Intend to be Sorted by September!

myteeduck

Hi all.

Ive decided to start a diary.... Im struggling at the moment to pay of a credit card bill which I have, which must be cleared by the end of September.

I could have paid it off by now if I had been a little more productive with my money, but I am rubbish, I know I am and thats why Im starting this diary, so I always have somewhere to post too, when I'm having a wobbly day, even if no one decides to read.

I only owe £444, which doesn't seem a lot, but life gets in the way and sometimes I struggle to not spend money and then I start thinking "oh i'll pay a little less on the credit card and I'll pay more next month" but the month after I'm back in the same position.

However I now have realised that I have a deadline that I must make and I'm going to need some support!

So Day 1 is here.

This week my money aims are to:

• Pay £75 off the card to get it out of my bank and not spend it.
• Keep my spreadsheet up to date
• Leave my bank cards at home
• Only use my car for going to and from work
• Claim my mileage back from work from last week
• Remove the money I have in my purse and put it in my tin and leave it there!
• Ensure I take something out of the freezer for tea every morning, so I don't risk going to a shop for a ready meal.

I think hopefully doing these will ensure that come next week (a week closer to payday) I will still have a workable amount in my bank!

I know I will wobble (I drive past 4 supermarkets on my way home from work and red pepper houmous likes to come calling) but hopefully having to state it on this diary, will hopefully shame me and make me stop.

Wish me luck. Roll on September!

please-let-me-be-lucky

Hi myteeduck :hello:Happy new diary!

Just wanted to wish you luck in both paying off your credit card and not buying humous

Why not join us over on the make £10 a day challenge for inspiration?

myteeduck

Hi

P-L-M-B-L - Thank you for commenting. All Suggestions are grateful so I think I will have a wander over to the £10 a day challenge. I was always confused as to how it would work, but if it does - all the better!

I’ve sorted the tin, and I have £6.79 lurking in there, so I think I should be okay in an emergency. I was panicking about paying the dentist, but the bank of M&D has stepped in again. Only £20 but it makes a huge difference to my state of mind.

My current money worries are as follows:
I have £10 to buy a present for my friend and do something for her birthday.
I have £30 left for fuel this month, but I have a full tank (so this is my buffer)
The dentist was a problem, but is now cleared
My living room needs decorating, but this will have to wait until the dreaded card is paid.


My biggest weak points are, buying food (Mum buys my shopping, so why do I do this???), books (yes I know about Libraries and I do use them!) and my hamster - I'm a sucker for treating the only pet / other creature I live with.
I need to visit the doctor next week to talk about my Stress/Anxiety problems (I’m hoping he will refer me for CBT rather than put me on medication, but truthfully I'm scared and I might cancel rather than go.


I also have a pickle in the next few weeks with some events. I can’t afford to do them, so I’ll have to cancel both. One is bowling with work and the other is out with friends. The Bowling I’ve cancelled every other time due to money issues, so I seem like I’m not social. My friends may understand, but I risk them not inviting me again, as I have to turn them down a lot!. I don’t know what to do. I thought they were the same weekend and that could be my excuse, but it turns out to be consecutive weekends, so that’s not an option anymore.

If anyone has any advice, I would be grateful…..
Until the next time, back to work I go.
x

myteeduck

I feel so ill!
Day 3 and I’m suffering.
Good thing is I really don’t wanna do anything. Nothing at all. I keep staring into space, realising 5 minutes later that I’m actually not doing anything.
My ears hurt and the noise where I am is painful. But I can’t go home. I’d lose about £50! Which I can’t do without.
I want to crawl into bed with a Lemsip, but I don’t have any of those and really can’t afford them L

Please let me feel better.
Going to go crawl off and collapse!
Till next time.
x

myteeduck

Still feeling rough!
Paid £75 wack to card
Got my milage back and found 50p lurking in purse so tin money is now at £21.49!
Im doing a bit every day that seems to be helping.
Well they say its the baby steps that count.
20 mins left here then off home to bed!
x

myteeduck

ARRRRAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!!
Sorry - I needed to scream!
Nipped to mums yesterday for a couple of lemsips.... got growled at for always running to her for help, rather than standing on my own two feet and in this case for not buying my own medicine when I used the last. I really was feeling awful and didnt want to argue, but then she started about if I cant afford the house, Ill have to move home!

I can afford the house. Ive even worked out a plan, whereby I can pay £150 in the next 2 months, which means finding just £44 in August - Totally Do-able! So im only going to struggle for the rest of May, June and July! I'll even try to find the £44 earlier, so August is better. Then the aim is to repair my savings pot as this is currently £10!

She also only just told me, that when we bought the house in December, I could have lived at home a little longer, decorated fully and moved in only when this bill was paid. However back then I was made to believe that I had to start paying the bills (Mortgage etc) so didnt want to pay for somewhere I wasn't living.

Im so annoyed! I could have moved in and been sorted before the bills came knocking! I just wish my parents would have made that clear!!!!

Anyways, I cant change it, so I just have to make do.

