Mrs TooClumsys journey to being on the Debt Free Train!

Dear Diary,

I have a savings diary on MSE, but realised that I write in that less frequently (the irony :rotfl:) than I should. We only do our savings once a month and I ended up writing more about not being able to do things vs anything you know-inspiring!

I am currently paying off my personal debt whilst hubbie is saving-which is why I thought the savings diary would be great as it is our goal to have a fairly fat deposit of £50k in 4 years time (fingers and toes crossed please..!)

Now-I used the snowball calculator for the first time, I kept putting it off thinking it was too much of a hassle. Until I did it-and boy oh boy-I am so glad I did. This debt was hanging over me for a long time-since uni days like poor Eeyore. I have cried about it, despaired about it-and now FINALLY am on a path to kill it for once and for all!

The original plan was for us both to save and I would continue paying a small amount (above the minimum) to the credit cards-until it all made sense after the snowball calculator.

I had 6 credit cards and 1 overdraft :mad:

I have now paid off 2 cards and am on my journey on the Debt Free Road to the land of Financial Bliss. All to be reversed once we buy a house of course-but at least this debt is tackled now and our credit files are in the best shape for a mortgage application. My understanding is that they look at the last 2 years of your credit history?

I will be primarily using this diary to keep myself on track and give myself a right telling off if needed.

Come and have a gander :) we can get there together!
GC Challenge 2018:
Jan £309.44/£290.72
Feb £204.81/£290
March £153.60/£300
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Comments

  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
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    Dear Diary,

    I recently looked on my main account online and saw that a payment of £30 was taken to go on my Halifax Credit Card. This was a fixed payment that I was paying every month-because I got frustrated with getting fined for late/missed payments. This was my fault for not having a direct debit set up as my then financial situation was precarious to say the least!

    I instantly felt more in control as soon as I called and set up the fixed monthly payment of £30-as this was actually chipping away at the balance. Because of this £30, the balance was gone in no time-I actually took it out of my budget this month, only to find that a payment of £30 had gone out!!

    I contacted Halifax and the balance was under £5 so the account was in credit for just over £25. They have processed the refund, so waiting for it to show in my account.

    Part of the security questions was asking me what the credit limit was-to my knowledge it wasn't any more than £600, but I got my statement yesterday and saw that they had upped it and it was now £1000! Why do they do this?? I told them to close the account and he tempted me with a 0% balance transfer, which I refused as I don't know much about them :(

    I also had a look on Noddle yesterday and saw that their credit rating showed me as 1 out of 5??! I got totally freaked out and renewed my credit expert subscription-as when I cancelled this it was finally onto 'Fair' from being 'Very Poor' for a long time! Noddle is saying that I am not on the electoral register and showing a default on an old O2 account for £6 that has been there since 2009-again not showing up on Credit Expert report. Just checked and credit expert is also showing I am not on the register-my father in law has added me, but it is not showing. Will be printing the form and sending it off ASAP.

    I called O2 and have sent them a screenshot of the Noddle report to their creditfile referral email address and will wait to hear back from them.

    3 More credit cards to go before I can knock the OD out!
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Dear Diary,

    I am still in denial about smoking again :( I bought an e-cigarette yesterday and so far so good. I was putting the ciggies amount into my Lunch budget, which was dwindling even quicker because of this.

    I made hubbie and myself lunch last night-couple of jacket potatoes with cheese and beans. We have just moved out of my parents flat (we were flat sitting for a few months) and back with my in laws. We are trying to get used to not having to cook everyday and my MIL is not the best cook so taking leftovers as lunch is pretty much unbearable.

    Have to really get thinking on some tasty veggie recipes that do not use eggs!

    Am going out with my cousin who was recently engaged-it wasn't planned before this month, in fact-only scheduled this week, but it really was something that was past due!

    Also bought weekend tix to the Ideal Home Exhibition, so that will be fun to go to. I will try and beg a brunch/lunch off my ma so we don't have to buy food when we get there.

    Have downloaded the YNAB trial to see if it works for us and worth the £29.99 spend.
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Raar! Just logged onto my internet bank and saw that my HSBC credit card had £6.06 left to pay on it! Is this some weird interest?

    Will there be a tiny amount cropping up on the credit card every month? Despite the fact that I haven't used it??

    Bye bye £6.06. I'm going to miss you :(
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Dear Diary,

    I had a wander over to the DFW Challenges board as I've never had a look there I don't think-think its blimmin amazing how challenges that are years old are being carried out now! Kind of like tapping into history of elders or something-not that they are old, but you know what I mean-Wisdom!

    I was interested by the 1% challenge as I am unable to save money in any other way-apart from paying my debt off as quick as possible. So far I have done 3.8%, with another 3.2% to go this month! I think keeping a personal track of it is less daunting at the moment!

