Time to get sorted!

smitk12

I have been a long time lurker and come onto MSE every day to see how people are managing with their debt. I thought it was time to start a diary to keep me on track as I tackle £12,000 worth of debt!

I know where the money has gone - I have an expensive lifestyle with two horses, two cars (1 a 4x4 to pull the trailer!) and a 3 bed house. I also support my mum (who's retired and disabled) and my brother (who's on min wage and struggles) - I earn £31,000 but, of course, it's never enough! I try to be good and not overspend then the car needs a new tyre or it's time for horses injections.

It get's me down sometimes but then I think, I'm the one who spent the money so no point in feeling bad about it - it's gone, that's that!

The debt is split as follows:
Barclaycard - £7,300 (0% until Feb 2012)
Capital One - £500
Loan - £2,500 (6.4% till Aug 2012)
Overdraft - £1,500

So, am determined to get rid of all this and first thing is not to overspend each month!!

I hope you lovely people will join me on my journey - it might be a long one but I'll get there in the end.

K :T

smitk12

Here we are at the start of another day. Managed not to spend too much yesterday. Went out dancing last night which cost £7 and a drink which was 80p. Was supposed to be out tonight but friend has cancelled. Not such a bad thing as will save on dinner, dancing fee and petrol - and my feet hurt from last night! Always a bright side to every situation.

Today I need to buy dinner as a friend coming over tomorrow night and to post book sold through Green Metropolis -that should be it - will avoid looking in the shops as don't need anything

Feeling a little sad as BF dumped me last week - can't say I didn't see it coming but it's still smarts a bit!

At least I'll have time to concentrate on other things now. Have got an allotment so need to start planning what's going in there. This is my second year so last year was a bit of trial and error - hope to do better this year!!!

That's it for today - hope all in diary land are well and the dreaded debt demons are under control.

TTFN :j

smitk12

Another day starts - a bit cloudy and gloomy down here in the South, but at least it's dry. Squelching in ankle deep mud up the field - roll on summer!

I had a complete NSD yesterday so was really pleased. Found some filled pasta and sauce in the freezer which will be OK for dinner tonight.

I have a cleaning job once a week to help supplement the funds so did that last night. Would normally do that on a Wednesday but changed as out tonight.

Had to put petrol in the little car this morning and the big car is still at the garage for MOT . Here's hoping it's not going to be too expensive.

Work is still really quiet but I hope it picks up soon - I don't like not having anything to do, but then I'm also eternally grateful that I have a job in these difficult times.

Have just paid £122 for the electric bill for the house. The gas/electric is so expensive now - you wonder if it's ever going to stop going up - that and petrol!

Looking fowrard to catching up with my pal tonight. We're off to theatre as a late Xmas/Birthday present for her.

Watch this space for more ramblings tomorrow! :rotfl:

K xx

smitk12

Sunny but cold down here in the South - had to defrost the car! Still, at least it's not raining!

Another fairly good day yesterday money wise - only spent £6.00 which was on the car park last night. It should have only been £3.00 but I accidently put in a 10p rather than a £1, pressed the button for my ticket then realised what I'd done. Had to put another £3 in to get enough time but didn't have changed so put in two £2 coins - grrr - should have been paying attention!

Not to worry, had a lovely evening at the threatre - went and saw To Kill a Mockingbird - wonderful acting.

Mum coming over to meet me for lunch today then out dancing tonight so a bit of a spend today.

I like the beginning of the month as just been paid so it's nice to see the debt get reduced - the trick is not to add to it as the month goes on!! :rotfl:

Perhaps a little bit more background about how I got into the situation I'm in. The horses thing - well I've always loved horses but was not from a family where we could afford one so I always rode other peoples when I could.

I got to 31 and a friend of a friend was putting her horse up for sale. I was in an OK position then and didn't really know how much it would cost to keep one, so I bought her. Goodness they are expensive to keep! After about 6 years, she got injured and I had to take her to a stables to be looked after. Whilst there they let me use one of their horses, I fell in love with her and, when she came up for sale I bought her! A classic case of heart ruling head.

So, I now have an old mare who's basically a field ornament and one which I can still ride and compete. I wouldn't sell either of them and their needs (and the cat's) get sorted first before anything else.

Animals are wonderful and when something happens (like breakup with BF) they are there for you to go and hug and tell all about it!

Phew, bit of a long post this morning - better stop before you get too bored!

Onwards and upwards folks in diaryland!

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary
It wont take you long to get rid of Capital One & that will be one debt down.

smitk12

Hi Beanielou - thanks for posting! Am trying to pay £50 a month to Capital One and £150 a month to Barclaycard - that one's a long haul - at the moment am looking at about 3 years, but will try and pay more off if possible.

Am feeling very tired and sad today. I think all the late nights, BF dumping me and going out too much has finally caught up on me and I feel exhausted! Went out dancing last night but left early as was feeling flat and tired. Had a sad half an hour sat in the garden having a sneaky ciggie (don't normally smoke, only in times of crises) and got to bed about 11.00pm. I know that you need to go through sad times to appreciate the good, but it doesnt make you feel any better now!!! LOL!!

