Mrs Average strikes back

Standingtall

Oh well, here we go, although not really sure where to start. Have got myself into rather a mess. £17k of debt, which is apparently average so I suppose that makes it ok - NOT!:mad:

A large amount of my debt was through too many holidays; not luxury ones, just breaks that would get me away from a life I had become discontented with. Looking back I think what a self indulgent pathetic excuse that is! There are people living in abject poverty and starving, yet I try to justify my overspending in such a way! However, I was ok, just about treading water financially until my ex lost his job and the maintenance stopped. Thus am now starting a DMP with Payplan.

I have already mentioned this in the DFW main forum incidentally, so if it seems familiar .... However, I wanted to start my diary on here.

This forum has been alive lifeline over the past couple of weeks so if I write down my experiences for the next few years ( well could be anywhere from 10 years onward), then maybe it might help someone else.

So far the hardest part was actually coming to terms with how much I owed. In my head it was somewhere circa 10k .... Then Payplan gave me the figure after my reeling out the individual debts...17k. Oh dear!

So, I am paying back £120 s month for an indeterminable time. On the plus side I have my house and job so not to worried about credit anytime soon (not that I would want any as such, but maybe a better mortgage for instance).

What an eye open it is to only have what is in your bank. How much more attention I pay to what I am spending and where my weekly shop is going to be. Still, it gives me a focus and something to do with my free time:)

Standingtall

Haha, just found the diary I started, no replies to it which says a lot for my writing skills:rotfl:

So, I am now 3 payments into my DMP and things appear to be going well. I think all my creditors have frozen all interest and charges for the next 12 months although not entirely sure about Santander overdraft - will have to keep an eye on that one.

On a positive note I have budgeted well so am able to put a little aside each month and build up a small emergency fund. At next year's review though I intend to put more in the car fund as it has just cost me £240 for service, MOT and some minor work!

One very amusing positive to come out of my new credit money savvy lifestyle is my cooking ability. I am now cooking food from scratch; "real food" my 12 year old daughter is calling it. I have to say, it isn't bad at all, I am almost enjoying it!

My biggest tip so far though is one thing I wish I had done before starting my DMP and that is to make a couple of months worth of token one pound payment. Use the remaining income to start off that emergency fund. It is very, very frightening otherwise to know you have nothing to fall back on!

Over and out:money:

FreshPrincess

Your writing skills are fine Standingtall! It is commendable that you realise where you went wrong in the 1st place and have a different outlook on life now. Most days my debt gets me down and then I remember that (part of making this debt...travelling!!) I have been to places like Auschwitz and Belgrade and Bosnia...places of war... and also very poor countries like Albania and I have to remind myself that nothing in our life is worth worrying too much about. Like my mum says: "everything in life matters, but nothing matters terribly". You seem to know where you're heading. Cooking for yourself is a great start. I only have myself to cook for so I usually end up in McDonald's or buy a sandwich (and the rest!) Jebus that soon adds up!! But I find it hard to give up food I like. (I'm not fat, just love food!) Keep going with the diary!

Standingtall

Thanks for that Princess, unfortunately I also love my food and right now my waistline is absolute evidence of that:rotfl:

My subject of the day though has go be Christmas. The lights are starting to pop up in people's windows, adverts are on the TV but the real killer is ....

The Pogues and Kirsty Macall - Fairytale of New York.

I'm not sure what it is about that song but it instantly I feel warm and fuzzy. Unfortunately I then want to buy presents to make my family feel warm and fuzzy too, lots of presents, then some more too, just to be sure.

Problem is, this year there are no longer any shiny bits of plastic in my purse to enable warm fuzzy feelings. So, a replacement must he found and I think I have found it in food (this post has come full circle!). I am going to make Christmas cup cakes, and little chocolate treats, etc.:A

Merry Christmas:beer:

Standingtall

Ah well, I travelled last week without the comfort of my nice shiney bits of plastic - it was very scared indeed. At least it was until I was sure the hotel would take my work's Amex charge card - unfortunately many places do not so I did not feel at ease until I was certain.

On the plus side the travelling will mean some overtime payments and, by limiting my food and drink intake I have managed to profit by £100 on the expenses front (we get a daily allowance). That can go into my emergency fund:T

My Christmas shopping is now almost done although I doubt either of the kids will be exactly jumping for joy at the new duvets!:eek: However I have got them feather and down so the luxury element may impress them.

