New diary for 2013: The year of keeping things simple

Ruby789

Flirting with the idea of joining the gym. I know, spending money again!

I really, really want to though. Think a swim, a spin class and a circuits class would do me the world of good! I'm walking lots at the mo' but the calorie burn is low for the amount of time I put into it.

However, I have wasted probably thousands in the past in very underused gym memberships. There is one of those cheaper gyms (£10.99 a month) a bus ride from me, but as I didn't go to the one virtually across the road there's no reason to believe I'll be a reformed character. It'll take planning and carrying a gym kit frequently to even be possible. Plus going out after work would be a very easy excuse.

So, I'm expanding my diary to include some accountability on exercising. If over 6 months there is enough evidence of dedication to exercise, then I will find a way to pay for it. At that point the OD will be long gone so there will be some money freed up and I can weigh up the best membership at that point.


My joints are too week to run at the moment, so I need to be realistic about what I can actually do till I build some strength. Walking doesn't seem to aggravate them so that stays on the list. Each week I need to do at least two of the following and report it here:

• Walk 60km over the week
• Do two exercise DVD's (have a vast collection). One must be conditioning.
• Go for an hours swim

I's also like to join some sort of team sport ..... i'm useless though, but it always seemed like a fun way to exercise and meet people.

Ruby789

I'm getting by ok at the moment. A week till payday and i'm fairly impatient to see the final figures (I measure my debt the day before payday). I have predicted them, but there is nothing like seeing it in black and white.

I am owed a little bit of money and was hoping it would be safely in the bank before payday, but looks like it won't be now so thats a bit of a shame. Will only mean that the figures just before Feb payday will be better, but I did want the boost now.

Again this is the problem with OD debts, even if I know i'll have extra income next month, I can't count it till I know for sure it's all still there at the end of the month. It's not about paying off, it's about leaving it alone, which is both harder and only accurately reflected when you take OD debt at it's highest point (normally before salary is due in). I could always move money out and back in just before payday if i'm feeling tempted.

Anyway, i'm no less on track than before, it's just psycological.

In good news, the holiday is shaping up. Need to come up with some stealth tactics to keep expenses down without it spoiling the other persons fun or being a feature of the holiday. I like a challenge at least.

And I used up two items from my toilettries collection which won't be being replaced. Slowly I will declutter and it will save me money this year. Though even on basics only, personal care takes up a huge chunk of my money and i'm so far from high maintenance I can't quite understand it. Not sure how to budget for this next year .... might ask the H&F board later today.

Exercise got off to a good start, but i'm a few km short of my target and not seeing myself walking in the snow and ice .... will just have to wait and see on that score.

rising_from_the_ashes

Ruby789 wrote: »

So, I'm expanding my diary to include some accountability on exercising. If over 6 months there is enough evidence of dedication to exercise, then I will find a way to pay for it.

Sounds good - I've belonged to several gyms in the past too - I tended to go through phases when I'd go all the time ... and then not for ages ... then all the time again!

Luckily the only one near me is hideously expensive so I'm not tempted :rotfl: I get a lot of exercise walking the dog anyway!

60km is quite a long way to walk each week - do you walk to work?

Ruby789 wrote: »

A week till payday and i'm fairly impatient to see the final figures (I measure my debt the day before payday). I have predicted them, but there is nothing like seeing it in black and white.

Yup, that's when I measure it too - makes it really frustrating as I can really only update the amount in my sig once a month but ....

Ruby789 wrote: »

it's about leaving it alone, which is both harder and only accurately reflected when you take OD debt at it's highest point (normally before salary is due in). I could always move money out and back in just before payday if i'm feeling tempted.

*sigh* ohhhhh I'm with you!

This month, I've moved the money from my House & Car pot to my main account - which effectively reduces the amount of the OD - and I will put it back again on payday (before I do any transfers so I don't lose track of it!)

Hopefully that should cut the interest a little ..... we'll see!

Ruby789

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

do you walk to work?

