Madhatter90's Debt Diary

madhatter90

Hello everyone. As you can see from my sidebar I've been a member of this forum for 3 years and I've picked up so much useful information from here, I love it. I first started when I was at university with an £1000 overdraft, and balances on a credit card and Littlewoods.

Using the advice from here I managed to pay off these balances as well as having a little extra complete some evening classes in improv comedy and acting as well as save up for spending the last year in Australia.

But it was Australia that ruined me - despite pretty consistently earning a good wage in the country I ended up in the place I am now. For the first little while I was there I was overconfident about my job-finding abilities and not only spent through my savings but spent around £900 into a UK overdraft (with the intention of immediately paying it back once I got money, naturally) before I found work. That didn't happen of course, so the £1166 "overdraft" I mention in my signature has in fact been sold to cabot financial (with non-payment and interest fees added on) since I didn't pay anything to it while I was away. I also have a Bank of Scotland One card with a £940 balance (for my flight home ) and a Barclay Card with a £420.20 balance (£300 of which is money my sister owes me).

Since I have returned from Australia I'm unemployed and currently on contribution based JSA of £56.80 a week. My parents have very kindly allowed me to live rent free while I'm not earning so at least homelessness is not a worry. For now my outgoings are my phone (£10 a month on a PAYG plan), my food (£80 a month, which includes all toiletries etc) and debt repayments. If I do start earning I will have the extra outgoings of digs and travel but I will hopefully have much more money to throw at my debts. I'd like to do an evening course in jewellery making and go to Ireland sometime next year as well, so some saving would be in order too.

My main priorities are finding a job (have an interview on Wednesday!!) and earning a little extra money (I sold my old phone on one of those websites, some old books on moxom and I have some clothes on ebay - one of which has a bid!). I like to think I've got my head in gear but I do have a bad habit of spending little amounts and forgetting they add up - that magazine, that coffee, that takeaway sandwich etc so that's something I have to watch.

I'm hoping a diary will keep me on track with all this stuff, and thanks if you've made it this far!

madhatter90

Had my job interview today, think I did as best I could. Can't do any more than that! They said they'll call the person who gets the job and send a letter to those that don't so fingers crossed for a phone call!

beanielou

Here's hoping on the job front!

madhatter90

Thanks Beanielou! Nervously waiting on a phone call today. Every hour that goes by I feel a little less hopeful . On the plus side I got my cheque for the superannuation I paid in Australia, hopefully when it clears it will be another £100 to put to my 'full and final settlement fund' for the overdraft. I'm hoping to make it to £600 and offer them that. Otherwise I'll just put it to the Bank of Scotland credit card. Applying for Wilkinsons and Sainsbury's today. They're part time and feel like a step backwards, but anything is better than signing on!

madhatter90

Looks like I didn't get the job Guess it wasn't meant to be.

But I shouldn't be too upset, these things happen. I'll just have to keep slogging on. Few more bids on my ebay items, and I've done some surveys today plus I've applied for a couple more jobs. Not more I can do really.

littlepinkstars44

Sorry this might sound a little random...but are you Erin? your username sounds so familiar.

madhatter90

Yes, Emma, it's me! How are you? You're never on Facebook to stalk haha!

Gave my application into Wilkinsons today, plus there's another admin assistant job going nearby so I'll apply for that too. Definitely didn't get the one I applied for, got the letter today.:( It's funny though I was thinking, last year I had an interview for a job I was really excited about and I was gutted when I didn't get it, but if I had then I wouldn't have spent the last year in Australia having a great time. I think sometimes things work out for the best! Trying to stay positive anyway haha.

Sent off two ebay packages today, made a profit of about £11 which is more than they were making hanging in my wardrobe. Once that money's cleared I'm going to put it towards the settlement savings.

Just going to send job applications, teach myself a bit of Spanish and have a NSD today I think.

littlepinkstars44

I'm good thanks!! I have a different facebook account now, if you search for me you should find it

madhatter90

Feel like I'm falling off the wagon a little bit. Keep buying little things that I don't need. Plus I spent £9 yesterday just on junk food. Not good for the purse or the diet!

Need to get my head in gear. It's so much harder when you don't work. You just have too much time on your hands, and too little money. I think I just need to try harder to find work! I've applied for a Princes Trust Grant to see if I could do my personal licence and get bar work. Every bar in this town requires one now, but it's £135 to get one at my local college, and I can't get an ILA anymore because I have a degree. So fingers cross that the Princes Trust will come through for me!

madhatter90

Applied for two jobs today, so feeling okay about things. Need to do my 30 day shred and find some more things to ebay today, but I'm making sure I don't spend any money. It's a bad habit of mine when I'm feeling a little down I'll spend money to cheer myself up - usually on junk food. Bought a takeaway the other day for my sister and myself, wasn't worth it at all.

Signed on today, no problems with it, so I'll get my JSA on Monday. Hopefully going to try overpaying on my One card, and just paying the minimum on my barclaycard. The one card needs to paid off desperately, considering the interest it is costing me! :eek:

madhatter90

Feel like I'm just getting rejection letter after rejection letter, bit disheartening