Only spent £8.00 yesterday so not too bad. Should be a total NSD today as straight home from work to tackle painting the spare room.

Here's to a fairly cheap weekend although have the blacksmith tomorrow morning, but that is budgeted for. Other than that only need a few bits of groceries and have decided to stay in Saturday night and have a rest. Catch up on the TV i've been missing. I love Glee and fell asleep during the Horizon program this week on evolution so hopefully see those progs on the 'puter.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and have lots of good MSE moments.

xxx

smitk12

Sunday evening and it's been a busy weekend. Got call from the garage to say the car needs back exhaust (ouch). At least blacksmith was £20 cheaper than expected so that'll go a small way towards bill.

Didn't spend anything else on Saturday or today so feeling really pleased. Need to check spreadsheet on Monday to re-allocate some funds to pay for car (£225 in the end!) Had budgeted £150 so, with £20 from blacksmith savings, only need to find £55 - gulp - wll have to try and cut down somewhere.

Apart from that, managed to get out riding twice as the weather was so good and got the base coat on the walls in the spare room. A few pluses then! Got to look on the bright side, I guess!

xxx

smitk12

Forgot to put down yesterday that had to put petrol in the big car - only put in £30 (budget £50 for the month) so will probably only be able to drive it a couple of times, then it'll have to sit on the drive till next month.

Another beautiful day here in the South. Am lucky and work in the New Forest (although not live there) so a lovely drive to work. :j

Should be a total NSD today as will go for a walk at lunchtime and have my friend over for dinner which I've managed to get out of food I had in the freezer.

With the garage bill over the weekend, I think I might have to dip into the tiny bit of savings I have - boo! I have a weekend away with my two brothers booked for the end of march and was squirreling away a few pounds to pay for it but might have to use that to pay for car and take weekend money out of next month's pay. Oh well, c'est la vie!

Had a couple of texts from ex-bf on Sunday and looks like we're moving towards being friends - hope so, cos we did have a fun time.

Guess I'd better start some work now - hope everyone has a good debt-busting week - only three weeks till payday!

xx

smitk12

A successful NSD yesterday. Had to put petrol in little car this morning - used to get by on £30 a week, now it's £40 - when will it ever stop going up!

Total owed today stands at £12,113 (£12,261 last month) so gone down a bit, but not by much - it's get disheartening sometimes. I seem to have got myself into a situation where some difficult decisions mights have to be made.

For example, the reason I have two cars is that I originally bought the 4x4 when diesel was only 70p a litre. I do a round trip of about 40 miles a day to work but when diesel started to go through the roof I worked out that it was cheaper to buy and run another car and only use the 4x4 at the weekends and for towing.

Now it's got to the stage where things on the cars are starting to go wrong and the cost of running them both is shooting up (including car insurance being hiked up).

So, my choices seem to be, find another job nearer to home, sell the little car and keep the big one. Or, sell the big car (and trailer) and keep the little car. I've been told that the big car is really good and will out-live the little car by years - difficult, don't know what to do? Also, could I find another job in this present climate.....

It was good having the big car when we had all that snow because whatever the weather, the horses need feeding so was able to get to the field in the 4x4.

Don't know what to do, but it's good to write it down here.....

smitk12

First chance today I've had to come on here. Had to go to the dentist first thing as have abssess under tooth - £16.00 (ouch!) If abssess comes back after antibiotics then will have to have tooth taken out.

Am taking Mum to a panto this evening at the local hall - it was her birthday yesterday so this is her treat - all paid for last month so hopefully only a cup of tea and ice cream to buy.

Had a few emails from ex-bf and I think we are moving fowards into a friendship which will be nice.

Apart from that, all quiet on the western front - which is a good thing as it means I'm not spending any money - yeah to debt -busting!

LAM2011

Helloooo, I have found my soulmate!! lol :j Will explain: (this might be long)

9 years ago after a long break from riding I was offered a horse (have ridden my whole life) jumped at the opportunity and of course the saying never look a gift horse in the mouth .... well two weeks into having him (and not having sorted insurance) he needed colic surgery and thats where my cc debt started. I buried my head in the sand and for years just paid the interest off. Its only this year that I am finally sick of never having any money so sat down to seriously assess my finances.

Now I have 2 horses (we have 3 altogether) but live on a small holding. I am lucky that my OH pays for most of the bills I pay towards utilities and I pay the Horse Insurance!! He buys most of the food. To cut costs last may I took the shoes off the little TB mare, the old boy really needs his on. OH horse only has fronts. We have no arena so not been able to ride since clocks changed. I have 3 dogs and 3 chickens too and really could not live without my animals. I have often thought I should sell a horse but the old boy is 19 and raced, evented (been around the big tracks) and now gives confidence to everyone (he legally belongs to a friend in Dubai who has said she will help this year with his vaccinations and shoes) and I love them both to bits.

My mother is also dependant on me so can relate to that too.

I have subscribed to your diary as I am sure we will have loads to talk about!