Time to make a change....

Skintfoodie

The money to parents - that's a really great idea, I should definitely do that.

I do have a budget, and an idea of how much I'd like to save per month. I'm just not very good at saving. I tend to get so far then think I should treat myself for doing well, then I get used to spending the money and spend all my savings and end up using credit. It's like an obsessive compulsive thing, once I start I can't stop.

I have a plan to treat myself to something £10 or under each month, like some new music or a bit of make up... Maybe I should do it per week.

I need to change my spending behaviour, I know that much.

banwa

Hello skintfoodie,

Sounds like you are well in control of the debt. Congratulations too on the new job

If you can afford to overpay the loan, but the terms of the loan won't allow it, can you put it aside until you have enough to settle it off?:)

Skintfoodie

Thanks Been, I know you're right about giving her notice, I just don't really know how to broach it.

This week is going to be so busy, by the time I get home she's usually in her room, and I breathe a sigh of relief I don't have to listen to her talking at me.

I think I'll try and have a decent chat with her about things over the weekend. Part of me really hopes that she's happy about it, that she doesn't really like living with me either. I think she'd prefer a flatmate who wants to talk more, I generally prefer to be quiet on an evening - I spend all day at work talking!

Skintfoodie

banwa wrote: »

Hello skintfoodie,

Sounds like you are well in control of the debt. Congratulations too on the new job

If you can afford to overpay the loan, but the terms of the loan won't allow it, can you put it aside until you have enough to settle it off?:)

Thanks for your comment Banwa, I think that could be a pretty good idea, I should have a plan of action for the next five years. I know that next year I'll be trying to save as much as possible, the year after will be dealing with the new house, so year 3 and 4 I should be able to look at saving to paying it off earlier. I need to look into what an early payment fee would be.

ZTD

Skintfoodie wrote: »

The money to parents - that's a really great idea, I should definitely do that.

I do have a budget, and an idea of how much I'd like to save per month. I'm just not very good at saving. I tend to get so far then think I should treat myself for doing well, then I get used to spending the money and spend all my savings and end up using credit. It's like an obsessive compulsive thing, once I start I can't stop.

I have a plan to treat myself to something £10 or under each month, like some new music or a bit of make up... Maybe I should do it per week.

I need to change my spending behaviour, I know that much.

You should do a proper budget with a certain amount each week for *all* of your expenditures including "you stuff". Some people give themselves a £5 a week, or a tenner - it's your budget, you decide.

Some use it for a Starbucks latte a week, and if they don't use it, then it carries forwards so they get something out of the Body Shop the next week.

Don't however, deny yourself this. The road to debt-freeness is not the Road to Purgatory.

Putting your savings into something with a penalty for removing it, such as a term account, or an ISA, is also something you could consider. It may deter you from impulsive purchasing.

However, if you really want to change your behaviour, you will need a period of intraspection where you try to determine *why* you need to make yourself feel good by buying. Once you understand the problem, you're 90% on the way to fixing it.

Skintfoodie

You're absolutely right. I tend to do a monthly budget and then work out what I have left to spend when my bills are paid out, but then I always spend the bulk of the remaining money within the first week and spend the other three weeks scrimping.... I need to move to a weekly budget.

I was thinking about an ISA, then I won't have the temptation of moving the money back into my current account!

I do need to work on self esteem, buying things has always made me feel good at times when I feel bad about myself. I have a lot more positives in my life now, and working on self esteem issues does need to be done too.

ZTD

Skintfoodie wrote: »

You're absolutely right. I tend to do a monthly budget and then work out what I have left to spend when my bills are paid out, but then I always spend the bulk of the remaining money within the first week and spend the other three weeks scrimping.... I need to move to a weekly budget.

Well don't just 'need' - do it!

Skintfoodie wrote: »

I was thinking about an ISA, then I won't have the temptation of moving the money back into my current account!

You can get ones which are fixed for a year, but you pay in a monthly amount. Make sure your budget is top-notch before doing this though.

Skintfoodie wrote: »

I do need to work on self esteem, buying things has always made me feel good at times when I feel bad about myself. I have a lot more positives in my life now, and working on self esteem issues does need to be done too.

Self-esteem has probably led to more people being in onerous debt than any other one issue. I'm not (because I can't) going to give a panacea, or wave a magic wand for it. But if you're aware of your mood, and when you're feeling low, you can come on here and talk about it, or talk to your friends, or even your parents and avoid the worst of it.

So now you've got to create a plan of action, and then action your plan. Good luck with your flatmate.

Skintfoodie

Thanks for your advice this evening, feeling much more positive and inspired than I did a couple of hours ago.

Goal for tomorrow - work out a weekly budget

Goals for the weekend - tell flatmate and research ISA's!

Skintfoodie

Today has been bad spendingwise.

£3.35 lunch
£9 pub, first of a few leaving drinks
£6.08 supermarket

I shouldn't have bought lunch. I bought a massive flapjack then felt sick after eating it. Greedy pig.

Tomorrow is lunch out with work colleagues, then gym and home.

I'm making my own fishcakes tomorrow. Will post the link to the recipe.

Feel like a MSE failure today.

banwa

For spending £20? You're not a failure, you're a human.

I'll bet it's a lot less than preLBM. And at least you can account for every penny whether you disapprove of yourself or not

Is flapjack worse than bombay mix? That's what I have just eaten too much of. I might as well eat lard :rotfl: