Debt free before I'm 40 snowball calculator says yes

buddiebabe

Ok well I woke up this morning hoping yesterday was a bad dream but unfortunately not well nothing can be done about it now so onwards and upwards.... They do say you need to reach rock bottom before you can start to rebuild.

I have manage to borrow some money out of the money we put away every week for gas, car ins etc so this will need to be paid into the bank in the morning so that the mortgage can get paid.

I have reworked my debts so now have the following outstanding:

RBS MC1 4890
Barclaycard 12170
Tesco 265.31

Credit cards £17325.31

Car Ins 350
Gas 25
Sister loan 190.21

Others 565.21

Total outstanding £17890.52 and new debt free date October 2017 so I've not done as much damage as I could have but I have left myself rather short with no cushion

I have just went into kitchen and written a shopping list and planned meals for rest of the week so it's a minimal list thankfully.

I have worked out my budget for next month and I'm left with £186.54 for 4 weeks to cover food shopping and petrol which works out at £23 per week for each... Will just need to manage and tighten out belts on food until sisters loan, gas and car ins paid back (aiming to pay £200 to this to bring this down)

Am just going to head out have a dress I bought to return and will return some shoes tomorrow which will put £31 back into Tesco credit card bringing this down a bit.... Normally intend to do these things but forget so determined not to waste money especially now.... Must get focused

Today I have not and will not gamble I know it's still early but got to keep thinking positively.

I understand some people may be judgemental but I have made a mistake and I'm the one that's paying for it and I always pay every penny back so I may have let you down but more importantly I have let myself down.

Buddiebabe x

in_need_of_direction

As my friend's mum says, the only mistake you make is the one you don't learn from. You'll be fine. Take care and don't beat yourself up.

Igamogam

Dont beat yourself up but do get some help....................how did you stop before? Can you back to this? if you havent had formal help in the past maybe now is the time to consider it and not just rely on will power.Difficult to read I know but I will say it anyway - you will never reach your goals if you cant break the cycle............

buddiebabe

Thanks I know there is no point going on and on about it what's done is done.

I went cold turkey Igamogam which does work but am going to speak to someone tomorrow so am hoping this May help.

I've been doing a lot of thinking today and I really need to get back on track I've got away from the money saving ways because I've had a wee bit extra cash coming in. I am going to set myself a very tight budget so that there is not much leway for any spare cash to be frittered away.

I have returned the dress so that is one thing out out of the house and was enough money to get this weeks shopping and leaves £2.00 odds to go back into my Tesco credit card.

I have also given my mum a beef joint and some stewing steak that was in the freezer that had to be used by the end of July. Before my gambling I would have just wasted these things as I wouldn't have checked the big freezer before shopping. I also have rump steaks defrosting for Monday and Tuesday nights dinner and a beef roasting joint for Wednesday. Must remember to leave the mince out for Sunday nights dinner. This week we will be eating like kings as the majority of good things go out of date before end of July.

Reality of what I did hit home when I went into tk maxx I have been wanting a new handbag since before Xmas and I had been given money and also some for my birthday and have been keeping it until I found one that I wanted. Well today I walked in and spotted it straight away £29.99 and until yesterday I would have bought it but I couldn't justify it as more important bills to pay.

Everything happens for a reason so while it's been an expensive weekend it may have made me focus on what is important so if it makes this happen then it's been money well wasted

Buddiebabe x

dawnybabes

You can't change everything overnight, you've made a mistake and are now straight back on it.

Do things have a sell by date I the freezer ? Tbh it looks ok I'd have used it or cooked it and refrozeit.

buddiebabe

Dawnybabes yes most things have a sell by date. The meat I had in the freezer I got in a frozen food hamper not Xmas there but the one before. I'm just hoping that it defrosts ok not sure it looks ok at the moment but it will be fine.

I'm just going through my expenses again and I pay out £10.85 per month for my simply health policy but this year I've only claimed £75 and last year £30 and hardly ever claim for glasses on it. So I'm going to save myself a full 85p and cancel it and put away the £10 a month so that when I go to the dentist I have the money there and will have money for a new set of glasses when I need them... Usually every 4 - 5 years as my prescription hasn't changed since I got them.

I also bought a jacket out of primary but went to put it on the other night and the hood is massive when you zip it up the hood covers your full face so not much use if you can't see!!! Just need to find the receipt so I can take this back too.

Buddiebabe x

in_need_of_direction

Well done for starting over again so quickly. I'd probably wallow for a week or so.

buddiebabe

Can't wallow or would just start gambling .... Got to keep busy! Oh bullguard automatically renewed my subscription for £49.95 without telling me so I sent them an email and they said they would refund if I sent the details.... Off to do that now can get it for £25 so that should be another£25 available to put towards something else. Just need to not use laptop until I have money back to get cheaper version.

Igamogam

There are lots of free anti virus software out there.............dont think we have ever paid for it and because we have children we have quite tight controls on our PC etc. Infact I am quite sure we have NEVER paid for it as the OH believes it should be free and he wouldnt fork out for it...........

buddiebabe

I have used a few free ones in the past and have had numerous viruses and problems with my PC. I like bullguard and have never had any issues and don't mind spending £25 for the year I just object to them automatically renewing things I never signed up for! I think I will stick with them for now as it's linked to all our devices.

I'm sitting here trying to work out when I can afford to give up one of my jobs. I work full time and have two part time jobs and also a small business but I'm struggling to find any enjoyment from any of them at the moment. I need the full time one and sometimes enjoy the business so they can stay. One of the part time jobs is an hour a week and brings in around £5 an hour after tax. I actually enjoy that one so think I would keep that one going. The other is 7.5 hours a week (I reduced my contract as I was working silly hours...contract was 12 hours but working nearly 20 a week but new boss doesn't like to stick to my 7.5 and some weeks has me up at 16) then I get stressed and moan and grumpy so think that one needs to go. I get paid £39 for my 7.5 hours so works out approx £170 a month that I'd lose and while I can see when it's all written down on paper that I can manage I'd just need to be extra careful with food and petrol it won't leave much room for treats and breathing space. I've been doing the 2 jobs now for 12 years and I'm getting tired. I know in my heart that I no longer want to do that job I'm just so scared of change I don't know if I can actually pluck up the courage to leave.

Ideally I think I would want my last shift to be on the 11th September which would mean I would only have 7 weeks left to work there... It would also guarantee me the time to concentrate on my business if I decide to keep that going.

I think I would just like to be able to spend some time with my husband and get my house in order. While getting the house in order I would be able to clean, declutter and cook from scratch without having to come home get changed and go straight back out. I'd probably feel lost for a while but I think I could get used to getting home and having dinner at 6 instead of 9 or 10 at night and it would probably spur on some weight loss eating at a reasonable hour.

Lots and lots to think about.... Off for a shower and try and clear my head too many things going through my mind at the moment

Buddiebabe x