2011 Make or break time

the_harrys

I've been away with work for a few days- quite MSE as everything gets paid for, but its good to be home.

My e-bay stuff did really well- over 250 pounds! Once I work out how to get it into my bank account from paypal it will go straight off CC4. Unfortunately I've run out of big money items to sell, so it will only be the odd pound or two from now on.

MIT- so impressed to see you lost 8lbs this week. I have to motivate myself somehow- I've hardly any clothes that fit. We've a family party in 4 weeks and I'd be pleased if I could lose 8lbs by then (only way I could lose 8lbs in a week would be surgery!).

millionaire_in_training

I am a hefty though. I'll not lose as much as that again. I hope it keeps coming off though. Well done on the e-bay front. I am off the next 2 days and am going to use it to get organised ( house -wise) and gather stuff for e-bay and get it listed over the weekend. I have a few things that I know will get decent prices so I just need to get on with it.

the_harrys

I had a very expensive end of week- both thanks indirectly to OH.
A problem we've been having with OH's car is finally fixed but cost 350 pounds and then he had to pay his dentist's bill - another 150 pounds- so 500.00 in 2 days!! This will put back my debt busting, and the frustrating part is we have absolutely nothing to show for it, but OH needs transport and teeth I suppose .

The DD's are finishing their homework (which they have had all week to do...!) and OH and DS are out so I'm going to spend a few minutes now reviewing my spends for February and making a plan for March.

MiaowMiaow

Just wanted to say hi and well done for everything you have achieved so far - i made the plunge and started my diary on here this month and it really does help.
your ebay sales are great :-) sorry about the car and teeth spends but some things cant be helped.
I will be reading with interest and for inspiration too.
xx

the_harrys

Thanks MM- good luck with your DF journey too, I'm about to embark on month 3 and find checking into MSE regularly a real boost.

I've looked at my Feb spend (not including direct debits for mortgage/ gas/ elec/ TV/ car insurance/ life insurance/ council tax/ water) - here's my actual/ planned:

Food + household: 347/ 350
Fuel: 162/ 150
Clothes (kids) 86/ 80
Leisure 145/ 100
Pocket money (kids) 44/ 50
School expenses 27/ 30
Miscellaneous 67 /50
Dental/optical 175 / 20
Cars (OH's repair) 350/ 100
Pets 32 / 30
TOTAL 1435/ 960

Amount paid off credit card balances: 1450

The unexpected car repair and dentists have taken me well over budget- these went on the empty CC and will need to be paid off in full in March.
Ignoring these 2, I spent 935.00 against a planned spend of 840.00 so 11% over.

March budget:
Food + household: 350
Fuel: 250 (have family party at other end of country to attend)
Clothes (kids) 20
Leisure 100
Pocket money (kids) 50
School expenses 30
Miscellaneous 50
Dental/optical 50
Cars (repair) 50
Pets 34
TOTAL 984

(197.00 per person as crude measure as there are 5 of us in the family)

Planned payment off credit card balances: 1000

millionaire_in_training

Ouch to hubbys expenses :eek:. That was great to pay all that off in 1 month, just a shame £500 back on but we still need to live. Brilliant on the shopping front. I didn't do so well on that front as I lost my way a wee bit and spent > £100 on week one which left me struggling all month. I need to do better on that this month as there are only 3 of us.

I hope you are glad you found this site and it makes you feel better. Have you managed that chat with your mum yet?? No need to answer if you dont want to as I know it is a difficult one but definitely central to your debt busting future xx

the_harrys

Yes, I suppose I've never really made a note of what all these "extras" cost in the past, I've just paid them, so it'll be interesting (in a depressing way ..) to see how they stack up over the months. I still haven't tackled my Mum- I'm dreading it but time is running out as the next date for an expensive family get together is Easter.

On the car front, mine is now overdue for a service- the last one cost 400 pounds at the main dealers (it's only a small family car). The car is 5 years old now so I really begrudge paying that but have never tried anything else. I'm going to do a bit of research to see what other MSEers do.

MiaowMiaow

I hid my debt from everyone - friends, family, I felt like I had let my parents down and said nothing. when it came to crisis point and i had literally no money after bills, debt payments etc I broke down and that was one of my bad depression bouts.
I decided to tell my parents as I felt I was hiding a huge secret and though i was so ashamed I couldnt keep it all to myself any more.
So - I told them about my debt and broke down, it was the best thing I did. A huge weight lifted and I no longer felt alone. They gave me advice and have been extremely supportive and understood. I cannot tell you how better i felt - yes I am still in debt but it is no longer a secret I dread coming out. It was one of the hardest things i have ever had to do as i was so ashamed and felt i had let them down. I had got to the point where i no longer liked living and if i hadnt have said anything who knows.
I just want to say that speaking to your mum will be hard but something you need to do as from reading your posts you are under enough pressure without having to worry about the expensive family stuff.
I hope this helps and best of luck xx

MiaowMiaow

hope your doing okay? xx

the_harrys

Thanks MM- I'm doing fine. I did broach the next expensive gathering with my Mum- it didn't go particularly well TBH as I said we really couldn't afford the expense and we need to rein things in from now on but I just don't think they get it, they take it personally that we choose not to spend all our spare cash (and more) on these gatherings- the outcome is that we'll just be joining everyone for the day instead of staying in another expensive hotel together so will be approx. £800 saved - that has come off the smallest CC as I had that set aside already.