wot-a-mess debt crisis

Igamogam

wot-a-mess wrote: »

Hi to wannapayoff, beccie & igamogam

Thanks for all u're lovely posts. I just hate banks so much. Credit card dd due on 10th but taken out current a/c today :mad:. The money is there to pay it but it should be taken out on mon. not today :mad:. Another £130 off the debt

Did a very accurate budget & have only £50 left for rest of month for stuff like milk & bread & weekend refreshments. Can we survive on this :question:. Well Im certainly gonna try & dont have much option really. Would be even better if I could not spend it all & make an overpayment to something.

Debt reduced by £323 but thats only cos of timing of direct debits. Should reduce debt by approx £600 per month for the forseeable future but hopefully more in time.

£323 is a fab amount especially if you think about it as a percentage of the whole debt - small steps

wot-a-mess

Wot-a-week for wot-a-mess :cool:

Can't believe it's only a week since starting my diary cos so much has been done.....but still so much more to do. I do finally feel in control of the financial situation altho it's gonna be a long, hard slog.

Can't believe how easy it is not to use credit cards & not to buy anything recklessly.

I do feel so much support on here & feel that a change of mindset is the biggest step I've taken. Some of the positives in week 1:

1. Did not use credit cards. They are locked away in a safe place
2. Changed internet/home phone deal
3. Stopped using PAYG mobile
4. Changed meals to lower cost, but better quality & more healthier meals. Shopped at Lidl, Aldi, Tesco & Farmfoods
5. Only spent £3.24 on alcohol. Quite incredulous :beer:
6. Signed up for survey sites & did some matched betting again after a while (think this should be the xmas fund)
7. Did a monthly budget & stuck to it so far.
8. Reduced overall debt by £323

wot-a-mess

Very busy week ahead at work so probably not gonna have much time on here but I do need to focus on something for a challenge.

This week's challenge:
1. To have 4 "no-spend" days at least
2. Live on £10 max.

scotdebs

Hi WAM glad to see you are still making progress on the debt! - As i said in an earlier post I'm in a very similar situation as you and find having a diary really helps keep the focus and its true its the little things we do (or dont do!) every day that will make as much difference as the overpayments etc. I have become a fiend on electricity saving since I got my monitor and am constantly turning off lights and appliances to see what difference it will make - OH is worried that I have become obessed :rotfl:but to quote a famous supermarket that probably gets too much of my cash "every little helps"!

eldestofthree

Hi

Good luck with your debt-free endevors ! I always find the chalenges a good way to keep the ball rolling
I am a PAD-er , it is amazing how much difference even a few pence a day makes to your targets , also nice to see the amount going dowm regularly ! am also doing the 100 days challenge , not buying any more....(insert item here ) untill all the half used bottle etc have been used , toiletries - xmas gifts etc , cleaning products , mine was notepads , I wend round the house found at least 6 half used ones all over the place , packs of pocket tissues as well , I had more than 10 !!! ????, some on the thread put £1.00 in the pot when they have used up a bottle of something , then use it at the end of the month to go towards a treat !

Kepp

I think the problem with CC direct debits is that they can be taken in time for the payment to hit the CC account by the date shown so can be a few days early if that makes sense? Right pain I know!

wot-a-mess

Thanks for all u're positive posts again this week.

Been quiet on the debt-busting front but have managed to have 3 days of no spending (not a single penny :beer: ) so far & now on my 4th day.

Igamogam

wot-a-mess wrote: »

Thanks for all u're positive posts again this week.

Been quiet on the debt-busting front but have managed to have 3 days of no spending (not a single penny :beer: ) so far & now on my 4th day.

It all counts!

Shower-of-roses

Your first posts really struck a chord with me.

I'm so glad you're feeling galvanised! It's a horrible sick feeling when things feel out of control. :sad: I know I've felt a lot happier since starting my diary. Even though my debt hasn't reduced by a single penny,(it's increased!) I know that it will be going downwards some time soon Just keeping an eye on my spending is helping a lot.

Good luck!

Rosie

wot-a-mess

Been a very frustrating week in terms of no debt reduced thus far & no extra £s earned. I have signed up for a few survey sites but think I'll ditch them.... be lucky to make much from them at all if the 1st week is anything to go by.... Earnings must be about 50p per hour in a good week. Did manage 4 "no-spend" days tho..

Need to focus on what can possibly be done next week to reduce the debt.