Toms DFW Diary!

Nuclear_Tom

Like I say, I can't keep food in the house as it will get eaten. If you think I'm poorly disciplined with money you should see how bad I am with food!! I have tried the pack up thing, but was spending over £20 a week, and at most I spend a tenner a week on lunches now! I typically have 2 days in the cafe and 2 days with a roll from the shop, so thats £9.50. It would be difficult to beat this if I'm honest, but I will try when I get some storage at work. At present I haven't even got a drawer at work!!!

I don't sponge off my parents, far from it. I have a poxy box room, regularly taxi mum about, do all the DIY as dad is no good at that, often pay (not any more, thanks mum) for the weekly shop etc.

I only had my lightbulb moment last week - need to get through this month without getting charged. I have about £20 in my account that is surplus to bills, but really want to leave it there. I've got 3 weeks of fuel and food and a couple of pressies to buy prior to getting paid again, thats why I'm using the cards. But this use really is the minimum!!!

I've been flogging stuff left right and centre, but have nothing of any value to spend, its all small amounts... never the less Amazon market place is proving great for selling cds and books!

Thanks again everyone!

oops_a_daisy

your welcome - you picked a tough month to get started though but the sooner the better for clearing your debts. Good luck - OOPS

Nuclear_Tom

Thanks oops, bless ya.

Sold another book and CD on Amazon - taking my total in just over a week to £70.72 due to me! Thats £70.72 straight off the Aqua!

moozie_2

Hello Tom and welcome!

You are doing really well :T I had to leave off the cards when I first started as I was maxed out on the overdraft and had no option. You will get there, you are determined and keen!

I know it's ahard month to start but no better time than the present and soon you will have anothe payday and then no Tesco loan! Some nice milestones there already

Be careful if you are going to lower your limits to take account of the added interest the following month It will be great when you start hitting the debt and seeing the total come down - the most amazing motivator

Good luck and keep us posted! :beer:

Nuclear_Tom

Cheers moozie!

More good news. I had a collection of piano music - anything that had a barcode went on Amazon. Had a few bits of rubbish music really that I've just sold on our internal bulletin board at work for a tenner!!!

Also, I had a mobile pinched, but still have all the accessories and the box, so popped it all on eBAY for a penny starting bid - and the offers have been flooding in, with people offering a tenner - so I'm going to let it run to the end! Every little helps as they say!

Nuclear_Tom

Right, well a hard month of selling lots of old CDs, text books and the like, I have sold £128.91 worth of stuff on Amazon, and after fees thats £89.42 to be transferred to my bank account! Not easy money, and I've sold a few things that I still liked a little bit, but no real regrets... lots of trips to the post office too!

I even managed to buy Jiffy bags on ebay that are CD sized for 17p each, and sending second class on the day of order means quite a bit of profit is made from the fixed postage costs!

Had £105 of bank charges deducted on the 1st, so thats hit hard... but I'm confident of getting these back! I will be deducted some more on 1st Jan, but hopefully that will be the last charges I pay for, ever!

Christmas shopping is nearly done, just my gf to buy for. Not going to spend a huge amount, but will put some effort into making a photo album of our memories together to show I do care.

moozie_2

Well done Tom, seems like you are doing great!

Good idea on your GF's present, I am sure she will love it.

Nuclear_Tom

I hope so Moozie... She understands my situation though, which is good as she is offering lots of support, although she doesn't really understand how serious it is and could be... but shes getting there. TBH its only this month I've got my head round it.

And another thing - From a debt free date of June 2011, if I stick religiously to my budget it should be Feb 2009!!!! Over 2 years sooner!!!! :D:D

moozie_2

Nuclear_Tom wrote:

And another thing - From a debt free date of June 2011, if I stick religiously to my budget it should be Feb 2009!!!! Over 2 years sooner!!!! :D:D

Now that is something really tangible that will help you stay on track! I have reduced my DFD too and that is really one super motivator

You are doing great, one month on and look how much you have achieved :beer:

Verbatim

Fantastic Tom. Well done on what you've achieved. You've certainly been busy with ebay etc.