shopaholic needs to stop

aartisuk

Hi everyone

It's my first post so please be gentle. I've been a massive lurker for a while and although my debts are not as large as some I am still struggling to pay them off.

I got myself into a payday loan mess - borrowing 200 every month to keep up a lifestyle I cannot.
I also am approximately £1700 into my overdraft.

Im 2 months in a 12 month contract which is 32000 for the year and have made no headway in my overdraft. Goals for the year - pay of the overdraft. Pay for 2 exams to further my career which will cost 600 each. Pay my gdc membership which will cost 588 and finally save a minimum of 4000 pounds. Pay day is on the 5th of November so I will do a full statement of accounts around then.

I don't really know where my money is going so I have started a spending diary and am also selling old clothes on ebay to try and make some extra money. Joined up to maximiles and inboxpounds so hopefullu every little helps. I think I just use my debit card willy nilly without noting how much is gone.

I really wany to better my spending habits before I get myself into trouble. I cannot continue to spend more than I earn!

HOK3Y

Well it sounds like you have realized there's a problem before you're in a real pickle - that's good! You also have a decent salary to get you out of the mess. Spending on your debit card without paying attention is all too easy. You need to know how much your essentials cost you each month (rent, council tax, utilities, etc.), budget for your food/clothes/entertainment etc., and then plan what to do with the (hopefully) surplus.

Once you post your SOA, you should get lots of great advice and I am sure there's plenty of wiggle room.

aartisuk

Okay so I managed to crash my car into a bus, luckily the bus was fine but my car is not. Going to take it to a a garage on monday for a quote but this is an expensive month already.

Its OHs birthday next month and need to buy a gift and take him out which is expensive enough.

Going to do a budget of 30 a week on food and personal expenses for the next month and will see how much I spend/save/go over. I have a pot of money of excess coins and any left over can go in there to be put back into overdraft at the end of the month.

Heres hoping the car isn't Going to cost too much. I refuse to put it onto the insurance.

aartisuk

Monthly Incomings:

My salary - £2016.33
Partners salary -0
Benefits - 0

Total - £2,016.33

Monthly Outgoings:

Mortgage/Rent - £330
Council Tax – in rent
Gas – in rent
Electric – in rent
TV License – in rent
payment to dad – covers car insurance, phone bill, and helps him with his bills - £250
Food - £200
travel - 200
Gym - 48


Total: £1,028

wonga loan – 341.37 due November 6th
Overdraft – 1800
GDC – 588 due 31st December
MJDF exam – 600 due 15th january

I currently have 90 in my account right now – which means a massive overspend, however last month I did give dad 850 to pull him out of a tight spot so I guess that sort of makes up for it slightly.

I need to put away a minimum of 400 pounds each month so that I can pay for my GDC and exams which are non negotiable unfortunately. Am going to try for a 30 a week budget at the moment, heres hoping.

Any ideas? I feel a little ashamed at my finances right now

aartisuk

Righto so I'm very much in my £30 already - 10 was spent on posting ebay things but due to needing to refund a silly lady who is claiming a camera I sold her isn't working (It was in perfect condition when I sold it grrrr) I'm out of pocket so it's coming out of the budget.

Went and got my car looked at - the repair man is calling me tomorrow with a quote! However he did buff out the scratches and fixed the dent for £7.50 so hopefully the wingmirror won't be too bad either.
Cooked a curry and made sandwiches for tomorrow so meals are sorted and should be a NSD tomorrow

aartisuk

Oh and Hokey, I realised I never responded to you but thankyou very kindly for welcoming me to moneysavingexpert

aartisuk

Had hoped for a NSD but needed milk and found some yellow stickered wraps to have with my chicken curry leftovers from last night.

DFW things today
built up 250 nectar adpoints today
maximiles videos and surveys
inboxpounds surveys

meal plan done for next week
- monday night cook up pumpkin soup and have for dinner, and lunch tuesday, wed, and freeze rest. also going to use the seeds to make a salted caramel snack
tuesday - defrost meal from freezer and eat
weds - defrosted meal
thursday i'm in bath for a training day - cheese salad sandwich + I think i'm going out for a paid dinner
friday cheese salad wrap/sandwich and I'm going home for the weekend and dinner YAY

aartisuk

Suddenly feeling really rubbish, house mate wanted to go to the cinema, but it's not orange wednesday and I can't justify spending 9quid on a film i'm halfway interested. 3 weeks ago I wouldn't have given it a glance, so I guess thats a good thing in regards to the new mindset.

Also had a mini go at OH. He's working really really hard at the moment but comes home every night and his brain is fried. Yesterday he was telling me of for not coming back sooner from the shops - He's up in london, i'm down in southwest, and today he's just as fried. Tried to make him have a nap but he wouldn't and I just want to talk to him when he's alive. Really need to be a more supportive girlfriend

aartisuk

DFW activities for today
went to gym + put laundry in on a quick wash. Cancelled my love film subscription because I never use it and it's a waste of 5.99 a month.
Apparently I get paid tomorrow so bills and debts can go out too

aartisuk

Been a few days since I posted, but payday came and went.
Paid of my wonga loan debts, and all my bills and am left with 414 pounds left until next pay day.

Not planning to pay anything into overdraft this month unfortunately As 80 of that 414 will be going on fixing my car. Leaves me with a budget of 70 a week That includes petrol and travel and food grr. Will somehow have to manage.

This week should be okay, can defrost plenty for dinner and make sandwiches for lunch. Will be spending a little on the weekend as making a day trip to bath on saturday for a day out with the OH.