A flash flood of colour.....

Antwerpen

Hi

I have read a few diaries on here, it amazes me how positive and encouraging folk are. So here I am, ready to start my own. I have spiraled out of control. I did a balance transfer, and yet I still spent on that card. AHH!I did NOT learn. I was using my barclaycard to make purchases, it is now buried in my bedroom somewhere and it isn't escaping!

Currently 8351.08

Lloyds- 1761.46- 0% 3.01.14
Nationwide- 1023.7- 0% 10.09.14
Tesco- 659.05-0%, not sure when this runs out, I got it in feb and it was for about 20/22 months.
Barclaycard- 3753.96- 1.527%
Very 608- I need to pay off £249 before 2/12/13 to avoid interest of £124. The rest doesn't need to be paid off until Sept 14
Overdraft -544.91, my limit is 1050. I normally reach this most months.

My car broke down during the year and has been off the road the last 6 months, this has played a small part in my debt. There's a misfire, I have replaced things and still no luck. MOT has ran out and it will need a new engine and clutch. So no idea what to do with it.

Ideally I want to be debt free in a year!I want to move in with my partner, but we need to save for a deposit. Being too optimistic there!!

I will do my SOA and post it soon!!

Thanks for reading!!

Antwerpen

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 513
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 724.23
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1237.23

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 140
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 80
Electricity............................. 30 Elec/gas are £70 pm, fixed until 2017. I couldn't find a cheaper tariff. Gas is very high tho!
Gas..................................... 40
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 25.87
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 40 Ends September, I will get a sim only contract!
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 24.92 I am changing to talktalk come the end of the month, it'll be 17.90pm.
Groceries etc. ......................... 140 I was spending this, I have cut down this month, doing challenges etc. So can't give a real figure.
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 59.24 I plan to get rid of the car, and my insurance is up for renewal next month, so I won't be re-insuring it
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 30
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 60 My daughter attends breakfast club 4 days a week, I can't cut this back.
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 12.56
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 10
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 714.71


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 300
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 300

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Lloyds.........................1761.46...50........0
Nationwide.....................1023.7....25........0
Tesco..........................659.05....25........0
Barclaycard....................3753.96...150.......1.527
Total unsecured debts..........7198.17...250.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,237.23
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 714.71
Available for debt repayments........... 522.52
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 250
Amount left after debt repayments....... 272.52

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 300
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -7,198.17
Net Assets.............................. -6,898.17

The council have decided to cancel my claim, I didn't receive the letter asking for my wage slips etc. They are going to re-assess it but I need to take all my wage slips from the past year and some other documents down too. Just to add to my stress!!

savingjenny

if you get rid of the car, what will your other travel expenses be?

£140 for groceries for two isn't much. It has to include your make-up and loo rolls and shampoo and printer cartridges and lightbulbs etc

And ZERO for clothes isn't realistic.

It's better to have a sensible budget that you can live on, rather than an optimistic one which will leave you feeling once again that you have failed when it all goes wrong.

Antwerpen

savingjenny wrote: »

if you get rid of the car, what will your other travel expenses be?

£140 for groceries for two isn't much. It has to include your make-up and loo rolls and shampoo and printer cartridges and lightbulbs etc

And ZERO for clothes isn't realistic.

It's better to have a sensible budget that you can live on, rather than an optimistic one which will leave you feeling once again that you have failed when it all goes wrong.

Thanks for the reply.

I hardly travel, my parents tend to take me shopping. I can budget £20 a month in for that, I can amend it if I do spend more.

I have no idea how much I spend on clothes. I have gone OTT in the past buying them.

I am keeping a spreadsheet of everything that's happening in my account this month, I have also done one for December and January.

StressedSteph

Hi Antwerpen,

Thanks for the pm .

Sooooo glad you have started a diary, I am sure it will really help you.

You are similar to me where paying off the debts quickly will mostly rely on not spending any money that isn't in the budget (Very tricky).

Make sure you set a realisitc budget, pop it on an Excel sheet showing the each whole month, with your incomings and outgoings and try to stick to it as much as possible.

I am really good at this for about 6 months, and then I always get bored and start spending again. Hopefully we can all help each other stay on the bandwaggon.

Take care hun, I have subscribed xxx

Antwerpen

StressedSteph wrote: »

Hi Antwerpen,

Thanks for the pm .

Sooooo glad you have started a diary, I am sure it will really help you.

You are similar to me where paying off the debts quickly will mostly rely on not spending any money that isn't in the budget (Very tricky).

Make sure you set a realisitc budget, pop it on an Excel sheet showing the each whole month, with your incomings and outgoings and try to stick to it as much as possible.

I am really good at this for about 6 months, and then I always get bored and start spending again. Hopefully we can all help each other stay on the bandwaggon.

Take care hun, I have subscribed xxx

Hello thanks for popping in.

I did have a spending diary and budget, but like you I got bored too. I have started to leave my purse at home, definitely trying to make food go further and not wasting any!I do a meal plan and end up not following it.

I need to have a big clear out and sell unused items on ebay!I can't wait until Christmas, just not the cost of it lol.

I will probably post my Monthly spendings on here for any criticism xx

Antwerpen

Nothing much has happened the last few days. Popped into town yesterday. Ended up being a NSD. Dinner was a stir fry with leftover turkey from Sunday. I made some hand warmers last night. I've heard there is going to be snow by the end of the week. I really hope not! My heating is still off, N power decided to refund me £80 on my account as it was its anniversary or something. So my DD has shot up to £70 (was meant to be £80)!

I done overtime last month, hoping I get a good sum to cover the very payment..

My to do list for today
*Work–8-1.30
*Blitz the kitchen
*Sort clothes and shoes to sell
*Clean out my rabbits (they live indoors)
*Crafting until my bf gets here

Has anyone used soapnut? I'm considering getting them, but I've read mixed reviews.

On my phone so sorry for any mistakes .

Antwerpen

Payday is nearly here (28th). I haven't used my credit card in nearly a month, my overdraft is at £523, last month it was £750 on the 25th. It's nice to see I'm not overspending.

Last night was the 50th anniversary of Doctor who as most know , I was very tempted to buy a take away. It would have cost £20 ish. Instead I decided to go and buy pizza and snacks in. I know I should have cooked something from the freezer. If I can change little habits like this, I'm sure I can make it to being debt free. Laziness and 'wanting' is my downfall.

I still need more motivation when it comes to house work, it isn't bad, however I do need to have a declutter.

The only way is up

parsniphead

I used to use soap nuts. They were great for normal washing but struggled on heavily soiled stuff. I only stopped using them after having the little one but would definitely use them again, the last ages.

Antwerpen

parsniphead wrote: »

I used to use soap nuts. They were great for normal washing but struggled on heavily soiled stuff. I only stopped using them after having the little one but would definitely use them again, the last ages.

Thanks for the reply. I do have a daughter who is 8, it won't hurt to try tho especially if they will save me some money!!

Rachiedabbler70

Hi Antwerpen


I've found you. I will subscribe and have a read of your diary.


Rach