Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.

tillyvision

I've been reading some really great diaries on here, and they've left me feeling all inspired to write one myself. I'm sure they won't be as entertaining as those of others, but writing this is for me, rather than for others. To keep me motivated, give me perspective, keep me excited about clearing my debts and saving for important things.

I'm 23, I graduated from university a couple of years ago (it feels like a lifetime ago but even saying 'a couple of years ago' makes me feel old!). After I graduated I was unemployed and on the dole/housing benefit for about 8 months. I hated it. And not because I think there is any shame in it. I paid taxes when I worked before university, and I will continue to pay taxes for the rest of my life. I believe in a system of support. I know that people can be unemployed despite being educated, hard working, good, decent people.

I live in London. It's a huge financial strain. I'm originally from North London, but lived in another country, and then in Birmingham for a while when I was growing up. I moved back to London when I went to uni. I was so desperate to get back here that I didn't even bother applying to any universities that weren't here! My mother can't understand why I live here, when it puts such a huge amount of financial pressure on me. Even with london weighting fr salaries, it is still so expensive. But frankly, I can't imagine living anywhere else. At least not in this country, or until I am much older.

After being unemployed for 9 months I got a job at a local council, stayed there for three months, then got a job as an Office Manager at a radio station/adult learning centre. I lost that job after 5 months, due to disagreements with my manager (a lecherous horror) who also happened to be company director, and having had 4 days off in 5 months (due to a breakup, which culminated in my ex letting himself in to my house and taking my two beloved cats). I got a temping job recently with a very well known British bread manufacturer, but it endsat the end of December.

I've also had an awful time in terms of housing since I split with my ex. I moved, and now, I'm moving again. I feel guilty saying an 'awful' time because other people have it so much worse, but I've felt pretty miserable recently. I live with a total psycho. More on that later I guess.

This past few months has been bad in terms of money and housing and stuff, but I've also met the man of my dreams, and am now considering dun dun dunnnn marriage(!) after having always said marriage wasn't for me, even if monogamy was. So yeah, that's great.

Now on to the money stuff. I'm not sure I should have said so much (whined so much?!) about myself personally as a prequel but...

I'm not in a tonne of debt by a lot of DFW's standards. But I want to try and nip it in the bud before I get to oblivion. I have bad habits, which I want to change. I'm in quite a bit of student debt (fees and maintenace loans), which to be honest I barely think about or count when I think about my debt. I know that is ridiculous, but it's true. Then I have an overdraft with Lloyds, on a graduate account. It's £2000. The first £1500 is interest free, the last £500 I pay interest on and a £5 service charge if I go in to it. I got that last £500 added when I moved a few months ago, and haven't really been out of it since. I lso have a credit card, which at the moment has nothing on it. My mum realised I needed a holiday and generously gave me £700 to have one, although I haven't because I sank £500 in to my credit card, which was maxed out at £500. I daren't tell her, and keep telling myself I'll make up the mony and 'pay myself back and have a holiday'. She thinks I've put it in a separate account until I want to go away. This 'I'll pay myself back' attitude is the source of my problems I think. I always think, 'I'll be tighter next month', 'I'll make more money next year', but I never am/do.

I don't live an extravagent life, although by my mother's standards I definitely do (my mum is unbelieveably OS, and fantastic for it). I don't drink much anymore, don't smoke, don't eat much meat. I don't go shopping in the usual sense of the word (around 'proper shops'- high street shops etc). But I do eat out a lot, go to the cinema, buy nice food to cook (I'm serious about cooking from scratch and always have been. My mum never even bought pasta sauce when I was growing up), 'treat myself' to bits and pieces from ebay, and charity shops. I also buy quite a bit of make up and nice French pharmacy toiletries. And creative bits, like fabrics and pencils. I love mechanical pencils...:rotfl:

Anyway, I'm just spending beyond my means, and even when I'm not, I'm not making a dent in my overdraft.

I want to get out of my overdraft, and close it. I want to save for and go on a holiday. I want to reassess and most importantly STICK TO my spending strategies. I want to get a career. I want to save for important things instead of wasting my money on moisturiser and chocolate. These important things might be: a flat, a child (not to buy one!), setting up a design studio. I want to not necessarily spend less in the future, but have real satisfaction from what I spend my money on. I want a treat to be a treat. I don't want to be surrounded by stuff that makes no difference to my life or the way I feel. I want to feel in control of at least some aspects of my life.

And I think a good start is keeping a diary here. Money in, money out, debt cleared, things I've enjoyed spending money on, ambitions for the future.

If you've read this, thanks so much, I'm terribly sorry if it was a trial!
Here we go!:j

tillyvision

I will be doing a SOA after I move in three weeks, along with a budget. At the moment I'm in limbo because I'm trying to find somewhere to live, and a new job, so have no idea of outgoings and incomings.
For now, I'll get on with a spending diary.

28/11/11

Sandwich £1.60
Lunch and a bottle of water £3.32
(both terrible spending of money!)

I'm going to try and have a couple of no spend days this week, but I'm allowing myself two treats in the form two magazines which I think are coming out this week. Oh Comely and Eat Me. I have dinner sorted for tonight (home made red thai curry in the freezer, which I'll have with udon) and I need to get on with packing. Although I've spent a lot of money on myself recently I don't feel very 'looked after'. I'd like to spend a bit of time putting a face pack on and painting my nails and giving my hair a trim. When I feel better about my self and my life I spend a lot less, and I've got all the bits at home already. So tonight I would like to

1. Wash my hair, put a face pack on.
2. Pack minimum 1 box.
3. Read some more of my book.

Very self indulgent. A bit like this post! Forgive me, MSE!