dizzy lizzies Debt Free Diary

dizzy_lizzie

Ok, third time lucky. I have already submitted this twice and each time it says I'm not logged on so I will add to this if this time I'm successful!!!
Here goes....

dizzy_lizzie

Keeping this short and sweet.
Starting this diary to help get me focussed, organised and motivated. I'm rubbish with money and spend it on anything and nothing!!
I get a fairly decent wage as a teaching assistant at the top of my scale and also work as a specials support assistant with a pupil who has autism so I've no excuse really. Out of my wage I buy our food and as the only vegan in the house with a vegetarian daughter and hubby and 2 sons who eat mainly veggie (if they want meat hubby buys and cooks it which he's fine with) shopping is a nightmare. I rarely write a list and shop almost every day spending a small fortune each time!
I also have 8 payments left on a year long GE Capital loan of £275 a month and pay £35 a month on a m&s more card at 3% apr for the life of the balance. Not using this card for anything else. Transferred this from a barclaycard when the apr went up. Stands at £1,131.05p. My overdraft is £582.88 at the moment. Apart from nominal dd to 2 charities and a savings account I don't have any other debts. I know I'm luckier than a lot of people but I know if I don't knuckle down it'll just spiral.
Starting this diary online will give me the motivation I need especially as you're all so wonderful :A x
Please feel free to reply or just read as I start my debt free journey.
Thanks for reading so far and for not giving up on me when I've obviously made a pickle out of posting
Love dizzy lizzie (now you know why I chose that name) x

dizzy_lizzie

Just picked my son up and took £10 out of the atm. Spent £4 and hopefully the rest will see me through tomorrow. Really mad though at the trouble I've had at starting this. I think it might be our computer even though it's new. Taking ages to load new posts. Hope this doesn't put me off....just a technical hitch, I hope!

judi24

Hi. Just wanted to say that the biggest change i have made since joining this site is with grocery shopping. (my shopping was regularly £120 + per week - now between £60 and £75 per week - this is for 2 adults 2 teenagers and 2 little ones) Writing a list and meal planning save a fortune.- the old style board is great for ideas) Also internet shopping works well for me. Although you don't get the bargins and reduced stuff I can check what I am buying and take things out of the basket if I am over budget.

Also we allocate ourselves a weekly spending budget and lift this in cash (£20 each for myself and OH) So that we are not running to the cash machine all the time - Although OH still likes to switch extras!!!!

These 2 changes have really altered our spending.

dizzy_lizzie

Thanks judi. I'll certainly pop on the other board and see if it will motivate me.
Just feeling a bit fed up really and need to get my act together. x

savvykaz

Hi dizzy lizzie and good luck with your debt-free journey

Just one thing I noted was that you have a balance of £1131 on your &more card and only pay off £35 a month. How much do you pay in interest each month (if you don't mind me asking)? Even though it's a good rate of 3.9% LOB you could be paying a fair amount of interest, as at £35 a month it will take you nearly 3 years to clear the card.

dizzy_lizzie

Hiya. I don't mind you asking at all. The more card seems great. It's worked out that the interest is around £4 so a fair amount going off the debt. On the barclaycard a huge amount was interest so really glad I transferred. Hopefully on some months I'll pay extra to this. I chose the more card because of the 3% apr for the life of the balance. The barclaycard was 0% interest for 9 months I think but I was really stupid and spent a fair bit on it for some silly reason, and then after the interest free period ended they wouldn't extend it and the interest was ridiculous, so just transferred. It's been cut up now and I don't intend spending on the more card. If I did then that would be it. I've learnt my lesson from the barclaycard! Do you know you've made me think about the 3 years to pay off my more card so I'll definately be paying more off it now. I have a goal! Thanks for that, I hadn't realised. This is where they get you isn't it? x

dizzy_lizzie

judi24 wrote:

Hi. Just wanted to say that the biggest change i have made since joining this site is with grocery shopping. (my shopping was regularly £120 + per week - now between £60 and £75 per week - this is for 2 adults 2 teenagers and 2 little ones) Writing a list and meal planning save a fortune.- the old style board is great for ideas) Also internet shopping works well for me. Although you don't get the bargins and reduced stuff I can check what I am buying and take things out of the basket if I am over budget.

Also we allocate ourselves a weekly spending budget and lift this in cash (£20 each for myself and OH) So that we are not running to the cash machine all the time - Although OH still likes to switch extras!!!!

These 2 changes have really altered our spending.

Hi judi24
I feel a bit rude for the reply I posted because it was very short. I was really grateful. I was a bit fed-up when I replied as I said but your post has given me the motivation I needed in my shopping. Food bills are where I can make a big difference if I sit down and write a list. I'll ask everyone what they want for their meals and buy this in. I haven't tried internet shopping. I don't know why because I don't even like supermarkets even though I go in almost everyday. Why do I do this????
Feeling more positive then when I posted earlier on. Many thanks. x

dizzy_lizzie

Ummm...not done that well these last couple of days. Went to tesco yesterday and spent £35. Also spent some money out of building society but nothing to show for it. I really need to get a grip. Tomorrow I will write a menu down based on what we have in the house and buy in any extras I need from a set allowance. I wonder if I'm coming down with something because I feel so drained at the moment. Anyway I'll get my head around it tomorrow. x

chevalier

In the first place tackling debt whether large or small, is pretty stressful. It takes a while for you to change your mind set, to spot where you are overspending etc. And in the meantime, it can be quite frustrating.

Just a point, if you do an online shop at tesco, but go via https://www.quidco.com (you have to register), then I think you get 3% cash back on your transaction. Every little helps

I would also suggest that you and OH start a spending diary to see what you spend on. You might be mildly horrified by the results though. Some people have found for example that they were spending over £100 in Starbucks!

best of luck
chev

dizzy_lizzie

Thank you Chevalier. I was thinking about online shopping so it's good to know that about Quidco. A spending diary is a good idea. I really don't know where my money's going. I don't eat out, being a vegan it's just too much hassle and there's only so many jackets and beans you can eat!
Yeh definately I'm going to keep a spending diary starting from tomorrow, and I can post it on here to keep me on the straight and narrow. x