I am such an idiot! When will I learn?

judi24

Right - payday - been through my accounts and paid just over the minimum on the CC's and worked out what I have to spend this month. Given myself a budget of £450 for all spends (needs to include a few bits of school things for youngest, food, pocket money, entertainment etc). This should enable me to pay off around £500 of the Nationwide OD. I have filled my car with fuel and paid all bills and I am quite pleased with having paid off £500 - I didnt think I would be able to this month! I haven't included the final £75 payment to my sons school trip - I have paid £225 and have asked ex to pay the last bit as he has stopped paying all child support - but I may end up having to pay it myself as he is not exactly reliable!


Feel ok with what I have left for the month - I just need to stick to it! The freezer is full but I need to go through it and do some meal plans and a proper shopping list and do a big shop tomorrow in Al*di


Going to go and look for a spending diary app to try to keep track of what i am wasting money on!

Meatloaf1981

Well done, Judi. I assume your Nationwide OD is your highest interest debt? If not, might be worth considering paying down the debt with the highest interest rather than focus on your OD.

Good luck with the spending diary and the meal planning. Feels so much better when you have something like that to focus on, doesn't it?

Meat

judi24

Thanks Meat - I am not sure the nationwide is the highest intrest but is psychologically the one that bugs me most! I know its mad as I know (now) exactly where the debt is however that is the one that is most in my face as its the account I look at most - its also the one account that, upto this summer, has always been in the black!


It does feel goo to be back in control with things even though i have a long road ahead! This month should be relatively cheap once uniforms are bought! as my 21 yesr old is going on holiday for almost 2 weeks - I found a spending diary app so I will see how that goes!

Hermia

judi24 wrote: »

Thanks for your replied. I agree the presents situation needs addressing as it is definately one of the reasons I am in debt!

Remember with a bit of work you can find pressies for free/cheap. My friend is always finding new and nearly new stuff in charity shops and similar (I think her last find was jigsaws still in their shrinkwrap). The last two items I gave on Freecycle were new and both used as gifts (and were well-received!). My mum used to make me a toiletries gift basket using the free item she got as a BOGOF and samples etc.

[Deleted User]

£land sell DVDs and CDs.

You can occasionally find a really good movie on their shelves.

judi24

Thanks Bedsit Bob - I will certainly keep my eyes peeled - I also have Amazon Prime annual subscription (done when I obviously thought I was well off!) so will keep a check on Amazon for good deals.


Today I did a big food shop in Al*i based on a list of things to make up meals from freezer and store cupboard stuff. It was £93 but it included big things like toilet roll, kitchen roll, cleaning products etc I also got pet supplies and went to a little pet shop rather than the big superstore and it was cheaper but they didnt have the rabbit food we use so will have a look online and see if I can get it cheaper in bulk. I also got kids uniform stuffit came to £58 and I still need shoes - I am going to try the outlet tomorrow. Spent £160 in total. But hopefully alot of todays food shop will last most of the month and I will only have to top up with fresh stuff.


But - I have been invited to a friends birthday on the 13th - the girls are going for lunch and cocktails and the place they have picked in not cheap! I also leave my current job at the end of the month so have a leaving do to attend - we did talk about me having it at my house and everyone bringing food and drinks etc but i will still have to buy wine and bits for that!!!


the £290 I have left isn't going to go far I fear!!!

[Deleted User]

If you are going to be left struggling, then I suggest you scrub round the birthday party.

As for the leaving do, surely as the Guest of Honour, you won't be buying many drinks, as people will be buying them for you?

kazwookie

Why has ex stopped paying child maintenance, is he going to start again?

judi24

I am trying to think of an excuse to not go to the birthday - but it is a close friend and hate letting her down (yes I know that is why I am in this position!) the problem is that the place they are going is hugely expensive and I doubt i will get any change from £60 if I go!
As for my leaving do - the problem is I thought it was a good idea to have it at my house initially - but I will still need to provide nibbles and soft drinks and a few bottles of wine as the hostess!!! (and I will need to cleanthe house from top to bottom!)


My ex stopped paying maintenance in March when my son went to live with him (its a long story!) his thinking was why should he pay for anything as one of the 2 kids was with him more than he was with me - my son now lives between his dads and mine - my youngest daughter lives with me all the time - but in my exs head he shouldnt pay as I earn more than him anyway(although he has a partner who works)! Unless my son comes back and lives with me full time again there is no way he will start paying anything!

Hermia

judi24 wrote: »

I am trying to think of an excuse to not go to the birthday - but it is a close friend and hate letting her down (yes I know that is why I am in this position!) the problem is that the place they are going is hugely expensive and I doubt i will get any change from £60 if I go!

Are you able to look at a menu and decide what you want beforehand or is one of those 'split the bill' affairs? When I go out I often just have a main, one drink and then ask for a jug of tap water (haven't had a restaurant refuse water for a long time).