Road to Recovery - My Diary

Pilchard

Hi there Hope. Congratulations on your achievements so far. Looking at your monthly outgoings I notice you pay prescription charges. Is this a regular thing every month cos if so have you considered getting a pre-payment certificate?

Hope78

Thanks for that Pilchard, at my last appointmnet my doc took me off my medication - at last - YIPPEEE! But you've reminded me that I have to update my SoA.

Cheers
Hope

Hope78

I've neglected my diary recently but not my DFW ways had loads of school work to do including reports cards - nightmare!

Did 2 car boot sales last weekend. First was for school made £46 that gave me spur to do a 'real' one and on Sunday made £120 after paying for pitch. What did I do with the money I hear you ask??? Well used it as payment towards my summer break which coupled with the fact mum said I can stop paying £60 digs until I'm sorted out a bit means I've paid my holiday without using a CC! :j This is the first time ever. I'm so glad I booked early as most years I book so close to departure I have no time to pay it up. Still got some things to sell so going again tomorrow and hopefully make a bit more my plan is to bank this in savings account as holidays spends.

Got a wage rise this month (£32) have decided to up my fixed EGG CC dd to £90 really should add it all but because I'm still in and out of overdraft that other £22 should help with monthly budget. Also as I'm having to budget holiday spends too it'll help two fold.

Also girls from work usually have a monthly payday night out which means taxis home etc etc but managed this month to have girlie night in (last night) used holiday paying as an excuse as they've no idea about my debt, so didn't spend anything. Took a bottle of wine we already had in house. Had a really good night only thing is felt so guilty I cried when I got home as I'd love to return the favour but don't have my own place (my own fault with all my reckless spending resulting in the debt) but hey ho one day.

£1 bank and smash tin seem to be doing well feel heavier everyday. My dad opened his (he had 3 full ones) and he'd over £700 so hoping to fill my 1 before summer holiday and that'll give spending money a boost. I have to admit the fact my banks are getting fuller is due to my parents as they stick their smash in. Not becuase they know I need it that badly (well mum as a good idea) but I've always had a coin bank so it's habit.

But big pat on the back for me :T is got a letter from car dealership saying now that you've had your car x amount of time come along and we'll see if we can clear your finance and con you into getting a more expensive car - this is where in times gone by I'd have ended up getting a new car and used high mileage as an excuse (previous job had a mega commute) but I shredded the letter straight away and I'm not even tempted. Partly becuase I've seen the benefit of moving jobs on petrol consumption and mileage.

Better be off going to see if I can scrape together a few moe things for car boot.

Cheers
Hope x

art_student

Nice work at the car boot! I hope you have a really good holiday!
Hurrah for mum letting you off the "rent"!
xx

tealady

Hi, I've read your thread and assume you are a teacher? How about doing a weeks temping during the 7 week holiday? You will pay a lot of tax and Nat Ins but while you are working you can't be sending. It could be office or bar work or ask your local Council about Summer play schemes.

poodlehorse

tealady wrote: »

Hi, I've read your thread and assume you are a teacher? How about doing a weeks temping during the 7 week holiday? You will pay a lot of tax and Nat Ins but while you are working you can't be sending. It could be office or bar work or ask your local Council about Summer play schemes.

Exactly what I was going to suggest tealady. There are bound to be jobs out there over the summer, I know where I live there are a lot of tourguide kind of things too that pay ok. And there will be so many places covering staff holidays that I am sure it could be done and with a bit of luck they might keep you on at weekends in term time. Perhaps you could avoid the "when are you moving out" questions if people cotton on you have a second job by saying that you fancied getting out and meeting people as a lot of your friends are now settled down and you weren't meeting any single people. And well done on the carboot, have you anything else left that can go on Ebay? Are you in a position to look at getting a 0% CC and transferring balance to give you a bit of breathing space? Perhaps you could make enquiries now about doing something next summer that will bring in cash. What do summer camps pay etc. What about things like Tupperware or Virgin Vie or things like that? A teacher friend of mine did Tupperware and made quite a bit on it (she too was struggling on her salary), it kept the wolf from the door and she managed to get more ladies to join so she became a mummy (and a granny) and so I think she got a percentage of their sales too. She didn't do many parties herself in the end, just the bare minimum. It would also mean you could get cheap pressies/toiletries for yourself too. Of course there is always the initial cost of such things to factor in. Again it is another great way to get out and meet people and I am sure the girls at work would all have a party for you. (I think there is a way of just handing out catalogues for Virgin Vie without becoming a full consultant and I don't think there is much cost to that if any, good way to start maybe)

It will be a long hard slog but you will get there and you have a really good attitude. Just thought, are there any extra things you can apply for at work for extra cash? Like extra responsibilities? Or are you in a position to go for promotion yet? i am in Scotland so the system is a bit different here. Good luck and I am subscribing to the thread so I can see how you are getting on.

Hope78

Hi folks

Thanks for that those options are all things I am already considering. I was just a bit afraid folk would suss out why I was looking for extra work but your 'reasons' make perfect sense as they are true! The temping is actaully a great idea my holiday is at the very beginning so I geuss I've 6 weeks after that. I used to work for the Scottish Exec during hols as a student so office stuff would suit too.

Poodlehorse I'm in Scotland too! So can't apply for extra responsibilites and I only moved to my current post last August so too soon for promotion I think but it in my three year (plan which is one year gone - if that makes sense - and I'm already getting involed in loads of extra things to build up my CV like working groups. SDP etc etc.

Thanks for your input guys, it's your suport that keeps me going.

Hope x

taxi73

Hi there and well done on what you have done so far and it will get easier as you go along...and what a wonderful mum you have stopping your board payments they can make a big dent in your overdraft if you just leave it in the bank

Hope78

Thanks Taxi

I am very lucky I do have a wonderful mum and she's the only person who knows that my debt is at a serious level (she doesn'y know exactly how much).

It's funny well strange before my LBM I'd have thought o"h what can I do with that extra £60. How can I soend it etc etc." But not now it's well and truly in the bank going towards overdraft.

I made another £37 odd at car boot today. Most of it is £1 coins so it's gone straight into my can bank. The notes are going into Halifax for holidays spends.

Cheers
Hope x

postingalwaysposting

wow hope since your first posts/soa you have come on loads, well done with cancelling your subsricbtions and also cutting up your egg cards :T and an extra pat on the back for making so much at the car boot... well done i agree with all the others about the temping jobs, even if its only for 4 days a week instead of 5 at least it will give you a little more towards your debt... keep up the good work, you will reach your goal in the end :T