Madhatter90's Debt Diary

madhatter90

So I decided to do a TEFL course, so that I can work abroad. It means I can fulfil my love of travelling as well as earning money! I feel like it's the right decision.

madhatter90

Felt a little motivated to do an update on this, if only for my own benefit!

When I left off it was August and I was unemployed and losing motivation. I'm happy to tell you that I am at least employed right now, if only temporarily at 16 hours a week. I was originally a Christmas temp, but have been kept on to cover maternity now as well. They can't tell me how long though for now, as it's up to the women to decide when they're coming back.

It's this uncertainty about work and the future that made me decide to make a massive life change and ... move to Canada! Bit scary! It's the same idea as my Australian visa - working holiday, this time I can go for two years, and then who knows. I just know that my future is not here, not right now.

But of course, emigration require money! In order to be granted the visa when I arrive in Canada (in September) I need CAN$2500, which works out about £1500. At the moment (after paying for the visa and the two police checks I needed) my savings are £7.25. So, a little bit to go!

Not helped by my booking of a trip to Amsterdam in April...

Travel is my weakness

I am still lucky enough to be living with my parents who charge very little for me to live here, and I'm being smart with money in other ways - my phone only costs me £10 a month and I have the cheapest travel ticket I can get (£65 every 4 weeks). I've also cut out massive junk food binges which used to cost at least £10 at a time and am learning to cook :T

My problem with money has always been lack of motivation - I obsess about it for a few weeks, ebaying and surveying etc but then my attention wanders and I start obsessing about something else. Have you ever read the shopaholic series? I identify so much with it - buying your way into the fantasy life you should have. Last time (in August) it was my tefl course which was obviously going to pave my way to a high flying career around the world. (I did finished it though - yet to apply for a single job:rotfl:)

So to conclude (this much-longer-than-I-meant post) - I'm currently in debt to the tune of £2300, I need £1500 by September and I'll probably lose my mojo again in about 3 weeks and take up knitting or something (for a non-existant super successful etsy business, naturally!):o.

Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far!

madhatter90

Worked a full 9 hour shift and I have no idea how people do this regularly. And them have families and everything on top! So exhausting!

Should have been a NSD day, but I forgot my lunch :grr:. Low spend though, £1.20, so could be worse. Normally I would spent about a fiver.

Told myself I would come in and immediately make some thick minestrone soup, but was too lazy and just made cheesy past from a box!

Laziness is another massive downfall for me!

Forgot - I asked in the local learning shop about volunteering as an English teacher, so fingers crossed! Nice to have more to do and have some experience under my belt.

pantherchick

Stay focused as much as possible.. all good things come to those that wait... im rooting for you xx

madhatter90

Thanks pantherchick! Thanks for stopping by! Feeling very :A today -took one woman to her hospital appointment and back, plus I helped her daughter with her pottermore and kindle. Neither of them are very computer savvy, so it was nice helping them out. The daughter has social anxiety and doesn't get out really, a little sad.

Also very :money: considering I've got a pot of minestrone cooking on the hob, plus I'm working later so should be a NSD day too. Just have to stay motivated. The forum really helps, it's great. It's funny how often you see people fall off the wagon when they stop visiting :rotfl:

laurag89

Keep going Really enjoyed reading through your diary, travelling is a massive weakness for me too.... im not quite brave enough to set off to australia or canada on my own.... but if I had the money I would be gone brave or not brave ha ha!

Im off to prague in March (another impulse purchase) for the boyfriends birthday present.... no shock as to why im in so much debt!

Goood luck!!!!

themarsbargirl

keep going hun-the more you work the more your system will adjust to it and you'll find it less tiring! congrats on getting a job thou x

madhatter90

I think travel can still be done relatively cheaply - we got flights and hotel for £300 for both my sister and I. As long as we're smart with our spending money (always the worst part) we should hopefully get our city break for under £200 each. Laurag89 - My problem is thinking that travel is worth it, you know? I'd much rather be having great experience that paying back for things I barely remember buying! Such an immature view!

Been good recently though, haven't spent any money since Wednesday. Still two weeks until payday though, feels really looooong. Hopefully going to try and declutter my room later, get rid of some boxsets I don't watch on music magpie. For some reason I have a hard time letting go of them though...

Thanks themarsbargirl!

Faith76

Well done on getting a job!!! And you know what, you only live once so enjoy every second and follow your dreams.

If I had the chance and was brave enough I would be off. It is definately one thing I regret having done when I was younger and kids and marriage came into the equation. I always fancied doing camp america ( working on a summer camp for american kids) not sure if that type of thing exists now though

madhatter90

I wanted to do that as well Faith76, but I didn't get round to it and it's harder to do when you're not a student (as you need to have a reason to come back for the visa restriction). But you never know what will happen!

Been good the last couple of days, cooking and not spending money but I've got that annoying feeling of a cold coming on so I decided to treat myself and my mum to a domino's. Totally worth it, I think all the grease has mopped up m stuffy head

Bit the bullet and made a music magpie order thingy. I know I don't watch the box sets but it's still a little hard to let go of them as (as silly as it sounds) the kind of got me through when I was having a little darker times. But I don't need them now, and I have to be strict with myself. They've quoted me £37 but they're tricky so I'm hoping for at least £30 which is 2% of my Canada savings.

If I'm feeling a little better tomorrow I'll go through my clothes see if I can ebay some stuff. I was good at it last year but lost love for it. I'll give it another chance and then otherwise cash4clothes or charity shops. One of my big clutter space-stealers is my massive collection of books. It's a nightmare! I've seen that cash4clothes also do a 5p per kilo for books, might have a look into this. Anyone have any experience?

Anyway, that's my little update. Hope everyone is doing well!