOL) we get the whole package. For £7.99 you can get top up TV, more channels some Sky some not ( not got it yet but thinking about it.)

Shirts, try Tesco, they are decent quality and wash well for not a lot of dosh, my OH has several. Why have you got 2 phones on contract?

skintchick

If what you posted is all you NEED to spend (no food?) then actually you are fine, you just need to change your mindset.

Why do you need shirts and suits plural for interviews? One outfit will suffice, and you can get more shirts one by one.

You do not NEED Sky!! You want it. It's expensive. I'd rather have a top night out once a month than pay that for television.

You cannot afford to spend £300 on a present and a night out!! HOW THE HELL did you manage that?!?!?! I;m sooooo shocked!

I think you need a spending diary to keep you ont eh straigh and narrow, and to realise that money is tight - you can;t spend it like you have been doing.

Imagine if you had to pay all your own bills? You're earning similar to what I was in my first job and I lived alone on a rented flat and had to pay for EVERYTHING myself. Ok this was, ahem, 1995 but still...

I didn't see your age but someone inplied you are 25 - I had had a mortgage (on my own) for two years by the time I was that age. Personally, I think you need to do a bit of growing up, but that's me with my tired and harsh head on.

Anyway, good luck!

cmjohnson_86

Thanks for the replies.

Firstly I have got two contracts because I was stupid at the time I took out my second phone, I wanted a new phone and just got it on contract NOT thinking about it in the long term.

Reply to Skintchick: What I wrote down was what I do pay for every month, as for food well my mom usually buys it all but occasinaly I do go shopping with her and I buy some for me and my gf who stays over alot. Im 19 btw not 25. I do make good use of Sky, I know its expensive but I dont know what Id do with my spare time if I didnt have sky, Probably just spend more. As when im bored or a little down I seem to spend money which makes me feel happy for a short time. I am trying to stop myself from doing this though.

What you said about the shirts is true, I suppose I can just buy a nice shirt and tie for the interview(s) and if I get a job, I can get a few more at a time. Thanks for that.

Anyway, as for the £300 on my gf, It was her 18th and we had been arguing lately so I wanted to make her birthday one to remember, I paid for her hair colouring and extensions, some clothes and a few other things and we went out to a rave saturday which are not cheap, usualy entrance price is around £15pp. Sat was £9. There open usually til 6-9am too.. So you spend alot on drinks and other stuff inc taxi's etc.

I will be writing down what I spend from now on too, and being more grown up with my money 'cos I dont like being in this mess and feeling the way I do. I think once I change my job I will already be alot happier than I am now, I think my job atm is the main reason for me feeling so down, which doesn't help with my spending as I have already said. But I do take encoragement from what you have said and will try even harder. THANKS :T

scottishspendaholic

Hi cm,

I think you should be applauded for coming to your senses so early in life - you are doing really well! If only I'd been as good a person as you then I wouldn't be in this mess at 26. It doesn't matter what this person has done by this age - comparing yourself to your peers never helps and normally only gets you into a worse mess, in my experience.

It sounds like you gave your girlfriend a birthday to remember - did she appreciate it? Have you managed to speak to her to say that you need to drastically budget for a while and there will be a lot more cosy nights in? If so, what was her reaction?

Welcome to MSE - glad to have you on board!

scottishspendaholic x

cmjohnson_86

Yeah we have had a few good chats about it, went on holiday last month to Corfu which has helped out relationship ALOT. She also started her new job after leaving college today which will also help me out as I wont have to pay for everthing any more. Also she has even offered to help me out by paying some of my debts off but I've told her I want to do it by myself as I got into it by myself. Im glad I have realised that this isn't how I want to live my life so early on and that I am glad there is help and encouragement out there for me.

Hopefully things will start to get better now and I can move forward in my life, starting with a new career path. Thanks alot

Oh forgot to say, Yeah she did appreciate it. She told me she had a fantastic night and loves what I bought her. Btw I try to spoil her a little bit because she's been treated really bad by ex boyfriends in the past. They used to hit her, shes been cheated on, they were in and out of prison and she got into drugs and shes only 18. I just want to try and make her happy. Thats her in the pic(avatar)

scottishspendaholic

cmjohnson_86 wrote:

I just want to try and make her happy. Thats her in the pic(avatar)

She looks lovely and you both look very happy together.

Thanks for your reply - so glad she's on board.

Keep posting

scottishspendaholic x

PeachPickle

Hey cm,

Looks like you're being very positive about things, which always helps. Can I just ask, why are you paying your mum petrol money?

cmjohnson_86

Well A usual working day in the week for me is 10am - 2.30pm then 5pm - 11pm (Different on weekends) So I usually get a bus there and back in the morning and my mom takes me and picks me up on the evening, about 2 miles each way. Also she does take me to my gf to pick her up and drop her off sometimes, So I feel by paying a little petrol money every now and then shows I appreciate it and keeps her off my back.

PeachPickle

Is the bus pass you mentioned in your soa a weekly pass with unlimited rides or is it daily tickets?

cmjohnson_86

PeachPickle wrote:

Is the bus pass you mentioned in your soa a weekly pass with unlimited rides or is it daily tickets?

yeah its a weekly bus pass, Unlimited use. But after 7pm there every half an hour and finish at 9pm. There is another bus service but there a different company, Plus where I work is a bit out in the stick, down a country road.