This time is the last time, no more debts!

Spendysaver

Good morning - just a quick update for today.

The builder called the other night and has decided he wants more money to finish the job. To be fair, the job has turned out to be more work than he originally quoted for, but had he told me at the outset that he wanted more, there are aspects to the work that I could have done myself, so lesson learnt there - ask more questions!

I haven't managed any more NSDs so today, I've brought my lunch to work and will be eating at my desk so as not to put temptation in my way. To be fair, I didn't give in to the coffee temptation yesterday, but I DID have the most gorgeous hot chocolate ever complete with squirty cream and loads of marchmallows......:o

I really need to get back into the swing of cooking from scratch and batch cooking, but since BF has been ordered to stop eating wheat and dairy products any organisation has gone out of the window. I need to get the breadmaker out and try experimenting with different breads etc. At the moment we're surviving on jacket potatoes and chips.

Have two items ending on Eb*y today with bids of £20 which can go towards my new challenges. I joined another one today, to see how much I can save by next December. I'm not very good at sticking to something so watch this space

I'd best get back to work. I hope everyone else is having a good MSE day x

Spendysaver

Hello from a cold, cold Wales

Just a quick update to say I've made £40 on Eb*y today :j

When they've all paid (if they all pay!) I will transfer the balance after fees to my bank account and half will go to paying off debt the other half to savings as per my new challenge.

I haven't made any extra payments since I started my new diary and I'm going to wait till I've been paid for December before making any. Once pressie shopping is out of the way, I can then hopefully make a nice big payment to one of the cards, otherwise this is going to turn into the most boring diary ever, full of just me waffling on and no payments...lol.

I'm also owed £200 for some work I've done for a friend who still hasn't paid me yet. I hate asking, but I'm going to have to phone and ask for my money tomorrow.

Confession time - I bought a coffee this morning BUT I took my lunch to work so I'm not all bad

System

Hey Spendysaver

Just wanted to say I found your blog has given me the motivation to start now rather than in the new year so thank you I look forward to your updates

Spendysaver

Hi 5YP! nice to see you

This is the latest in a series of different diaries for me (some under a different username) but this time I'm determined to stick it out to the end. I'm good at getting ideas, but rubbish at sticking to them. I'm so fed up of all my spare cash going on paying back debts when I need things for the house so this time I have to see it through (can't find a determined smilie).

At the moment I'm thinking I'll probably only make payments once a month just after I get paid so it feels like a very long time between seeing any progress in the figures. I might need a rethink on this because extra payments now and again might give me a boost mid-month, but could also mean I'm skint before the end of the month.....I don't know!

System

Hey - I know what you mean. I think if I even see a small saving each month I will be ok for the first while. I pay everything out at the beginning of the month and so Im used to seeing very little left as disposable income - hence the use of credit cards to make ends meet. I am taking one large leap and just starting to say no to myself and my kids. So that's the first step. Like today i booked a personal trainer to motivate me into getting back into exercise @ £145 for 5 sessions - why??!! stupid!! so I am leaving it until tomorrow to cancel him. This was after I told myself I couldn't afford £28 for the gym?? Its just bonkers!! I also have just received the shock of my life with a £100+ mobile phone bill this month. Never, ever has this happened before, but I just seem to reach a point where money is so tight I just say to heck with it and spend, spend spend :eek:

Spendysaver

Good morning!

I know exactly what you mean. When I owed money to Ne*t, instead of paying a little of each month, I just had a "to hell with it" attitude and just ordered more and more. In my mind I already owed money so I may as well get some more new clothes and owe a little bit more

Once you start seeing the figures coming down, you feel much more positive and you really don't want to see them going back up! Well, that's the theory anyway - I still have the odd slip up now and then.

I hope you're still able to cancel the instructor. I have to phone my friend in a little while and ask for the £200 he owes me for the work I did. Why do I feel so awkward? I hate asking for money!

