woah... are those MY finances??

Fmess

hey stewby

Just wanted to say I am still here and still reading but have been super busy so haven't managed to check in or post many messages.

Don't worry about the holiday, it is up to OH to sort it out.

Also don't worry about number 8, see it as another challenge to test you

Siouxsie32

Fmess wrote: »

Also don't worry about number 8, see it as another challenge to test you

I agree! January wasn't a success because you were number 8. January was a success because YOU MADE IT A SUCCESS!!! I know it's like a safety net, but just think how you'll feel when February's a success too

stoplurking

Hi Stewby I'm just a lurker these days but I saw Kat's Feb challenge and thought oh no Stewby has missed her number 8. BUT, as Siouxsie says, You did all the hard work in January, you are the one getting to grips with everything and are doing great, so, whatever number Kat gives you is bound to be a good one for you. Keep up the good work. All the best, SL. X

stewby

Now I feel silly. I can't help liking a specific number. I am quite bad with regards to liking things a set way.
However, I am turning 30 soon so I need to mature and just be happy with whatever number I get.


OH has stopped mentioning the holiday again and there is no way I am bringing it up. Will see what happens.
:undecided

Spend-free day today so that is 19 out of 20.


Still trying to figure out the budget thing. It's tricky as I want to do more with my money than I am able to.
:embarasse

In good news (I think), I have now reached the top of my pay grade so I get some extra pennies every month. Well, my dad does... I am still getting £400 a month.

stewby

So... Looking at budgets for February.

Now... it's going to sound awful but I am tinkering with my food budget. It's going to be £149 which sounds weird but if I remove the £20 for the challenge then it is £129 which gives me exactly £100 left over.


£121 - savings pots.
£129 - food.
£50 - petrol.

Leaves £100 leftover... not sure what for yet. I might add it into the savings account which will give me £300 in there.


How are you liking the look of the new challenge fmess??

Fmess

Loving the look of the February challenge although need to give personal development challenge a bit of consideration. I have told a couple of close friends the extent of my debt but I would rather not tell my family as I don't want to worry them, and they have been much more careful with their money. Might tell my sister the extent of my debt as she knows I am in debt but not how much or how I am tackling it.

Looks like you've made some good plans ready for the start of the challenge.

Congratulations for paying off so much this month and on reaching the top of your pay grade

argomatt

Good morning
I have been having a catch up on your diary because I haven't been able to get online for a while, college has been really busy, half way through now and things are starting to come together in my mind so I am feeling a bit more positive about it now. Moving house last weekend didn't help the stress levels either..
I think February is going to be a difficult month for the financial situation, just try to limit the damage as far as possible I think.

How are things with you?
Any news about your holiday?

:grouphug:

stewby

So... savings are now added. Well, my half is. OH is getting his tomorrow.

Holiday fund now stands at: £342.
Santa fund now stands at: £90.


And in very exciting hot off the presses news... OH has just booked barcelona!!
Our hotel came back on the market and it was about £850 for three nights so he booked it!!
:j

It will be our first proper holiday abroad since 2011 (if you don't include me going out to visit him in new zealand). I am really looking forward to it and am planning already.
:embarasse

Ah, nice to see you again matt. How come you moved?? Is that you living with your OH now?? Hope college is as good as you were hoping it to be.


Ah fmess... glad you are joining the challenge again. It's good to recognise people in the other thread. Especially since it is so busy.


Hope everyone else lurking is doing well too. 2014 has been very kind to me so far... long may it continue.
Hugs to all.

Madchickenlady

Hi I am a newbie too and first of all I just wanted to say don't beat yourself up about the situation you are in ,I am 50 now and I am here in the same situation so it can happen to anyone, I also wasn't spending on things I needed just things I wanted
I might have read thing wrong so forgive me if I have but is the card that your dad has control over charging you interest at 14% if so I am wondering why he hasn't transferred the debt to an interest free card ,that way you could be paying it off and all the money would go to the debt
I would advise you to not have the credit card back under any circumstances because you will run up another debt and be back to square one, its scarey not having one but I speak from sad experience when I say you will use it again
Can you save up an amount from your £400 allowance for christmas and like others have said pare down the list, you might find if you have an honest chat with friends and famaily they might be relieved as it means they don't have to spend on you, my friends and I all had this chat a couple of years ago and decided not to buy each other anything for christmas but to get each other a small present for birthdays instead, this spreads the cost out through the year
I am going to be forthright here and put my Mum hat on and say that reading between the lines you seem to be sometimes spending money after being encouraged by others to benefit them as in " You booked an all inclusive holiday that you can't afford so that your partner can drink with his friends" when you could have done it much cheaper , I get that you have to go to the wedding but your partner should realise that you need to do it in a cost effective way, you need to sit down with your partner and explain your situation so that he realises you are having problems and that you can't afford to spend out money you don't have
On the job front re your partner could he not get a job doing anything until he finds a position in the field that he trained in, its looks better on your cv if you are doing something rather than nothing at all
Please forgive me if I have been too blunt but if you were my son this is what I would be suggesting to you ,Good luck

argomatt

Hi Stewby,
I am glad your holiday is arranged now. I hope you have a great time there, I think it's important to have a holiday, even if it means spending a bit of money on it, otherwise life can get very tiring if it's just work work work all the time.

Yes, moved in with OH now, we got a nice place in her home town. Because I have to travel for work anyway, it doesn't really matter for me where I live, and it is really convenient for OHs work and family here. Just waiting for the dust to settle a bit and find out how much the outgoings will be for this house and then recalculate how much is available for debt payments, so back to minimum payments for the moment.

I just have had my tax code notice through today, and I have gone from K29 to 843L, so I should see this as an increase in my take home pay from April. I don't know how much of an effect it will have but I am going to try to calculate it tonight

Halfway through college now and things are starting to come together a bit, but there's still a lot of work to do. Today was quite full on with lectures from 0900 to 1700, and the same again tomorrow, so it's quite taxing on the mental capacity!

I hope you have a good day today
:)

:grouphug: