The Rambler Returns - JCD's debt free diary v2

JCD_Capulet

Hello everyone, I'm Joanne

I first joined MSE back in 2007 and started a DFD which was a place to house all the ups and downs of being employed, unemployed, taking a stab at being self employed - and failing. Good days, loves laughs ramblings about life and my constant struggle dealing with depression. But life's not all that bad, y'know.

My old DFD can be found here if you fancied a nosey. I never did get debt free, life kept on getting in the way.

This time I'm back with probably the same rambling gibberish which goes on in my head, but less feeling of utter distraught woe.

Nice to meet you all :hello:

Shineyhappy

Welcome back

I remember reading your diary what seems like a life time ago. I hope that you manage to shift it this time good luck!

JCD_Capulet

I remember you, shineyhappy It does seem like a lifetime ago now, more so now that I have a boyfriend in my life now how is actually a positive influence unlike the last one, better friends and my head screwed on a little more (with the odd screw still missing here and there mind you).

So here goes, first DFD entry of some kind of action - back to work today.

I had taken two weeks off from my work as my anxiety and what not had me in a bit of a tizz so couldn't stomach the idea of anything aside from trying to find some kind of solace. Back to it this evening though, those bills won't pay themselves.

I'm also going to post my budget for this week and do my very best to come in under budget by Sunday. Coming in under budget for a few weeks is a real must because I'll have no income for the two weeks I've taken off work - so pulling the belt in.

That's about it for now, I'll update after lunch and I'm ready to face the day *RAR!*

hypno06

Oh my! How lovely to see you!! I don't post much on here nowadays, life having changed mahoooooosively for me....but I do still lurk, and will be keeping an eye on you xx

JCD_Capulet

Righty, here's how things are looking at the moment:

Budget for 18th-24th Feb

Funds
Bank: £500
Cash: 200

Food- £50.... £30 spent, £20 left
Power- £20... £10 spent, £10 left
Living expenses- £70... £53 spent, £17 left - paid via bank
Pets- £23... £23 spent - £0 left
Council Tax- £40... paid
Virginmedia- £61... paid - paid via bank.
Total= £264... £217 paid out, £47 left.


Going easy on the food this week, buying in raw and cooking from scratch, power is going pretty easy too as there have been a couple of warm days up here.

The £53 living expense was my ecig order, I quit tobacco months ago and this order will last me well in to April so that's all good. Pet budget was blown buying a 40L bag of cat litter which will last the pair of them for five months They have enough food in the house to last them until the end of next week so that's good too.

Council tax and virgin media - necessary evils. Need to work on my penny saving to get rid of the CT debt, then my CT bill will only be £80 per month instead of £80 + £60 per month debt repayment.

And that's about it I think.

Oh I was in sainsbury's yesterday with my bf and had my first till spit in years! Gosh, I remember the days when wombling for till spits around the trolly bays was practically how I fed myself!

hypno06 wrote: »

Oh my! How lovely to see you!! I don't post much on here nowadays, life having changed mahoooooosively for me....but I do still lurk, and will be keeping an eye on you xx

HYPNO!!!!! How on earth are you m'dear?! Gosh it's nice to see you. What's changed with you? All for the awesome I hope!

You were such a tower of strength for me when I first joined MSE, you may not have known it then but you and a number of others really were. You all helped me through the insanely dark times and I cannot thank you enough for just reaching out to a fellow DFW. :heart2:

JCD_Capulet

*positive thing I've done today*

Registered for a nectar card (I'm a bit slow in catching up with this particular band wagon!) and linked it to both my ebay and Scottish Gas PAYG account. I've put the wheels in motion to change my gas supply from Scottish Power back over to Scottish Gas too. Not only for the nectar points benefit, but because Scottish Power charge PAYG customers a fee for using the PAYG meter, where as Scottish Gas doesn't.

Have at you Mr Scottish Power, I'm voting with my feet.

JCD_Capulet

Insomnia. Must get round to quitting the coffee, *cough* again.

Anyway! I've been having a look around the DFW forum and discovered the grocery challenge thread. Currently I'm spending On average £50 per week on food for myself and my bf when he's here, but having just been enlightened about approved food I'm now doing a late night shop. If the website will reload for me that is.

I wonder how many cupboard staples I can sneak past my Mr without him realizing all the BB dates are out (I usually freak out a little when things go out of date and bin them immediately, but mention saving money and I'm all over it like a bullmastif on chips!).

hypno06

JCD_Capulet wrote: »

Must get round to quitting the coffee, *cough* again.

I was trying to explain "wombling" to someone the other day who clearly thought I was absolutely bonkers! But you're right, it certainly made a huge difference when it needed to!!

As for the coffee....well, that's where I am very glad I never managed to quit. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't give it up, and despite every sort of motivating challenge, my morning Costa just never managed to disappear.

Little did I know it was all part of a ruse by the Universe to get me noticed (eventually) by the manager.....who in turn would sweep me off my feet, and move in making me all loved up and happy for the first time in years.

Funny how things turn out!!

JCD_Capulet

hypno06 wrote: »

I was trying to explain "wombling" to someone the other day who clearly thought I was absolutely bonkers! But you're right, it certainly made a huge difference when it needed to!!

As for the coffee....well, that's where I am very glad I never managed to quit. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't give it up, and despite every sort of motivating challenge, my morning Costa just never managed to disappear.

Little did I know it was all part of a ruse by the Universe to get me noticed (eventually) by the manager.....who in turn would sweep me off my feet, and move in making me all loved up and happy for the first time in years.

Funny how things turn out!!

Oh my goodness! That's wonderful news and a wonderful story too :beer: I do ruddy well love it when the stars align for good people This having been the first thing I've read today will have me radiating joy all day long now. This'll be the best thing I've read all day long I'll bet. Congrats Hypno :T :heart2:

hypno06

lol, thanks! And glad to have been of assistance.....radiate away, it is cheaper than ready brek, even!!!

JCD_Capulet

Radiating is just about the only thing I've done today, my head is still in a bit of a tizz.

I'd hoped to make it back to working this week - that's not yet happened. I know I need to tweak something to start the domino effect which will make me pull my socks up though. Maybe writing out a budget for the month will help. Well, it certainly won't hurt.

I've gone ahead and joined the grocery challenge thread. It's supposed to be for all household purchases but for simplicity's sake I'll be keeping it strictly for food. Up until now I've been spending aprox £50pw on food shopping, so my aim for March is £35pw.

I spotted the extra weekly payment thread too, where everyone is encouraged to pay any amount they can to a debt or debts they want to tackle. Just once a week though, no pushing it too hard. So I've joined that and aiming to put the £15pw I'd be saving from the food budget to the council tax.

That would mean I'd be paying my already arranged council tax debt repayment of £60 per month, plus the additional £60 per month shaved off the food bill - clearing the debt by August. :j

Of course I'd love to get it paid off sooner but with this block holding me back from working I'm not going to push myself until I snap. I'll get back into it, just need a little more time I think.



I'm off to write up my income and expenditure list plus budget for march with a cuppa. G'night everyone.