I think I need to stand up for myself a bit more

Just checked my online banking and its not looking too bad at the moment. Checked Eb*y and all but one have paid so once thats cleared that's about £40 I can transfer over.

Hopefully, I'll be back later to update my signature. I'm off to see my mum for lunch x

System

I think there are a lot of us about who just say to heck with it and when in debt just increase it a bit more. I think my problem is not being able to say no and feeling mean. I always like to pay my way so invariably I end up spending more money than I can ever afford.

That stops now!!

I am contacting the PT now to say that I am cancelling the sessions. I hope you are able to get the money that you are owed.

I cant wait to start seeing a difference in my debts - even by the smallest amount. What a time to start in December, but I think if I can get through this month then I can get through anything

System

Good morning

I cancelled my PT. I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders (pardon the pun), just being able to say no was empowering - I know I can turn my spending habits around, albeit slowly, but I will do it.

Im keeping a check of my essential spending and my un-expected spending...eeeekkkk!! It has shown me how much money I waste or have to spend on unplanned things.

Ive also got a 0% credit card for 24 months to do a balance transfer from one of my high interest cards (its being cancelled), so Im learning about the 'card game' so I can make payments to cc's that actually are paying the debts off.

Onwards and upwards.

Spendysaver

Well done for cancelling :T

I need to persuade BF that we need to cancel our joint gym membership. He still goes, but I haven't been for a while and in light of recent revelations, I don't think I can afford to keep going.

Had some bad news at work this morning. IF I'm lucky enough to survive this round of redundancies, I'm going to have to take an approximate 20% cut in wages. I feel sick! I'm managing at the moment, but I won't be when these cuts kick in which means that paying these bills off is more important than ever now.

I won't be sorry to see the end of 2013, believe me!

I transferred all my paypal funds over to the bank last night and, when you see how much Eb*y get out of it, it makes you wonder if its worth all the hassle, but then that's £30 in my pocket I wouldn't have otherwise, so maybe it IS worth it

My head's spinning this morning! I'm at work now, so I can't check balances etc. I think the sensible thing to do would be to pay off a huge chunk of the smallest card asap. Once that's gone, I can concentrate on the other two.

Tonight is free listing on Eb*y so I'll probably spend most of this evening listing, and listing AND listing

I've already taken photos, so I just need to be strict with myself and actually sit down and do it

Hope everyone else is having a better day x

System

I dont envy you the threat of redundancy or a paycut.

I was in the same position 2 years ago and dropped £8k in salary (long story), but instead of being careful with money I just went on increasing my credit until I am now in the position Im in now.

You on the otherhand appear to have it nailed and are sensible.:)

I have made a start by getting a £1K 0% overdraft (12 months and a 0% credit card (24 months) and transferring most of the highest balance over, I am going to try and remain paying the same amount over £130 per month so I can watch the balance decrease. Well at least that is my strategy at the moment. I have opted out of using 2 others to keep my APR rate from increasing, though I cant make anything other than the minimum payments.

I declined two xmas dinner's (my part-time & my full-time job) this has allowed me to go to the other xmas dinner (group of friends on an overnight). If I had the opportunity over again to say no to this one I would have, but the deposit was paid and the embarassment of pulling out would outweigh the cost and going from 3 xmas dinners to none is just a tad too far!! :rotfl:

I want a new dress BUT I dont need one so instead of heading out and picking up a 'bargain' I have just fed my passion for shopping by window shopping on the internet. :T

I now just need to work out what I can sell on gumtree or e-bay to make a few ££££s outta the stuff in my house.

I feel empowered that I am starting to think how I can save money rather than feeling 'to heck with it' Im in debt so another couple of £100 wont make any difference.

I hope your day got better day and you got your pics posted. Watch that money rolling in :T

And again that you for starting this thread...the title caught my eye as that has been my problem in the past.

So to all you folks out there who have been in the same boat. We are not the only ones that were caught in this trap (past tense) :rotfl: