Betti's debt free diary

betti911

Have spoken to my boyfriend and he says he'll pay half of everything when we're in the flat. It'll certainly make life a little easier for me and let me pay off a little more each month. I will do my first SOA as soon as I get note of my salary. I know I'll have less money than before as am going to be contributing to a really good final salary pension, which in the long run will be better for me.

Pay day on Friday, the last full month in my old job. Start my new one in 2 weeks time which I'm really nervous about.

I hope to have around £100 left over on Thursday to put towards my debt and I hope to put £600 towards my debt on Friday. I was hoping to have more at the end of this month but my windscreen cracked on Friday evening so had to pay the 50 quid excess to get that sorted

Have been really down this month about my debt. Its had an affect on my relationship with my boyfriend, friends and family who all think my debts rule my life... well the do.... and that I'm so money orientated and selfish. How can you be a DFW and still be generous? I try to be generous with my time. I reguarly go out walks and window shopping with friends but can't afford concerts, holidays, dinners out etc. Even going out socialising in the places I used to go is difficult because I don't have clothes to go the places my friends want to go. I'm a lawyer so I need to spend a little money on clothes for work (usually the next clearence store) but can't justify tops and dresses for nights out anymore.

Anyone else feel like that? Sorry to moan/rant.

betti911

Have updated my sig again after Jan's pay. Next month I start my new job so not sure if I'll get a salary until 1st March so this month has to last a long time! At the end of Jan I underspent by £100 which I was pleased about so this month I have put £700 towards my debts. Next month it will be £550 cause of my new wage but I'll be under the 10k mark which I'll be well proud of. Fingers crossed all goes to plan.

My sister is getting married next yr. I'm bridesmaid and spent today looking round venues. She wants me to go though venues for her and take fotos (she lives in England) but some are quite far away so will be quite costly to get to. I said to my mum, who is aware of my finances, and she said she'd come with me and drive.

I've been quite depressed about not having enough money to do the things I'd want lately. My mum says I should start putting less away per month and start to enjoy myself more. She says its all about getting a balance. I suppose I have been a right old misery guts lately.

I have been so stingy... like for example today my boyfriend treated me to a facial at my local beauticians as I'd been feeling down. The beautician said I should get the facial every 2 weeks at £38 per time.... that's £912 per yr!!! Then Virgin money messed up my statement... charging me 30p extra and I phoned up to query it as I'm on a 0% deal. They refunded me and said it was their mistake.

I'm worried that I'm going overboard

Buffythedebtslayer

Betti, I know what you mean!

I got invited to go to Spain with a couple of friends and i had to say no, her reply was "oh right you can't afford it" thing is she earns what I earn and therefore can't understand why I can't afford it.

and no beautician would recommand you have a facial every two weeks, far too often once a month or once every six weeks is better. you are being stingy you are being reasonable.

and you pointed out Virgin's mistake well done you!

xx

skint_spice

arrghhhh - reply just vanished! basically all I wanted to say is that you are doing really well and hopefully going sub 10K will give you a wee boost. it did for me.
I'm in the same position as you, there are constant cries of "lunch anyone?" and friends wanting to go for spa days etc and me with the spreadsheets and budgets... we'll get there though and I still won't be spending £38 a fortnight on facials - so maybe I'm stingy!

betti911

Have had a wee boost this week by way of a £20 tesco voucher which came in. Was due this from when I took out my buildings insurance with Tesco. I've also been sent £10 from a free trial from leisuretime with Barclaycard (i cancelled on time though so don't have to pay for this).

I start my new job next week. Really hope I've made the right decision re the job.

Think my friends are annoyed with me. Cause I've been feeling a wee bit down this month I've been avoiding everyone. Was going to call people back later and didn't, which I know is horrid. Anyway a couple of my friends came round last night as they were worried/annoyed with me and we've arranged a night out at some point. They said we could make it a cheapy but I'll not do much socially this weekend so I can make it out. Have got my works leaving do but shouldn't have to spend much at that and my boyfriends is coming to pick me up.

Really can't wait for January to be over! It really is a horrid month.

betti911

Paid off another £10 today which I got for signing up to a free trial for leisuretime with Barclaycard :beer:

Every little helps!

betti911

Have started my new job. Its very different and there's loads more of a work life balance. It means I can get home by 4.30 which is great but I get restricted access to the internet.

Pay day occurs every 4 weeks which'll take a bit of getting used to for me as I won't always be paid on the same day... queue more budgeting!

I haven't been great with my saving recently but I haven't touch wood gone over budget. I need to join the lunch challenge again as I was doing well at that.

Next month I'm going to be under 10k in debt. I'm really looking fwd to updating my sig then!!

betti911

Am really chuffed. Have made this months payments and am now under the 10k mark. I'm really happy :j :j :j

I know I've still got a long way to go but I'm starting to feel as though I'm making progress!

skint_spice

Congrats on going sub ten! it feels good when it goes down to four figs doesn't it?
I think restricted access to the internet sounds fine if you are getting home by 4:30, I think many places like to restrict it a bit or no one would ever do any work. I used to get paid 4 weekly and much prefered it - suppose it depends which you are used to. I used to budget with the pay as a month then you would get to a point you had two pays in (sorry that doesn't make much sense) but basically you would end up with a month where you got two pays between mortgage payments etc.

betti911

A wee bit more paid off this month. Am getting paid less than I expected as have to make quite a big contribution to my pension. I know this will pay off in the long run but its so difficult to tell myself this when I won't be able to access the funds for yrs to come!

My boyfriend and I have been fighting about money again recently. He says I'm money obsessed and I know that I've been worried recently but its more to do with my changing budget which came partly with my new job. Have also got some routine expenses coming up such as factors fees and also my road tax, my boyfriends b/day which I need to try to plan ahead for.

Still doing my pigsback, quidco etc and going to start my money journal again which usually gets me back on track.