Getting myself sorted

heyjude2013

Hello all,

Been reading and posting on the boards for a while, but now decided to tell you all about me

I'm going to be 25 soon, having just moved home after living with my (now ex!) boyfriend. During that time, I was rubbish at budgeting, ran up debts and generally got into very bad spening habbits.

Good news is that I've already started sorting out the debts that were worrying me most - the payday loans and my overdraft are now things of the past. I've paid of my overdraft - heading into the bank tomorrow to cancel it.

Now to work on the credit card which is £1,342 and the £1,000 I owe to a family member.

I'm very lucky in that I'm paying nominal rent at home now, and have a good salary, I just need to find that all important thing WILLPOWER! It's going to sound selfish, but having been living with no money for over 2 years, I feel that now I have some 'spare' I deserve to treat myself.

I need to break out of this habit, pay off the remaining debts and then save some money!

Wow it does feel good to write it all down

Happy Monday all

ThatKiss

Welcome along!

It sounds like you've done some good work already. Keep it up!

debtfreeby30:S

Good morning HeyJude!! :hello:

Great to see you've started your own diary!! It's nice to have a place to vent a bit and keeping tracking of everything will really spur you on! I hope the NSDs are coming along nicely too!! Make the most of living at home and you'll be debt free before you can blink

Happy Tuesday!!

heyjude2013

Well thanks for stopping by Thatkiss! Debtfree you know I've been reading your diary so really happy to see you at mine!

Off to NatWest today to cancel the overdraft that I've just paid off - was in two minds whether to cancel this or not (keep it for emergencies??) but have decided to cancel it. It's a lesson to myself that I never intend to have to be in debt again, so won't need the overdraft!

I've got lots of accounts with Natwest, including a couple of savings accounts, however I've just opened a first direct account, so going to be moving my current account to them.

Need to start looking through best savings accounts next in order to decide what to do about that. My priority will be paying off my credit card, but also need to pay off the family member so I need to be paying into a savings account to pay this off.

Going to try another NSD today, always find it tough when I know I need to go to town, there is just too much tempatation - I'm a sucker for a coffee shop, even though I have a perfectly good coffee machine at home!

heyjude2013

Is it bad that I'm majorly procratinating in order to put off going to the bank?

I know its a good thing cancelling my OD, but i feel like a naughtly school girl everytime i go to the bank and have to go into those funny little rooms, its like being summoned to the headmasters office.

Need to grow up....

heyjude2013

Cleared the overdraft yesterday and natwest don't seem to be remotely concerned about losing my business to first direct!

It's the first time in 7 years that I'm no longer living in my overdraft, it's a wierd feeling!

Feel loads better knowing that every month now when I get paid my bank account will be in credit, and no longer just clearing my overdraft for me to re-spend!

Happy Wednesday everyone x

castlelough

hey HeyJude!
Congratulations of clearing and closing your overdraft!! :beer:
I did the same thing last month - finally closed it forever! After 14 years of living in my overdraft it is an amazing feeling to be rid of it! But also a bit nerve-racking too....a bit like going out without your handbag! You have no fall-back! I am budgetting carefully and keeping a close eye on my account in case I overspend by accident.

Wishing you all the best on your debt free journey!
Castle xxx

heyjude2013

Thanks Castlelough. I agree that I'm very nervous of my account balance now, but isn't it a lovely feeling knowing that the money in your account actually belongs to you?

My overdraft was hanging around from my uni days, I think the worst financial mistake I made was treating my overdraft as 'normal' - it gets sold to you as an essential by the banks and its so difficult to get out of afterwards!

Next plan is to clear the credit card - already paid over my minimum for this month, and hoping to be able to pay of extra yet. Last month I overpaid the minimum by £170, but don't think ill be able to match that this month due to paying off the overdraft. Might set my target as £80 overpayment.

Happy Thursday x

heyjude2013

So had a spendy weekend :-(

I always start with the best of intentions, plan my budget and think about what I need to spend money on. Was going to a friends house for dinner last night, she was cooking, and so I just popped into Tes*os to pick up some snacks, for which I'd budgeted £6. £15 later.....well you get the drift.

I just can't help myself. I know £9 is not the end of the world, but its now £9 less that I can pay off the CC. Will have to look at the budget later to see where I can save it off somewhere else.

Here's to a new day x

killerpeaty

Hey,

Massive congrats on getting rid of your overdraft! I completely understand about overdrafts being normal in Uni, I think I was one of about 3 people I knew without one. Every time I went into the bank to get things sorted, they used to try to convince me to open one up even though I clearly didn't want one.

Perhaps you could generate the additional £9? Selling or giving up some time to earn the money would be a great disincentive to overspending next time. I have to say, for an overspend you have been remarkably sensible.

Best of luck with your debt free journey.

heyjude2013

Hey Killerpeaty,

As I signed in to read this, I'd sorted out some barely worn shoes that I'm thinking about selling on ebay. I'm a bit of a selling novice though - much better at shopping hehe. To be honest, I've got loads of clothes/shoes that I end up giving away to charity or to friends so I could start selling these instead to generate a bit of cash.