Right, time to get a grip!

Aria`s_Tail

OK, here goes.
About 7 years ago left ex and found myself in about 18K of debt. Paid most of it off...............
Fast forward to today, debt has crept up again to ......... £23, 728 :eek: Also the house is a tip, which is feeding my depression.
Need to get a grip on this so thought I would start a diary to help keep me on the straight and narrow.
Little bit about me... I live with my lovely OH in a rented house with a couple of retired greyhounds, a couple of tanks of tropical fish and a newly aquired (rescue) hamster. We split the bills (me and OH that is, dogs are retired now) and keep seperate finances so debt is all mine.
I work as a 24hour support worker and generally spend a week at work then a rest week. I'm not back at work till 2nd so need to make headway into house at least and a plan for debts.
I don't want to go bankrupt or a IVA as I'm really not prepared to lose my beloved toy, my motorbike, (second vehicle) so will try and do it the hard way. Am preparing to do a DMP if need be but would rather get my head down and just pay it off, I have spent it after all. It will be tight but one can but try.

So far today if have sussed out what I owe to who, applied for a new basic bank account unrelated to debts just in case. (can use this for household bills accout anyway to make life easier).
Listed 4 things on Ebay.
Went to Sainsbobs and rifled their YS shelf for tea and tried to keep the heating off as much as possible (we both pay £30 a week into a housekeeping purse for food, gas and leccy (on pre paid cards)).
Done an Ipsos survey.

Will sort out a sig with debt totals so I can mark them down as they go.

frustrated12

Hello Aria

The makings of a great diary I think, I'm going to subscribe and follow your journey.

Good luck

Aria`s_Tail

Well so far today has been quiet. OH is at work and I have mooched about on the tinternet for most of the morning.
I have been paid though, a day early but at least I can stop panicking about it as now the rent money is sat in my account ready to go on the 1st.
I have sorted out my toiletries to take to work with me next week. I've loads so shouldn't have to buy much for a few months. Am also ok for clothes and have a decent storecupboard of food so can really crack on with debt paying instead of spending!

On the house front, todays meals are all from stores and I have gone through our drinking glass cupboard and sorted out a load to go to the charity shop. How many whisky glasses do 2 people really need?

Aria`s_Tail

Last night I ended putting my Christmas decs away early after one of my dogs manged to knock over the tree, que smashing of glass baubles and my hand blown fairy topper.
One less thing to tidy up in the new year I suppose.
Good news was today I didn't go out to replace the smashed decs. (the fact it was piddling down helped. ) I did however order online one of the few things I will be needing soon, a new pair of slippers. What an exciting life I lead! so a total of £9.99 spent today on something I NEED.
Did a few little jobs around the house, changed bed, washing kinda thing.
Apart from that I have sat and sewn some x stitch, pigged out on Christmas nibbles for most of the day and decluttered some alcohol.
Have also listed another 5 lots on Ebay so fingers crossed.

Aria`s_Tail

Another quiet day in the the madhouse.
The new rescue hamster figured out how to open his cage door last night and came trotting over the sofa to see me. Thankfully I spotted him a couple of seconds before the dog did and grabbed him to safety! :eek: Found some wire in the tool box and have `secured`him in now.
Went out around our local shopping centre this afternoon. Needed some face wash that I got at Boots and paid using my points so kept my cash. Looked around some sale stuff but wasn't even tempted. I did then go to the pet shop and stocked up on food for the furries.
Went to Sainsbugs and got a few more YS bargins and used a voucher for £1.21 off. Not a lot but it all helps to stretch the budget.
Am sitting waiting for some bits to finish on Ebay, at least 1 will sell, the rest will get relisted whilst it is free.

Aria`s_Tail

Had a busy couple of days.
Worked NYE so despite a couple of drinks afterwards and an afternoon of drinks and takeaway with friends yesterday I am still up by about £25.
Today was a NSD apart fron postage on an Ebay item. Loads of food still in the house and the decluttering is coming along slowly. At least there is more going out than coming in!
I was supposed to go back to my proper job today but when I phoned up to check yesterday they haven't got me in till Monday so have an extra few days off. Determined to tidy up a lot more before then!
My Barclaycard account seems to have gone off my phone banking and I can't get onto it on online either comes up system error, was gonna make a small payment. :mad:

Aria`s_Tail

Also got my new bank accout stuff through today so will sort that out tonight then I can hopefully transfer the important stuff like rent payments over and leave the barclays debt on the barclays account just in case.

Aamberle

Hi Aria, Did not want to read and run. Well done on what you have achieved so far - being so organised definately helps.

Good Luck and I will be reading from afar xx

Aria`s_Tail

Had another couple of NSDs. (Did a bit of shopping today but it was all out of the house budget and as cheap as possible.)
Have been busy with the animals and a cross stitch baby sampler for my new nephew born on Christmas eve. It will do nicely for his christening present in the next 6 months!
Due to a mess up with my work rotas I won't get any pay until the 19th so have spent this afternoon juggling money to pay all my direct debits. Will just scrape it as long as I don't spend anything apart from the cash allocated for my work travel expenses which is in my purse. :eek:
Have not been able to access my Bcard account on line since Sunday, phoned up yesterday and was told wait a couple of hours, phoned again this afternoon and they have sorted it and credited me £5 for my trouble.
The freeview box in the bedroom has died a death, thought about getting another on the Argos card but it can wait a few weeks i'm sure. Don't really have it on that often, just if i'm in bed with a bad back.

Nothing really exciting going on i'm afraid.

Aria`s_Tail

Yesterday was a big clearing clutter day. Both wheelie bins are nearly full and I have a pile to try and sell on Ebay, if it doesn't sell it will go to the charity shop. I did nip to Sainsbugs yesterday but it was for a couple of bits Aldi doesn't sell and was from the housekeeping account so a personal NSD shopping wise, I did make a payment off one of the credit cards. Rang a friend last night for a loooong natter but used my mobile which has unlimited minutes.
Today I did some more decluttering and have organised most of my stuff to go to work with tomorrow. The washing basket is empty:j. I realised it's my Mums birthday this week but instead of buying a card I have made one from my craft stash. OH is making a curry for tea rather than going out for one. Tonight I need to clean out a fish tank, walk dogs and some more xstitch. Have 6 items finishing on Ebay tonight and only 1 bid on 1 item so far. Fingers crossed for more.

Aria`s_Tail

Came to work yesterday, have survived my first 24 hour shift, only another 13 to go. :eek:. My travel expenses from yesterday will be refunded by work and i had a small spend at a chemist (under £5). Brought all my toiletries with me from my stash at home.
Today I gave in to the need for chocolate and plundered the local coop on my break but it was all reduced Xmas stuff mostly 75% off and should last me for snacks for the next 2 weeks. Have posted an item that sold on Ebay and transfered the sale money to my bank account.
I have £15.60 in my purse, that will last me till at least the 21st. I need £5 of that for travel expenses on the 21st (will claim back from work) so cannot spend more than £10 over the next two weeks. Should be doable.
I will avoid the shops on my breaks and sew instead!