debt free diary.a new leaf.

greenanne

ok so as this is my first instalment a bit about me.i'll try to keep it brief.

i work as a carer a job that i enjoy but unfortunatly is not well paid.my money situation has been getting worse over time and the worse it got the more i tried to ignore it.all my bills are paid by standing orders and direct debits every month but there wasn't enough money coming in to cover them.my overdraft went up and up.i was paying hundreds of pounds in bank charges a month.every week a letter would come saying another £22 charge,i knew what the letters said so i didn't even open them i just threw them away.i never checked my online banking it was to depressing.then letters started coming saying direct debits were being sent back unpaid[oh and here's a £8 charge for doing it].
then crunch day came for me.the people next door but one to me were evicted from their house and the house was reposessed.they had warnings and letters but had ignored them and now they were homeless,living in their car not allowed even to take their possessions.
suddenly i saw that i could be doing exactly the same thing.the thought of loosing my home scares me to death.
so now new greenanne.firstly i had to up my bank loan.i didn't want to but i had to get out of the cycle of bank charges and live within my overdraft.i don't smoke or drink luckily,i used to have someone walk my dog for me when i'm out working,i do that myself now.also i have sponsered a child in india for 8 years but i just can't afford to do it any more.i hate having to cancell this,it makes me feel that im letting her down but what else can i do.the money saved from these things is paying of my barclaycard.i also have a book where i write down everything i spend.and i check my online account everyday.i try to challenge myself to see how many days i can go without spending money.i had to buy dog food today.the dog had cornflakes for breakfast,not that he minded.
i think thats all for now.i love this site and have only skimmed the surface of whats here.it can only get better from now on.

kramark46

Hi Greenanne, sounds like you are getting to grips with your finances; It is always the hardest thing to do to face up to the reality of debt so well done you (spending diary a great idea!). Good luck, hope you manage to clear your debts!

Mike

gettingbackontrack

Hi greenanne

I was the same in that bank charges were making it impossible to even think about getting rid of the debt. I too have found a spending diary a real help - just writing something down makes me think "why did I buy that?" and reading back over it makes me realise where my money goes.

MY dad is in a situation where he needs carers - it's a very important job and it should be better paid. I really hope you get your situtaion "back on track" - I'm getting there, slowly....

Hovel_lady

Just dropping in to say hello and good luck on your debt free journey.
The Hovel dog says "Hello, woof woof" to yours.
xx

Wordsmith

Hi, Greenanne. Welcome to diaryland. The initial shock is the scariest bit, and you are so right - it can only get better from now on. Your poor neighbours, though. You sound very determined. Good luck.

Emzilla

Hi Green Anne :wave:

Welcome to DFW Diary-land . Well done for facing up to your debts. I hope you feel better for taking that first step.

Don't feel guilty about cancelling the sponsor money. Just think, when you are debt free, you could up your donation to make up for it.

Good luck - I'm off to subscribe

Emz xx

greenanne

saturday 20th.
only 14 days to my holiday.
i have been working all day so at least it's kept me out of trouble.dodn't want to spend any money but ended up spending £1 on food as i didn't have anything at home to take with me.i've got £15 in my purse and i want to see if i can make it last till the end of the month.i checked out my ebay items,got afew watchers there which is good.also noticed it's a free listing weekend so will try to get afew things on tomorrow.night all.

greenanne

monday 22nd.
managed to get an extra shift today with an agency.the good thing about that is if i email my timesheet tonight i'll get paid on friday.
had to put more petrol in the car today.since starting my spending diary i can see where my money goes.never reolised i spent so much on petrol and food.
had to use some of the cash i have to post ebay items today so will struggle to make it last till the end of the month.

greenanne

tuesday 23rd.
managed to only spend £1.16 today.again was on crisps and sweets this evening while out at work.think i will start buying multipacks when shopping,it will work out cheaper.
day off tomorrow.i have an appointment in the morning so i am going to leave early and park in sainsburys car park and walk to hospital,save paying high car park fees.
today men came and removed all the furniture from the house that has been repossed from my neighbours.everything was just chucked on the back of a lorry like rubbish ready to be dumped.all their worldly possessions gone.i can't even imagine how they must be feeling.it puts things into perspective a bit.we may be in debt but we still have alot to be thankful for.night all.

indigofire

Thank you for sharing your story . I will read this interest.

greenanne

wednesday 24th.
day of work today.lovely,had a nice relaxing day.my only gripe today is ebay.people are not paying or asking for a refund because something doesn't fit despite the listing saying no refunds.sometimes i think is it really worth all this hastle.
something that made me smile today.i went to the self serve pump at tesco petrol station and after i'd put my details in it told me i could put petrol in up to the value of £99.it's only ever said £49 before.i still only put £25 in.didn't want to let it go to my head.
i was talking to the guys who have been clearing the house of my nextdoor neighbours but one.apparently they used to be kitchen fitters but when that work dried up they changed to doing these house clearances in reposessed houses.they said it is really sad when you see some of the stuff they throw away.apparently the first time they threw someones wedding album on the skip it made them feel terrible.but now they've just had to get used to it.
i'm off now to look through the site for what ever little hints and tips i can find.have a good day tomorrow everyone.