There is a light at the end of the tunnel, going forward not back.

Theatregal83

So I feel I'm intruding a little here, this is because my debt at the moment is about a £1000. My worry is, is that I could quite easily slip back into debt. It's taken me a few years to get to this, however.
I got paid on Tuesday and today I have £1.21 in my bank account. The reason, last month I after I paid all my bills, which included a large car repair bill I didn't vouch for. I realised if I took out a loan of £1,000 I could pay off my outstanding debt of £1,00 and as I've got a new job (i'll get to that later) I could afford it. However I can't get a normal bank loan (bad credit) so I looked up loans online, and the bottom line is I was conned out of almost £200 in fees.:mad: ( two of the companies took the money out in my payday this month) I feel stupid that I let myself get into that situation. I've put in complaints and hope to get a refund.

I work only 30hrs a week in a school (i can't really do overtime in my job) and so earn £735 p/month my rent is £320(all in) then I have my car which costs about £150 a month then my food is between £50-£100 a month and then I've got my phone and general expenses and I'm left with abut £50. So i decided I was sick of just about managing. So I've decided to go into teaching, but despite working in schools for almost a decade. Because of my degree classification, i would have to pay the full £9,000 fees and as well as take a year out. Both of which i cant afford. Hence I've got a new job starting in September.

The reason is, to go uni I need a 2:1 I have a 2:2, another government initiative along with the £9,000 fees. So I've got myself a residential job in a boarding school, live in full board term time only. My salary will add about an extra £400 pm to what I earn now, however after talking to a university lecture I've been advised to complete a masters part time over two/three years in order to get onto my PGCE. An as my job is term time live in I'm still going to be paying my rent as I get long holidays so I need somewhere to come back too (I know that this seems stupid to some, but a live in job is full on and I need a bolt hole.) so I kinda need your support in making sure I don't get into debt with my new found money. Which is something I can easily do, hence my current debt. I hope I haven't gone on. I aim to be able pay off my current debt by the end of the year and to start saving up to pay for my teacher training fees. So tips and advice and just little reminders would be very welcome

Sue-UU

bump.........

tootallulah

Hello that is a really good plan, many congratulations on the new job. Boarding school term time is all consuming but great fun, I quite understand you keeping a bolt hole. And to be honest there won't be time to spend much money so you should be debt free very quickly.
The long holidays will give you plenty of time to get on with your Masters.

I do hope you get your money back from the loan companies, they are thieves! Mind if you do get it back and pay it straight off your debts, there is only £500 to go.

I will follow your diary with interest.

tootallulah

Also, good debt payers often become good savers, you could aim to be that person. If you give yourself a target for year one with something to save for that would be an incentive.

Theatregal83

Sorry it's been a few days, I kind of had a mini moment yesterday.

I got a parking ticket a while ago, but couldn't afford to pay it, and I was too stubborn to ask for help. It then went up, i sent off a check at the very last minute, but because of the stupid loan companies i didn't have any money in the account to pay it off. It was yesterday that I got a letter informing me my car would be towed away as my penalty hadn’t been paid! My bill was £125 so I had to man up and ask my parents for help. I am mortified at this, and it's added another amount onto my debt. Then to top off my weekend my car insurance has almost doubled!!! :mad: and it is due next month . I know I won't be using my car much in September, but until then it's cheaper than public transport!!! :mad:

So I'm asking really for any tips on where too luck for things such as free fun things to do, cheap nights in with friends. As I know it's starting to get to me, having no money this month, and being stuck in my house all the time. Then i thought if I can suggest ideas I might just get some sort of a social life!!!

I've also sat down and looked carefully at what I realistically need to save within the next 3 years to hopefully be able to afford my PGCE and living within that year.

Ultimate Goal!
Basic minimum to save £15,000 (this is to cover tuition fees, living expenses)

It seems a lot, and only when I know what my actual salary is per month in my new job, will I know if I can achieve it!!! I've also got to take into account paying for my masters too.:o

So I've done research on MSE and have decided once I know what I can afford each month. Then I'm going to open up a fixed term ISA for three years.

I do feel better now I've formulated some sort of plan, it's just having the will power to stick at it. and not give into the chocolate bar in tesco that says eat me


P.s sorry for the format, I'm just getting used to the technical side

Theatregal83

MEN

Sorry bit of a rant!!!! I don't have A significant other (not for want of trying, to convince them that is) Moving 300 miles doesn't help, but I know I need to think about myself! It's just now they're just being confusing. TBH I don't need the complication of a relationship in my new job to begin with, so I've given up on PSO (potential significant other) for now! An PSO has a few issues they need to deal with, but hay ho maybe once we're sorted out!!! Though as I never been to Ireland, they've told me we have to go (another expense, but one I'm willing to take a chance on!!)
Sorry had to get that off my chest! Feel a bit better now phew!!!
How is everyone else doing?

Theatregal83

Good news this afternoon, after sending my ratty email to one of the companies who took out money from my account without my consent. I got an email today telling me I'd be getting a refund for £70 :T
Okay I have to fill out a form, and it'll take about a month, but £70 back, woo hoo! :j Persistent pays off! Now to track down the other companies, I've emailed one, but I can't find out any info on loans-express.net! Anyone out there knows anything more abou them, I'd appreciate it

Sue-UU

Hi Theatregal, you have a good plan of action there, follow it through and don't let anything stand in your way and you'll be at 2015 and debt-free sooner than you think! It really amazing how fast time flies...even to those who owe many thousands. Take it all a day at a time.

The right PSO will come along, possibly when you're least expecting it, those are the ones that very often are the 'meant to be' type.

Re having fun nights-in with friends, are you a card player? If so, you can have a lot of fun with just 1 person or with several with a simple pack of cards.

How about scrabble? Or any other board games or even draughts, chess or dare I say dominoes???! Maybe not

If you've known your friends long enough then it's amazing the laughs you can have just reminiscing about shared memories.

With regards to saving, use a piggy bank or any pot and just pop any odd pence..or larger into it; it's amazing how quickly it mounts up and you can then use it to pay off a debt..or to buy something you NEED...not want!

If you pay any money on meals, make your own and you'll save a heck of a lot. Same with drinks out..coffees etc. Pop the cash you would normally have spent in your pot and save it, seal the top so it's not quickly accessible - the longer it takes to open it the longer you have to think about it and - maybe keep your cash!

Brilliant news about the £70!!! :T

All best wishes, Theatregal, if I think of anything else I'll let you know.

Sue x

Ever_Hopeful_3

Hiya,
I've found your diary on here as was intrigued by savings goal. Wow £15000 would be great to get your through your PGCE year. I did mine with just the £6000 bursary and decided to get married just 3 months beforehand. See why my credit cards are so high. If you could get through it and be debt free that would be fantastic.

You go girl! Best of luck

xxx

Theatregal83

Thanks to everybody for your posts! I think cause the sun is shining I'm feeling a lot more positive. Yesterday I got bit more creative in the kitchen, fish fingers and spaghetti it's a combination.
I also decided to get creative with my house, and dug out the sewing machine, today I've cut out triangles, got my class to do it too (can tie it into maths. And tonight I'm going to attempt bunting! With an array of triangles

Ever_Hopeful_3

Hope your application and your future study goes swimmingly. PGCE was one of the best things I ever did, love my job. Where else would you get to smile at least 30 times a day!