Reeling from the Reality Check

Historybuff

Well, I'm back. Went to France! Had a great week away and ended up spending £215! Eek! Bad HB...I couldn't help myself and I am now in the same financial position as last month almost. Because I spent three weeks money in one week. My fault I know, but I think it was worth the spend to have a good week off. I am, however, going to try to pull back and see if I can spend very little between now and payday on 21st. All bills are paid, I only have to sort food and fuel on the £110, £2 T3sco voucher and £12 B@@ts vouchers I have left. I make that £5.50 a day, not including the vouchers. Today I only spent £2.48 on essential food items and tomorrow I'm planning on doing a carboot, so could well end up adding at least thirty quid to the total. I have enough diesel for next week if I'm careful. My challenge for the next 20 days is to see if I can get us to live off less than £5.50 a day and end the month with some cash left over. If I do I am paying it off the mortgage!
I am going to try to do better in future.

Puzzcat

the_long_and_winding_road wrote: »

Hi there, spent three nights reading your diary from the very beginning and it's quite amazing when reading your words the transformation to your confidence in tackling the situation you've found yourself in. In a mess myself but looking to make head roads come January 2015. I was drawn to your diary because of the similarities in respect to not being able to discuss these debts with my lovely husband. As strange as it sounds it gives me comfort that I'm not alone in this situation. It's easier not to have the stress and upset of 'confessing' and I am of a much stronger mind to deal with it than him. Very much like you I have had many sleepless nights, panic attacks etc over this. All debt run up by trying to give my family a comfortable life. I look forward to your upcoming posts and send positivity in bucket loads your way. I'm relatively new to the forum and don't know how to subscribe to this thread. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thank you x

Hi, click on thread tools and then subscribe!

Puzzcat

Glad you had a good holiday HB, you and I do like our breaks! I booked Rome today..Oops... Good luck with the boot fair tomorrow.
Puzz.x

the_long_and_winding_road

Thank you Puzzcat, you wouldn't believe how much time I spent trying to fathom that out this morning!

Brogden

Historybuff wrote: »

Well, I'm back. Went to France! Had a great week away and ended up spending £290! Eek! Bad HB...I couldn't help myself and I am now in the same financial position as last month almost. Because I spent three weeks money in one week. My fault I know, but I think it was worth the spend to have a good week off. I am, however, going to try to pull back and see if I can spend very little between now and payday on 21st. All bills are paid, I only have to sort food and fuel on the £110, £2 T3sco voucher and £12 B@@ts vouchers I have left. I make that £5.50 a day, not including the vouchers. Today I only spent £2.48 on essential food items and tomorrow I'm planning on doing a carboot, so could well end up adding at least thirty quid to the total. I have enough diesel for next week if I'm careful. My challenge for the next 20 days is to see if I can get us to live off less than £5.50 a day and end the month with some cash left over. If I do I am paying it off the mortgage!
I am going to try to do better in future.

Hmmmmmmnnn........?

Historybuff

I know. I feel bad Brogden, but had to do it. And I spent £215, not £290...I forgot about buying the dog food and diesel earlier, so it's not as bad as it sounds. Two weeks money spent and not three.
LAWR...thanks for reading. I am much more positive than at the start because at lightbulb moment I didn't know how on earth I was going to tackle the debt. Now I have a plan, I'm not stressing out like I was before. And thanks, Puzz. I haven't completely gone off the rails...

in_need_of_direction

I truly believe that if you don't give yourself the odd treat, you will crash spectacularly. I'd love a weekend away but nowt in sight for me til dec and that's to visit OH's parents

Brogden

Historybuff wrote: »

I know. I feel bad Brogden, but had to do it. And I spent £215, not £290...I forgot about buying the dog food and diesel earlier, so it's not as bad as it sounds. Two weeks money spent and not three.
LAWR...thanks for reading. I am much more positive than at the start because at lightbulb moment I didn't know how on earth I was going to tackle the debt. Now I have a plan, I'm not stressing out like I was before. And thanks, Puzz. I haven't completely gone off the rails...

Oh I am sorry HB......what a grumpy male I had bought a couple of cans of lager last night.......and drank 'em! I thought you were taking the mickey out of us for a split second but of course you weren't

So pleased you had a great time and when you mention 'a plan' that is the key and enables us to live again. Simply we know what we are doing.......its confusion and dithering that causes us to feel down.

I was a bit worried too....I would need so much more money to manage it to payday hence my envelope discipline to stop me spending it all too fast....there's four adults here so its gotta be a bit different !!

You have forgiven me haven't you?

Brogden x

Historybuff

You're OK, Brogden. I would have been sceptical about me too. I feel much better having been away, though, and don't think I did at all bad to have a week away on £215. All bills etc are paid for the month and there's only the two of us to worry about. At least I spent the money on me and didn't lend it to anyone!
Weather too wet and windy to do carboot...boo! A definite NSD today. I'm going to split the money I have left into three envelopes. 20 days to go.
Time to get on with selling the big stuff that has been hanging about.

Historybuff

Keeping to plan with the no spending. £106 left to last 18 days. Still eating food from the freezer and cupboard and OH has put diesel in my car. Whoop! Having another good clear out and OH has decided to redecorate the living room. That will keep him busy for a couple of weeks! Best of all, he's paying for it all as well. Also got him going to the supermarket late on in the day before I get home from work to find the reduced food. I think he's turning into a bit of a bargain hunter!