Badger's budgeting begins

badger_

Hello :wave:
I've been reading the forums here for years now, but I've only just got round to joining up.

I decided to do this diary because I am absolutely useless at budgeting for things I've got a couple of CCs which fortunately are 0% for now and I'd like to be able to pay off more than the minimum every month and get them cleared down quicker.

My trouble is that in theory I should have a good chunk of my wages spare every month, the reality is that I've been getting quite close to my OD limit:o

When I first got my bank account it was when A&L were giving you £100 to switch and the OD (£1500) was completely free for a year. I stupidly thought something along the lines of wahey free money, then the monthly charge went up to a fiver and it was still pretty cheap, even when it went up to a tenner I didn't think it was too bad compared to some where they charge APR. Then the other month it went up to £20 and it didn't seem like such a good deal anymore. I think this was my sort of LBM and I looked into things and saw that Virgin were doing 0% money transfers, and I thought to myself at least if I'm paying Virgin £20 or whatever the debt is comind down rather than just losing that £20 every month. Well fortunately I was accepted and last week I saw my balance in the black (does occaisionally happen on pay day but not very often!!)
Now I just have to make sure I don't slip into OD again

I'm in the process of changing banks atm because I want this to be a completely fresh start Once everything has gone through I need to sort out my budgets :eek:
Usually when things like car tax or MOT etc... are due I just stump up the cash. I know things would be a lot simpler if I saved up for them throughout the year, so that's plan number 1. I figure once I've been doing this for a few months, I'll be able to work out how much I can overpay by without leaving myself short.

Plan number 2 is start a spending diary... and keep doing it for more than 3 days :rotfl:

Thanks for reading
badger_

mavvymoo

Hi Badger
Just wanted to wish you luck on your journey.I can highly recommend the spending diary its a real eye opener :eek: It now makes me think about everything I spend. I know what you mean about the OD just cleared mine and got rid of it after 9 years.At first like yours pretty good value.Last statement had gone up to over 18% APR:eek:
I also found the extra payment a week challenge was really good for me and kept me focused and chipping away at those cards.

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary badger for you to record your triumphs

jwil

Good luck

badger_

Thanks everyone

I'm working nights so I've only just got up, had a coffee so I'm feeling a bit more human now;)

Have joined the June NSD challenge and also the £2 savers (was doing this anyway ) I'll take a look at the payment a week challenge mavvymoo thanks

I downloaded an app for my phone that you can track spending on, it seems really good. Only on a free 30 trial though, if I use it every day though I will buy the paid version (£5.99 :eek: ) because it will be useful.

Got my bank account details through from Nationwide today, so progress there - one step closer to moving away from Santander

Things to do today

• Clean guinea pig cages
• Post letter
• Get work to change bank details for pay
• Have a NSD

Mind's gone blank, more coffee needed I think!!

badger_

Well I had a productive afternoon

Things to do today

• [STRIKE]
  • Clean guinea pig cages
  • Post letter
  • Get work to change bank details for pay
  • Have a NSD
  [/STRIKE]
  + washed dishes & did a load of washing

Wonder if OH has stuck the washing in the tumble? Didn't ask, but have left it folded on the living room floor - wonder if the hint will work

badger_

*yawn* is it hometime yet?

No list for today really, hoping I don't wake up too early. Will look at opening PO saver account, just read that you can set up DD for it. If I've read right I can then use this to "switch" to the Halifax reward account and get £100??
Need to check that though... will still open the savings account at interest looks alright and it can be one of the "pots" for something like Christmas.
Just tried doing it but their website seems to be down?

badger_

Evening,
Got woken up at 1pm by a courier bringing Dad's FD pressie, couldn't get back to sleep
Did mean PO E-saver got opened up though, just got to post off a thingy with my sig on will do that tomorrow.
Had an email from HR confirming everything is changed over to NW for pay :T getting closer to moving away from S!!:j

My debt as it stands today:
M&S Loan £4850 - £202.11 p/month 24 months left
Virgin CC £2398 - 0% til Jan 2014
Tesco CC £1453 - 0% til May 2013
Total £8701 :eek:

Lot of debt not much to show for it

please-let-me-be-lucky

badger_ wrote: »

Had an email from HR confirming everything is changed over to NW for pay :T getting closer to moving away from S!!:j

Amen to that .

badger_

:wave:

BT from LTSB to Virgin fully gone through this morning Just paid off the last 55p showing on the statement. Will have to call them next week and check if anything else owing.

Had email through from PO to confirm savings account set up:T

Things to do today

• Post letters
• Buy LB birthday card & stamp
• Iron stuff for tomorrow

Yay just over an hour til home time

badger_

Yay last night shift tonight!! Roll on 7am!!

Slept pretty well today too, but still feeling knackered.


Things to do today
[STRIKE]

• Post letters
• Buy LB birthday card & stamp
• [/STRIKE]Iron stuff for tomorrow OH hadn't taking washing out of washer so weren't dry in time to iron

Got upstairs hoovered though, so only downstairs to tackle on Sunday.



Spends today

• £1.47 in PO
• £2 Milk & some choc for Dad's FD pressie
• £0.45p newspaper
• £3.48 Bday card & FD card
• £3.40 chippy tea for me & OH

Total spends £10.80.

Tomorrow I'm at a leaving do in the afternoon, and then a meal with friends in the evening. Hopefully it won't cost too much.