Have grasped the nettle..........now to deal with the ensuing rash

Igamogam

Here I am again - kick starting the whole Debt Free thing. I know what to do and even know how to do it but somehow it all gets put on the back burner when other things crowd in............... last 3 months or so in work have been quite horrible but I was very controlled over the spending when I could have said Oh to hell with it..............certainly Christmas was not as expensive as it has been in past times and the debt remains on a downward curve so thats good:) Have spent today thinking and sorting really -thinking about what 2013 might bring and sorting and organising myself to get off to a cracking start...again:D

I am pretty good at resolutions as I pick something small that I really want to get a grip with and usually stick to it - will power is not a problem for me. This year its not a money orientated resolution but something that has been getting me down and I know once solved will make things easier for me - lets just say it called 'resetting the house before going to bed' - we are a lazy lot here because we are so busy in the week if thats not a contradiction, and very rarely finish off the clearing/putting away of an evening so by Friday the house is disorganised nightmare which I spend putting straight at the weekend - so there is going to be a little family re training..................:D

So money matters: The one thing I have not been very good at is actually using any spare cash I make, against the debt - mini LBM:doh: It usually just gets 'sucked in' without any specific allocation so from now on any spare money from Eb*y surveys road kill 20p £2 and copper savings etc etc will be paid either directly to a CC or into the bank then transferred. E.g I counted up my 'road kill' tin yesterday and it had £3 odd in it so although its in my purse I did on online payment to a CC for that amount - doesnt sound a lot but I have had great fun with the PAD thread and small amounts really do add up and make a difference! We do put our FIT from the solar panels straight onto the debt though.

Next will be setting a budget - now this I am not very good at - but I have decided to try and use cash as much as possible - withdrawing a set amount each week and sticking to it:eek: So this is going to involve envelopes, meal planning and a secret sock:rotfl::rotfl: I do have a huge diesel bill because of my long commute so that will still go on the T*sco CC which is paid in full each month by DD.

I have very little scope for earning more money other than selling stuff on Eb*y - and I have plenty to sell so a concerted effort in this dept should help:D

Finally I am going to make a greater effort to keep a spending diary.....to this end I found a diary given to me in 2011 for 2012 that I have never used, mainly because I work in academic years and am ruled/organised by an academic diary, being very MSE I will keep this as a spending diary and change the days:A

Now that work seems to have come to some resolution - well a bl00dy hope so as I had an 11th hour phone call on my way home on last day of term to say they where back tracking - I am not expecting any more stingers to be thrown in my direction and feel I can concentrate on other things including getting back to gym/swimming and a bit more socialising.............my circle of friends are dab hands at very low cost socialising:D

So I am optimistic about 2013: get a grip with the procrastinating and a little bit more focus and I think I will be OK. I will be breaking it up into small chunks and colouring my squares in accordingly and of course updating the highs and, fingers crossed, not too many lows on here.

So lurkers and posters Happy New Year - Blwyddyn Newydd Dda:beer:

*Robin*

Good morning and Happy New Year, Igamogam, :hello:

Am very glad to read you have resolution on the work issues and are heading into '13 with clear objectives - very best wishes for success on your journey this year.

wannabee_in_credit

Happy New Year Igamogam. I hope 2013 is an upwards trend for you - I completely understand the work pressures (really have enjoyed the break this time round) and hope that they ease up for you.
Good luck with the budget and resolutions...
Mine are the usual, reduce my debts and reduce my weight.

Igamogam

Going to keep a running total of my PADs on here then convert to percentage of overall debt - probably at the end of each month - well its a plan! I use the PAD technique like this: I look at the balance in the current account and pay whatever the last 3 digits are to a nominated CC for that month so if the balance says 205.57 then I will transfer £5.57. This year I will also use any 'extra' cash as a PAD too - Eb*y sales,surveys etc. I have just found a cheque for a share dividend so when I pay that in I will transfer the money straight away to a CC - all my debts are on CCs BTW - and add it to the running total. Should keep me a bit more focussed and the little squares coloured in faster:)

Another idea is that I am going to devote at least an hour a day to the declutter/Eb*y project - promised myself in 2012 I would get the conservatory back to being used for what it is supposed to be and not a storage facility............good intentions and all that:( Now if I dont get an hour every day than I will make up for it at weekend because the family are being retrained in 're setting the house' so I dont spend the entire weekend having to get things straight again ......the theory being I will have more time to sort the carp and everyone will be happier.................:D Its got to be worth a try!

Igamogam

Forgot to say PADs running total so far is £9.39 which I have worked out is around 0.047% of the total debt:rotfl::eek::rotfl: It will be while before first square coloured

NewLeaf_2

hey a payment is a payment and not to be sneezed at

Igamogam

PAD running total £16.22:) First stinger across my path - PITA Eb*y - having a few issues:mad::mad:

Igamogam

Back to the worthy breakfasts with banana today Got to get back into a routine for return to work on Monday - have a feeling of impending doom about that and I really have to visit some sort of food shop today so even more doom and gloom! I am going to get a set amount of cash out and label up the envelopes today for the week ahead - think I will run it Saturday to Saturday. Planning on £100 a week for food, milk bill DD2 bus fare and DD2 PM. This will not include diesel bill of course and neither does is pay for DD2 activities which I pay for up front but I am hoping that the "secret sock " idea will go towards paying those fees next term i.e. money left over each week ( hopefully!) put to one side and then used to pay/go towards stuff like that. Not sure if I am feeling a bit:A or a bit _pale_ never planned at being so organised IYSWIM;)

Igamogam

PAD total now £18.99 Did say I would update monthly but as I cant sleep and am not at work I am filling in time - will be diffrent when I am back at work on Monday :eek:

Igamogam

So another PAD and that is now£21.98 so far this month and thats 0.11% for the total debt. With the regular DD payments should make 1 whole percent by end of month :rotfl: