Down in the Dumps

Weird_Nev

You could be in Quantics position in a couple of years!

Dust yourself off and take control.
1) Make an accurate spending diary for one month. Record everything, no hiding, no pretending cash in your pocket or money on the credit card doesn't count.
2) Evaluate all your costs. You can do this alongside the spending diary. Start with your biggest costs, and work out were you can spend less.

Smoking: Sod e-cigs for now, they're a replacement. Try the NHS quitline first, and see if you can stop properly for free. It's a horrible habit that costs thousands a year.

Food: Plan meals, budget and shop accordingly. I guarantee, I GUARANTEE that you are spending money on coffee, toast, sandwiches and takeaways that is basically wasting money - possibly hundreds a month.
You can eat healthily much cheaper by cooking food you love in batches, taking healthy meals to work.
50p on toast in the morning ISN'T cheap! It's £150 a year. You can buy a loaf of bread a week for 1/3rd that and toast it yourself. (freeze it and you can toast it from frozen) Or cereal at home, to keep costs down.
Takeaways: By all means have a treat, but once a month, not once a week.

Bus pass - can you cycle to work? walk?

Phone? £50 is A LOT. See if you can go sim-only and reduce this, or negotiate a tarrif drop. Many companies allow this. I had a t-mobile phone for £20 a month with unlimited internet browsing, 1000 texts and 500 minutes which was more than enough. Free T-mob to T-mob too. See if yo ucan get on the same network as your GF for free calls.

No need to live like a monk, but you do need to know that you've earnt every penny, and they're not to be spent lightly without thought.

Can you bump your income at all? Take on more responsibility at work, or get a better paid job? How about some free lancing in your own time?

You'll get there. Take control, have some discipline and be honest with yourself, and you can easily turn your situation around.

No reason why someone with your earnings can't afford a car or a PS3, but it has to be a considered purchase, not on the never never.

NinjaSavingKat

Hey there.... I think you need to consider another job as well. I don't mean a replacement I mean a second income. With all the above said and done - reducing the cigs, cycling to work and watching your food bill - you could get by.. but if you want to live, and save etc you need more of an income.. I am not sure how this affects your DMP though...

If you want to travel though you need to earn some big bucks to consider the airfares, equipment ( even the basics like a rucksack and boots etc ) although it's all dependant on where you go and for how long.

If you know you're DMP will be done and dusted soon start discussing with your girlfriend where you want to travel too, how long for and when. Get a date set in stone, have a goal - which is something to remind you why you are sat in at the weekends, eeking out a few more months from shoes that need to be replaced and why you are on the electronic fags...

Get a goal in place.. with a second job ( at the weekends perhaps) and start getting your girlfriend to contribute towards your travel maybe...? Or she comes to see you...?

You can do it don't worry.

Those that have nice clothes and savings despite not working or working part-time might be what MSE'ers call the Ostrich!


Onwards and Upwards

quantic

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Hey there.... I think you need to consider another job as well. I don't mean a replacement I mean a second income. With all the above said and done - reducing the cigs, cycling to work and watching your food bill - you could get by.. but if you want to live, and save etc you need more of an income.. I am not sure how this affects your DMP though...

If you want to travel though you need to earn some big bucks to consider the airfares, equipment ( even the basics like a rucksack and boots etc ) although it's all dependant on where you go and for how long.

If you know you're DMP will be done and dusted soon start discussing with your girlfriend where you want to travel too, how long for and when. Get a date set in stone, have a goal - which is something to remind you why you are sat in at the weekends, eeking out a few more months from shoes that need to be replaced and why you are on the electronic fags...

Get a goal in place.. with a second job ( at the weekends perhaps) and start getting your girlfriend to contribute towards your travel maybe...? Or she comes to see you...?

You can do it don't worry.

Those that have nice clothes and savings despite not working or working part-time might be what MSE'ers call the Ostrich!


Onwards and Upwards

This is great advice, I found that settling myself a tangible goal was really motivating and by the time I had achieved this I was well practiced in the art of being frugal. It takes a lot of effort to stop yourself from doing what many of your friends around you are doing.

On the bright side, i know people 10/20 years your senior who have still not had their light bulb moment, so at least you are realising what needs to be done at a healthy age.