Miss Mental can see light at the end of the tunnel...

missmental

Hello,

I'm 44, been over spending for years, enjoy the good life, holidays, clothes, going out etc.

I've always had the philosophy of living for today because I may not see tomorrow. My mum died young, I suppose it has affected my view of not saving for things I wanted.

Over the years I have had credit cards & loans now totalling £28,000. I earn decent money but struggling to pay everything off & have taken out several consolidation loans only to end up owing more.

Have spent a few hours on this site today. Been on the snowball calculator. It seems there is light at the end of the tunnel and I could be debt free in about 3 years. I need to clarify some rates & whether my loan is flexible tomorrow but I am feeling quite positive about it all for the first time in years. hopefully my 3 credit cards will be no more at xmas! :j

Am going to try & use this diary to keep focused. I can't believe I have been so irresponsible over the years. Hopefully this is my new beginning?.....

sillyrabbit

Welcome! I've been posting all my debt info today too, and I'm clear I need to be debt free ASAP! No good going on the way we are...

It's a really good idea to do a SOA if you haven't started one already as it really shows where you can cut back and what your actual surplus is (if you have one).

Good luck!

macgirl

:hello: and Welcome!

You're in the right place - mentally and financially

As sillyrabbit says, post an SOA, post daily about your successes and struggles and you'll be well on your way to busting those debts!

missmental

Well, I've got my snowball plan in action. I will be debt free in 33 months. I have no credit cards by jan 2011. Whoop, must be over 25 years since I didn't have a credit card.

Got paid today. Paid off overdraft with some savings. Paid £800 0ff debts ;
Bought a spending book. Ditching the cards & using cash. Sounds easy!
I know it won't be. Trying to plan ahead what I need to pay out this month. Trees being cut down on monday & V festival tickets out next week; essential!!!


Have a good day everyone. I'm out on the town tonight; on a budget of course!
Good job i'm at work tomorrow, means i will drink less = less spent.

Bye for now. X

sainsburys7.40% £22,000.00 £21,673.00£327.00

mbna15.00% £2,400.00 £2,350.00£50.00

virgin cc15.90% £1,800.00 £1,458.27£341.73

barclaycard14.50% £504.00 £497.00£7.00

monsoon18.90% £74.27 £0.00£74.27

£26,778.27 £25,978.27 £800.00

£

mummum2

:TOh good luck, will be following your progress:j

MM2

missmental

Well, received my spending diary from ebay ( 3 for £2) this am. Wrote all my spending down for yesterday, including night out till 2am in town (a colleagues leaving do). Came home with much more cash than i normally do and no hangover to boot!! Drank small wine & soda instead of large wine!

Going to talk to my friend this afternoon who's also in same boat as me. hopefully, she will start to see this is achievable as well.

Bye for now.:D

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Having afriend in the same boat will help loads.xx

missmental

Hi,

Didn't spend a penny yesterday as at work till late. Making some chicken tikka from scratch using my aldi chicken breasts. I am very impressed at the quality & amount you get for £3.99, compared to othe shops i normally buy from. Back at work this afternoon, so no more spending. think I may make it through the week within my £150 budget after all.

Spoke to my mate with similar probs. She is having a go at the snowball as well. She was quite hopeful looking at my debt goal date.

Bye for now.

purple_angel_3

Hello :wave:

Im like you, in my forties and always had debt of some kind. You have made a great start. Good luck with your budget this week.

purple_angel

missmental

Purple Angel, Hi, thanks for your support.

I am truely amazed at my current clear & logical approach to my problem after years of fooling myself I could cope & carried on spending. I am actually getting a buzz out of not spending. Everyone at work is very inpressed with my spending diary & that I am actually filling it in!
Can't wait for the day, my wages are actually mine and I'm not overdrawn on payday.
I am looking forward to finding out how much I actually need to spend a month. I have no idea how much I spend on food, fuel, going out, on the kids etc. It feels enlightening to be finding things out about myself ( some things I may not like).
Seeing a friend who's off sick tomorrow. She's on crutches, broken leg . Might take her out for a treat for a coffee. Still have £31.50 to last till Friday. And have put money aside for my netball & son's clarinet lesson from my weekly budget. God ! I think I have turned into someone else!!!

Bye, sweet dreams everyone.

david_hellier

Well done! Make it £30 to last till Friday! Carry £1.50 over!

Good luck.