TallGirl's getting back on track diary

TallGirl

Dear Diary
Sorry I have neglected you for so long but I have been busy both at work and at spending (well actually wasting money) so now its time to take stock and start afresh.

As you may remember I took voluntary redundancy from my sales job back in April and started a full time post at much much less money with my local Citizens Advice Bureau. I absolutely love the job and the people I work it. Its very hard work but I am learning so much and being in a manager position will so improve my CV and my chances of getting back into well paid work.

Saying that money isn't everything and being happy at work is well worth it and I don't miss traveling as I did with my old job one bit.

I have been with my DH for 22 years and we will have been married 10 years next year. I do love him but I feel we have got a bit of track recently more like sister and brother. He struggled after he lost his mum over a year ago and is currently under the doctor for liver problems largely due to drinking too much. We are working at the cutting down on drinking for him (I don't drink much anymore) but its hard work. He still has memory loss and easily gets confused. I don't think he is actually depressed but he is certainly not himself like he used to be before his mum died. Saying that I don't want to go back to his excess drinking days.

Well as you can see this diary hasn't really had anything money saving in it so far so I better get on with that. We are mortgage free mainly thanks for MFi3 thank goodness or we would really struggle now. I did get a nice lump sum in redundancy but I have spent most of it (frittered it should I say) and the bank account is actually overdrawn so is my DH.

Stupid really but I obviously cannot live within my new lower salary. As for DH he is only overdrawn as he hasn't claimed his work mileage since February (He is doing it right now though).

I do try and save something every month to fill up my ISA in April and although I no longer paid into a work pension I save into a Stocks and shares ISA (only £50 mind you).

I think I shall start a new post with the sums so you can see how bad it is. This diaries main focus is for me to keep track of what I spent my money on and learn to live with in my budget.

TallGirl

Right here we are:
Goals I made in April 2013 before I was made redundant

Goals to be completed by March 2014
ISA 13/14 £5,760 (done May 2013)
ISA 14/15 £5,700
First Direct x 12£3,600 (on track)
Barclay Card paid off £1,832 (done Aug2013)

So as you can see I am not doing too badly however there are now credit card bills and an overdraft I cannot pay off this month so that is why I need to rein my spending in.

I am owed £5000 by my DH (I filled up his ISA) and I will get it back once his mothers will is paid out. Just need a signature from BIL but he lives in South Africa so that might take a bit longer.

I digress
Account status as of 18.08.13
Owed to holiday fund £550.00
Satander CC £598.44 will increase a bit
Overdraft£ 500.00
Tesco CC £131.20
Total Debt£1,779.64 :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Payday is not until Wednesday 28th August and I have £40 in my purse which I need to pay for my friends birthday treat on Thursday.

Plan is to track my spending on here until I get back on track and then try to get on track with ISA's etc.

Hope you will follow my journal and help me get back on track there will be a lot of drivel and dross but hopefully some useful stuff as well.

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello,

Sorry that things have been difficult for you recently. I have always followed your diaries and enjoyed hearing about your ploys, including the long running bathroom saga! I hope that you get get things back on track without too much breakage.

All the very best,

Squirrel

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Hi Tall Girl - I've been away from these forums for a while too but I haven't had the rough time it sounds like you've been having. Welcome back and hopefully the encouragement you get from here will be that little bit extra that you need.

TallGirl

Thanks secretsavingssquirrel and seriouslyseekingtosave it will be fantastic to have support from here its nice to just read but I will try to post on other people's diaries too.

Yesterday was going to be a no spend day but got a call from a mystery shopping company could I do a local one for them. Just had lunch so we did it for dinner. I won't get it back straight away of course so it went on the credit card but it will be covered in full by the fee.

So list of MSE things from yesterday.

• Didn't go out for brunch like we normally do both Saturday and Sunday.
• Prepared lunch for work today
• DH filled in this mileage claims thats his overdraft gone

Today got food out of the freezer for tonight and I will also go to the gym.

My manager is away today so I need to get in early. Got a few things I need to sort out with her as we are heading towards being really good friends but I am not sure thats great. I really like her but I'm worried it will affect how we work together. Might be posting more about this as its puzzling me and it needs sorting out.

Hope you have a lovely day I am aiming for a NSD

TallGirl

Quick update more MSE stuff to write about,

Picked 1 kilo of blackberry's frozen for pies
Brought lunch in so NSD
Reply from Thompson and Morgan they will send me a replacement blueberry for the one that died. That's worth £16.99

Didn't make the gym as got home late had to stay for late appointment at work but in general survived being in charge for a day. I do have some lovely volunteers that work so hard.

DH got his mileage claim in today so should be ok soon. He also managed to book doctors appointment clinic going to do it over the phone so I don't have to go. Hopefully he will remember what they say to him I am sure his results will be bad as he has been drinking loads more than he should. Still not as much as he used to.

Waiting for friend to call me then I shall head to bed.

TallGirl

Still not doing to badly another NSD but I will need petrol tomorrow. Hectic day at work but resisted the urge to buy chocolate. Actually it wasn't a no spend day had to buy a cup of tea in a coffee to meet with my trainees as no room on premises. I don't want to claim it back but guess it all counts.

Brought lunch in again, gym this evening but no Zumba instructor ill so did work in the gym. Dinner out of freezer shouldn't need to buy anything dinner wise for a while.

Need to borrow a bit from joint account as my saving amount might come out before pay day. Stupidly I get paid 4 th Wednesday in the month really crap. Passed my probation so get £1000 more a year. Not a lot but every little count.

Still need to get out of the bath as I want to watch the great British bake off.

Sundaysgirl

Hi TallGirl - Just wanted to stop by to wish you good luck on your journey, it sounds like you've had a tough time recently (and still are having) but you seem to know what you need to do to get things back under control. Keep at it

TallGirl

Thanks for popping in Sundaysgirl I do hope I'm more in control spend for yesterday
£1.60 sandwich didn't get around to taking lunch in but I will today
£40 on petrol needed but stuck on credit card

Had to work late yesterday so DH wanted to go out for dinner. Said no insisted we had the pizza I had in the fridge. We did but still went out for one drink which he paid for.

Another good result was I signed up to do a three months Uni course distance learning (exam) at the end was due to start last April but postponed to now. I decided I cannot do it now so was going to postpone again but almost cancelled it. Had a chat with manager she feels it will be so beneficial for my job she will give me time off to do the work and pay for it. Also once I have done it I have to attend certain things in order to keep up my membership which I really would like to so but it's not that relevant to my current job. However she thinks it is if I do the course. Very good result.

Still struggling with how friendly we are going to become. Can you be friends with your manager I mean really good friends?

MallyGirl

I married mine - but I did change jobs after that

fothers365

Good luck, it sounds like you have had a lot of changes and upheavals at home lately. I hope everything becomes easier now all round.

Well done on the payrise:)