dizzy lizzies Debt Free Diary

dizzy_lizzie

Thursday and not happy. I think I'm blanking out now what I'm spending because I'm popping in the garage, calling in asda, spending willy nilly with no plan whatsoever. I think 'm in self-desruct mode at the moment (well something like that). I'm also going out tomorrow and not driving this time. It's a girly night out so will be spending money and already I'm thinking I might as well give up. Just at the moment I just can't get my logical head on....why???? Anyway no worries I'll be picking myself up, dusting myself off and getting sorted....at some stage :rotfl: Doing this or I'll cry, tis a manic laugh that is!!!

dizzy_lizzie

Saturday today so writing for yesterday. Didn't spend too much last night, just over £10 and around £17 in asda. Really bored today but cant be bothered to make an effort to do anything. How mad is that !?!

GirlRacer_2

I know the feeling, my house is a mess and I'm here messing around on the computer. Done my weekly shopping on-line this week so I could have a good weekend cleaning. What a laugh!

bobbie78

HI Dizzy,

Ok first of all take a deep breath. Ok you are freaking out a bit, you've suddenly started taking notice of what your spending and realising it is a bit out of control. Mate that is what the Light bulb moment is all about. None of the wonderful people on here went from being what you used to regard as normal to being a MSE paragon of virtue in one day. It is all a process, but you are doing it, even if you are struggling a bit just the fact you are posting every day and keeping a record means you are heading the right way. I know the debt isn't dropping yet but you'll crack it soon so it starts heading the right way.

So your mission for the rest of Feb, write down in extreme detail every penny you are spending, every tenner DD gets out of you, every trip to asda, write down in your book everything you buy. Now at the end of feb look what you got, was it all 'proper' food or take away food from asda - stuff you could have made yourself like sarnies or bought a big bottle of coke instead of 10 little ones? then use this info to work out how you will spend your money, give DD an allowance which she doesn't deviate from, it will be good for both of you so she also learns where money comes from and what she really wants to spend it on. If she doesn't like it tough, you don't exactly like it either but something has to change and you are doing her a favour teaching her now before she has any Credit cards to worry about hopefully you can show her never to get one.

I don't know if you have done an SOA in another thread but it might be worth working one out here in conjunction with what you have done for your spending diary so far. There is no point doing it unless it is realistic, but if you post your soa maybe people will help save money on the boring things so you have more to pay off the debt and spend on things you want to.

Anyway keep posting you are doing amazingly well really it will come with time and you'll be the new moozie and co before you know it telling everyone how well you are doing and your latest tips.

bobbie78

oh another thought if DD phone does need replacing how about asking on freecycle in your area, or worst case if you have to spend money set her a limit of 20 quid say to spend on ebay to find a replacement phone. There are threads on the freebies board to get free sim cards also. It might not have a camera or a walkman in etc but it will be a phone and it will do texts and that's all it needs to do right now. She can always save up out of her new allowance for a better one if the other one can't be fixed welcome her to the new world order.

dizzy_lizzie

Hi bobbie78
Thank you so much for your support. I'm terrible really, the biggest debt I have is on my M&S More card which I transferred from my Barclaycard when it started costing me a fortune, that's just under £1,100 now and then I pay £275. a month to GE Capital bank but I only have 7 or 8 (!) payments left on that. The worst thing is I am just rubbish at being careful or sensible with my money. I tried the 'cheap' phone with DD but she refused to have one and so I 'had' to get her a dearer one. Ok I suppose I didn't but I know her, she would have refused to use it. Today I popped into Asda and decided I would just get what I needed for today meal wise and do the shopping daily just taking enough money with me and not my card. Well I spent £43.49. I try to buy organic when I can so my bill can be a bit more expensive but there isn't any convenience foods on there, being vegan I have to make most meals fresh anyway and the rest of the family are 1 veggie and 3 who eat mainly veggie. But, you've set me a challenge to write down everything I spend in February so I will do it, starting today with my asda receipt. Thanks again it's much appreciated and you've helped me to get a grip of things.

Hi GirlRacer
I actually did some tidying in my living room last night. Just cupboards and drawers that get stuffed full of all sorts. I binned 3 carrier bags of stuff!! It's just so hard getting motivated isn't it? Maybe when spring arrives it'll kick-start us...mind you then I'll find another excuse not to, like sitting outside reading whilst it's sunny...:D

GirlRacer_2

Hey girl, you've been busy cleaning and shopping. Glad you've decided to tighten your belt and started to write down everything you spend. I'm sure it'll help you see where your money is going. I've had boring day today ironing, dinner at mum's and I did bake some fairy cakes this afternoon so its been a NSD but very boring......

Am going to get to grips this week with regards to re-claiming some charges. Had £200 from Cap 1 so am going to try Barclaycard and Northern Rock next.

Keep up the good work with regards to your spending diary and keep posting.

dizzy_lizzie

Aw thanks GirlRacer...I was baking yesterday too! Made myself some nut croquettes, and a coffee and pecan cake. The theme seemed to be nuts yesterday Been into local town centre with hubby today and did spend some money but I got two hematite bracelets, and an 'earth angel' cd. Not listened to it yet. Going to put it on at bedtime, hopefully it'll stop my materialistic urges!! Good luck with re-claiming your charges, anything helps doesn't it?

dizzy_lizzie

Just running a bath so thought I'd do a quick post. I've been thinking a lot where my 'easy come easy go' attitude to money has come from and did a lot of soul searching. It's helped a lot and I had a kind of 'light bulb' moment today whilst doing it. I am going to work out tonight a debt free day so I have something to aim for and instead of paying just over minimum amounts on my 'more card' I'm going to pay quite a bit more and then will just have to be more careful in the month. I know this might not work and I might go 'mad' again but I'm hoping that when I see it coming down quicker it'll be more of an incentive to be careful. My loan will be paid off in September so I can throw more money at my overdraft and credit card then. Feeling a bit more positive today. I'm also going to give myself an allowance to spend on what I like for me, some weeks it might be more depending on if I need some new clothes etc.,. most of my money is spent on food and giving it to the kids!! I definately feel I'm getting to grips with things. Well for today at least. My aim is to have my wage paid in and that it's mine all mine!!!! :rotfl:

GirlRacer_2

Hi Diz,

Glad to see your feeling better and being more positive about everything. Its so easy to let it all slip and get back into the bad habits of spending. I can't believe how careful I'm being with money since I've joined this thread. I've reclaimed some of my bank charges £280 so far and awaiting some more and am quite tempted to join in the Olympic challenge. I'm like you and need something to count down to.
I'm laughing at your weekly spending. Your so like me. I've started doing my food shopping online with Asda, I know I've got to pay for delivery but I get so bored shopping on-line (its quite long-winded) that I just order the essentials and click on the checkout button. Am saving an absolute fortune. Last week only spent £51 that's practically starvation compared to my usual spend!!!

Keep writing the diary, it makes me smile when I read it.