I have nothing

must_change

My attitude to money stinks. I NEVER look at my bank balance or statements. Never answer the phone when banks phone. Never look at bills until they send round a warning letter. I just whack my card into the machine and pray it works. This month it doesn't.... I blew my pay in a week. So now I am behind on my rent and am living off nothing and I have nothing to show for it. So I think its time I did something about it. My first step is to write this all down on this diary. I have some aims for this week:
* i only have£10 for this week so i need to survive on that.
* actually open a bank statement.
*Make a house paper work folder.
* Answer the phone call from the bank.
* do a budget plan - realistic.

I hope i can keep this up and try my best to get through it. Sorry for rambling on ! x

must_change

So today I spent £1 on the bus (it was far too dark and far to walk home), 50p on a cookie, 89p on further snacks (because i tried to scrimp on lunch!). Yoghurts for breakfast and tennis balls for the dog i walk (2.20). So over all thats - £4.49. Eeeek. On the upside - i got some dividers and plastic folders from work so I can make a home organiser. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to payday...

ss3n08

Hello well done for trying to make a change. Could you not take food from home with you like a flask of soup to save on the £1.39. I used to always buy lunch at work at about £5 a day and realised that it was costing me £25.00 a week and the food at home was going off. I also used to be exactly the same, always down to my last £10.00 one week after pay day but I do a monthly budget whereby I write down my take home pay plus all the bills and see how much I have left (this includes food). I am usually left with about £50.00 for the month but I don't need to buy food with that and that takes into account debt repayments, in fact it takes into account every penny of bill payments that are due. How I spend that £50.00 is up to me then.

NKLK

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/Budget-planning

you can usually get used tennis balls free from local tennis clubs if you ask nicely, perfect for dogs!

must_change

Hi, I made my home / finance organiser thingy - that way whenever a bill comes in - it can be filed away and i have to write an action on the first page.... I hope it works. Tomorrow I am actually putting in my stuff... which is a massive thing for me as i am one of those who people who never opens her post.... i also need to change my address at the bank and get the internet calculators for banking.... but for now I am going to go to bed. Just a random question but how often do you all look at your bank balance?

must_change

Hi, today I spent £1 on my bus fare home. Made my own sandwiches - i did good today - tomorrow I am going to have an NSD. How often do you all have NSDs? I have no choice but to survive on this money until payday - but i am worried that after payday i will go the same way. How do i do it? do I only allow myself to spend £10 a week? My bf lives far a away and we need to see each other every week so we take turns so the train fare is a nightmare :-(

must_change

I did well today (ok - it was not a no spend day) but today I spent 0.60p on a cookie. The thing is - I had to as everyone was getting one - but other than that - I had my own lunch (home made bread sarnie! - addicted to my bread maker!), did a work out at the gym and then had dinner - curry which i made with left over spinach and chick peas. Then walked the dog. This may sound odd but I actually feel that I am being more creative with food when I don't have money. Today I also picked up the phone to the bank - this is a big thing for me, have ordered a bank calculator thingy and getting information about online banking. I really cannot afford (literally) to get into the same position as i got into this month ! Hope you are all OK!

NKLK

Now see, because everyone else is having a cookie you don't have to. 60P is 3 bags of pasta! Useful saying are, I'm on a diet. I dont fancy one etc
Or
60p is at least one pack of value cookies and sine change. Decant into a tuperware box and take to work with you! Or make your own and take those in!

want2bmortgage3

it is hard though in situations like that when other people are buying to think on your feet. unless you have mentally prepared for the situation, thought of an excuse not to spend the money then it's hard to get out of it. well done must change and keep up the good work!

must_change

Yeh you are both right - that i need to be a bit more strong with regards to spending when others are. Its just being in control - i can't do this. But today I had an NSD. I am proud of myself but its only cos i left my wallet at home by accident so lets see how i get on tomorrow with my wallet! Happy Friday!

must_change

So today was a bit of a mishmash! I overslept - realised that I forgot to make lunch and ran out of bread - had no left overs to take with me. I had a drs apt today - i have a stupidly very high b12, strange number of white blood cells and my liver function test was abnormal. I actually went in to get the contraceptive implant - which got done. So i ended up spending £3.20 on sardines, drink and crisps. I then felt a bit dizzy so i gave my mate to get a chocolate bar for 0.70p. I know i know - i did a bad thing - but todays been just so tiring - i slipped in a big way :-(