Have spent £80 each on them (30 on the duvets, then £50 cinema token for DS and trip to theatre with meal for DD), plus a further £40 on stocking fillers. I think that is quite good going when you consider that it has all been paid for in cash - for the first time since they were born probably:mad:

Anyway, after seeing how the kids in India lived they should be grateful to have water, food and shelter, never mind anything else!

So, I now have only my parents to buy for but have no idea what to get them?

Tip of the day - try and disguise a necessity as a gift to save money:rotfl:

Standingtall

Tip of the day:beer:

Well, had a moment of inspiration today! Move over Martin Lewis:rotfl: Since my works expenses go on my works Amex charge card, I usually have around 6 weeks to pay. Now historically the money has lounged in my current account where I have sometimes inadvertently chipped away at it then panicked when needing to pay it.

So, from now on, I shall claim back the expenses promptly and on receipt of the payment put it straight into my savings :money: account where not only will it be safe but also be earning interest until Amex bill due!

My last expenses were over £700 so for approx 4-6 weeks of earning interest will make some difference. Ok, not megabucks but still better than nothing:T

Standingtall

Wow! What can I say - my bank accounts look amazing! What a Christmas present!

Of course, it is only temporary - my expenses came through from my last work trip so I took my own advice and have popped them into my savings account where they will earn interest until 9th January:j

All the same those figures are a joy to behold:rotfl:

On the plus side I also received two months overtime and my annual bonus:T

It looks so nice when I log onto my Internet banking that I think I shall try extra hard now to save and not to spend:money:

Wow:j:T:money::D

Standingtall

I HATE CHRISTMAS:mad:

Well ok, that might be a bit strong but, well, here goes:

I am from a small family, only child with elderly parents. Have 2 ex husbands (actually I am still married to one but only because neither of us can afford divorce), and 2 kids aged 20 and 12.

So there the 5 of us are opening presents bought only by us (eldests dad has not bothered with him I years and the youngest's is to tight). Then we sit in forced joviality round dinner table and then watch some more tv.

It's painful - to me anyway. I am obviously greatfulmfor what I have as so many in this world have nothing but oh how I wish I could escape and maybe go overseas instead, or even go and help at a charity soup kitchen or similar.

Crikey what a whinger I am:mad:

Ok, enough moaning!!

On the positive side I have decided that I shall have a new Christmas account and put in £20 a month. Also I shall open and ISA as my emergency pot since theoretically this money should not be used as frequently:eek:

I also need to lose a stone in weight - now that will be hard! I do not smoke, I do not go out, I do not have a love life and now I have to give up nice food as well:(

Roll on 2013:rotfl:

Hiddenidenity

Standingtall wrote: »

I also need to lose a stone in weight - now that will be hard! I do not smoke, I do not go out, I do not have a love life and now I have to give up nice food as well:(

Roll on 2013:rotfl:

You dont have to give up nice food, Why not have a look at slimming world? Im not really good at advice :rotfl:and maybe food is far from my best point of advice seeing as I am carp with it :rotfl:

Anyway just stopping in to read and I will subscribe

Be warned Im more a lurker than a poster, but Im watching reading? lol :rotfl:

Standingtall

Hi Hidden Indentiy - lurking is fine, it's nice to know that someone is reading my drivel, move over Jk Rowling:rotfl:

I think I am going to go for the healthy eating approach rather than the diet one; purely on a psychological basis as it sounds more proactive. My daughter mentioned, this evening, that it is weird that all my fat is around my middle and on my bum - cheers daughter:mad:

On a positive note, I opend my ISA yesterday and my 2nd savings account today. So:

Current account - bills
Savings account one (has debit card) - groceries etc
Savings account two - car and Christmas fund £45 month
ISA - anything that is left including emergency fund.
Not sure where to put my expenses now though, probably have to be savings account one as it has debit card for payment, just have to be careful not to spend it.

Crikey, this is going to take careful management until I get used to it!

On the 'feeling sorry for myself' front, no one got me any Lush products for Christmas, boohoo:(:(. So sad. My friend got £46 Lush gift set off her DH - I have no DH so this is not going to happen, and frankly neither of my ex DHs got me Lush gift sets which is probably why they are EXx:rotfl:

Tip of the day
Stay out of Sainsburys and take previous left turn into Lidl car park and shop there instead. I am banning my self out of former until February!

LuckyLouise

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