The teflon wagon

Bad_Weather

So 3 times a charm? 3rd time trying to get back on the debt free wagon...

Quick summary:

Had approx 13k of debt. Cleared some (2 overdrafts and a credit card) but the bank of mum and dad and auntie bailed me out and i cleared the remained via a 10k "family" loan. Been paying back the loan and had paid around 3.5k.

Not sure when things went bad again? Maybe Feb/March this year? I think i decided I needed a new wardrobe? Bought one or two things...felt great...bought some more... then well i just went MENTAL and have managed to rack up 3k on the only credit card i kept. And maxed out my 300 overdraft. Not massive but it all adds up!!!

I stopped paying back the loan. So really now I've pretty much cancelled out all my good work?!?! Also need to get my credit card cleared PRONTO and start making payments to the loan or my mum will literally KILL ME and never trust me again.

So despite knowing this i kept spending until i hit rock bottom today and i have 22.17 in my bank account, i've spent 600 of money that i was holding for a girls holiday (not my money and at the end of august - EEK) AND i've got about 200 quid of bills to pay in the next week....

Actually typing this out is letting me realise how bad things have got.

Going to try and update this once a week to state how much i've spent and how much debt i've cleared.

I've got a really good job and not that bad expenses each month so i have no reason not to do this!!!

It's all or nothing this time and i want to be almost debt free by the new year. Is the impossible possible? :money:

First step. Off the booze except for 3 nights in July. Starbucks of any assortment is banned. In fact think I'm going to ban buying anything from the canteen in work. Plus going to swim my !!! off to get back my fab (debt money) clothes! They are currently a bit snug!

Wish me luck. No seriously. I need it.

P.S Also if i don't post for a while my mum has found out about my debt and killed me...call the police...

Buffythedebtslayer

You can absolutely do it.

Sort the holiday money first? but keep up minimums on the CC and OD.

I guess you know that

Third time is the Charm and you will pay it back

xxx

Lula-Hula

Hi,

your post really made me laugh ... right up to the bit about spending the money you were holding for the girls holiday :eek:.

Not laughing now, never mind your mum - if you don't get that money back, I'll kill you. Using your friends money is outrageous .

Get thyself off to ebay & sell everything that isn't nailed down, then hop on over to the Old Style money saving board to learn how to make a five course meal out of a piece of string & 23 lentils

I am subscribing & expect regular updates.

You have been warned

Bad_Weather

I know. To be fair to me a lot of it wasn't intentional, bills were coming off the "Girls holiday" money.... and well whilst in the bubble that I was living in I must have thought fairies were paying them for me?!?! Bill paying fairies? An urban myth possibly?!

It will be sorted i'll ensure in the next 2 weeks (1st pay check will pay it back). I PROMISE Lula-Hula. It's effectively another form of debt isn't it?!?! I should add it to my total...mmmm....nahh it's bad enough as it is!

Thanks for the support guys. Especially being my 3rd round! I'm so determined this time it's not as bad as before but i still feel SICK. I'll be creeping on diaries for support!

Bad_Weather

Lula-Hula wrote: »

then hop on over to the Old Style money saving board to learn how to make a five course meal out of a piece of string & 23 lentils

This made ME laugh. First time today! Round of applause please... :rotfl:

Lula-Hula

Good girl


Try doing a Statement of Affairs ... it's always a revelation & you might glean some ways to cut back on spending.

Good luck & I'll be back again soon to check up.
xx

clippy_girl

hi bad weather! perhaps it is worth using/opening a second bank/savings account to save the girls money back? that way you would have to make a decision to spend it rather than dip into it without realising if your main account runs low? if it is a bank account you could also use that bank account for any extras such as ebay money/surveys/mystery shopping etc... that you do so its kept totally seperate?

i did a budget and still allowed money for me to waste and go out occasionally as otherwise it is very hard to stick to and if you slip up are less likely to think 'f**k it i will start again next week'! i do a budget for food each month and withdraw it as well as my weekly spends in cash. if you dont trust yourself you could leave your cards at home!

once you do your soa and budget and sort out what you have left, i agree girls holiday money is a priority but perhaps once you have done that you put half to the cc and half to family loan? might not seem as bad then if you are only reducing the family payments rather than stopping them for a while

Bad_Weather

clippy_girl wrote: »

i do a budget for food each month and withdraw it as well as my weekly spends in cash. if you dont trust yourself you could leave your cards at home!