    Have been unable to help myself to keep looking forward and seeing where I will be in the coming few months and kind of feeling like it cant come quickly enough. I have discovered PinTerest- I can look at beautiful furnishings and decor that make me feel happy that I can work towards as the ultimate goal is a somewhat healthy house deposit. Key being that it is a house deposit achieved with no help from the BMD (BMD = Bank of Mum and Dad). Some people think I'm foolish and very few people think it is commendable.

    We are in a somewhat unique situation in that we are not wanting kids, so getting on the property ladder is the biggest decision that we are going to make-and we want to make it on our own terms, instead of it being handed to us on a plate!
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • National_Debtline
    National_Debtline Posts: 7,998
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Organisation Representative
    Hi there!

    Loving the diary so far, looks like you're on the right track.

    Best wishes,

    David.
    We work as money advisers for National Debtline and have specific permission from MSE to post to try to help those in debt. Read more information on National Debtline in MSE's Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help guide. If you find you're struggling with debt and need further help try our online advice tool My Money Steps
  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Dear Diary,

    I went a little bit crazy in Sainsburys yesterday! Hubbie and I are back with inlaws for the next 4.5 years or so whilst we save for our house deposit. I really miss having a kitchen where we can cook what we want (in laws are vegetarian!) so no home made lunches. (Not because of the Vegetarianism, but because she is not a good cook!)

    Sainsburys had the Innocent pots for £2 each-loaded up on Five of them for this week! Tom Yum, Vietnemese, Carribbean Jerk Chilli and two Indian Daals. Packet of crumpets and a flora butter (was the cheapest available from Morissons) 2 packets of Kettle crisps-half price at the mo, cookies from the bakery and I bring bottled water from home everyday.

    Have bought YNAB! You Need A Budget-I will let you know how I get on, so far so good. Hubbie and I did the budget on Sunday, but we did it from the start of March and his numbers dont match up already-but they match what was imported-so clearly something has gone wrong there.

    Am having issues with hubbie as he hasn't been completely honest about things on his statement-I realise this sounds bigger than it is, but I opened his statement and saw lots of transaction and purchase fees throughout the beginning of march and I was like wth. I asked him about it and obviously queried why he had never brought it up before-as we track our spending every month.

    He said it was an offie near his work that he goes at lunch times to buy drinks/snacks and the shopkeeper never said that he is being charged to use his card. I just wanted to throw something at him-he specifically told me to take his cash category out of our monthly budget (pre-YNAB) as he didn't need it-but he blimmin well does! I was honest (maybe too honest) and said that I am at the point where I can't trust his word and I need to see the statements in the future. His account only has 2 DDs coming out of it-yet he always manages to mess up his spending every month. Hmmm, I didn't realise I was so frustrated at him.

    Anyhow-I'm trying to get to grips with the YNAB and will post back on it soon.

    Messaged my friends about meeting in April-as March is all budgeted for! They suggested coming over to their flat as they need help with moving some furniture around, am glad its not going to be an expensive one at least!

    TC
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Dear Diary,

    Have been deep in thought since the last diary entry-I really thought I could shake it off like water off a ducks back. I am well and truly annoyed at hubbies lying with regards to the statement.

    He has recently bought an iphone 5s and bought it at a good deal-he asked me whether we should buy more of them so we can sell on and make a profit. I just looked at him and made a comment on how we can't even get through a month with straightforward accounts-we have certain payment methods that we use for categories and he always uses his card instead of the cash-and then spends the cash on other things instead of putting it into his account.

    Woosa!

    I have already told hubbie that he is being very difficult-he is just that oblivious to the fact that most of his 'ideas' screw things up for the budget.

    We had a serious conversation, where I pointed out all the flaws in everything and his response was of course-one of not understanding and thinking things through. He started reading the study materials on the YNAB site and he said that it finally dawned on him that the budget is a seperate entity to the budget. He also sincerely apologised for not having realised that earlier-when I had tried explaining it to him, but he understood after reading the YNAB info. I have to be honest-it felt like a bit of a betrayal. At the back of my mind-I was glad that he had understood it.

    Anyhoo, the Carribbean Innocent pot is officially my fave, gutted I didnt buy more of them. Have got Japanese Udon (not the Vietnamese one) and another Indian Daal left in the fridge at work.

    Sunny day out today-wore a summer outfit yesterday when it was meant to be hot and today wore trousers when it is meant to be cool :rotfl:

    Ooh! also I paid off £242.82 on my Natwest Credit Card-off I go to update my signature!! :T
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Dear Diary,

    So this weekend has been a tumultuous one-was meant to go the Ideal Home Exhibition on Saturday, but after DH was hung over and a lie in the morning-we promptly gave up instead of rushing to get to the exhibition.

    The Great plan was to go to my mums before leaving for the exhibition so we wouldn't need to eat when we were there. So we mooched at my mums flat for a bit and helping her with the bits (new Sky box etc). We ended up going to KFC for dinner :( £12 something that I will never see again, except on my waistline.

