Im not going to be an Ostrich anymore (or in short F1s debt diary)

kerri_dfw

Hi F1, I thought I posted that I had subscribed but I must have forgotten... it was late. I've just caught up and you seem to be being positive
Pots...I could go potty over pots just ask HP
When the money comes in I divide it equally between my pots based on % so if something costs £100 a year and another costs £50 a year I'd put double what I put in the latter into the former. But because my annuals go out at different times I know that I will be able to cover each when it arrives as I'll have enough in the pot.
You're doing really well, keep going x

Box_of_Fluffies

Thanks for clarifying the Island Parish thing. I knew it wasn't Doc Martin but thought it might have been the doco that he did travelling around the Scottish Isles. It obviously isn't.

Not sure I can really help F1 but my advice would be to keep things as simple as possible, that way the pots will be easy to maintain. Perhaps it will be easier to work out once you have the all the figures from your money advisor?

f1widow

Hi Im spitting I did a huge waffly moan post yesterday came back on today and it was not there - my fault me thinks I really was in a grey place yesterday so it was probably best the post was not there after all as feeling a little more positive today .....

My "black cloud" yesterday was because Im frustrated/embarressed/annoyed etc that I have not paid anything off the debts this month after payday - the Money Advisor is looking over my I and E and tweaking that and then is writing to people to offer a payment - in the meantime I suppose I should look on it that I am now so aware of money keeping a spending diary for food/petrol/sundries etc and have squirrelled a little away but Ive nothing concrete to show you guys yet - BIG SORRY - I hope Im not letting you down

On a big positive note I saved £78 on house insurance by comparing - would normally have stayed with broker but this year I compared so was very pleased with that this means a monthly saving on my payments of nearly £8 - now I was planning on "squirrilling" that away or would I have to admit this on my I&E? - at the end of the day the odds that Im squirrilling I hope will go towards offering lump sums to my creditors or meeting bills like School Uniform (which is a big chunk this year with DS starting seondary school)

What do you guys do - do you bank any savings you make each month and use for debt payments or other needs ????

The main bills are all paid and I have made myself a little spreadsheet showing - what Ive paid and what my I&E is and whether there are any + or - comparing the two - obviously I cant do this for petrol or food yet until end of Feb - and then on another sheet I have an ongoing list of what Im spending off my budgets - how does this sound???

Im also looking at having a good de-clutter and the dreaded Ebaying will begin and after reading kerri-dfw diary about knicker selling I was in stitches but are not sure they would want my well worn bloomers :rotfl::rotfl:(actually do need knickers but i think they will be george multi pack!)

Anyway off to do some more positive things (I hope) have some knitting donations to get packed up to send at W/end etc and whilst doing this my head will still be going "potty about pots" (Ive also just remembered I have not had a good hunt for loose change in last couple of days do will be doing that as well!)

kerri_dfw

Big hugs F1 *hugs*
I think you should set aside an £8/mth budget for school, that way you're not "saving" you're budgeting and can dip into it as and when the kids need something. If you set it as a budget then you'll be less inclined to spend it, or so is the theory. I wouldn't be declaring it as what happens next year if your insurance goes up?
Glad I gave you a giggle
Hope you have a good day x

Box_of_Fluffies

Hi F1, glad to hear the grey cloud has lifted a little and you're feeling more positive today. We don't mind at all if you have a bit of a moan on here, we're all here to support each other.

I'm with Kerri_dfw re the £8/month. Putting it to one side for school stuff is a great idea. It's the start of the school year here in NZ and January has been a very very expensive month so anything you can put away towards new uniform etc for September has got to be a good thing.

hp48910

Glad to hear you are felling a little more positive than yesterday. I failed to post my diary entry twice yesterday but can't work out what went wrong. Third tie llucky or maybe there was a glitch?! Probably just me:o

Well done on the home insurance, that's a job for me at the weekend. I have been with the same company for years. They are reasonable but I'm going to see if I can get it for less:)

Don't be so hard on yourself for not making payments when your money advisor is sorting figures. I'm not entirely sure on this but if you do make payments, is it likey to affect them accepting a final payment? I mean, they might take a payment to mean you can afford to budget for that debt?

