Living in Austerity

Mags30

Today is the much talked about date 12/12/12 so to mark the occasion I'm starting my new MSE diary.

Here's the link to my previous MSE diary (mostly for my own reference-I don't expect anybody would actually need to read it :rotfl:) https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3023174

About me: I'm a single female homeowner living in austerity ridden Ireland. I'm struggling to keep on top of bills and never ending expenses and finding life difficult at the moment.

2012 has been my worst year in a long time. I've been struggling with anxiety/depression and panic attacks which have become more regular in recent months.

My new debt total as of today is €3222.31 which doesn't look too bad written down but mostly I only manage minimum payments.

Things I will be doing in 2013:

• Mystery shopping
• Surveys
• NSD's (no spend days)
• Crazy Clothes Challenge
• World Mail Panel
• Shop and Scan
• Entering competitions

Things I don't buy 2013

• Books
• Stationery
• Household cleaning products
• Make-up/Cosmetics

I easily have a years supply of all of these things (clutter) mostly purchased in bulk at Grabbit prices.

There might be some exceptions as a "Treats Fund" (shoegal) or an "Escape Reality Fund" (Lula-Hula) is essential to maintain sanity :A but the idea is that these purchases will be planned and considered and hopefully paid for with vouchers earned from surveys or pay from mystery shopping or something like that.

I'm really happy to come back here after a break and find that 3 of my old MSE friends have cleared their debts @polesalot @buffythedebtslayer and @lula-hula
Well done ladies :beer: I'm really happy for all of you.

My debt levels haven't increased thankfully but I've had my head in the sand about money stuff a lot recently. I think being back here is a good way to start getting back on track for 2013.

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary

Mags30

Thanks Hope I don't mess it up this time!

Buffythedebtslayer

hello!

Good to see you back Mags xx

I am back in debt by the way, to pay for my Masters, the dentist and the op I need.

but it should be gone soon enough

Ireland does sound like it is having a tough time. Hope your job is safe etc

xxx

wallace7

Good Luck !

Mags30

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

I am back in debt by the way, to pay for my Masters, the dentist and the op I need.

I know but you did clear the original debt :j and the new debt is clearly for essentials. So sorry to hear you are having health issues.

Yes life in Ireland is horrible at the moment. The recent Budget on 5/12/12 has put everybody in very bad form. Basically money for services like hospitals/schools/roads/social welfare has been cut. People with children, students, the elderly and their carers/home-help have all been hit really badly while corruption continues at government level.

Meanwhile prices for things like gas, electricity, car tax, petrol and a million other things have increased. There's a new "property tax" and even a "wine tax" which adds €1 to every single bottle of wine.

The cost of living just isn't sustainable for so many people like me anymore. There are "closing down" sales 2 weeks before Christmas, restaurants are empty and a general air of "doom and gloom" and a bad atmosphere everywhere.

Mags30

Thursday: Best evening ever Went out walking and ended up finding two lost dogs :T and together with another walker reunited them with the couple who own them:T Best job satisfaction EVER. The dogs had been missing for about 4-5 hours and were very valuable as well as much loved. The owners were certain the dogs had been stolen so it was a lovely happy ending just before Christmas.


Friday: Got my hair done for Christmas €60. These days I feel even more guilty than I used to about what I spend on my hair but the grey roots mean I still pay up but I no longer give tips.

Saturday: Did a mystery shop in the morning, my 2nd this week. It pays €23 plus a refund of around €5 for purchases.

I gave up on mystery shopping for a long time because so many companies are asking people to do jobs that require a visit and report for €2 to €5 which is an absolute joke. But this company in Dublin are paying an average of €16 for jobs so I'm going to make more of an effort to do jobs for them.

Sunday: Had my car tax/insurance/etc checked for the 3rd week in a row on my way back from my mothers. For years I never saw a checkpoint but this is the new austerity Ireland. Checkpoints are everywhere because revenue needs the fines that can be got from motorists.

Mags30

Surveys got abandoned as well but I'm going to get back to doing a few. My onepoll account has £31.10 in it : Will check out the survey section here to see which ones people are doing these days.

[Deleted User]

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Ireland does sound like it is having a tough time.

That's what happens when the EU sets your interest rate for you.

Mags30

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

That's what happens when the EU sets your interest rate for you.

It's HORRIBLE, I wouldn't recommend it.

Mags30

I've always struggled with this but how much money do people spend on themselves :huh:

I don't smoke, drink. go out at night so zero spends there.

I don't really buy clothes or cosmetics either because:

1)I have maybe a lifetimes supply of such things from previous years
2)A recurrence of anxiety/depression has kept me away from shops recently
3)Nobody here is shopping anymore so it's easy to avoid

I don't even have the slightest bit of desire for the Soap+Glory gift set this year, I still have last years unopened.

But I do still get my hair done and eat out/have coffee during the day a bit. Sometimes I'm eating out because I don't have the energy/motivation to face supermarkets and cooking. Often this actually costs less than grocery shopping. Groceries are costing a fortune here these days but I've lost sight of when eating out is a treat.