Serious honesty

Imelda

Sorry, I type so slowly!

Budget, you have got to be realistic, I have 2 lists, 1 is monthly stuff:
Rent/ mortgage
Council tax
Water
Electricity
Gas
Insurance
Food (This was the hardest bit, I worked it out as an average figure for 3 months as all toiletries and cleaning stuff would be included here)
Petrol
Maintenance charge on flat
tv licence
mobile
visa payment
I pay £1000 into a separate account to cover these, any extra is left in there in case of surprise bill, I keep a note of how much I spend on food)
The second is infrequent stuff:
ground rent for flat
car insurance
MoT
Tax
Service
Christmas
(I work these out as annual figures and then divide by 12, I save about £130/ month for these)
Then I pay £200 into my savings account which should cover my 0% debt
Whatever is left is for me to spend, I make a rough budget according to what plans I have that month and put aside extra if I know something big is coming up soon, ie Birthday. I know it looks pretty anal but I have to be in complete control or I fall off the wagon. If something comes up, like a friend asking me to go out, I always check my spreadsheet first and see if it can be tweaked to allow me to go (sad or what?!?).

Magazines, have you thought about a subscription? They normally work out cheaper (and you can get some good deals on here), would be a good present for someone to buy you and maybe you won't be tempted to buy them when out. Could you swap around with friends? Or just nick 'em from your mates when they are done with them?

CAFCGirl

I think I'll sit down and work it all out again.

A number of my debts are relatively small amounts but with high APR's.

I'm also lucky because I dont have to pay for a car, insurance, travel etc. I walk to and from everywhere since I live right in town.
but again the ideas/principle/theory is all there. I just need to knuckle down and actually do it!

The magazine today was a total boredom thing. I've got a subcription for xmas for Prima, which I love! LOL
And I havent found anything in it that interests me at all. so maybe that'll teach me in itself!

Thanks everyone for all your help so far. If anyone has got anything to add, I honestly am taking heed of all thats been given.

tryhard_2

why don't you pick 1 thing to do today - make a sandwich for tomorrow/pay off £5 towards your debt/anything. for each task done award yourself a star- stick it on front of the fridge - every time you manage to get 7 stars you can have a little treat; you'll need to decide what constitutes a treat. you then look forward to getting the treat and do not have to spend on unwanted items
tips on budgetting depend on your individual circumstances; have you posted an SOA in yoiur diary? I can have a read and let you know

Imelda

tryhard wrote:

why don't you pick 1 thing to do today - make a sandwich for tomorrow/pay off £5 towards your debt/anything. for each task done award yourself a star- stick it on front of the fridge - every time you manage to get 7 stars you can have a little treat; you'll need to decide what constitutes a treat. you then look forward to getting the treat and do not have to spend on unwanted items
tips on budgetting depend on your individual circumstances; have you posted an SOA in yoiur diary? I can have a read and let you know

Was going to say the same thing, can you post a SOA? I know it's in your diary somewhere but maybe we can help with a budget.....

Good idea about the treats, at least you can buy something in the guilt free knowledge that you have earnt it.

CAFCGirl

Storm wrote:

Hi CAFCGirl, and sorry to hear you're struggling

Why don't you write down a list of everything you HAVE done since your LBM (not used your CC etc) that goes towards becoming debt-free, plus how much you have actually paid off (cos even if you're only making the minimum payments it must be going down surely?)

If you look at the positives over the last however-many months it will hopefully inspire you more towards continuing on your DF journey.

Spending diary is very good idea!

Storm

I've increased all my CC re-payments to £50 and £40 respectively, so they always get more than minimum.
I havent spent any money on any of my store cards.
I've cut down my usage on utilities, gas and electric.
I've booted out flatmate who never paid for anything and got a new one who does pay up!
I've become more aware of my panic disorder, and how to work with it.
I've attempted meal planning (which is better than not having done anything!) so I'm considering that positively.
I've set up a spreadsheet detailing what I'd like to spend and where, including re-payments on debts as per the snowball calculator.

CAFCGirl

tryhard wrote:

why don't you pick 1 thing to do today - make a sandwich for tomorrow/pay off £5 towards your debt/anything. for each task done award yourself a star- stick it on front of the fridge - every time you manage to get 7 stars you can have a little treat; you'll need to decide what constitutes a treat. you then look forward to getting the treat and do not have to spend on unwanted items
tips on budgetting depend on your individual circumstances; have you posted an SOA in yoiur diary? I can have a read and let you know

Awwwwwwwwwww I love it.....

takes me back to my childhood, might just do the trick though....

Now what task to pick...

painted_lady

You problem now is discipline! You know what you should be doing, but dont. I have been the same for a long while now and financial discipline, or lack of it, is the reason why I have so much debt in the first place.
I would follow the advice of others and look at what you have done since march, rather than what you havent, then at least you have a starting point and some belief in yourself to do something. Also, think of times you ahve had to discipline yourself and see this as a positive too. You then know you can do it.

bobble_hat

Hi CAFCGirl, :grouphug:

As you know I'm an avid reader of your diary. I think you are being too hard on yourself. Look at everything you actually accomplished last year. You got out of a yuck job and are in a fabulous new one, you had relationship and health issues and are dealing with those. (Read through your own diary and see how far you've come.)

You are aware of exactly what you owe and are trying to follow the DFW path.

You need to take a step back, reasses where you are at, post a new, full, realistic SOA, taking account of treats (these do help). Then ask again for our assistance. Once you're happy with your budget, keep updating your diary daily with your progress against it.

We are reading, remember that. Remember it is doable, have a read through some of the diaries with larger debts e.g. Southernscousers, which is really inspirational.

And, finally, Baby steps, don't try to do everything at once, make one small change until it becomes a habit, then make another one.

Above all Keep Smiling :T

Imelda

CAFCGirl wrote:

I've increased all my CC re-payments to £50 and £40 respectively, so they always get more than minimum.
I havent spent any money on any of my store cards.
I've cut down my usage on utilities, gas and electric.
I've booted out flatmate who never paid for anything and got a new one who does pay up!
I've become more aware of my panic disorder, and how to work with it.
I've attempted meal planning (which is better than not having done anything!) so I'm considering that positively.
I've set up a spreadsheet detailing what I'd like to spend and where, including re-payments on debts as per the snowball calculator.

You've actually done a lot, don't beat yourself up about it, you just need to make the final step so that all your efforts can be translated into lower debts.

Oh, and what about getting yourself a new job and payrise???

CAFCGirl

ah the dreaded soa.

Right this is just thinking on the spot so I may miss some

Rent (currently) £300
Tax £50
Utilities (circa) £80 a month, for all 4
Sky £18
BT £35
Mobile £50

Food couldnt tell you! Dont eat as well as I need to, I know that much. Ballpark of £100

CC1 £50 Balance £1300 (22% I do believe)
CC2 £40 Outstanding £1200 (4.95% LOB)
Debs staff card £5 (5% minimum) overpaid last month by £70 Outstanding
Debs store card £5 (as above) overpaid last month by £30. Outstanding £82
D.P Store card £23 (5% minimum) overpaid by £35 last month Outstanding £589

Now Im sure theres things Im forgetting........... anyone? what more do I need?