You asked what we do for monthly spends...I have all the bills going out of one account. I also withdraw cash from that account to the value of what I need for the kids' activities etc and put everything into those little dinner money envelopes, (£land best place to buy them). I transfer money across to another bank which has two accounts and pay £250 into each. This basically clears the O/D in each, leaving me £250 available in each for the month, one for food shopping and the other for fuel any other spending. This isn't the best scenario, I know but both O/D have just been reviewed so I know they won't be pulled and our DFD is within the year. After all these payments have been made, I work out what is left to pay debts which is normally around £1k per month. We almost always end up well into the O/D but that costs less than the interest on the cc's so that's how we're working for now.

Keep positive, I know how hard it is to keep motivated until you feel you are making headway with the debt:)

f1widow

hi all (its the weekend and I never seem to get on here with OH and DS around but just popped on)

hp48910 - your explanation of how you run your accounts is good - thanks for that

pinkpiggy / kerri - thanks for your support and comments

It is a bit disappointing (and I feel a bit of a fraud on here not being able to report debt reduction:D) but if I can get the foundation on my part done whilst the money advisor sorts his part out maybe that is a good thing

I am sorely tempted to spend money but at the moment have resisted (I PROMISE) :A nothing more than bills and food shopping and petrol has been spent on

Was thinking of what to do OH for valentines day, as I would normally buy something - I think it will be heart biscuits half dipped in choc ??? not sure will think on ..........

roamin_in_the_gloamin

f1 - knit him a hat or scarf with a great big heart on it! Like the biscuit idea too - any kind of pie made in the shape of a heart?
x

f1widow

Fickle hubby that I have - he loves all the knitting I do - just not for him! same as DS he loves the knitted toys but not hats etc .......... (something about people will laugh!) - like the idea of the pie

I have knitted a couple of small hearts and will try and pop them on a greetings card (try and pop photo on if it happens!)

Im bubbling a little - my head I think is going to burst (not only money but sinus problems :rotfl:) - my Money Advisor asked if they could have a letter from the Dr explaining my medical problems and said that the Support Worker could do it - Support Worker came on Friday to say "no I havent done it you are doing it" - 2-3 weeks we have sat on this I thought SW was talking to MA about what they want in the letter!!! :mad::mad::mad: you may as just get on and do it yourself - still no sign of list of figures either (needless to say SW supposed to be bringing them from MA as well............... Im sure this is just an oversight from MA as they are so very busy as you can imagine but as you know I have been waiting so that I can do a SOA (for myself) so I know that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet (iYKWIM)

Rant over ......................
Have not felt great last few days so not much done in house etc - have been keeping my charts up to date with spends - although nothing frivalous been spent - just bills, petrol and shopping still - I have an itch to spend some money BUT i WONT scratch it :rotfl:

Well off for a cuppa and get DS a moving for school
Will update on MA after speak to them this morning

Box_of_Fluffies

f1widow wrote: »

Fickle hubby that I have - he loves all the knitting I do - just not for him! same as DS he loves the knitted toys but not hats etc .......... (something about people will laugh!) - like the idea of the pie

I have knitted a couple of small hearts and will try and pop them on a greetings card (try and pop photo on if it happens!)

F1 I know what you mean. DH, DS1 and DS2 would never wear anything I crochet or very occasionally knit but they all love my crocheting. Look forward to seeing the hearts on a card.

Not sure what I shall be doing for Valentines Day, although have seen a lovely idea for making my own card so watch this space...

It must be very frustrating all this waiting on your MA and SW. I'd be inclined to hurry them up a little, particularly if it's causing you some stress.