    So Sunday morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed-Hubbie was on the hunt for our pacsafe rucksack so we could collect leaflets/catalogues and have our hands relatively empty. That took ages and of course-I wanted to put on my warpaint ;)

    The budget was only £15.70 (the cost of the tickets) and we had planned the dinner meal at my mums (chicken biryani-wahey!). So we drove the car to the station and jumped on the tube and only to realise 4 stops later that Hubbie had forgotten the tix. D'oh!

    So promptly we got off and off Hubbie went-20 mins later he returned with the tix in hand. Of course in that time, I had already had a sulk with no one around and so was of course-in a money friterring mood and texted him asking him for a sandwich and pastie from good ol' Greggs! I ate that on the train.

    We got to the exhibition and it was really great-although we entered on the floor where it was SHOPPING, but there were loads of skincare, specialist craft type things, clothes-even a Mink coat stand and I thought it was a bit bizarre. I ended up buying a new e-cigarette and ejuice, because the one I have right now is making me cough like hell. That was £39.99.

    Then found a place that does some pain free hair removal-weird but it is basically sanding your skin down and removing the hair with it. Kinda awesome, I bought these for £20 and they threw in a free Ped Egg thingy. (Tried this last night and it did a fairly decent job-sales lady struck lucky, because I hadn't de-fuzzed my natural winter coat yet ;)) Although my arms were uber dry and could do with another coating of cocoa butter.

    So that is already £59.99 and remember-nothing was budgeted for it :( DH put the e-cig on his debit card and the £20 I put on the credit card.

    And then-of course I wanted a subscription to Ideal Home...it was on offer and they also throw in Mary Berrys recipe cookbook which is worth £25-for free. 1 year was £27-so you have kind of already made your money back with the free recipe book-which is a complete heffer btw! I then decided to get a 2 year subscription at that price so spent £54 on this!

    Oh-and completely forgot about the over expensive chips I bought-large chips for £3.50, hubbie got a battered sausage and chips for £6.95 and a can of pepsi for £2 :o (£12.45)

    So exhibition total is:

    £39.99 Debit
    £86.45 Credit Card (to be paid off at the next pay day so no interest on this!)

    Saw some amazing things and definitely do not regret going-I think I was trying to be too strict here and should have allowed some spending money as there truly were some great products here. Totally regretted the £12.45 on food as there were some amazing food stands in the shopping bit, but we ate on the exhibition floor :mad:

    So a spendy weekend-but somewhat worth it as I sit here puffy away with irritated-BUT mostly hair-free arms!

    Happy Monday eh!
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • TooClumsy
    TooClumsy Posts: 126
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Hola!

    Can't believe it has been so long since I last wrote :(

    so...an update is in order for sure.

    We have had a number of spends that were unpredicted (hotel for friends wedding, magazine subscription etc) and I've just read my last post and of course we did not put this money on the credit card straight away :(

    So I'm going to make the last and hopefully final payment on the Natwest credit card, but I was looking everywhere and its probably the most obvious thing. When you want to make an overpayment-do you wait until after you pay the minimum payment, during or after the min payment has left your account?

    With my HSBC card that I paid off, I had like 4 of interest added on even though I cleared the balance-so I think it will be worth me just calling Natwest up and paying on the phone.

    I bought the magazine subscription to give me something to look forward to in terms of saving for a house deposit. Am waiting for the first one to be delivered, I'm going to make a scrapbook of things that I like. Even though I know, buying a house is only the first step-we will have to start saving again so we can decorate! Just gives me something to keep me going...
    GC Challenge 2018:
    Jan £309.44/£290.72
    Feb £204.81/£290
    March £153.60/£300
  • Just read your diary, I like the 1% challenge, it's working for me. It feels good to update my signature when I've paid a bit more off. It looks like you are making progress too :)

    Can I offer some constructive advice here? It must be incredibly frustrating that your husband isn't following the budget and is still frittering money away in the corner shop and not inputting it into YNAB! However, you are still spending on your credit card - this isn't a criticism, I was doing the same thing, paying a big chunk off the credit card each month but then still using it, and wondering why the balance never went down! Now I pay a set regular amount off the CC each month, even though I am impatient to pay off more, I know it's unrealistic to not leave money in my current account for unexpected spends. So I pay slightly less off the credit card each month but I don't use it anymore because I have money left in my current account (and that makes me think twice before I spend it because I'd rather have money left at the end of the month to make a debt overpayment instead!)

    Best of luck :)

    (and yes, the Carribbean Innocent veggie pot is my fave too)
    Total debt March 2014: £11,194. Now £4,198.
    0% CC1: [STRIKE]£2,240[/STRIKE] £0. 0% CC2: [STRIKE]£1,934[/STRIKE] £0.
    0% CC3: £0 0% CC4: £4,198.
    12.9% Loan: [STRIKE]£3,000[/STRIKE] £0
    14.9% HP: [STRIKE]£1,103[/STRIKE] £0
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