Hey Clippy_girl! Your post literally is everything i've been thinking.

This is what i immediately started yesterday. Im going out tonight to buy all lunch food and food until thursday night and the bank cards are getting left at home. :money:

Also agree re the separate bank account. Going to the bank tomorrow (also with the contents of the piggy bank that got cracked open last night) so will ask about one then. Also so that i've got a "pocket money" bank account. Transfer my budget to that each week. :money:

Again aswell going to pay both to my mum and the credit card. I KNOW i should do the interest rate first but seriously if my mum finds out i haven't made payments she will kill me. Plus i don't want to let her down. (There was no symbol for a mother wielding a knife)

My credit card was actually better than i thought (head in sand syndrome) its £2,666. So silver lining anyone...or does that not count in these situations?

Started my SOA last night. Despite the fact that i've done this before its amazing the things that creep in that you don't realise? Like yoga classes - !!!!!!?!? Erm CANCELLED. :money:

Another pro is my freezer is pretty well stocked at the minute so aside of some fresh veggies i'm going to use that up the next couple of weeks. :j

I also have a toiletries addiction. I honestly don't think i'll need to buy much except for some shampoo and condition for a year. Easy. :beer:

FYI the boyf has tapped me the money to cover my bills this week. Bailed out. Again. :mad:

It's all about the organisation. So been gutting flat the last 2 days and am going to write out a dinner plan! Been doing lots of creeping to get some recipes with what i've already got. Pork tomorrow night i think!

Thanks the tips guys! x

Bad_Weather

Just a sneaky update whilst on break! Had a good "first day" back on the wagon. Cleaned out the piggy bank and paid it into bank today which takes my balance to 290 on my overdraft (300 limit).

When i said in a previous post that i had 22.07 in bank account well i actually meant 22.07 over my overdraft limit! So was getting charged £5 a day! Won't get charged it until next month but NIGHTMARE! That will tide me over just now! Also won the lottery well a £10 so when i get that i it will be hovering around £280! PHEW! :beer:

Took some shoes back and changed them for the correct size. No money saving but a small achievement! Only thing worse than spending money on shoes is on shoes that don't fit. Couldn't find the receipt so couldn't take them back! :mad:

Been doing a budget spreadsheet. Literally amazing how much you forget. Also allocated "Budget spend" for nights out etc and an "actual spend" column! Think I've got everything now. Also got a separate bank account which once the girls holiday is paid I'll use as my pocket money account Actually considering withdrawing the money and just putting in envelope in flat. Then i will transfer my excess/budgeted cash over each week and just keep that bank card on me! :money:

Sticking to my food budgets aswell so all good for the moment. Cancelled a second gym membership (£25) i had and am going to try and sell a piece of gym equipment for £50-£60 (RRP 130) bucks on eBay. :cool:

Looking good at the minute. Also got thrifty for a mates birthday and used a voucher i had to buy her pressie so looking okay for the moment! :money:

Thats about it! x

Lula-Hula

Every little step you take moves you further towards your goal.

Well done
xx

Bad_Weather

Thank Lula-Hula!

I was on a roll so came home and dug and dug AN DUG until I found a M&S receipt for a top that I didn't like. £25 back in my account/off my credit card. YEH BABY HIGH FIVE!!! :wave:

Also dug out a receipt for a dress that is now in the sale, going to chance my arm tomorrow and pretend to take back and explain that i was just going to buy again and take the credit!!! Can only get credit as >30 days. Maybe get another cheeky wee birthday present off it. Not sure if that'll work but worst they can say is no and i still have the same dress.

xx