Starting over again- Take 2

Shelbi

Okies so rough Budget for April- May:

Income totals £2,285.29
first direct regular saver- 6%-(ffa)300.00
Premium Bonds Savings0.00
Pension Payments 239.86
Mobile Phone dd26.00
Rent/MORTGAGE/house keep325.00
Electricity30.00
Gas10.00
Council Tax65.00
Food Shopping50.00
cinema dd15.90
National Lottery dd18.00
Car Petrol40.00
food bank donation 3.00
debt 1 &2 (CC1 & 2)-155.00
Debt 3-450.25
Purse funds (oyster top up)20.00
TOTAL Total expenses £1,748.01
Expected payment to CC- £537.28

should give you an idea of what im working with...off to watch some superscrimpers..see if I cant find my frugal inner guide...Have a good afternoon MSErs

Shelbi

Happy Saturday folks...My morning has been pretty productive, spoke to mortgage people to see if i have been released yet, no such luck...but its coming. Ordered my experian credit check, quick check to see whats going on & then shut down, works out free as you have a cooling off period, they're really nice too. Turns out credit is hunky dory not excellent but good and that made me happy its gone up 200 points since I last checked. Also turns out I was due a refund £6 for some services I had but didnt use (have to say I have no idea what that was as I dont pay for any services- confused but never turn down free money). Every thing looked dandy just need to get my name off of the joint account I actually forgot about it, once that and mortgage off..Ill be celebrating. Also was nice to see what I owe, gave me determination to pay off these credit cards. Also am hoping to move in the next month or so, will need to be in a stronger position.

What else have I done: experian, mortgage, draft of bank name off account letter (will pop in Monday). Paid funds into bank (& it was open...yay!)...Monthly shop- over budget -£85& brought a kettle and scales- £44..(wasnt in the budget) but was needed, mine was so broke that I have to stand there with my hand on the button to boil it...cant be dealing with that, not at the saucepan boiling stage yet..the one i had was 5years old so i brought the same make (its got serious wear&tear value)..scales i brought because were doing slimming world weigh ins at work and motivating and tracking each other (saves £5 per week) see how we get on....fingers crossed!!..have paid C/tax, rent (this week anyway)..dyed black items black..so new jeans & leggins (tip from another thread). Brought accessories for hen weekend, im sorted for that now clothes wise (god bless primany). Having a day in nothing but more study & film, my boss gave me killer recipe for sw humous, shes cool like that, learn loads from her....so will make that tonight. transferred £200 to C/Crd yesterday (left overs in account before payday). £2 odd there today (virtual pot). Took sis shopping (paid for that out of savings £115- she needed clothes)...made a firm decision that nothing goes on the credit cards from now on. Ill feel it more and will be more aware if I use savings and actual physical cash ... Need to go do food bank donation & sort out food bank donation for work (toiletries)...coin jar started again its small (few pennies but it will grow)- just waiting for transfers and dd's on my account to move then I can shift some more funds to ccrds.
Aim for this month is to have 20 NSD's for May not sure how possible it is but im willing to try, two nights out planned- need to budget for that now too- still want to make an additional £500 payment to card as well as the £600 standard payments I make, so need to regiggle things. will pay this at the end of the month. I think thats everything... please forgive the ramblings x

anita55

Hi Shelbi, no great words of advice but just read through your diary, keep going, sometimes one step forward, one or two back, you sound like your doing ok at the moment and helping the food bank is generous, hope karma plays its part and something comes back to you.

mismatch

Hi shelbi
Reading your diary and empathising. Just starting my journey and diary too and seeing someone at same stage is comforting. Keep up the mse ways and updates

Shelbi

Happy Sunday!! Hi Mismatch & Anita55 :hello::hello: Thank you for your messages of encouragement, I really appreciate it!!

Been having a good old snoop through mse diaries this morning looking at challenges and anything that will help, loads on here which I love! One thing I picked up on again was the 1% challenge, someone mentioned that the overall debt was overwhelming even as 1% payment (I can relate mine at updated total would be £278, which is doable but will span for a longer time) Instead they suggested to just take one debt the first you want to clear and start there building momentum....so this is what im going to do..Pay minimum on others £425.50 & £128 & £28 odd...then make debt payments onto just one card where 1% is £27. Will print off a grid when im in work tomorrow...Thats something I can get into and not so scary.

Little annoyed yesterday as was asked by someone I care for to borrow him £25 he owed to someone else I care for..as i know the latter is struggling a bit I did, when talking to them they told me they received £20 of it...I will not be loaning money to that person again not so much that i wont get it back (I probably will) but I really dont like being lied to, its not the money its not being respected enough with the truth... Anyway today is a good day, think ill ask for £30 back (extra £5 penalty charge for lies)

Need to check 0% end dates on cards ensure I dont go over them Im sure its July cc1 and December cc2- though cc2 has a few deadlines through balance transfers need to check how much ends when....so not to get caught out...a plan is needed... I no longer like surprises..not of that nature anyways...