Im loving this little diary, even if no one is reading, because just the thought of having to declare anything, is giving me the strenght to stay away from shops. I havent even planned to go this weekend. I also have found the confidence to turn the girls down this Saturday and have a quiet night in!

Anyways, till next time
x

myteeduck

Hi all
Having a cheap weekend this time!
Woke up feeling rough, with a bad cough, so cancelled going to my friends. She's wanting to visit her cousin in hospital soon and needs to be fully fit before she can go, so I cancelled out of generosity!
I walked to the library in the afternoon, once my energy levels had gone up, saving money on fuel and allowing me to get my reading fix.
I had a wander over to Wilkos on the way back, pricing up paint, as my mum has been kind enough to suggest buying my paint to do my living room. It works out at £20. All I have to do is finalise the purple colour i want, and then purchase tomorrow with her, while my dad watches the football.
Also while wandering around, I realised everything is cheap in there. I can get my hamsters stuff loads cheaper than I've been saying, and i still only walk the same distance to get it. Think i’ll shop in there more often. I do keep being told by mother to shop there, but I haven't ever compared prices until now, so I didn't realise just how cheaper it is.
I'm also have a free evening tonight (albeit on my own), but I have wine, books, my computer and a couple of unwatched DVD’s. I also intend to have an early night (I've had far to many evenings falling asleep on the sofa, waking at 1am, to have to make lunch and crawl back to bed!
I want to be up early, so I can have a shower and be ready for when mum pops over. I also rarely sleep sundays nights, so by having an early morning tomorrow, it means I should be tired come bedtime! Well thats the theory.
Anyways, off to catch up on some Gok! x

myteeduck

Hi

I spent £2 at the weekend, which is a heck of a lot less than normal. £1 on a card as my sister got engaged and £1 on a fem hygine product which although I dont need now I will soon! I would hate to be without.
Mum bought my paint for my living room and the way its going we can take 1 tin back which will give us £13 back! Money in mums pocket but she has helped me immensly so she deserves it back.
Im currently suffering with a cough at the moment so I am currently coming straight home and just decorating.
Im going to the cinema tomorrow with my sister to watch American Pie, but its £7.70 split between 2 on the Orange wednesday, I'm sure I can find £3.85!
Im looking at £15 to spend on my friends birthday weekend (not for a present tho), which reminds me I need to ask her what she wants!
Think im going to survive this month - with a bit of luck! x

myteeduck

Hi
Although im the only one commenting on her, I didnt realise how much I was relying on it!
I seem to check it all the time and post whenever I can!
I feel like i'm much more in control than I was before.
Went to the cinema the other day with my sister and came in under budget. My friend has decided what she wants as a present and I am going to get that tomorrow.
She has also finally decided what she is doing for her birthday - Looks like were having a barbeque/ kareoke party at her house, before going out for the evening. I have approx £20 for this evening, so should hopefully come under budget
I feel so much calmer with this diary - getting my feelings down on screen (can't say paper) and I feel optimistic about the future.

Im currently reading a book (from the library) which is by Jack Canfield called How to get from where you are to where you want to be - I feel calmer and more in control even thought i've only ready chapter 1! Its all about taking responsibility for yourself.
I know its my fault why I'm in debt and so I know that its only going to be me that can fix it.
Cant wait to read the rest of it!
Anyways back to whatever! x

myteeduck

Hey all,

Another really cheap weekend - 89p for sugar!
Should have been nil, but the last time I filled the pot, I forgot to ask mother for another one. Oh well lesson learned! but 89p is a tiny mistake to make.
Paid for my car tax too £120, which I had already saved up so all good for another year!
Also came in under budget for fuel - £30! I have enougth to last 2-3 weeks and payday is in 2 weeks so all good.
Going to IKEA tonight, but got a voucher from a mess up at christmas so hopefully a low spend evening.
Im really doing well this month, hardly spent anything since the first couple of day (not counting regular direct debits). Only 2 more months like this, then I can start back on takeaways (only joking Humpffff)!
Anyways ......

myteeduck

Hi! Me again!
Well I made it to the end of the month and its payday today!
I worked stocktake this weekend just gone, as its the only way I pick up overtime.
I didnt expect the money until next month, but I got a good surprise in that I got it this month.
Ive put aside £50 for emergencies in to my savings account - I will try not to touch it if I can. I am only going to pay £75 (£25 minimum payment and £50 extra) to the Tesco card. I was planning to pay £125 extra, but I would have struggled again.
My parents have handed me a tiny lifeline, in that if I reach the end of the interest free period and its not paid off, they will loan me the money and I can pay them back, interest free. Currently I'm only looking to have to borrow £44, which is the reason for the emergency £50!
I have to find money this month for:
Fathers day (He would be happy with something really cheap and even handmade)
My friends birthday - Again something cheap as shes not one for expensive things - could get something in a discount shop and she would love it!
Jubillee Weekend - The girls are planning drinks on Sunday in a pub- I'd get away with spending £10!
The bulk of my money needs to go on new practical clothes as I am struggling with what I have now, so maybe a Primarni trip is in order, but I would go with a list!
Anyways off to go organise my calender!
x