A diary of a wonky tiara wearing domestic goddess, aged 21 and **a bit**

*doodle*_2

I am hoping that this is a case of third time lucky as my other attempts at diary writing are best left unmentioned. Well, I can talk about it but it would first mean removing the rather thick layer of dust and I don't fancy inflicting a sneezing fit on anyone so it is best if I start all over again.

I live on my own in a small house partly owned between myself and the bank manager. It needs a lot doing to it as it was formly owned by Mr Botch-it, his wife and their spraying addicted cat. I gutted it, met my no-good ex and saw the dust trail he left when the cash ran out.

I can't blame *everything* on him but he caused a lot of problems. Still, we live and learn. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

His leaving and another terrible incident seriously impaired my attitude towards money. I just didn't think and, as a result, I owe quite a bit.

I have now met a lovely fella. He knows nothing about my debt and he never will. All he knows is that he is on twice what I'm on and that I will never take advantage of that fact. I also have three gorgeous cats who are superb in every single way.

Anyway, my debt. There are three of them. The store card that I used to have was dealt with last year. The account was cancelled and the card cut up.

My overdraft. This time last year it was £1000 but I am having it reduced by £50 a month. I do not notice this. I owe about £500 but I will know exactly how much when I get paid on Thursday.

My credit card. I owe about £600. The statement is due in a couple of days.

Bank Loan. I am deeply ashamed of this and I would never have it if I was thinking straight when the no-good idiot was in my life. I owe £6.5k. Very scary!

I want my overdraft and credit card gone by the end of the summer. This is my goal and I need as many kicks up the backside as possible. This goal has got to be achieved.

I do have £900 saved. This has got to stay in my savings account as my car is on its last legs and I will be having my eyes checked this summer. Glasses and prescription goggles are expensive. Also, car insurance is due in a few months.

I do work. Unfortunately this is only part time. Full time jobs in my field are rarer than hens teeth. I supplement my wage by doing some freelance work when it is available and I do surveys. Tbh, surveys bring in next to nothing but next to nothing is better than a prod in the eye with a pointed stick.

I also meal plan. Well, kind of ...

This is turning into an essay - eek!

My goals

FINANCIAL: To be clear of the overdraft and credit card by the end of summer

HEALTH: To improve my fitness level.

DOMESTIC: To be tidier and to renovate my house.

I'll stop here as I don't want to tire anyone out!

*doodle*_2

Today, I have ...
* Shredded useless paperwork
* Taken the recyling to the tidy tip
* Frontlined the cats
* Ordered worming tablets from the vets. Will pick them up in the morning. Seriously, they must be the only vets in existance that close in the afternoon.
* Dropped two cheques in at the bank. The dreaded OD is now £75 smaller
* Wanted to go shopping but drove past the supermarket. Go me!
* Forgot to post a letter that I *really* needed to.
* Did two loads of laundry. Yes, I will iron them and not leave it a month like I normally do.
* Ate tea courtesy of the freezer.

Not bad for someone who is on day one of the Easter holidays

Little_bit_dizzy

Hello *doodle*

What a wonderful introduction to your life! I can fully emapthise with the situation you are in regarding your debt and not letting your Mr Lovely know.

I met my DH at almost the height of my debt and to this day I have never (despite marrying him) told him the true extent of how bad it was (£33k at highest with Jack !!!!!! to show for it - last £3k to clear now ).

Good luck on your journey, you sound very motivated and I'm sure that you will achieve your goal of o/d and card being gone with enough determination.

I'll subscribe to see how you do, hope you don't let this one get too dusty :rotfl: :rotfl:

*doodle*_2

Thanks for your comment

Wow! You have cleared lots! I hope that you are planning a celebration when it is finally gone

I hope that I do hit my target. I will be really disappointed if I don't.

Buffythedebtslayer

Similar here too almost 25000 grand at the start which not a single soul knew about and I am down to just under 3000 (loan in a sig and CC at 0% 800 pounds)

I really like your first post, you sound great fun so I shall be reading avidly and not letting the dust settle!


Always remember even when it very definitely doesn't feel like it, it can be done.
Buffy

patman99

Join the club. I owe £11k across 1 loan and 2 CC's. My lbm came when I was made redundant this time last year after 16 years 3 months and 23 days with the same employer.
As my oh does not/will not work, it is down to me to try to keep a roof above my head, hence the debts.
Only my brother and SiL know just how much I owe. Luckily I re-gained employment last week, so I will be setting my goals to over-pay on at least 1 CC whilst looking for a replacement car. Waiting for an eye-op in 2 weeks before I can realy start putting my plans in to action though.

Little_bit_dizzy

*doodle* wrote: »

Thanks for your comment

Wow! You have cleared lots! I hope that you are planning a celebration when it is finally gone

I hope that I do hit my target. I will be really disappointed if I don't.

Maldives here I come :j:j:j

I'll be 40 (OMG I really will be!!!!) in 2013 so the plan is pay it off (this summer) save like madand then enjoy the view for a fortnight for my 40th. It'll be my treat to me. DH thinks it's my 40th b'day present to me

You'll get there. Anything is possible. I'm walking proof of that!

Little_bit_dizzy

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Similar here too almost 25000 grand at the start which not a single soul knew about and I am down to just under 3000 (loan in a sig and CC at 0% 800 pounds)

I really like your first post, you sound great fun so I shall be reading avidly and not letting the dust settle!


