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

macgirl

Hi Missmental

You seem to be doing very well! I can certainly identify with always overspending on clothes etc and the "Live for today" mentality - that has always been my mantra.

I'm sure you have regrets, but it's not too late to turn things around and it's true, once you get into the MSE habit it IS addictive. Soon you will be saying "How Much!!!!" to everything you pick up

Keep going with it, you are doing great!

missmental

Oh dear,

Yesterday, was a learning curve for me. Just when I was feeling pretty confident I could carry this off, I went to town with OH & DS#2. They cleared off to the barbers, whilst I wandered around looking. On a positive note I didn't go near Monsoon or any of my usual haunts but was drawn to the cheapy pound shops. Spent £19 in there & then another £10 on two CD's in HMV. Hardly essentials! Felt a bit naughty afterwards.:o

Also had to put petrol in the horrid courtesy car they've sent me while mines gone for repair. It's a skoda fabia, i hate it! and it had no petrol in it , cost me £15 in fuel!!!:mad:. Mine should be back end of next week.

Out shopping at ALDI today for weekly shop. May take OH with me to convert him too!! At work tonight & sunday night so not sure I'll be around. This also means i won't be spending much either;).

Better go & do something!

missmental

Hi,

Not posted for a couple of days. Basically been awake on night shift or asleep in the day. Off work now till thurs afternoon! Hurray!

Spending diary still going great, no probs with it at all. Realised that I can actually feed the family healthy meals for approx £70 a week shopping mainly at Aldi. We're having Weight Watchers spicy squash soup for tea, hope it's not too hot!

I am still in credit in my bank accounts which is amazing for me. Think i will be overdrawn by about £700 by end of the month (last month £1400) so big drop, hopefully less each month.

All in all, I'm feeling fantastic, not worried at all about money anymore, which is great years of dread. Just knowing I have a plan that's working to rid this mess is great. Also put myself down for a shift of overtime this month, normally would have spent it in my head already, but now i'm thinking what can i pay off with that?!!

NSD for two days for me as well. At hairdressers tomorrow though for cut & highlights, but have accounted for it and strung appointment out to 8 weeks instead of my usual 6. no big tip as I usually do, will give pressie at xmas instead.

Bye for now,

missmental

Whoo hoo!

Sold some old scrap gold jewellery today in town for £170. Just a few odd earrings, bent bracelets & rings, stuff I would have never worn again. This will fund my V festival ticket I bought last week.

DH remarked he like aldi fruit much better than tesco and the kids are definately converts to aldi pizza.

On a sad note, spoke to DS#1 who is going off to uni in sept about budgeting, not going overdrawn etc and advised him never to have credit cards, 'look at the mess I'm in' chat. He laughed and told me RBS have given him one already £500 limit & 16.9% apr. Thankfully he is sensible enough not to have used it, never goes OD and has saved money for uni in his year off. Makes me really cross that banks are encouraging kids to get into debt. He didn't even ask for it!!

Rant over, another good day for me. DH taking me out for a curry tonight. Early doors 2 for 1. He's my inspiration. never OD alwyas uses cash. why has it taken me 22 years to realise he was right and i was wrong!???

Kayleighpea

Hiya,

Well done on the jewellery money! That's fab news!

A big well done to your DS1 :T for not using that cc! Might be an idea to make sure he cuts it up, it was uni that got me into my current situation. You're dying for a night out/takeaway/whatever and think oh i'll just fund it on my credit card this once and pay it off as soon as I get my loan money - never happens!

missmental

Hi,

Needed a few bits from tesco this morning. Slight dilemna, was somehow £5 short with my weekly cash budget. Instead of withdrawing next weeks money a day early, decided to use the change form the spare change tin. Bagged up £2 in 1p's and changed them at the bank into pound coins. Did shopping in tesco for £6.50 and went to self service till. Paid using the £2 plus the rest in 2 & 5 pences. It felt like I was there for ages and was dreading being short! But I did it and i haven't started using next weeks money! :T

Last night Indian meal was lovely, DH's treat. Feel a bit tubby today though. Filled in my weight watcher tracker. Need to loose 5lb to get to goal.

Back to work today, hoping for a good shift.

missmental

Kayleighpea wrote: »

Hiya,

Well done on the jewellery money! That's fab news!

A big well done to your DS1 :T for not using that cc! Might be an idea to make sure he cuts it up, it was uni that got me into my current situation. You're dying for a night out/takeaway/whatever and think oh i'll just fund it on my credit card this once and pay it off as soon as I get my loan money - never happens!

I have reservations about DS#1 going to uni full stop!! He currently works ful time at Mc Donalds, has excellent reputation of being hard worker , reliable etc. I would rather him try & get a job with his current ICT qualifications because I can see him leaving uni in 4 years with £20k of debt and still being working at Mc D's. It's a massive worry, but he seems intent on going so we're supporting him 100%, if that's what he wants to do.

His CC hasn't arrived yet. Have strongly advised him to cut it up. Thanks for your advice!!

Best wishes,

missmental

A brief note while I'm waiting for the shower! I'm starting my 3rd week today of watching the pennies. Done well so far I think.

missmental

Week 3 of debt busting! Read about PPI's last night. I've had several sainsbury's loans in the last few tears . With the exception of the current loan, I think I have been sold insurance. How would I find out if I had? Do i simply ask them to send me the paperwork, as i haven't got any. Destroyed! too ashamed to admit the truth at the time.

missmental

Been hard at work all weekend so no opportunity to spend! Went into town last night ( leaving do) and only spent £20 including taxi home. Had a really great night too! Need to do some food shopping tomorrow because the fridge is bear. DS#2 light switch has broken so had to call an electrician to fix it. He's coming on tuesday, think this will cost about £20 I've not accounted for from what's left of my weekly budget. Hoping DH will cough up half of it at least!!
Overall, am pleased with progress, still using spending diary that really does stop me spending. Hoping for a good pay day on 26th, did lots of overtime, so hoping to pay extra to bring debtfree day even earlier.