My Debt Diary

liz105

Hi Fritter

Have you done an SOA? very sorry if I've missed it somewhere, if not pop one up

and instead of eating (if only I could take my own advice on this one) how about one of the following instead

exercise? sit-ups, stretches, in front of the telly obv!
housework, cleaning, a quick job like putting the hoover round?
spend some extra time with your kids?
come on here (without bringing the biccy box with you)
snuggles with OH (burn calories instead of consuming them )

what we do is buy treats like a big bar of chocolate between us right after pay day and thats it for the month. once its gone its gone. no more. dont half make it last!

*zippy*

Hi Sarah :hello:

Sorry to hear your mum is ill, hope she improves soon, have to admit I use chocolate for comfort so can't offer any advice on that one.

It was interesting reading your diary as we were in a very similar position. Same income, 2 girls, hubby who never complains when I spend too much. When I started on mse I was spending at least £500 a month on ebay on absolute rubbish, I just don't look on there now as it is still so tempting to buy things, I suddenly think I really really need this that and the other.

Does debt worry your husband or is he quite laid back? Before mse my hubbie had no interest in our finances, now I make sure he knows our budget and debt and tell him what I am buying, I do find this stops me spending as he will now always argue that we don't really need it or the kids have enough clothes etc and it does help.

If you are planning on having a browse around the other boards do check out the old style board, they are lovely and you will find lots of advice for cutting back your grocery spending.

Look forward to reading your diary and well done so far
zippy x

art_student

Hi Fritter! Welcome to DFW!
I would second others who have said post an SOA. It will help people to give you even more advice about how to save money and bring that DFD closer!
Good luck!

postingalwaysposting

hi fritter well done on starting a debt diary, they did me the world of good. You look like you have your internet spending under control, just remember ebay is for getting rid of stuff not accumilating more as everyone has said pop up your soa, then we can all have a gander and try and get your debt free date down from 5 years to maybe 3? it can be done... oh and when you every think about clicking that buy/search button on ebay look back on here, it soon stops you best of luck we are all behind you :T

Fritter

Not been around much so I'm sorry if I'm taking and not giving back at this moment in time. My mum's still ill so I've been rushing round and spending a lot of money in carparking but rather than not worry I have been twiddling the budget to make sure it came from somewhere.

The jam jars are sorted for the month, we've each got our own jam jar and when the money has gone there's no taking from others. Other than pickle smelling notes I think it will work. Got to pay the tea fund tomorrow, I owe them from last week, so my money is going to be gone pretty quick but when it's gone, it's gone.

Another credit card statement came through. DH said that, and I quote, "oh don't worry about the Virgin one, there's no much on it" and the LBM that triggered this was the ease in which I upped the car loan another couple of thousand. Only I didn't up it, I took out a whole new loan and put the money to one side to pay off the old loan and some of the overdrafts, only I didn't put enough to one side so I'm short £204. So all ebay money, money back of the credit card in credit is being thrown at that which is sole destroying.

I have done my SOA and to be honest on paper everything looks great, it's not the traceable money that's been the issue, it's the money that we spend without thinking. The £20 cash 5 times a week. The shopping was down to £77 this week :T :T which is a vast improvement on the £150 of late. Have done a tesco internet shop for the weekend and am keeping it down to £50. It's amazing how much more you spend when go shopping.

I do appreciate everyone's support on here, I acknowledge that I'm taking right now but with nightly runs to the hospital it's hard to be around.

Off to grab something to eat as I'm not long in.

Fritter

*zippy* wrote: »

It was interesting reading your diary as we were in a very similar position. Same income, 2 girls, hubby who never complains when I spend too much. When I started on mse I was spending at least £500 a month on ebay on absolute rubbish, I just don't look on there now as it is still so tempting to buy things, I suddenly think I really really need this that and the other.

Does debt worry your husband or is he quite laid back? Before mse my hubbie had no interest in our finances, now I make sure he knows our budget and debt and tell him what I am buying, I do find this stops me spending as he will now always argue that we don't really need it or the kids have enough clothes etc and it does help.

Laid back would be a good description in his worked up state. I mentally took the girls shoes and underwear last month out of this months budget only it messed up my spreadsheet so he just announced to forget about it and start a fresh this month. It's a times like those I just want to pull my hair out.
He's got a book on being assertive so I'm hoping this will kick in and I've started to pick him up on his spending and nagging him to do the same to me.

We've got jam jars this month with our money in and I've put the cards in the freezer so when it's gone it's gone.

Sorry it's not a longer reply, I'm not around much right now but I do appreciate the support and replies. Especially when it comes to laid back husbands.

Sarah -x-