struggle when there's a bump in the journey to DF life

glittermonster

Hi,

I'm trying to clear a £5k cc and hoping to be able to do it by next summer.

So last night I did what I always do on payday and update my spreadsheet which I use throughout the month with current balance, bills out, money in - but this month I'm -£80 which isn't good.

And I fall apart. I'm fed up of the stress of this game each month- its not hard - my income doesn't change, the bills don't change and things that do crop up (like birthdays) come out of my 'spending' money generally.

It doesn't help my outlook that I've spent nearly £700 on my car in the past 2 weeks and I'm gonna need 2 new tyres (at least) to get through the MOT in nov. This has all come out of my interest free cc overpayent - which means my DFD for that card is being pushed back.

Christmas and the onslaught of birthdays between now and march also mean its pushed back cos its the only place (the cc overpayment) can come from.

its interest free until sept '13 so its not the end of the world - just in my head and logic its unsurmountable.

We are meant to be going to devon (400miles away) next month for my sister's 50th - we can't stay at hers so i've booked a travelodge (non-refundable) but now not sure HOW to find the petrol £, the food £ etc... another £150 probably.

Not that half my family are planning to come to me for my son's first birthday

As for Christmas and my sons first birthday - looks like his 'party' is cancelled *CRIES*

i'm just so fed up and can't stop crying.

I kept thinking - in march we can do this with spare money, or save for that - but at this rate its not happening.

How do I get my head round this....

glittermonster

and im really fed up of having to get my lb clothes from ebay or facebook or hand-me-downs

wannabee_in_credit

My kids turned 8 last week, and 4 this Saturday and they're not having a party this year. I gave them the choice of a party or a gift and they both chose to receive a gift from us. Please don't feel bad about cancelling a first birthday party (he won't remember), or that his clothes are hand me downs. The vast majority of my kids clothes are the same, and then I continue to hand them down. When I first had my dd I wanted her to have everything, from new, and absolutely the best of it all. Didn't take me too long to realise I was frittering money away. Kids need love, food in their tummies, love, attention, love and cuddles. Honestly. I sometimes feel rotten I can't give my kids everything they want but they know that if they really want something then they can save up and get it for themselves.
It's hard when you come up against emergency expenses - I had my true lbm in November last year and then had to find £400 in car repairs 2 days before Christmas. Do you have an emergency fund planned in your budget? And regular savings? I move £10 a week into savings just to try and keep on top of birthdays etc.
Good luck, and chin up... don't lose sight of the bigger picture.
xxx

heartbreak_star

Take a deep breath. Break things down into chunks.

Sister's 50th - hotel is booked, so that's already covered. Petrol - can you carshare with someone, or travel a few more hours and take a coach?

Son's first birthday - that's a party for you, not him. He's not going to remember it. Save the big bashes for when he's older

LO's clothes - sell the old stuff on ebay, then use the money to help buy new?

Remember it's not the end of the world - when I feel down about my relatively few debts or bad credit rating, I look at some of the peeps on here who've pulled themselves out of the mire of £50k or more. We can do it

I wish you well,

HBS x