Glyn's down under debt debacle

GlynG

I've always been chronically disorganised and terrible with money (spending what I earn or over what I earn) but I've been working full-time for the last 5 months in order to pay off my credit card debt, yet somehow I'm slightly more in debt than when I started, with next to nothing really to show for it

I'm a bit depressed and my memory is truly AWFUL (probably works a third as well as the average person's memory or worse and I'm not exaggerating) but I'm going to try to track exactly what I spent and update my situation here periodically as I go. Hopefully I'll keep it up and doing this will motivate me to keep it and sort the debt out (and then save for the list of very many things I want to buy).

I'm from Wales, though in New Zealand on a working holiday at the moment. I guess I'm posting to try to get in better habits and for moral support, so the currency/location shouldn't matter much.

Current UK credit card debt: -£1,300

Fixed weekly expenses / those I definitely want to keep:
Rent (including bills): $140
PAYG Mobile phone: $6 (roughly)
Vegetable bag of local, organic vegetables $30
2l raw local organic milk $6
Total: $182

Rough after-tax average weekly pay (working 35-50 hours as a painter): $600sh

I bicycle everywhere (never learnt to drive) so have minimal transport costs (occasional bicycle maintenance). I have no dependants and my immediate family are dead so no costs or help there. I eat a vegetarian diet and try (with varying success) to eat healthily. I don't smoke but spend maybe $15 a week on average on alcohol.

Considering I have a bit over $400 a week leftover for other food and living you'd think I should have a good amount left to pay down my debt, yet somehow I haven't paid any of it off yet and seem to spend all what I earn. This. Has. To. Change...

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary.
Keep posting.

GlynG

Probably about time for an update. I've done less well than I hoped but better than I have been.

I set myself a goal of spending $10 a day of discretionary spending, but over the last 10 days have spent a total of $177.36. Not good. I'm going to try and spend less over the coming days and get the average down below.

It's been good to track what I spend though, breakdown is $48 extra food/drink, $27 buying eqipment I need for work, $39 on mouthwash, brushes ect (had a gum infection due to a pesky wisdom tooth) and $58 on model wargaming accessories/supplies/tools.

My next pay is likely to be a bit low as I've worked less hours than normal recently, but I should manage to pay some off the credit card this month.