Tinkerbell's back in control thread - i need to get off the merry-go-round

tinkerbell73

So here I am - 40, single mum of 3, fairly happy with my lot but after a relationship breakdown last year (not my ex husband - that's another story for another post) I have spent the last 10 months spending like i earn't more than I do but have run out of money and avenues to get it from and so this is it I NEED to get back under control.

So my debt - my ex husband left me with a lot of unsecured debt when we divorced - I have been on a DMP plan and have paid off 25k so far with 20k to go however in the last year i have managed to run up another 5k and the repayments were astronomical (due to my poor credit) and were leaving me with no money for food every month ...... so after a holiday away without the kids (first time ever and not paid for by me in any way) i did some thinking (its amazing what a clear mind can do ) I realised some things have to change.

So job one all debt added to DMP and that's it no more cc catalogue's ever again - budget has been reworked and i can increase my payments so all creditors should be happy - bankrupcy is not an option as i would loose my job and i have no assets :-(

Job 2 rework my actual spends to create some space in my budget to allow the kids to have a few treats (i do believe kids should have a life its not their fault their parents messed up so badly) My ex pays nothing towards the kids (they are 15 13 and 8) even with CSA involved :-( but has started having the younger 2 a little more so that helps a bit.

Job 3 get some extra work to a) create an emergency fund I currently have nothing b) start a christmas fund see a and c) chuck some at the debts to pay them off quicker

Job 4 loose some weight and eat healthy while embarking on the grocery challenge

So this is my dirary of my ups and downs and spending - am hoping i can get back in control and finally start thinking about a future for me rather than burying my head in the sand or hoping some millionare will come along and sort it all out for me :rotfl:

Emzilla

Hi Tinkerbell

Happy new diary and good luck - you've done really well to clear £25k :T

Emz xx

roxy7699

Hi Tinkerbell,

Great plan and well done so far.

tinkerbell73

So applied to be a researcher for 63336 last night - got a thanks but no thanks email this morning :-( but have followed up some free lance work that was floating around and hopefully something should come of that .

Have put new offer into creditors - bang goes my payrise but least that should stop the phone calls and tonight's job is to do a spreadsheet so i can track all my spends - it will be bad this month school holidays are a nightmare.

Chased the CSA for my non existent maintenance - apparently the last time they contacted my ex and my ex mil (his employer) was Jan but no one followed it up (apparently he earns 95 per week full time!!) My arrears are currently £80 - he pays £5 a week which would help with some school shoes - another job i need to do the dreaded school shop !!!!

Am off to Alton towers on Thursday but i have annual passes (paid monthly cancelled my gym and got merlin passes instead - i will be fat but kids are happy) that i signed up for before this new reawakening (and cant cancel now for 10 months) but with 3 children it means a day out will cost fuel and i can take a picnic - and kids need to have fun :-)

End of August (again nearly all paid for before the lbm) i am taking them to France camping - we have all the stuff in the garage and so actually works out quite a reasonable way of taking the kids abroad and experiencing a different culture. While we are there I will be shopping in Aldi and watching the pennies but hopefully it will be so warm the kids won't notice we aren't spending much as we will be on the beach or by the pool. I find beingh on my own with them i need to spend quality time with them once in a while it is hard doing everything.

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary

tinkerbell73

Ok so it would appear as well as being rubbish at money saving I am not that good at keeping up diaries. So since my last entry I have been to Alton Towers (picnic taken and one unlimited refill cup purchased and shared between 4 of us ) no spreadsheet as yet but Thurs is payday so new month new start although am thinking it may be a holiday job on my ipad in the sun when i dont have work and other stuff going on.

First lot of my new self employed work starts tonight so that's exciting if you can call marking accountancy exam papers interesting.

And I have registered with some agencies with a view to changing my job - one that has growth potential for me and my salary currently i am as far as i can get where i am and to add insult they asked me to increase my hours to full time (16% rise in hours) for a 5% pay rise which after tax doesn't even cover the increase in childcare costs :-(

Oh yes and my bf and i have split up - he is not ready for a full on relationship apperantly - after whisking me to Spain for an all expenses paid trip a few weeks ago :-(

365days

Love the unlimited drink shared between 4!

Sorry to hear about the BF but at least you got a holiday!;)

tinkerbell73

Woop woop one of my new cc have accepted the DMP payment offer - that will stop the phone calls :-)

tinkerbell73

Ok so it's now september and i am soo bad at updating my thread. Summer holidays have been and gone, had a money saving camping holiday with the kids in france soaking up the sun - all food purchased from Lidl no meals out or general indulgence but the kids had a fab time as did I.

All debtors have accepted the new DMP offer and so that's one thing less to worry about. The kids had no new school jumpers or shoes (just polished up their old ones cause they all still fitted)

Today i pranged the car against a sainsbury trolley park :-( haven't got excess money or money for a repair so i will be driving with a dented door and wheel arch for the forseeable future :-(

Payday in a week :-) living on store cupboards till then.

Have an appointment this afternoon about a new job - fingers crossed for me :-)

honeypooh1980

I know you're diary is only short at the moment but i enjoyed reading it.

Well done on the budget holiday - i don't have kids but think it sounds like a fab kids holiday.

Keep up with the diary, i find mine is a massive help even just for getting things straight in my head by writing them down.