Sunday to do list: Drop sis Dancing, fix my bike, if not fly to halfords (cant wait around for the neighbour, ill fix it myself)....god bless you tube!! check 0% end dates, make lunch for tomorrow, study like a demon, cook healthily, exercise...a bikini body is needed in 3months :eek: ....have a wonderful Sunday everyone x

Shelbi

Happy Tuesday...

So today started off quite good, lunches made, cycled in..all is going to plan with one exception...brought concert tickets for sis, made her year, shes totally in love with them so for me thats worth everything..unexpected £125 though..This was paid for with savings.

Had a look at the 0% end dates so heres how it stands cc1 due to end July..CC2 is in stages- £1417.50 due 1 sep14, £1272.87 due 1 Nov 14 and £3042.67 due 10th December 14_pale_ ...Dont really need to be a genius to work out Im going to need to sort this asap, cant move cc1 to cc2 as its no longer 0% offer its now 6.9% till that balance is paid...no thanks. Could try get another 0% card but i think ill leave that as a last resort. Nope im going to try takle this all without applying for more credit...and not shift it...tbh I dont want to pay any more fees not even balance transfer ones if i can help it.

So POA today emptied my premium bond saving pot -£400 not with me yet as too close to draw day but once it arrives will put that on cc1..thatll be 14% payment there. Also made calls for iou recovery, not urgent and I know my money is safe- total owed £525..between different family members so that will be nice when it comes back...I have no idea exactly how it will work out but I know it will...things always do...just gotta stay the course and not spend anything else...bit by bit I will get there!

Feeling focused and determined to sort my life out.:j

Shelbi

Happy Friday Folks..

In a kick debts a$$ kinda mood, New month, new start! After reading NSK May challenge and other diaries ive been motivated to make a debt payment at the beginning of the month £702 (26% of cc1) instead of the end, I was hoping to make a payment of £500 but nope lets get it out of the way a little higher so ill be forced to underspend on some things. No additional spends allowed & if i want more ill have to earn some money..no more dipping intosavings or call in an IOU...Either way main thing is to tackle this head on. Trying for 20 NSD's....combineed with the £128.99 cc2 min payment thats a may debt payment £830.99...Still waiting on the £400 which is nice just incase i run into trouble, im sure I wont...long way to go but a step in the right direction.....have a fab frugal Friday evening everyone x

Shelbi

So didnt quite manage to keep the purse strings completely tight, bike peddle loose needed a new crank arm, man fixed it at the bike shop £20 and sis needed a new piano book £8. On plus side received £30 iou 1...and £110 from someone else...also they said theyd give me £36 next week that ill be honest I forgot about. also found £1.01 which was a pleasant surprise. Will pop to bank tomorrow and cash int the funds. Friday night and whilst im not spending money i am bored and lonely....wheres my damn cat when I need her lol! Still no time for moping i can change the dating situ once ive sorted my life out, no point bringing anyone else into this madness. Have received new exercise dvd and made a pact with my friend to get trim (May as well do some prep for when im sorted and ready to get back out there :rotfl:) so its exercise everyday for 30 days, though I actually have 3 months to get bikini fit...But better to get a handle on it now...not stopping till I see some abs (at least the line)...theyre there just under a bit of padding...Slimming world going well, weighed in @ work...gotta stone to lose according to my bmi. To be honest i like my shape would really like a flat tum to go with it...time to work! Boss gave me a SW take out book (shes too good to me..bless her) so instead of takeaways ill be cooking fakeaways and keeping trim!....well early night...got shredding to do in the morning aka cost effective activies:rotfl:...night all x

Shelbi

Good morning MSE's

Quick check in-So I didnt quite get up at 5am was more like 7.30, did manage my first workout was fun (when it was over)...& so the change begins, also went to bank that £140 before it burnt a hole in my pocket. Have just transferred it to cc1 which is another 5.18% round that to 5%...woohoo getting there. 0% on ebay so will look for bits to sell later. Today will be a no spend day, Ill be staying home to study& save...

Phones going off, will check in with the girls later to hear what they got up to, looks as though ill be living vicariously through them this weekend lol!!...

Beautiful weather I hope everyone has a wonderful Bank holiday weekend x

Shelbi

Almost forgot payment to D3 made £450.25....takes may debt payment to £1421.24 :eek: :j not bad now all I have to do is make it through the month. Oh and received some vouchers from my NW credit card your points £25 boots & £60 Argos vouchers. Will use Boots to by my 2 besties birthday gifts....Argos vouchers will be held for home bits when I move or something like that...very happy with this...Todays a good day....right back to work....Good day to you all x