Hi Rising,

I walk part of the way to work, it keeps my travel card costs down as well which is good. But the snow has seriously derailed my walking plans! Grr. Suppose winter wasn't going to be the best time to start. I'll persevere when the ice clears.

That's a good idea about saving interest. And that it's coming down and not really being added to is a bonus.

Do you plan to keep an the overdraft facility after it's paid off?

Ruby789

My Monday morning update ....

The holiday fund stands at just under £60. Not huge, but on target so far, and the rest of the plan looks do-able . I'm well impressed that a little forethought can actually find money! There is £25 I still need to find overall, but i'm confident i'll find it somewhere.

I spent much of the weekend trying to find ways to reduce one of my budgets (personal care). I started a thread on the relevant board and it definately seems like I spend more than I should, yet i'm struggling to reduce it down. More pondering needed! As I said there, I don't look like I spend a fortune on my looks so I don't like that I actually do.

And found out that other people I know well have similar levels of debt to me. Although they maybe have something to show for their debts (like a car), I feel less of a failure for having debts at all. I am still ashamed when I think of all the money I've wasted over the years and that I have so little to show for my life, but it's not helpful to feel that way and i'm trying not to dwell.

So onwards and downwards ....

Pay day is finally nearly here and i'll be less anxious then I hope. The figures don't look nearly as good as I would have liked, but they are down from last month.

This week is tight already, three social things agreed to. The only one I could cancel is the one I wanted to do the most.

Thinking ......

Ruby789

Purchased my credit report today, will be a few days before I can actually see it though. I'm really nervous. Looked on Noodle but the report made no sense and made me more anxious so thought it best to pay the £2 for peace of mind. I'm most keen to know if my flatmates late payments on utlilities is dragging my rating down ..... humm... Plus that i've been in a steady amount of debt so long.

Personal care budget is STILL too high, i've trimmed, swapped, reduced frequencies and it's still high. Working on it, working on it.

Went to the bank today and underspends this month have gone in Still waiting on that other cheque though - grr! Most of my budgets have pennies left in them which means I was about right. It's hard not to spend at the moment, beautiful things keep catching my eye! Wanted some beautiful prints I saw, for the house I might one day own .... managed to leave them alone today, but theres the worry i'll never find them again ....

Been increadibly lazy on the ebay front, must do it this weekend, need to find, photograph, and list 11 items. I did look through the box and some of the stuff I really doubt will sell. Will save those items for a free listing weekend and then off to charity if they don't go anywhere. Actually, must prep their listings too!

rising_from_the_ashes

Ruby789 wrote: »

Do you plan to keep an the overdraft facility after it's paid off?

Yup ... always have done - it's handy for an "emergency" - what ran it up this time was having to change my car (really unexpectedly & the old one should've been fine for at least another 3 years) in September ... didn't to get loans etc so just used the OD .....

Pants to the ice stopping you walking as much but once it goes, it's a great way to keep fit .... my dog Maisie is super active / fit so we usually go around 2 to 3 miles in the morning and 4 to 5 in the evenings (when it's light enough ... roll on spring!)

Ruby789

I'm pleased to report ACTUAL progress

This month I have paid £566.88 off of my debts.

OD from 717.25 to 501.42 = £215.83 paid off
CC1 from 1615.00 to 1531.95 = £83.05 paid off
CC2 from 243.00 to 0 = 243 paid off
Family from 400 to 375 = 25.00 paid off

Total debt now stands at £2408.37

I largely stayed within my budgets too. I overspent on clothes by £11.99, but came in just under on all others so all bar one will carry over a positive balance, only £2-3 for most, except for the pressies fund which I've had no cause to spend on yet.

Holiday fund os also brewing nicely and as of today stands at 161.92.

claire0788

You are doing really well Ruby ! That is a great amount to have paid off in one month.

Ruby789

Thanks Claire :wave:, looks like you're doing really well too!

I had a few wobbles where I just wanted to spend, but managed to resist and the final total is very motivating. Just 4 months like this and i'll effectively be debt free