"Oh no, not another ****** diary!!"

Summercherry

Ok here goes

Background info

I am a single (35 yr old) parent to a 13 yr old DS, that split with my husband 4 years ago, his leaving present, a lot of debt (ah he was always so generous!)

For 4 years I have been (very, very, very, (lets just say many very's!)) slowly paying it off and it feels as though I am not in a much better place than I was then even though I have tried to make lots of changes. Sometimes it feels like a battle which I will never win, so I am hoping that by writing this I can see where I am going wrong and get this debt paid off.

Progress!

In the four years we have been apart, I have managed to (in no particular order!):

1, Complete a "Personal Finance Course"
2, Get a better paid job
3, Set myself up a pension
4, Given up smoking
5, lost 3 stone (nothing to do with debt but just thought I would throw that in to make me feel better!!!)
6, (Trying) to complete a degree in Spanish part time.

However my debt just seems to be "hanging there" not getting any smaller and not getting any bigger, and I always feel that every day we are "just getting by".

Hopes & Dreams

In an ideal world I would love to be able to afford a mortgage (currently council renting - a maisonette upstairs) a house with a small garden so that my DS can invite his friends round and something to call "ours", a place we can relax in which is safe and cosy and which could be an asset in the future.

Maybe have the odd holiday here and there.

Get my son through Uni.

Bright Side! (yes if you really really think about it there is always one!!)

I am lucky to have family living in Spain which = the possibility of a cheap holiday

I always manage to make at least the minimum payments (some of the time a little bit more (now!!)) every month so no CCJ's etc

Although I rent (council) I am not in a "bad" area

So for now that's it in a nutshell, here is my FRESH START TO DFW so all that is left is my SOA, any suggestions gratefully received!!

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 0

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1265.29
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 567
Other income............................ 281.2
Total monthly income.................... 2113.49

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 312.43
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 70
Electricity............................. 30
Gas..................................... 25
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 20
Telephone (land line)................... 31.74
Mobile phone............................ 25.66
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 23
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 160
Clothing................................ 50
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 50
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 60
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 20
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 12
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 28.51
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 35
Haircuts................................ 7
Entertainment........................... 40
Holiday................................. 50
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1062.46


Assets
Cash.................................... 150
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 150

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Credit card 1..................14523.....300.......0
Credit Card 2..................8976......250.......0
Loan...........................10114.....217.......0
WW.............................0.........17.95.....0
Catalogues.....................1128......100.......0
Total unsecured debts..........34741.....884.95....-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,113.49
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,062.46
Available for debt repayments........... 1,051.03
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 884.95
Amount left after debt repayments....... 166.08

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 150
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -34,741
Net Assets.............................. -34,591

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

Thanks for reading and good luck in your own journey

Till next time.

Adios amigos!

x

Summercherry

Ok

Week 1 - not too bad I don't think!

Started a spending diary so this week as follows

Travel (bus fare) £10.40
Travel (cab fare) £5.00
DS £1.00 (he asked for £1 to have a burger from school)
Lottery £5.00

Total Spend week 1 £21.40

Thats it! Luckily didn't need any groceries etc this week.

Changes
DS took packed lunch to school all week (he normally has school dinners @ £3.00 per day) also managed to use some "free sandwiches" too many got ordered at work and they were going to throw them away so I said I would have them

I have been getting the cheaper (different company - 10p less per journey meh its only 10p but every little helps!) bus to work, and also have been getting on the stop after I normally would saving 50p per journey


The only question is I do actually feel a little guilty about sending DS to school with a packed lunch rather than school dinners. Not for my DS but I can't help but feel that I was supporting the "school lunch staff" by my son having a school lunch. Can't help but wonder if enough people pull in their belts and start sending their children to school with a packed lunch that school lunch staff will suffer redundancies especially with cuts within the public sector hmmm anyway thats what I have been thinking about that.

Have been thinking about growing some veg etc, I only have a balcony but going to look into it this week I think.

Have a great week & good luck with your journey.

Adios amigos

x

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary
Keep plodding!

Summercherry

Thanx beanielou, good luck on your journey(s) onwards and upwards!

