Getting clarity on my finances

fantastiyk

"You really are doing great it won't be long before it's all gone and your living a debt free life!"

Oh Mamato3, I wish, I wish!!

Every now and again there's a lull, that time in the month when there's the struggle to get by and making any kind of payment is a stretch of the imagination never mind an overpayment.

I have to confess that I am struggling at present, both to keep motivated and to reduce the spending. It's the little things that add up. I've found myself giving in to buying a tub of ice cream and a bottle of wine, that we really didn't need, especially as that £6 - £7 would have made a good overpayment somewhere!

I know they are things that most take for granted but they are the extras that made the difference over the last few months. I am finding it hard to make savings, it's like my will power has gone on holidays!!

I'm supposed to be putting money away for car tax and insurance and I just seem to find all these little bits and pieces that we "need" instead.

I need to get my serious head back on now for the next few weeks and get it sorted.

mamato3

Its so hard though, isn't it? I think it doesn't hurt sometimes to loosen the reigns a little bit. It can become an obsession at times our pesky old debt! I'm sure you'll get back into your debt busting in no time. Meanwhile enjoy said ice-cream and bottle of wine I can't think of a better way to spend a few pounds!

fantastiyk

I was posting this tip for using up bananas when they are starting to go black, on another forum and decided to add it on here in case anyone is interested:


Take the skin off, wrap them in cling film and freeze. They can be blended when you want to use them as banana ice cream. Makes a healthy snack for the kids and zero waste. They keep ok in the freezer for quite a while too!

fantastiyk

Good news!
I am now joining the ranks of the employed again.
I got a phone call over the weekend from a local business who had a vacancy at short notice - member of staff gone into hospital, will now be taking early maternity leave. A place where I used to work in an office years ago recommended me to them. I went in for an interview this morning and I got the job!! I start in the next few days.

It will take a bit of time to sort out the new finances/budget on this. But I am super excited.

On a good note I am getting there with making payments off my cc. I am putting my family allowance to paying it off. Don't think I'll manage anything else but that is still a great payment. I know I am going to get there with this. Can be a bit of a squeeze with trying to make money last but it is going to be so worth it in the long term.

fantastiyk

Sorry, not been on here in ages.

Job didn't happen in the end. They had a family member who lost their job in the following few days - the company they worked for went bust and so they apologised for wasting my time, but couldn't really see their family stuck with no work, etc etc. Was a big blow at the time but I've learned to get on with things.

I understand where they were coming from looking back on it.

In the meantime, I didn't get anywhere with the challenges I was on - had started out well but I owe more now than I did then. This has been an issue over the last few months with little to reduce anything with. Add on a few higher living expenses and it gets harder. We will get there in the end though.

Am treading water at the moment. Hope things get better soon. Main focus at the moment is to try and keep afloat - not adding to debt. Can focus on trying to reduce it when:

a) one or both of us find work

b) kids are back at school - less groceries to buy!!

or

c) all of the above!!

mamato3

Hey there!! I've been a bit AWOL over the summer myself - the summers tough going when you have the kids off school and extra food to buy, uniforms to sort out and activities to organise for them. I will be glad to get the wee pets back to school!

I'm sorry the job didn't work out for you I have my fingers crossed something will come in the near future.

Hoping to be on this a bit more so will check in with you again soon

fantastiyk

Gosh, I haven't been on here in an age! :eek:
Well, I haven't posted but I've popped on for a peek at how others are getting on, and cheering them on from the sidelines :T

Lots has changed in life since I last posted.
DH got a job, and I'm working too :j

Life is so much more fun when you're earning :j

Having said that, we've tried as much as possible to keep expenses down and haven't had any splurges yet!

Our debt has reduced as a result of increased income. We also took out the internet for a while as the laptop gave up and there weren't any funds to replace it. We've been using the internet at the local library so I haven't logged in to post and I don't like to start using the internet at work for personal stuff.

Our outstanding debt is:
cc £10
overdraft £270
family £1000
Total £1280

The cc has been paid off, I'm just waiting on a statement to arrive to see if there has been any interest added on, so I've allowed £10 in the meantime
The overdraft was £300 and I now have £30 saved in a separate bank account towards paying it off.
My parents lent us the £1000 to help reduce the cc some time ago now as we were struggling with the interest and couldn't get a loan at the time. The plan is to clear the cc and o/d and then pay them back.
We both got work around the same time so things have been improving. We decided as a family unit that we'd rather stick to the budget we were already on and get debt free quicker. We'd just had enough of this cycle and as it had taken so long to get employment ( not through lack of trying) we decided we didn't want to end up with no work further down the line and still have debt.
The end is in sight - I can't wait!!
The thought of a decent haircut and a lovely new pair of shoes are keeping me going

I don't care what other people think any more. So what if my car is old and I haven't bought new clothes in an age