misstara's debt diary 2014

misstara

Between yesterday and today I have read quite a few different diaries and definitely feel more motivated than I was last weekend. I am in total awe of the way some people deal with their debt.

I realise that I'm lucky - my debt isn't that huge compared to some and I earn enough to cover all bills and debt repayments on my own. It can be a bit of a struggle and I'm quite often insanely tired but I get there. Once OH is back in full-time work, the debt should go down much more quickly.

Me and OH decided to have chinese tonight but cooked ourselves instead of ordering a takeway :A chicken fried rice, duck spring rolls and prawn crackers all for £6.30 (already had some of the ingredients). I also spent £3.69 on some freshener stuff for the washing machine.

I have made a wee list of things that I want to get done on my days off, however, will wait until tomorrow to post it to see if I can think of anything else. Night all.

misstara

Minimal spends for today, just £2.35 for milk and a paper on the way home from work. I'm hoping for minimal food spends this week and making the food we've got in the flat last until payday again on Friday.

I've made a wee list of things I want to do on my days off.
- clear out all the junk behind the sofa
- tidy up my desk (currently in use as a dumping ground for all my makeup/jewellery etc)
- go to the gym each day (have booked some classes to motivate me to go, have been very lax recently)
- go to the library and get some books (including recipe books to get some new inspiration for meals)
- have a look for a dress to wear to my brother's wedding
Other than that, I'm going to relax as much as possible, meet up with a few friends and spend time with OH

misstara

Today I went to the gym, went to the library to get books and also tidied out my desk. It took me almost 2 hours to tidy it out :eek: and I now have a bin bag worth of stuff to chuck out. I ran out of steam once I'd done that so planning to tackle behind the sofa tomorrow and possibly look for dresses then too. Pleased that I've made a good start on the list.

I spent £8.95 on shampoo, mouthwash and facewipes today. I also spent £7.86 on fruit and washing powder. I will probably have to buy bread and milk before Friday but shouldn't need anything else.

Am waiting for the interest to be added on to cc1 and the loan, hopefully it will be tomorrow. I'm so impatient, I want to update my signature

misstara

The interest has been added on today so I have updated my signature - now at 18% I only have £79.76 to pay off to reach my first mini target by the end of the month and I always pay at least £75 to the credit cards on my monthly payday so really just £4.76 to find. Think I'll manage that!

I would like to be under £7000 by the end of the year and as long as I clear £250 off the balance each month I should manage this. My aim for cc1 is under £400 by the end of the year and I'm basically just forgetting about cc2 at the moment as it's interest free for another year.

If I do manage to meet my end of year targets, then I will have paid off almost £3500 in a year. Last year my debt reduced by £350 which is what prompted my LBM and joining this forum. That was possibly one of the best moves I have ever made

giblet1979

That's fantastic progress misstara - what an achievement! x

misstara

giblet1979 wrote: »

That's fantastic progress misstara - what an achievement! x

Thanks Gib, I feel as though I'm properly getting somewhere with the debt. I just need to keep up my motivation

I went to the gym again this morning, however, that's the only thing on my list that I achieved. I was planning to clean behind the sofa but never quite got round to it. OH said he would give me a hand tomorrow though.

Today I spent £3.94 on juice, sugar, milk and bread. I also spent £5.80 on coffee and cake with a friend. The budget seems to have gone slightly out the window this week, must try harder next week!

StrugglingYouth

Great news on the amounts of progress already made. The targets are achievable! You have already proved you can do it. Well done! Getting ever closer to that debt-free handbag!

misstara

StrugglingYouth wrote: »

Great news on the amounts of progress already made. The targets are achievable! You have already proved you can do it. Well done! Getting ever closer to that debt-free handbag!

Thanks, I'm feeling really motivated at the moment (especially compared to last week). I had a really good chat yesterday with my friend and was telling her about my debt and the progress I've made. It was the first time that I've ever confessed the full amount to anyone in RL other than OH. While the support on this forum is invaluable, it was nice to speak to someone in RL about it I think also just saying it out loud made me realise I have achieved a lot since my first post in January.

misstara

The contact lens direct debit went out today and I made a £3.19 payment to cc1 - no other spends to report today :T

I have been to the gym again today (quite getting into it, it's just hard keeping it going when I'm working all the time) and OH helped me clean behind the sofa. We also did a general clean of the flat so it's all looking good.

I haven't been to the shops yet to look for a dress but have done a little online research and plan to go tomorrow to try a few on. Once I do that and go to the gym tomorrow, I will have achieved everything on my wee list so really pleased

I received my payslip for 2nd job today and will get £170.11 :j (my extra shifts last week seem worth it now!). I'll make a budget tomorrow but definitely allocating some money to buy new trainers for work.

misstara

I went to the gym today and went shopping for dresses. I tried a few on but there was nothing that I really liked. There's still plenty of time so I'll keep looking.

Spends for today were £12 on lunch out with my friend and £8.99 on a new mascara (very much needed). Have had quite a few unbudgeted spends this week so really need to rein it in.

Budget for next week - £170.11
- £20 for trainers (again very much needed)
- £16.18 for my phone bill
- £16.99 for gym membership
- £15 for bus fare (working late a few nights and OH has another hospital appointment)
- £45 to wedding/electricity fund
- £5.11 payment to cc1
Leaving £50ish for food and anything else that crops up.

Right better go and get organised for tomorrow as I'm straight back into work with a double shift.