Fed up

soldiergirl

I'm not normally the person to write random things on the internet, but I am so fed up with being in debt and having no money, I just need to get it off my chest!

I have been in debt ever since I was a student, and I have made a very good effort at maintaining it around the £12k mark. My OH is fully aware of it, and is working hard to support us both (we both work FT). I do my very best to make CC payments on time (normally min payments), I sometimes use CC's to pay for everyday living things such as petrol (which I know is a dreadful idea), and as soon as I get some money put aside to put towards debt, something goes wrong and I have to use the cash for solving whatever problem it is!!! Aaaarghh!!

I think I'm numb to the amount of debt I am in as it has stayed at the same level for so long - I know its not right, but I just can't seem to make any headway into it... and yes I do want to sort it out! I can't even begin to imagine how wonderful it must be to not have to make CC payments each month... Things aren't helped by the fact that I never earn the same amount each month due to the nature of my job, so I struggle to do a budget.

Rubbish.

However I do have a horse, which is a very good thing.... but also a very expensive obsession...

I'll stop moaning now.

Blobby8_2

soldiergirl wrote: »

I'm not normally the person to write random things on the internet, but I am so fed up with being in debt and having no money, I just need to get it off my chest!

I have been in debt ever since I was a student, and I have made a very good effort at maintaining it around the £12k mark. My OH is fully aware of it, and is working hard to support us both (we both work FT). I do my very best to make CC payments on time (normally min payments), I sometimes use CC's to pay for everyday living things such as petrol (which I know is a dreadful idea), and as soon as I get some money put aside to put towards debt, something goes wrong and I have to use the cash for solving whatever problem it is!!! Aaaarghh!!

I think I'm numb to the amount of debt I am in as it has stayed at the same level for so long - I know its not right, but I just can't seem to make any headway into it... and yes I do want to sort it out! I can't even begin to imagine how wonderful it must be to not have to make CC payments each month... Things aren't helped by the fact that I never earn the same amount each month due to the nature of my job, so I struggle to do a budget.

Rubbish.

However I do have a horse, which is a very expensive obsession...

I'll stop moaning now.

Just read the red bits, smell the coffee, talk to OH, clear debts.

Tixy

Hi and welcome.

Have you tried keeping a spending diary to see if you can look back at the end of the month to identify any areas of spending you could reduce?

Have you and OH gone through all the monthly household outgoings to see if you can save money anywhere (checked things like utility suppliers and tariffs, phone & internet suppliers etc to see if you are on the best deals).

Might be worth looking at something like the snowball calculator to see how much you will pay on your debts if things stay the same for the next 5years or so (just paying minimums and still using the cards) - not so that the figures depress you but to see if that might help motivate you to find some ways to pay a bit more off your debts.

People generally advise starting by writing out a statement of affairs to set out your monthly income & expenditure to see how much you should be able to pay off the debts each month (without reusing the cards). Whilst your income may fluctuate it can still be a worthwhile exercise to see if you can manage financially on a low income month. If you can balance on a lower income month then on the higher months you should be able to really hit the debts and pay chunks off.
Are you self-employed? is that why your wage varies?

Are there any ways you can reduce the cost of the horse? do you have the space to keep horse at home or do you pay livery elsewhere - have you looked to see if a different yard would charge less - or can you reduce the costs if you help out at the yard etc? Do you pay just for the stabling etc or is it a full livery service you pay for? (can't think of the correct terms sorry!)

soldiergirl

Thanks for replying Tixy, I appreciate your time!

The horse is on just about the cheapest livery going and I sort him out entirely myself. I have searched for the cheapest deals in terms of his upkeep, feed, bedding etc so it really is not possible to do that side of my life any cheaper. However I am on total lock-down and spending on the big chap is for necessities only...

In terms of household stuff, there are bills that could be cheaper however I have just been totally rubbish and not prioritised it - I've been doing a good job of burying my head in the sand for a long time, so yes I need to action that asap!!

I'm scared to do SOA!!!

In terms of work, I'm not self employed, however I have a 0.5 permanent teaching contract which is supplemented by sessional hours during academic terms so effectively each holiday period I go down to half pay... although stressful, at least I do have a permanent contract of some form. I keep pushing at work for a 0.8 or FT contract but with education as it stands I think it is unlikely for the near future.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply, I really do appreciate it!!

soldiergirl

Blobby8 wrote: »

Just read the red bits, smell the coffee, talk to OH, clear debts.

Hmm, gotcha loud and clear.... :coffee:the coffee is on...

joolsybools

soldiergirl wrote: »

Thanks for replying Tixy, I appreciate your time!

The horse is on just about the cheapest livery going and I sort him out entirely myself. I have searched for the cheapest deals in terms of his upkeep, feed, bedding etc so it really is not possible to do that side of my life any cheaper. However I am on total lock-down and spending on the big chap is for necessities only...

In terms of household stuff, there are bills that could be cheaper however I have just been totally rubbish and not prioritised it - I've been doing a good job of burying my head in the sand for a long time, so yes I need to action that asap!!

I'm scared to do SOA!!!

In terms of work, I'm not self employed, however I have a 0.5 permanent teaching contract which is supplemented by sessional hours during academic terms so effectively each holiday period I go down to half pay... although stressful, at least I do have a permanent contract of some form. I keep pushing at work for a 0.8 or FT contract but with education as it stands I think it is unlikely for the near future.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply, I really do appreciate it!!

You might be scared but it is far better to start to make steps to sorting out a problem than avoiding it! Lots of people on this forum have been where you are and they will have lots of ideas to help. Why not try? We don't bite (well most of us don't )

Clarie_2

Congratulate yourself! Thinking about it, sorting out the horse, asking for more hours, getting on here - you have taken some great steps in your 'LightBulb Moment'

And you know what you need to do, re budgeting, doing an SOA. Be brave - even if you don't post it here, you'll be doing yourself a favour.

And in terms of a long term plan, what do you think about getting to a budget where you manage on your contracted hours? That way when you get more hours, it's extra money for debt repayments/ treats.. and when you get less it's fine, normal life. Just a thought!

Clarie

soldiergirl

joolsybools wrote: »

You might be scared but it is far better to start to make steps to sorting out a problem than avoiding it! Lots of people on this forum have been where you are and they will have lots of ideas to help. Why not try? We don't bite (well most of us don't )

I will try to put embarassment and shame aside and give it a go, might take a while to get figures together but I will do my best!

Tixy

I do know what you mean about putting off looking at all the bills etc. Even after I joined this site I still didn't check out and change my gas & elec supplier for over 6months - it always felt like a big hassle to do. In the end when I did it I worked out that by taking so long I had literally wasted 180quid. I was so annoyed with myself. I also wasted 80 by not cancelling a DD for something else for 3months - all it would have taken was a 2min phone call.:o

Since then I learnt my lesson and when I find a better deal for something now, or switch something and earn cashback I get a real buzz out of it.
Basically I just want to say it is worth making a bit of time to do it.:)

Any way you could supplement your income at holiday time? I suppose tutoring might be possible? or something like teaching kids horse riding whilst they are not at school?

soldiergirl

Clarie wrote: »

Congratulate yourself! Thinking about it, sorting out the horse, asking for more hours, getting on here - you have taken some great steps in your 'LightBulb Moment'

And you know what you need to do, re budgeting, doing an SOA. Be brave - even if you don't post it here, you'll be doing yourself a favour.

And in terms of a long term plan, what do you think about getting to a budget where you manage on your contracted hours? That way when you get more hours, it's extra money for debt repayments/ treats.. and when you get less it's fine, normal life. Just a thought!

Clarie

Wow, now there's a thought! I had never looked at it like that before :doh: thank you so much!!

soldiergirl

Tixy wrote: »

I do know what you mean about putting off looking at all the bills etc. Even after I joined this site I still didn't check out and change my gas & elec supplier for over 6months - it always felt like a big hassle to do. In the end when I did it I worked out that by taking so long I had literally wasted 180quid. I was so annoyed with myself. I also wasted 80 by not cancelling a DD for something else for 3months - all it would have taken was a 2min phone call.:o

Since then I learnt my lesson and when I find a better deal for something now, or switch something and earn cashback I get a real buzz out of it.
Basically I just want to say it is worth making a bit of time to do it.:)

Any way you could supplement your income at holiday time? I suppose tutoring might be possible? or something like teaching kids horse riding whilst they are not at school?

You are absolutely right! I am the world's worst procrastinator in most things - the OH gets really annoyed with me when he points out we're paying too much on something, and as it's in my name only I can change it - he gets so frustrated (which I can understand, as it's not fair on him)

I think I just need the biggest kick up the a*** and get my life together.

Thank you so much for your thoughts, I never imagined that being here could make such a difference to the way I feel