Build a new life in 3 yrs.

SmithfieldPartDeux

so.

Rang social fund folks, that the last of my budgeting loans paid off. That's my last tie to the benefits system gone. Also £36.33 a month better off! I enjoyed telling the woman on the phone that I was in receipt of no benefits at present, when she asked lol. (BTW this isn't a slight against anyone who is in the situation I was in, I'm just glad to be back working and away from it all).

Ironically I had to take a day sick today, Bed with cold all week, forced myself in Mon and Tues and by this morning I was wrecked. So taking a day to sort myself, so bed and rest.

Bought myself some wine gums and orange juice from the shop £2.47 spent. Either lasange or some other freezer delights later lol I might freeze it and make some chorizo pasta or canneli beans or something, either way its freezer surprise lol.

Bit depressed if I'm honest and feel grim physically. I just need something to give me a bit of a boost.

I'm trying to dig myself out of a mess between career and finances and the humble pie could do with a lil hot sauce to help it go down. Still work experience tomorrow, so at least that is something.

Estate agent rang me back, but just not in the mood or as sharp as I need to be for that. Just gonna have a day in bed and hope tomorrow is comes with a better frame of mind.

SmithfieldPartDeux

Work experience done.

I don't get paid until 30, so cash advanced £50 on my card, I had no cash to buy easter eggs (3 for £10), or a train ticket to see GF and generally do basic things people do over easter (I'm not talking crazy here) just not being totally broke.

I'm annoyed about this if I'm honest. Still £50 overspend is better than last month, if I can sort myself out hopefully next month will be better.

SmithfieldPartDeux

So spent £45 of £50. Dammit.

So, payday tomorrow, did a pretty giant tesco shop for £60!, £1 delivery is cheaper than bus!

Going to do next months budget now. I'll have to book flights for exams too. Gah.

Buffythedebtslayer

I know it is difficult when you are ill to feel like you are getting anywhere but that is the cold talking. The reality is it is nearly payday and you aren't in anymore debt and you have got through another month.

So hang on Honey, better things are coming XXX

SmithfieldPartDeux

Buffy you are too kind, I just felt sick and exhausted. I know there are people on this in a much darker place, but sometimes its hard to hold on and keep going. But holding on is the only option if we want better days..... I'm just fed up of where I am in life right now. But I have my health and a capacity to change things.

Kind of a mixed bag past few days.

House I have been looking at has been for sale for 5 years and the price has for some reason been put up by £2000? Total mess. ringing estate agent monday. My father is unwell, who is meant to be transferring his house into my name to buy the house as its cash only, He is in no place to sort anything frankly. Total mess. I'm coming very close to just saying I'll sort it myself, paying off cards and buying somewhere else that does not have to be for cash. I don't like the feeling of reliance this is bringing with it. Basically, I need to any clear remaining debt and a back up plan.

So positives.

Decided once I get exams done, I'm gonna do an hour a week lesson in an automatic. Thats about £80 a month, but it's holding me back so much.

Masters exam flights booked for May, so work towards that, that'll be two modules done of eight if I pass, so first 25% done.

Day to day, Tesco shopping I think has been last months breakthrough, basically cut out takeaways and have a fridge full of food. Lots more veg bought this month, found myself really craving fresh stuff to go along with freezer bits. Its also cheaper!

New noddle report, no missed payments, last missed payments were two late credit cards in may/june 2013, so by july thats 3 years clear. Capital one default(full satisfied), will be 4 years ago in Oct. 2 years and that's gone. It's still 1/5 which is really annoying me!

Second month, with a written budget,

Decided to pay marbles £300 this month. That has me at £1584 and £508 on HSBC.

I'd love to get this smashed, so that by the time I've to pay masters fees in Sept, I've no CC debt.
I'm still learning to tighten purse strings again if I'm honest, I think I can do better to be honest.

SmithfieldPartDeux

So, feeling a bit better today. Lots of time to toss ideas round in my head.

I owe £2100 total credit cards, at 300pm I can clear all credit card debt in 7 months. I think honestly, if I really tightened the strings even less. It's 5 months at 400pm and then have the bulk of masters £1200 paid by sept.

That still gives me £2400 available credit card funds should I need it. Without my parents help a deposit for a house that does not need to be bought for cash is £7,000ish.

Say 5k and a bit off the credit card. Thats easily doable in 12months, if debt free, the masters fee's are the only problem as they will be 2400 next year

The starting point is to get debt cleared, so that is my back up plan.

SmithfieldPartDeux

ok, so lot of veg i ordered on payday was starting to look a little so/so! So used up a wack of it into sausage and bean italian type casserole. Enough for two nights dinners and one for freezer.

Money wise still have £15 left for this week. So dinner with the GF tomorrow, will get a couple of steaks in, I have baked potatoes already, so should be date night for a tenner lol.

Exams are looming and been doing too much and cold seems to have reappeared again, grrrrr!

Want to get the bulk of another week out of cupboard/fridge for dinners.

will do a rough meal plan.

SmithfieldPartDeux

1. chicken curry with chickpeas, need coriander and peppers. (one for freezer)
2. red pesto chicken and chorizo, use up left over peppers from above, maybe garlic.
3. jerk chicken pork chops, roast potatos, corn and coleslaw, need coleslaw
4. Freezer bean casserole
5. Roast beef, beans and potatoes (need fresh beans)
6. freezer lasange
7. pork and scallion sausage pasta, with lemon and garlic. need lemon and garlic and maybe some rocket.

That leaves lamb mince and venison sausage. No real massive shopping there. But will def need a large shop come end of next week from tesco to do me until end of month. Aim for £40.

SmithfieldPartDeux

NSD sat, as was eating out of fridge.

Today
green beans 75p
Ben and Jerrys ice cream £2.50
Diet coke £2.50

Rest of roast beef sunday dinner will be from the fridge.

Studying is just going terribly, but its largely my fault as im getting depressed about it, rather than getting stuck in. So whinge, whinge, Do some work.

This leaves me £35 quid from budget to do me until Friday, Tesco order this week.

SmithfieldPartDeux

Saying no.

I just saw some new chefs knives I'd have liked second hand. Reality, I don't really need them.

Saw a touring bike to restore I would have liked. I don't need it.

That's £220 extra going to credit card. Saying no is hard though, when that itch hits.