Always remember even when it very definitely doesn't feel like it, it can be done.
Buffy

Way to go Buffy. Like the last sentence - I'll second that!!!

*doodle*_2

Oooohh lots of comments You know, it does seem unachievable at times but I know that if I keep plodding a long and making a little tweak here and there then I will be clear of the ruddy millstones!

Isn't it glorious outside! Long may it last!

I have decided that this is the summer in that everything will live. As in, no longer will plants wither and die when I glance in their direction. Seriously, Miss Marple has nothing on me. Last year it was this disgusting army of black flies that killed everything and then there are my cats. It's fab that they only use their litter trays when it rains but there are fields near my house. Whyohwhy can't they go there??!

I drew £40 out of the cashpoint today. I ...
* Spent £15.00 on a mini green house from ASDA.
* Spent £7.00 in the poundshop (nets to stop plants being used as cat thrones, a tomato growing kit, a bean growing kit, a yorkshire pudding tin, bulb and chocolate - shhh!)
* £5.00 was spent on a beautiful bush on the market.
* £3.00 at the corner shop on stuff that I had forgotten
* Just under a tenner was spent on salad stuff, a sandwich and a drink on the market.

All the change has gone into my moneyboxes.

Also been to the gym. Jeez, my fitness level is pants! I used to go at least twice a week but then I got a kitten who used my legs as his personal climbing frame. Owowowow

ETA:
Also spent £19.26 on three worming tablets for my furbabies. I buy frontline online so I wonder if I can buy worming tablets online too. Must investigate!

*doodle*_2

Well, so much for my CC being 'about £600' - try £750! **facepalm** I'm such a dolly!

Also, I opened the door to find the meter reading man melting away and I stoopidly let him in. Tbf, he only every knocks when I am at work. I think that he was a tad suprised. Anyhoo, at Christmas, when I didn't have a pot to piddle in, I fudged my meter reading by 100 units. My plan was to repay 50 units this month and the remaining in July. Soooo, I'm going to get a higher bill. My fault - I freely admit. Luckily, I have £100 left over in my bills account so I will only need to find an extra **insert any amount you please**. One bright idea of mine was to have two bank account - spends and bills. The bills account is for household bills and doesn't have an overdraft facility - hooray! I transfer a set amount each month and a teeny bit extra just in case. One of my dd's ends in August so I will have a bit more going in there as well.

I am itching to go spending but I am going to walk my friends dogs with her. I might buy an ice cream though but that is only a couple quid compared with a helluva lot more in the supermarket.

Pay day tomorrow - yayyyy!!!!!!!!! I need to sit down and do a proper budget. My biggest problem area is the supermarket and a two week time-frame before payday. I have the strongest urges to shop til I drop there (I'm linking it with ladies troubles cos I am usually pms-ing like mad then)

So far, I have ...
+ filed one lot of paperwork
+ dossed around

Goals before I go out tonight ..
+ Devise a realistic shopping budget
+ Find out if single/double cream can freeze. If so, then wahey! I can have potato dauphinoise (Major spelling error) at will (I always have spuds in)

*doodle*_2

I was paid today - yayy! I received a bit more than normal as I have been doing some tutoring. I only have three more sessions of tutoring left

Also, I was paid from my second job. I was really disappointed with that tbh. Now, before you go thinking that I am bonkers let me explain. About ten months ago I asked this tax investigation company who my union rave about to look in to my tax. They took an age to do this and I was given a mini rebate the other week. Now, someone at their end made a huge mistake and told the taxman that I no longer had my main job - my second job was my only source of income. The tax man then gave me a massive refund. Thankfully, I saw sense and realised that they made a mistake and moved it all to my savings account so I wouldn't be tempted to fritter it on tat.

The tax investigation company ignored my letter and refused to answer/return phonecalls (I can't tell you how much **that** annoyed me). Instead, I ended up ringing the tax man myself to sort it all out. I had hoped that they would send me a bill but - ohno! - they have to tweak my tax code. I had hoped that my pay packet from this week, my next booking (after the holidays), my holiday pay (the agency I work with siphon a bit off each paypacket for your holidays) and one more booking would cover it. Obviously not! Ohhhh why can't things be simple!!!

Anyway, I have done the dreaded internet banking and paid my CC bill. I tend to pay it on payday which is a couple of weeks before I should. I find it easier this way. My overdraft will be £50 smaller - down to £550. This debt won't be decreased until the 28th.

My budget for the month, to be reviewed in a fortnight
My cats: £50. This is to cover the unexpected. One of my boys has added a whole new slant on the word 'clumsy'.
Grocery: £120
Petrol: £70
Pocket money: £40
Hair: £35. I cannot tell you how hard it is to find a decent hairdresser in these there parts. Post MSE saw me spending just over £100 every five weeks. I go every other pay day.
Entertainment: £50
Buffer: £50

This *should* leave £255 towards the leccy/gas bill and overdraft.

Oh yeah, with my second job - I should have mentioned this before - but I make an additional payment to my credit card and bills account every payday (each Friday when I do have a gig. Obviously, this won't be happening until the tax rebate they mistakenly gave me is repaid)

I need to scrub my house clean today and do the ironing that I should have done a couple of days ago.