Escaping the grind...in search of a life less ordinary

MissShoes

Credit score is 594 poor- sigh!

And debt total is higher than I thought...

Need to be completely honest here......

Including overdraft and loan for home improvement.....

£23921

£18331 of which is home improvement loan and is my focus to clear only once all the other debt is gone.

Priorities:
Pay friend £750
Pay bill of £675 (due mid Jan)
Pay off short term expensive loan of £800
Pay friend £360

I have £900 income from second job coming in first week of Jan which will help- plus once my direct debits are out for this month I should have around £250 to give to friend.

I think the bill of £675 has to go on a card as paying my friend is more urgent.

At least no more being an ostrich about things. :T

MissShoes

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2850
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2850

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 762
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 339
Management charge (leasehold property).. 16.16
Council tax............................. 79
Electricity............................. 30
Gas.....................................30
Water rates............................. 36.81
Mobile phone............................ 57.98
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 36.9
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 50
Petrol/diesel........................... 40
Road tax................................ 2
Car Insurance........................... 48.92
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 30
Other travel............................ 20
Buildings and contents insurance..................... 23.32
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 200
Holiday................................. 50
Emergency fund.......................... 25
Happy cash.............................. 150
Creditexpert............................ 14.99
Bank account fee........................ 14.99
Total monthly expenses.................. 2322.19


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 275000
Shares and bonds........................ 150
Car(s).................................. 3000
Other assets............................ 1000
Total Assets............................ 279150


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 144396...(762)......0
Secured Debt.................. 18670....(339)......0
Total secured & HP debts...... 163066....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
A CC1..........................950.......40........0
C CC2..........................950.......40........0
L CC3..........................450.......25........0
Short term loan ...............800.......250.......0
Overdraft......................2000......25........0
Store Card.....................0.........0.........0
Catalogue......................1269......65........0
V CC4..........................450.......25........0
Total unsecured debts..........6869......470.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,850
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,309.19
Available for debt repayments........... 527.81
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 470
Amount left after debt repayments....... 57.81

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 279,150
Total HP & Secured debt................. -163,066
Total Unsecured debt.................... -6,869
Net Assets.............................. 109,215

MissShoes

Notes about my SOA

TV- 36.90- includes landline and internet
Council tax- paid over 10 months and includes spd
Interest rates on cards- will add this info later
Happy cash- planning on having £5 a day for miscellaneous spends....will help as part of fiscal fasting so aim not to spend and then pay it off a debt. I like the idea of this as the better I am the bigger the overpayment, plus I can't beat myself up for small spends and they won't eat into grocery budget. Could also save up leftover happy cash towards something or add entertainment in as well so a weekly amount that covers both? Haven't decided. All thoughts welcome.

Second income- this is variable so I haven't included this. Currently it goes on travelling and meeting unexpected expenses such as broken down boiler/replacing boiler/car dying/etc. It's how I will cover other upcoming bills in January and costs for a trip I'm taking with friends end of Feb/beginning of March.

Bills/debts not included
£750 friend
£800 short term loan

There are lots of cutbacks I can make- but key to this balance for me is also maximising earning potential to tackle the cards. £450 a month would clear 2 cards in 2 months with lowest balances.

MissShoes

Well that's Xmas over and done with. Hoping all DFWers had an awesome and frugal or budgeted time!

Had a really chilled few days. Managed to get in some gentle exercise of walking and swimming which has helped clear my mind as much as it has help towards my healthier lifestyle goals. Had an hour with a beauty treatment too, where I just shut my eyes and had quiet time to relax and recharge. All in all, a great festive season!

So, money saving. Well, nothing major to report. All budgeted spends accounted for- no sales splurging or expensive drinks, just lovely time with friends and chats with bf.

Card balances are as follows:

A CC1 £950
C CC2 £950
L CC3 £450
V CC4 £450

Ignoring other debts for now as want to focus on cards, but next week I will clear:
Friend 1 £750

Then next focus is friend 2 £360 and short term loan which is hovering around £700 mark. I want to chip away at those pesky cards though simultaneously. Will update wins and losses for past few days in next post.

