Tales from a country cottage

ani*fan

So, I got a text from my pal who can't make it on saturday after all. I've taken the opportunity to cancel the whole thing. There will be plenty of other chances to watch team scotland playing, and we really can't afford to go to this one. You just can't do everything you want to when you're paying off debt. Unfortunately.

I need a new plan for the weekend. The chores are almost done, just the ironing to tackle tonight. I'm starting my new course next week so need to do some reading for that. The grass, as always, needs cut and there's wine to be made. Just need to figure out where I put the demi johns. Have a nasty feeling they were loaned out and never returned. Hopefully I'll find one or two.

Was also thinking I could continue with the christmas plans. I might make some cards. This would also help get rid of the piles a carp we have lying around, crepe paper and card and glittery sticky stuff and god knows what. It's all good money saving, just need to find the motivation. Might end up watching the game online too and pretending I'm there.

Wish I was rich.

ani*fan

Just updates my sig. Have been trying not to do it 'til the end of the month but just can't help myself.

That's £88.79 less of debt than I had not so long ago.

Great.

Igamogam

Cracking attitude Ani*fan - and some great MSE type actvities and stuff. Keep it up

ani*fan

Today was the first day at my new job. I was a tad worried about it. You never know how things are going to be, if you find someone intolerable, if your boss is a plonker, basically wondering if I'm going to be able to work there or not. And I had a BRILLIANT day! I'm really going to love this and I'm so chuffed. Finally, extra cash to make a dent in the debt. Thank god.

I've also had an idea about getting my crazy high interest rated capital one cards sorted. I may be able to open a student account since I'm going to be a student as of next week. Not all of the banks accept part-time students but some do. So I'm going to find out which offer the biggest interest free overdrafts and go for it. It may involve shuffling cash around at the start of every term but hey, I'm an expert at that. Been doing it for years to try and manage.

Had a NSD again by mistake. :T

The bad news is that our day out tomorrow is back on. So I need to find the cash from somewhere for that. Am not a little bit mad at OH for just deciding this, and also now apparently needing to buy t-shirts while we are there. I don't think so. :mad: What's the point in me worrying and fretting and working til I drop and scouring this site for tips when OH 'needs' another t-shirt 'cos 120 just aren't enough? :mad: This is really not good.

Igamogam

NSD by mistake are always a bonus. You could always tell OH for each new T shirt they have to sell/pass to charity at least 10 of the old ones

ani*fan

Tried that Igamogam...no chance!

Had a wonderful time yesterday but spent way too much money and now feel extremely foolish. I'm determined not to get into this situation again. I NEED to find a way to have a cheaper social life. And in the meantime, no promises to anyone so I don't have to feel I'm letting anyone down.

Just been playing with the snowball calculator. If I can add an extra £200 to my monthly payments, I'll be debt free by December 2013, 27 months away. This was a bit of a shock as I thought it would take me a lot longer. The wage from my new job will more than cover £200 per month extra payments, and once the snowball starts rolling, minimum payments towards cards that are paid off will then be added in.

Why do I think this won't work??

The plan depends on a few things...

• no unexpected bills
• no car breaking down and costing a fortune to fix
• I don't even know if we will be solvent once my course starts
• I'm rubbish at managing money
• I would have to pay off the highest interest rate first, meaning MiL would need to wait a bit for her 0% loan back and I would feel bad about that
• I forget things, like moving money around
• My goodness, could I be any more defeatist?:rotfl:

According to the snowball, both of the capital one cards could be paid off by May next year. Which would save about £80 per month to then be thrown at other debts.

Maybe it could work? Maybe I could MAKE it work?

It's certainly given me food for thought. £200 over and above what I pay already towards debt. That's only £50 per week. I could make £15 of that by just stopping smoking. Then it's only £35 per week.

I'm away to do my sums. Back in a bit.

Igamogam

That snowball thing is a bit scary I think - makes it look very easy but then if you put in all the what ifs - like car breaking down etc etc. dont be a slave to it - plan yes;pay off what you can yes, but dont beat yourself up if there are any slip ups - you have to live after all
Since having the LBM we have just had one thing after another which have to be paid - huge garage bill, OH speeding fine:mad: DD1 lap top dying ( and its a necessity not a luxury unfortunately) me losing £120 because of my principles ( one day strike in July) and now our printer has given up and the extra curricular bills for DD2 will now start rolling in - the money I have made on Eb*y is just a drop in the ocean this month. If we smoked................well

Have to be honest we are life long non smokers with life long non smoking parents and on my side grandparents so I dont get the whole smoking thing - sorry. I can appreciate its addictive but you know its bad - health and finances:o
Try and cut down and put that money away that you would have spent then after a few weeks use it for a treat/socialising or if you really must an extra payment off a CC.
A colleague did just that and her husband stopped completely. They religiously put the money away for about 12 months. They had no idea how much they spent until they where about 8 months in.In August they went to the Maldives on holiday paid for mainly from the proceeds from their non smoking - makes you think

ani*fan

Just redid my snowball calculator 'cos I missed out 2 debts the first time, my £300 bill for supervision and my £100 overdraft. So I've added them in and reduced my monthly repayments to £100 over the minimum. My new debt free date is August 2014, almost 3 years away.

It's quite hard to imagine how things will be in 3 years' time. It seems so far away.

However, I think £100 is a better target to aim for as I just have no confidence that £200 overpayments will happen. I'm very much an all or nothing kind of person. If I can't meet that goal I'll not overpay anything. Sounds childish and pathetic, but then so are my money managing skills. :rotfl:

According to the calculator, I should pay off my supervision bill first in 3 monthly payments of £100. This can't happen; it needs to be paid at the end of the month. I'm due expenses which should cover some of it, maybe half, then I need to find the rest from somewhere. If I use my £100 overpayment, then maybe I can pay £250 and carry £50 over to the next month. That's a plan.

I need to work out how to print off my snowball calculations. It seems to be a handy thing to have.

ani*fan

Good morning Igamogam...how's your sunday going? This is my usual time to sit down with a cup of tea and obsess about how much debt we have, how much money we don't have to pay it back, how we are going to manage, cry a bit then decide to ignore it all and get on with my day. I'm trying to change this routine by making small plans that I can carry through without becoming overwhelmed. Sitting staring at a computer isn't going to sort it out.

The smoking...I know...I know...I've been trying to quit since I was 16. Honestly. It's a lousy, nasty, money and health wasting addiction that I just can't seem to get a handle on. I will keep trying though.

Unexpected bills...thanks for reminding me. I have a garage bill due soon that I had totally forgotten about. Need to prepare for that somehow.

ani*fan

Why do I feel as though I'm struggling to even get off the starting block? It's so frustrating. :mad:

Small manageable chunks. I think that's the answer right now.

I need to go out to work this afternoon but should get paid while I'm there so will report back later.