New and scared but so determined

freebyfifty

Good Morning and thank you for the brilliant replies. I'm grateful to you for reading my ramblings. It's all my thoughts down on (virtual) paper and not interesting at all, so thank you x

Went to Mr T yesterday - £57 :eek:. So now I only have £3 to last me until the end of the week to stick to my budget. It's actually quite doable seeing as I bought the lunches/dinners/snacks for the entire week. I work in a place that there is no access to vending machines etc and going out for lunch is just way too much hassle so I don't anticipate having to go back to the shop, but you know what life is like...always getting in the way

Today is the day when all the big bills come out of the bank account so I have paid the mortgage, council tax, loan, gas and electricity. I always breathe a sigh of relief when they are paid. At least now we'll be warm and dry with a roof over our heads for another month. Bonus is - I still have money in the bank and more than enough to cover all the other, smaller, direct debits still to come out.

Life is good really, when you think about the basics. The bills will all be paid this month and I have food in the cupboards. We don't need (really need) anything else. The 'must have this' and the 'gotta have that' is what got me into this mess in the first place. Losing that mentality was my first step towards sorting it out.

I'm off to obsess over my spreadsheet and slurp a coffee before work. Hope everyone has a fantastic DFW day. x x

freebyfifty

Well, another day, another dollar.

The car insurance dd paid today - £40 :eek: My own stupid fault for having a small bump (very small) and the silly people I rear ended seeing £££££££££ signs flashing in front of their eyes. So this year's insurance went sky high and I couldn't get it down so just have to bite the bullet, pay it, and watch it come down from now on. Blitherin' car costs a fortune (£30 diesel in it yesterday) but I travel 40 miles a day to get to and from work so it has to be done

Going to try and have a NSD today. I don't need anything so my purse is staying firmly in my bag! Easier said than done.

I hate this time of the month. The majority of my dd's have been paid and my bank balance looks severely depleted. It's a good job I have my trusty ole spreadsheet to keep me focussed and I can see that it just gets better as the month goes on. I am a single parent so my tax credits, family allowance and maintenance payment all go into my account next week so this time next week things will look better and I can start breathing again!!

Hope everyone reading this has a great day x x

mizmir

Insurance can be a nightmare can't it? We claimed a couple of years ago on the house insurance for storm damage to roof - claim was about £300 but our premium doubled the next year - by at least as much! They will always get their pound of flesh.

Love your attitude - that determination will see you through this. Hoping I can maintain something similar. Enjoy your day.

freebyfifty

It wasn't even as if I crashed into them at high speed, I just rear ended them at a junction and was doing about 2mph!!! No damage to my car and none that I could see on theirs but I got a phone call later to say their bumper was buckled and they couldn't open their boot (according to their garage)!!!! Not sure whether it was the garage looking for a fast buck or them. I just put it in the hands of my insurance company and have been paying for it ever since!!!!! It'll get back to normal again one day - probably in about 2020 - lol.

Off to work now (driving very carefully) x x

freebyfifty

First thing I do every morning, apart from inhaling a cup of coffee, is check my bank account and compare it to my speadsheet. Today, for some reason, it's left me feeling very depressed. I only got paid on Friday and its gone! I know I've paid all my major bills and I know I'll get another £500+ next week and I can see from my projections that'll be just fine this month but I've just been left with a feeling of pure hopelessness today.

I need to pull myself out of this feeling because I know myself only too well and when I feel like this I spend. I just think 'Well I'm burgered anyway so what's the point'.

My name is FreebyFifty and I am an emotional spender.

Trouble is I have to go to the supermarket today or the dog doesn't eat so........do I trust myself......do I have the willpower?????? I hope so. Will check in later to either give myself a big cheer or to give myself a proper rolicking!!!!!!

mizmir

You can do it. You know what is happening here. Ignore that voice that puts you down - listen to the one that tells you that you are on track. Stick to the plan.

Ps what kind of dog do you have? Love dogs - have a greyhound & a collie.

freebyfifty

Ahhhh thank you so much. I do know what I'm like and I do recognise the signs which, I suppose, is a major breakthrough. I'll be fine tomorrow and, if I get through today, so chuffed with my little ole self.

I have a black (mental) labrador who I love to pieces. She is my cuddle blanket keeping me cozy as the evenings get colder and I refuse to switch the heating on - lol

mizmir

It is a major breakthrough - self awareness is the key to change!
Your lab sounds lovely - they're great for keeping us sane aren't they?!

freebyfifty

Took my courage in both hands and this is what I got!!!

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1040
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 787.49
Other income............................ 300
Total monthly income.................... 2127.49

Monthly Expense Details[/b]
Mortgage................................ 363.7
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 90
Electricity............................. 35
Gas..................................... 90
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 30
Mobile phone............................ 17
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 200
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 40
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 6
Contents insurance...................... 6
Life assurance ......................... 10.75
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 15
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1145.45

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 175000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 1500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 176500

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 27000....(363.7)....0
Total secured & HP debts...... 27000.....-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Capital One....................1482.63...74.63.....0
BOS............................3071.54...66.9......0
Abbey..........................3913.6....132.6.....0
Freemans.......................176.55....8.83......0
Choice.........................43.03.....21.3......0
Studio.........................238.51....14.3......0
Mastercard.....................7488.25...158.2.....0
Beneficial.....................1017.17...25........0
Next...........................627.25....59.02.....0
Virgin.........................3259.22...102.9.....0
Tesco..........................2993.68...66........0
Total unsecured debts..........24311.43..729.68....-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,127.49
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,145.45
Available for debt repayments........... 982.04
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 729.68
Amount left after debt repayments....... 252.36
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 176,500
Total HP & Secured debt................. -27,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -24,311.43
Net Assets.............................. 125,188.57


Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.[/font]

Happytogetdebtfree

Good morning just been reading well done for taking the step to freedom. Looking at your negative wealth total it seems 72 months/. 6 years of paying 712.66 will have you financially free and that's just dividing the total amount by 72 months if you can pay a bit extra it will be sooner that's a massive achievement :-) what I wanted to say was get rid of the guilt we are where we are :-) it won't go in a day because it didn't accumulate in one :-). Start allowing yourself a play account that's comfortable for you that you enjoy spending you cant pay every last thing to negative wealth :-) I'm 27 I'm learning myself il be free of negative wealth by dec 2012 then il consider mortgage overpayments... I have a play account with oh and it's really helped us enjoy spending without the guilt of thinking it needs to be paid on negative wealth. I look forward to reading your journey. Do you have 252 left each month? A spending diary would be good. Also council tax is that over 12 months or 10 if so move it to 12 months might save a little more :-) hope that helps a little :-)