Fresh Start

jet77

Hi,

I used to be really active on the forums but haven't been about for a while and am trying to get my head/life together again. It used to help me so much coming on here and chatting to others/getting ideas/having a rant and getting things off my chest and really kept me on track and motivated.

I've started getting hideous amounts of bank charges again (last months were £120+) and I don't have any idea what's coming in/out. Because I'm self employed I'm never sure what income I've got so need to ensure I'm not overspending when I've got cash and then leaving myself short for bills etc.

I need to do a fresh SOA and take a good look at finances and suppliers - haven't done this for quite some time.

I need to clean/tidy house - will head over to OS board and start flyladying again.

I need to stop spending so much time on social networking sites and more time on MSE to keep motivated!!

I need to eat less crap and work out more as had got up to a good level of fitness and want to get back there. Plus need to train for an event in Nov.

I really need to plan ahead and focus on a healthy family/work balance and include myself in that equation and not just the children!!

Am going to set this thread as my home page so that MSE is my first stop when I put internet on!

Looking forward to getting things sorted.

Luv Jet x

jet77

SOA below in a bit of a higgledy piggledy kinda way cos copied from s/sheet. Just updating the s/sheet and reviewing everything has already made me feel a bit more in control The income is averaged out based on last years accounts as it fluctuates due to self employment.

Total Income = £2,360(inc profit, tax credits, child benefit and income from rental property)
Total Expenditure = £2,236.34
Disposable Income = £123.66

Type of Debt
Monthly Payment
Balance Outstanding Overdraft
£30.00 £2,000.00 Wages overpayment
£10.00
Credit Card
£38.28 £1,984.95 Overdraft 2
£10.00 £900.00 Credit Card 2
£99.53 £3,324.38
Food = £260 (inc school dinners)
Fuel = £260 (inc bus. mileage)

Item Monthly Payment Council Tax £10.00 Electric £50.00 Gas £47.00 Mortgage Residential £376.91 Contents Insurance £64.05 Buildings Insurance £59.75 Water
£48.94
Mobile £15.00 Life Insurance £14.60 Dog Food £15.00 Pet Insurance £10.00 TV License £12.12 Phone/TV/Broadband £32.83
School Trips £18.00 Brownies & Guides
£15 Clothes/Shoes £30.00 Hairdressers £33.50 Birthdays/Christmas
£30.00 Car Insurance £78.65
Car Tax £22.88 Van repairs/maintenance £25.00 MOT £4.17 Roadside recovery £2.42 Mortgage Rental £441.35 Buildings Ins Rental property
£13.49 Gas Cert Rental property
£4.58 Professional body membership
£5.00 Mobile £36.00 Business Insurance £12.29

jet77

Well the above didn't come out like it was supposed to lol the tables have all disappeared :-( But hopefully it gives the gist of where I'm at!

jet77

Planning 3 NSD's this wk - today, Thurs and Sun
Going to ring gas/electric metre readings through in hope they've over estimated
Going to pay outstanding van insurance which bounced earlier this month

Stayed up until 2am planning and organising myself to make sure that I don't get bank charges again. Have some more to come beginning of Sept but am going to make sure that I don't get any for Oct onwards.

FatPuddingMumma

Good morning!

I think I recognise your name from some moons ago, I was CAFCGirl, and I'm officially back on the wagon!

I need to do just about everything on your 'need to' list myself!
Just wanted to say well done you on coming back and starting again x

HappyMJ

You need to seperate your SOA out into 3 distinct parts. Your business, your rental property and your own personal expenses. You should not include any business expenses on your SOA as you have only included the profit as income. You should also have an entry for tax and NI when self employed. Why is your buildings and contents insurance so high at £1,485 per year? Oh and don't include pennies...round expenses up to the next pound and income down to the next pound.

Choc-addict

Good morning!

Mind if I join in and keep you company with your fresh start? I too have kind of neglected MSE and found it a great source of comfort in day to day life knowing that I would find like minded people for a chat every day on here.

I got married in April and prior to that I was organised in every way - probably the best i've ever been. Since then I have put on nearly a stone, no exercise, let things slip home wise and my organisation skills have been awful!! Think i've taken chilling out to a whole new level :eek:

Anyhow, like you i'm wanting to sort it so back on here. May continue my old diary or start a new....not sure yet.

Staying up until 2am - madness but I bet you feel great for it?!

Wishing you lots of luck! x

wannabee_in_credit

Morning Jet and welcome back.
Good luck - I certainly find that being on here and reporting in helps to keep me on the straight and narrow. I had a brilliant 7 months from my lightbulb moment, but over the past two months in the run up to my wedding I've been silly spending left right and centre, so I've started putting more effort into time on here and finding cheap or free things to do.

jet77

Fatpuddingmumma - Hey! LOVE the new user name lol Here's to keeping each other motivated and staying on track :beer:

HappyMJ - Thanks lots for your constructiveness ... will have a look through properly and put in to place your suggestions tomorrow morning (won't finish work til 9pm and have a 2 hour break this afternoon that I'm going to start flying in again ... as in OS style not in a plane!! )

Choc-addict - Please do join me - the more the merrier! I considered starting up old diary but decided that I needed to start completely from scratch and look forwards rather than to the past ... so far so good :cool: Please post a link to your thread when you start it so we can support each other :T

wannabe_in_credit - thanks for the welcome back and CONGRATULATIONS on your wedding I feel so much better for sorting paperwork, diary and SOA out yesterday ... despite putting it off for nearly a year :eek:

Onwards and upward ...

Learning2Budget

Welcome back Jet. Hope you get back on the wagon easily. I'll be reading. L2B.x

jet77

Thx L2B

Shattered so will keep it brief or will be asleep on sofa!!

Todays NSD went out window when I saw a coat that DD2 has wanted for ages advertised (2nd hand but great condition) for less than half the price of a new one so grabbed that and put it away for Christmas. Also bought big bar of chocolate (for medicinal purposes ... sometimes a girl just needs chocolate!!) which we all shared for £2.05 but will take that out of shopping budget ;-)

I foster rescue dogs and feed them myself but the rescue has had some food donated by a local supplier so I got 45 kg free ... never thought I could get so excited over dog food!