Summercherry

Week 2

Well had a few financial but essential hurdles this week but here goes


Travel this week £23.50 a bit on the high side this week but had to get 3 cabs this week.

New school shoes for DS £10.00 I was trying to avoid this one until the new term but he was complaining of sore toes. Had his feet measured and he was wearing shoes 2 sizes too small :eek:

Started my veg/fruit growing this week so needed to get some supplies £36.00 spent at Wilkinsons on compost, seeds etc. Picked up some good gardening money saving tips from the forums though so am going to put them into practice. I have managed to plant beans, radish, spring onions, and a herb pot. I also bought an olive bush. Hopefully I won't kill anything before I get to enjoy it!

Lottery £5.00

Asda £19.45

Also got a bargain (I think!) on 24 cans of Pepsi £5.99 we drink lots of it!

Spotted on here 12 strawberry plants and a potato growing starter kit for £8.95 so bought that too!

Total Spend for this week £110.73 hmmm bit on the high side but hopefully spending the money on the fruit/veg growing will pay dividends.

On the plus side, next week have managed to score some overtime at work 7 hrs at x1.5 and 3 hrs at x2 so hopefully will add to the "pot".

Wanted to buy lots more in Asda but managed to contain myself and just buy the things we needed

DS still taking a packed lunch to school, I am even making bread for him to have his sandwiches with so won't be buying any bread anymore.

Thought for this week I think we consume lots of fizzy drinks and they are not cheap! I was wondering about reviving an 80's trend and buying a sodastream???!!! They are on special offer atm but with the machine, syrup & gas would they actually save us money??

Well will be planting some more fruit/veg this weekend just wish it would all hurry up and grow!! I have also seen a small green house/shelf thingy for £10.00 which I may buy this week end so I can grow some peppers & chillis.

Thanks for reading.

Have a good week, good luck in your journey.

¡Hasta luego!

x

beanielou

Sodastreams are great.
Or where first time round.
Would imagine they are quite cost effective.
How much do they cost to buy these days?

Summercherry

beanielou wrote: »

Sodastreams are great.
Or where first time round.
Would imagine they are quite cost effective.
How much do they cost to buy these days?

I got one!!! £29.00 from Comet (plus some extras!)

NAEFAGS

Hi
Just dropped buy to say hi

good luck with the diary its good to talk xxx

Summercherry

Week 3

Travel Costs £19.25
Groceries £2.69
Garden Supplies £32.33
Soda Stream £43.79
Christmas Shopping (M&S Sale ) £28.00

Total Spend this week £126.76

+ £100 (lottery win)

Well last week I was contemplating buying a Sodastream and as you can see I did! I had a good week last week won £100 on the lottery :j 4 numbers on the Thunderball so I decided to buy the Sodastream with that.

Bought some more "garden veg" supplies have got lots growing on the balcony now. Received my special offer strawberry plants so they are out there now too!

I completed my overtime, didn't finish until 4am :eek: but I am going to put the money towards a break at Champneys :T I have seen a special offer 2 nights for the price of one so I am there! Can't wait! :j:j:j
Not sure how much I will be getting, after tax etc but I have £56.21 left of my lottery winnings so that can go towards my break too.

I have also started my Christmas shopping. I tend to go a bit mad at Christmas, I normally work on having "the perfect Christmas" so have started reining that idea in will start a "Christmas box" am trying to get DS to write a list but so far he hasn't produced one :note to self must nag more!!

Thought for the week. DS is off to his nannas/dads for a few weeks so it will just be me :cool: until end of August however, I normally go shopping (i.e. big shop) once a month (I am due to go next Saturday). My challenge these few weeks is to make do with what I have because it is just me, and what I normally would spend on the shop, use that towards my Champneys break. So today I am off for a baking/freezing day (all will have to be Weight Watchers friendly!!) see what I can come up with in the back of my cupboards!!

Take care.

Good luck in your own journeys.

¡Hasta pronto!

Summercherry

NAEFAGS wrote: »

Hi
Just dropped buy to say hi

good luck with the diary its good to talk xxx

Thank you Naefags. Good luck with your journey(s)

x