MissShoes

Wins
1) eating lots of fruit and veg over the festive season
2) up to date with vitamins and supplements
3) feeling completely de-stressed from work and recharged
4) feeling comfortable with my budget for Jan 25th onwards (now just need to survive until then)
5) lovely talks with bf- feeling very loved up
6) flat spotless and ready for the new year
7) all chores up to date
8) feeling ready for new healthy eating lifestyle to start 5th jan
9) lots of time reading dfw diaries over Xmas
10) great time spent with close friends and family

Losses
1) direct debits delayed over Xmas- hate not just having exactly what is leftover in my bank so I know exactly what I'm playing with
2) feeling like I'm not making any progress with debt busting as waiting on money to come in
3) need to find a way to get a daily high- as one big payday a month makes dfw feel like a monthly rather than daily choice- really hope new happy cash system will work towards this
4) cupboards are running low so a big and expensive shop due in jan

MissShoes

Wins

1) forgetting about £50 vouchers I had stashed away
2) thinking of a great idea for bf birthday- he will love it but it needs planning and I need to earn extra pennies for it
3) had a few LSD in a row
4) continuing the great toiletries use up. 3-4 mini bottles gone today
5) house spotless
6) paying friend off in full in a few days- can't wait
7) paid 14.99 credi1expert fee off CC it was charged too
8) got meeting lined up about second job- see what work is available for first quarter of 2015

Losses

1) treated myself to some haircare and electrical items I wanted and didn't get for Xmas.....very spendy
2) haven't eaten as well as I could yesterday
3) impatient about money- need to get the new year started

MissShoes

Wins

1) survived 2014- there have been some major roadblocks (not all of my own making :rotfl:) which have been stressful or really stretched the finances but I survived them. I'm here and I have money (albeit a small a mount) to live on until payday. Happy and feeling independent- this is a big win. Some of these roadblocks have included remedial building work, mechanical disasters on vehicle, indulgent shopping, spendy holiday and spending money before it's earned so always playing catch up. Lots of lessons to learn but lovely to feel that I have a salary to make inroads whilst I adapt my financial management.
2) quality time with friends
3) had a good idea for bf birthday- will need to scrimp but he will love it
4) lots of presents still to open
5) stuck to daily spends budget for a week- allowing myself daily spends is helping
6) feeling more inspired about YNAB- lots of people loving it so I need to give it a go. Wonder if there'll be a New Years discount price?
7) exciting nye plans
8) beauty treatment scheduled for later- funded by daily spends and budget price
9) feeling hopeful and optimistic about 2015
10) had good ideas about how to feed travelling bug on a shoestring and bf loved them

Losses

1) waiting on some wages from second job still- ready to pounce on them to make payments
2) need to organise challenges and resolutions for 2015 and not long left until it begins! Will think and post later....although they may start on payday as survival mode until then!

MissShoes

Happy new year and a prosperous 2015 to all DFWs!

Well, it's been a spendy one for me. £67.51 spent on groceries- some big items to stock up on for baking, plus tea and meat and sugar and eggs. No alcohol- have a post xmas glut to drink up. It's a hard life.

Still waiting for 3 direct debits to be taken:

home ins 23.32 and water 36.81- plus a huge bill for my mobile....a long and futile call to a premium number means it'll be bigger than normal.

ETA- think my water bill is done for the year, 8 payments have gone. Need to double check. Roll on January payments as then the council tax is done too.

So....today is a NSD. Not venturing anywhere apart from to pick up OH and have a full tank of petrol.

Still waiting on wages from 2nd job.....Monday latest I expect. Need to get back on this too- the xmas break has rendered me lazy and it's hard to get back into it. Must try harder.

Having a nice meal with OH later and then a chilled out morning with him too. Then time to get organised for a week at work. Have bought ingredients for fresh lunches and breakfasts. Dinners will be using up some protein shakes/meals I have left from an old diet. Once they're used up, I'll be completely following SW principles, not just for 2 meals a day.

Lots to do today:

washing up
3 loads laundry
15 minute blitz lounge, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom
make an effort with hair and makeup
finish making dinner for OH

MissShoes

Well yesterday was supposed to be a NSD- but ended popping in to Mr Ts with BF for a couple of dinner ingredients. Found whole chickens down to 1.20 each so grabbed 3. Also found 2 packs of sausages- cumberland and plain for 60p each, a pack of root veg parsnip/carrot/swede/potato for 30p and a pack of baby mushrooms for 25p. Too good to pass up! As part of my big shop on Friday I also picked up 4 packs of Mr Warbs sandwichth1ns for 60p each so reezer looking replenished. Need to write a menu plan and make sure I've nothing in the fridge about to go off as I can hardly see what I have

MissShoes

Finally got paid from second job. Have CLEARED debt to friend for £750 and made a PAD to CC3 which had a balance of £466.85 so paid £16.85 off. It's a high interest rate card that I don't want anymore so trying to PAD it down whilst I also focus on £800 loan I have outstanding which is also relatively high interest.