Young, free and simply stupid; MrCF takes control!

Eyebright

Hi MrCF,


Seems like you've been on a bit of a rollercoaster since I was last on the forum! Glad you are feeling better in yourself though, and you are doing amazing at whittling away Loan 2.


Keep up the good work dude, I will keep popping in now that I'm back on the forum, though who knows how long for :rotfl:

MrCrimeFiction

Hi Eyebright.

Welcome back to the forum. As always, thanks for the kind words. I hope you've been doing well too and that MSE helps you again.

I couldn't go without MSE, I think I would fall off the wagon :rotfl:

It helps me focus and I actually think to myself now what will MSE think of this purchase.

On the bright side, that's £770.00 transferred across to the joint account for June's bills. We have a few birthdays and gatherings so I expect it to be an expensive month.

I planted some pots for the garden this morning, feel right domesticated

I'm also back into my crime fiction reading, gosh I forgot how good books were

MrCF

[Deleted User]

I'm with you on two points, MrCF. Couldn't go without MSE or reading:j

MrCrimeFiction

Not having the best of months financially, but time is flying by as I'm really busy at work in my new role. Actually enjoying it a little too :rotfl:

Had an expensive night out on Saturday. Out of nowhere went out and got hammered and it cost me £100. Oh the youth in me. This is why my title includes the words young and stupid. Although I enjoyed the night out, the £100 could have paid a bit more off loan 2 but ach well it's done.

I have another expensive weekend coming up but that was planned.

No reading this week as its work home and bed I'm just knackered.

I got some advice about the pension. Will discuss next time I'm on but it's positive for me :cool:

Flying visit, bye

MrCF

MrCrimeFiction

Right, gosh it feels I've abandoned MSE for ages. It's been a busy week..

I had my weekend away which I think cost me about £70 in total which isn't the worst in the world. That should be the last of the expensive social outings I have this month.

The current account isn't looking too healthy, but hopefully I shouldn't need to buy anything for the rest of the month.

As much as many people have had different views on those, I pulled out of my work pension this weekend. It's only temporally and I can rejoin next week or next year again, whenever I feel ready.

It should boost my wages by about £200 a month after taking away the NI and tax deductions. This will now enable me to pay off loan 2 very quickly and save up to pay off the car loan. I'm just sick of owing so much money and as much as I'm doing it wrong in turn of investing in my future, I think this way is right for me. I might never see 55 or 60 and its blooming ages away. I want my immediate future to be enjoyable and live a nice life, not worrying about my loans everyday.

I discussed it with work for a while and I can actually make up the missed years by working extra years after I retire, I.e staying on a few years to boost the pension back up to where it should be. I might not be allowed to do that in 30 odd years time but by then il be rich anyway as il be debt free and doing well with my money :rotfl:

I know about the implications that my pension will be affected but it's a gamble I'm willing to take to help my situation and I'm lucky enough to have parental investments waiting for me when there gone if all else fails.

Loan 1 is now under the £9k mark. Car loan came out and I'm waiting for loan 2 to come out and possibly overpay it by a little more to get it closer to £0.

Back to MSE ways, been an expensive but enjoyable few weeks..

MrCF

MrCrimeFiction

Well I thought this months spending couldn't get any worse. Friday is mine and the OH's anniversary. I nearly forgot...

Anyway, I purchases a lovely bangle for her. I seriously hope she likes it. On the major downside, it cost me £85. £85 that I certainly didn't have. The only good side is that I managed to get a TCB payout of about £65, so really that has paid for most of it. I requested the payout the other day so hopefully it will be in my bank in the next few days, although I heard on the news that RBS are having problems with transfers - oh joys.

Not even taking the debit card out with me these days. This next 2 weeks are going to be frugal to the max. Hopefully this months wage without the pension contributions should be a decent size more than normal, however I wont see much of it as its going straight to Loan 2. Well most of it, I have had to dip into my xmas pot a little this month so I need to put back what I borrowed from there.

The reading has stopped again, just not enough time with work being busy. Could really do with a holiday :rotfl:

I must get out in the garden and cut the grass, its like the lost world out there

MrCF

MrCrimeFiction

Well I did post last night but I couldn't have done it right. Must have been tired :rotfl:

The last few days have been ok, long days at work but I've not spent anything which is exactly what I needed. Loan 2 came out at the beginning of the week so that's everything paid for the month. I'm not left with that much for the rest of the month but it's pay day on Friday.

Got up early today and cleaned the whole house before some family visited. Now it's time for reading and relaxing.

That's loan 2 just slightly under £750.00 and my total debt just above £13k. Hoping to get this down to way below £10k by the end of the year.

Managed to exchange some clubcard vouchers for some restaurant vouchers, absolutely delighted

MrCF

MrCrimeFiction

ITS PAYDAY :j:j:j

My wage was obviously alot higher due to not paying pension contributions. It was £1913.39, however that was with a little overtime. I also had about £90.00 left in the account before payday so my account stood at over £2,000

Instead of keeping any money in my account and there being any possible chance of me being stupid again, I did the following transfers:

£750.00 to the joint account for July
£250.00 cash withdraw
£57.55 over-payment to loan 2

The cash went into my Xmas pot to build it back up after I borrowed money from the pot last month. I'm still £50.00 of where I was so I plan on putting in more maybe next week, depending on expenses.

Haven't spend anything this week other than £10 at work for our various bits and bobs. This weekend should also be pretty cheap as i'm staying in to catch up on housework and do some work stuff...:(

Got some ciders chilling in the fridge for later and a mega packet of crisps. If i'm staying in I may as well enjoy it :rotfl:

Going on a diet as of Monday as I've been putting on a bit of beef lately. I've been ignoring the cycling and the gym, so doing both of those with a better diet should see me be and feel better.

