Introducing myself - Small changes, big effect!

kaz0705

Kt, don't feel too disheartened. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the journey all most people can donis make small chips at the debt. Give yourself a year of being (mostly) good and it'll be much better, I promise. 2010, debtwise, was a depressing struggle for me. 2011 is far more comfortable.

Iv already said that we appear to have similar experiences with boyfriends and debt but I am wondering if your boyfriend is doIng much to take control of his problems? If not, you are essentially facilitating him getting further into debt... I reckon I still do to an extent with my Boyf too but he doesn't have specific debt issues (he might borrow £50 off me at the end if each month that gets repaid immediately on payday but that's it). So I knownits hard to say no and to not help and can't even really advise but we both know that helPing them out only worsens their situation and attitude. Just worth considering.

The end of this job will be an excellent opportunity for you! Have you started looking around yet? I would highly recommend googling stuff like 'CVs', 'first interview questions' etc to help improve on stuff, too.

You're only young (is that patronising considering I'm only 28?); WE'RE only young and have a life time of adventures and debt free livid ahead of us- don't despair!

As an aside, an acquaintance of mine upped sticks to follow housemates back to Oz for a year. She was in loads of debt but obviously doesn't care as all I see on facebook are all these adventures she's having including currently a trip to Mexico, la, coachella and Vegas. Depresses me no end!! But, you make the best of you're choices and I'm looking forward to going away next year, debtfree, on a massive trip. :-)

*KT*

I am still helping bf because he is doing things to help himself now. Even then, I'm not doing nearly as much as I was before. It's more getting in a wee food shop so he isn't eating on the hop and spending more. Or picking him up from work so that we can spend a wee bit extra time together and he only has to buy a single ticket.

He's in a much worse state than me but we're diggin ourselves out together. Things will also change in a few weeks when he gets his redundancy package (which is much bigger than mine) and he can help me out a bit. We've been together a long time now and I know he gives back when he can (or pays me back in neck rubs and cups of tea)

We've started doing something else together that is really enjoyable, bonding and best of all, free! NO NOT THAT!! (well, that too...!) Dirty minded people... He's started reading to me at night on the nights that we are staying together. We're working through a classic that he has read before and I haven't. I'll be honest, the romantic girl in me is totally loving it!

As for the job stuff, my work is sending us on many CV writing workshops, new career workshops and other meetings to help and I'm quite enjoying that kind of thing.

I had another sale on ebay and on amazon. it's mostly 99p and other small amounts but it is all items I don't use/want leaving my flat and pennies in my pocket.

*KT*

Early pay day today but going to try to be extra good this month. I know I can do it.

Tonight I have the MSE night of staying with my bf at his dads where a beer and dinner is provided and I will be using no electricity (other than the fridgefreezer hopefully...) in my flat for the night. Woohoo! I might contribute by buying everyone a packet of crisps or something for later on in the evening. Sometimes I can be such an enabler!

The sun is shining, I'm not going to let my dads somewhat difficult behaviour get to me.

Today I find smiles.

hypno06

Smiles are good

*KT*

Time for an update I think!

As of about 2 minutes ago I got accepted for a 0% balance transfer card! (stupidly high credit limit that I hope never to touch.) This is to clear the Natwest credit card that they just hiked the APR on. But something else to sing about, That card I had been nearing my £900 limit (I am proud to say I never went over it). The last time I spent on this card was February 22nd and that was for petrol during my really bad month.

The balance being transferred is £780 so I have chipped that down a bit, not nearly as much as I would like but hopefully a 0% for a wee while, even with a small fee, I will see results much faster. Ps. It was one of the top 4 balance transfer cards on that page.

I am not being nearly as strict on myself as I need to be but I am finding balance. My strictness ebbs and flows but as long as it always comes back I'm ok with that.

Next mission - learn to cook better! and cheaper!

I am still here and I'm still trying, hopefully there are points for that.

*KT*

ps. I'm still selling things on ebay and amazon as and when I can. It's a teeny trickle but it helps, with the mindset even if nothing else.

*KT*

Teeny update from me

I went for an eye test today. It's official! My eyesight is now bad enough to qualify as "complex" and therefore I will get NHS help towards my specs (but not my contacts, which I live in!) Maybe I should be learning Braille instead of Sign Language... Hee hee!

Don't all go stabbing yourselves in the eye now but by being bat-sighted I will now save the princely sum of £13.70!

*KT*

Latest update.

My printer has died. The cheapest one I can find that does everything I need it to do is ~£50 out of tesco. That will push back my passport purchase yet again. I really wish I could sell more stuff to get my passport sooner rather than later. I really can't do without a printer that can also copy this late in my uni course.

Must make a plan...

KT

Verbatim

Ahh swings and roundabouts. Up £13.70, down the cost of a printer. How about asking on freecycle? If you haven't given anything you may have to do so first but that could be some empty jam jars for jam making or anything you don't want anymore.

*KT*

I have tried to get on freecycle a few times now and for some unknown reason I am usually rejected, even when I was only trying to join to give things away. I suppose it could be worth one last try.

Thanks!

*KT*

Well, latest update. Both the new printer and new passport are on hold. New trainers are seriously the order of the day. I am doing a 10K on Sunday and my current trainers are giving me blisters. Priorities, needs must!

There is a kind of catalogue, direct type shop that I can go to that is much more affordable for that kind of thing so fingers crossed I can get one of the pairs I tried on in the running shop.