London Socialite Sees The Light

determined_new_ms

LondonGirl252 wrote: »

I think I know what’s happened with that direct debit.

It’s going to my Halifax credit card. I got mixed up when I made payments at the beginning of this month:

I have direct debits set up to both Nationwide and Halifax credit cards, but the banks manage them differently. If, I paid a chunk off the nationwide card before the direct debit was taken and that payment covered the min payment, then nationwide wouldn’t still take the direct debit But Halifax do. And I knew this but I got them both mixed up.

At the beginning of the month I paid £100 to Halifax thinking that would cover the minimum payment but I got mixed up and its Halifax that take the direct debit as well.

Which effectively means I’ve completely screwed myself over this month! If I wasn’t struggling before… I am now!!! Haha

I now have in my account £159.96
With still to come out: £247.08

Shortfall £ 87.12

At home I have £150 in cash which I’d withdrawn for my £10 budget/social budget. Plus £10 in my purse

So, I’m going to put £100 back in my account tomorrow, leaving me with £12.88 in the account. And £60 to last the month EEK!!!!!!

Now, for the plan of action.

If I can manage on that and leave the situation as it is it’ll be great for the debt as I’ll have paid off £621.44 this month. It’s gonna be stressful but here’s how I plan to do it:

Main meals: Done, the freezer is full enough to last me until payday

Other grocery essentials: I have a change pot with a bunch of small change probably adding up to £20 or £30 so as I need these I’ll take change out of this pot.

Socials:

Team Dinner this week: I need to pay £25 towards the meal. I’m leaving after the meal with the excuse of getting up at 5 to ride.

Party on Friday: Stomach bug for this I think.

Rugby Party on Saturday: I’m waitressing during the lunch so they’re going to let me in the evening for free if they like it or not. It’s a short walk from my flat so no worries about getting home

Company Party on Monday: All paid for until dinner ends. Now, ages ago me and my friend booked cheap Travelodge rooms nearby for £25 each to save on cab fare. So I’ll leave after dinner and stay there OR even better, If I can sell the room to a colleague, get back my £25 and get the tube home after dinner.

Olympia next Weds: Tickets paid for by my lovely friend, take £20 to buy her a drink to say thanks and for me for food/water during the day IF I get my £25 for selling the hotel room then I’ll have that extra too.

Leaving lunch next Fri: £15 left from my £60 for this, If I sell the room I can save some from that to be able to afford to go, the place is about £20 a head so I’ll have to make up the extra fiver somewhere or explain I messed up my money and cancel.

Flat dinner next weekend: I shall have to explain this situation to my flatmates, I expect they will want to go ahead and FM1 will tell me she will pay and I can pay her back on payday which is fine as long as it’s not much.

Then luckily, we found out last week payday is coming early this year, so I will get paid before the last two social events.

GAH Can I do it?????????

Here goes nothing! At least I’ll start January on a good note, possibly even under the £12k debt mark which would be awesome! Do you know what, 6 months ago, if this had of happened, I didn’t even check my account often enough to realise I’d go overdrawn, then I’d be in all sorts of trouble. Thank goodness I found MSE in time!

HA a friend just emailed asking if I wanted to go skiing for a few days!!!!!!!!!!!! ROFL!!!!!!! Unlikely!

as always LG you are such an inspiration and so whilely as well! good for you! x

turbo.jet

Ahhh bum, that thing we talked about is happening again, I didn't get notified about any posts since my last one yesterday. Good job I checked - I've had some catching up to do!

That really sux about the mix up, sorry to hear it. I really suggest you get eBaying, list anything and everything. People even buy old car tax discs so get on it!

Good luck making it stretch.

PS. I made a Lamb Rogan Josh in my slow cooker overnight last night. It was so yum I can't believe I produced it... from scratch! Kinda unrelated but had to mention it. x

Erme

miggy wrote: »

Morning LG and everyone,


Erme - glad you can have your heating on, and all the best for ECDL!

So this is your new 'abbreviation' - LG...Like it :j

Yay with regards the ECDL I passed ...almost treated myself to a new handbag then reminded myself I couldn't afford it...

You are an inspiration with that budget that you've got now LG....If you pull it off I'll make you a warm wooly hat and send it to you - seriously - or a beret - your choice ...

Just glad I live in social housing and don't have the flat mates you have - hugs

And welcome back DNMS..seems like you are lurking on here but still

Hugs all....Just had a bath (always warms me up) and sos food of cereal ....yum. Found this really nice cereal last week that fills me up when I have the munchies and is cheap :T

E

miggy

Erme wrote: »

Yay with regards the ECDL I passed ...almost treated myself to a new handbag then reminded myself I couldn't afford it...

Congrats on passing! Sorry about the lack of new handbags but one day you will be able to have one.

MuffinTops

A plan of action with no mention of the c word! Well done! You still sound in good spirits too so another pat on the back to be awarded to you! Seriously, well done on not just sorting it out but setting up a plan too.

Fed_up_of_being_broke

you are amzing at budgeting! i wish i was only as good! :-S 2012...thats going to be it for me 2012 is my turning point!

LondonGirl252

miggy wrote: »

Good that you tracked it down, sorry that it's creating more hassles.

Sounds like a good plan, though. I hope you get a buyer for the room - better - auction it off to the highest bidder and maybe you'll make a profit?! :rotfl: Ha ha. Really hoping for a buyer for you though.

And I notice there's no question over going to Olympia. Good for you, I know you will have a fab day.

Not a bad idea re the room! Will get as much as I can for it

Yeah, well my friend bought the tickets for me, her and another 2 friends as we helped her through an illness this year so there's no way I couldn't go but there's no need to spend too much!

LondonGirl252

determined_new_ms wrote: »

as always LG you are such an inspiration and so whilely as well! good for you! x

Thank you x

LondonGirl252

turbo.jet wrote: »

Ahhh bum, that thing we talked about is happening again, I didn't get notified about any posts since my last one yesterday. Good job I checked - I've had some catching up to do!

That really sux about the mix up, sorry to hear it. I really suggest you get eBaying, list anything and everything. People even buy old car tax discs so get on it!

Good luck making it stretch.

PS. I made a Lamb Rogan Josh in my slow cooker overnight last night. It was so yum I can't believe I produced it... from scratch! Kinda unrelated but had to mention it. x

Ah rubbish!

Yes, totally right. Tomorrow is a quiet evening so will photograph and get auctioning anything not nailed down!!

Mmmm sounds delish! I love any lamb curry! Will bear that one in mind for my slow cooker after payday, haven't done a curry in a while and so warming over winter x

LondonGirl252

MuffinTops wrote: »

A plan of action with no mention of the c word! Well done! You still sound in good spirits too so another pat on the back to be awarded to you! Seriously, well done on not just sorting it out but setting up a plan too.

Thanks! Do feel much more positive today, it mightn't be easy but I keep thinking how good it will feel once I achieve it.