Signature updated to show new totals. Nearly paid a £1,000 in debt since last 5 weeks. WOW. Loan 2 also under £700. I am feeling good

MrCrimeFiction

Well it's not been a good week... a bit depressing really.

I was doing OK, but I've now realised how much of a gambling habit I actually have. On Sunday, I gambled away £510 on sport. I was up loads at one point but just like always it only ever goes to waste.

I felt pretty depressed for the whole day. I didn't even leave enough money in my current account to pay for all the bills, how irresponsible is that . I has to pay in the cash I withdrew only days earlier. This was cash for my holiday and Xmas, which I've had to substitute for my terrible habit.

Away, it goes on. In the heat of the moment, thinking I had no option as I needed cash, I applied for a loan on zopa. It was for £1000 over a year at a decent rate. In the heat of the moment I submitted my request. This was approved on Monday and the money arrived in my account today.

Also in the heat of the moment, I applied for a credit card. God even writing this I sound like a idoit. I thought it would help with available cash, which is probably what I didn't need to be honest.

Anyway, I got accepted for a capital 1 card with 3 months interest free spending and a £1000 limit. It's not arrived yet so I might send it back when it gets here. It would just be another thing for me to spend money on. I might keep it and use it for shopping, but il need to see what position I'm in financially first.

And daft mistake number 3! I upgraded my phone contract. My old phone was broken and would hardly work so I upgraded to a new large smartphone so I can get proper unlimited access to MSE.
It's an extra £20 a month, but If it stops me from gambling then it's money well spent. Some people will be thinking what's stopping me gambling on here... no way.. this is a fresh start. July is the second half of the year which I'm going to so things properly and sort out this problem.

I've signed up to GA - Gamblers Anonymous to get support and post on my thread there on a daily basis. The same goes on here, I will now be posting daily if I can. The more I'm on here the less chance I have of doing anything stupid.

Yes there is a significant amount of money in my account, however there will no more mistakes or betting. This Is it. In 3 months I have wasted nearly £1500. It's completely unacceptable. I couldn't tell OH as she had medical issues at the moment and doesn't need the stress.

I will most likely be paying off loan 2 with the money from loan 3, so in reality it's not the worst. I've basically put my total debt up by £1000 for no reason.

I have a safe in the cupboard. All my debit cards have now been locked a way in there and I've hidden the key up my loft lol. We have no ladders so it's a 2 man job to get up. The means I can't get access to the safe unless OH is there and I wouldn't do it. I don't do it anyway.

Going to sit down this weekend and sort out overpayment to the loans via standing order. This way I will use the extra money from my non pension contributions effectively and not wasting the money.

So many things to think about, so many plans. The main thing is that I don't gamble. I will not.

Please be as nasty as possibly so I will realise I'm an idiot. What else could I have gotten for the £510 I wasted away?

MrCF

DreamerHelen

Hi Mr CF....I don't think I've Posted before on your Diary...but I HAVE been reading...and admiring you....


I'm afraid I cannot honour your request to be "as nasty as possible" as that's not in my nature...and believe me, we have ALL done VERY stupid things....I count myself at the very top of that list!!


All you can do is move forwards from right here and right now....You have made steps to prevent you from Gambling again...I'm afraid I know virtually nothing about Online Gambling....but I've heard people here talk about getting someone to change the Passwords for you so you can't get into your Accounts or putting yourself on the List so that you are allowed to Gamble or something like that (I'm sure other's will be along that are more knowledgeable on the Subject)...


I have my own Addiction which is food....I have gotten to the point (actually I got there quite a while ago but ignored it) where if I don't do something then I'm going to either die or at the very least have serious complications....and I KNOW I need to lose Weight in the same way that you KNOW you need to stop Gambling....


What I have done is to literally write up a List of all the reasons that I NEED and WANT to lose Weight...you can do the same for your Gambling....you said in your Post that you could have done so much with that money, think of your wildest dreams that cost money and even those that don't....I'll get you started (you can obviously ignore or add your own):


1) If I stop Gambling I can go on a lovely big Holiday to *Insert Dream Destination Here* (It would be Florida for me!!)


2) If I stop Gambling I can be Debt Free


3) If I stop Gambling I can feel proud of myself for being strong and able to resist the temptation and be proud for overcoming an addiction


4) If I stop Gambling I can treat my lovely wonderful OH to something that she really would love or a romantic meal in Paris......*Insert Your Ideal Date with OH*....


5) If I stop Gambling then I can buy *Insert Favourite Hobby or Gadget Here*


So those would be some of mine....What else can you add to your list? And then stick it wherever you are - Wherever you use your Computer, in your Bedroom, you could even have a little version in your Wallet or Pocket so that if you are ever tempted while you are out you can grab onto that piece of paper and remind yourself what you are fighting for....


Also, you only got the £1000 Loan this Week, most Loans have a cooling-off Period, can you not contact the Loan Company and say you've changed your mind and you don't want the money? Even if they charge you a few days interest it's better than having another £1000 on your Debt Total....


And I agree, do send back the Credit Card.....I know what it's like to think "Oh I will just use it for Emergencies" and then before you know it you're maxed out and desperately trying to pay it back - I'm there hun....believe me!!


I hope that helps a little (sorry for the epic Post!!)....But most of all, please please forgive yourself.....As long as you move on then that is the main thing....you have NOT got to the point where it is disastrous and hopefully you never will...All the best xXx