A new debt free journey

lcc86

So another stressful week comes to an end :j It's been quite difficult purely due to the crisis of confidence I've had. There have been some positives to take from this week though:

1. Amazon are sending me £5.85 which I'd forgotten about, so I can pay that off my credit card
2. I've saved some money by stopping my charity donations
3. I've worked out that the £60 animal budget is a little high now, so I'll use it to cover emergencies and the pet care plan I have, so I've freed up a little more money each month.

Next week I have 2 interviews, and would be so grateful for a shot at either. One is part time, and I'm unsure if it would clash too much with other work commitments so I'm not too hopeful there. The other is internal, but I heard they have someone already working in that team lined up for promotion so I'm not too hopeful there either (unless they have more than one vacancy!). I think I've taken a more relaxed attitude to them because of this, which is nice for a change. I may also be able to return to my previous job, but am waiting to hear, so I feel that, after my initial panic earlier this week, I can definitely cope with tough times!

I worked out last night while struggling to sleep that I need to pay about £100 extra per month off my debt in order to be debt free in 3 years instead of 5. Quite daunting but I'll give it my best shot and hope for the best!! I think this means a second job is probably necessary again at some stage in the near future. Provided I can sort the issue with the main job out and cut my commute in some way then it's doable.

Next week my focus is the two interviews, and continuing my study. I'm working on my March targets already but won't post until nearer the time!! :rotfl:

lcc86

Isubmitted a meter reading for my electricity a few days ago, and am in credit even though I've had the heating on loads! So I contacted £DF and asked to reduce my direct debit as I felt I was paying too much, and they've agreed to reduce by £8 a month :beer:

So, along with cancelling my bank account, my charity donations, and absorbing the cost of my pet care plan into my overall animal budget, and now this, I've saved myself £41 a month :j

I didn't think I could save any more money on my outgoings a while ago, but reading people's diaries on here made me think again

Had the first of the two job interviews today so now just waiting for the outcome, whatever that may be. Fingers crossed it comes through for me as it would be a great opportunity and help me out budget wise.

I've also found a bank post that I think I'll apply for as a second job to bring in some money on an ad hoc basis if I get it. I'm really hoping I can have my job situation sorted by the end of next week.

lcc86

Feeling really down this evening. I heard I was unsuccessful for the interview yesterday, another person had more experience. :mad: same old story really. The second interview is on Friday, but I know they have someone already lined up so feel really low. I even had a cry.

Kinda feel like giving up on my career aspirations tbh. I've bust a gut for four years to get a degree, worked all the hours I could, and now I'm back in debt over my "dream" (now nightmare) job, and dread going to work each morning. I barely earn enough to cover my outgoings and wonder whether I should've stuck with a job I may not have been hugely interested in and just worked my way up...

I think there may be bigger issues here around my health but I just don't know what the future holds right now in terms of career and it has a huge impact on me. Grrr oh well tomorrow is another day!

lcc86

The freezer I wanted has just had £50 taken off, and I had a £10 off voucher so bought it today, to be paid interest free over the next three months.

Only problem is I then realised I need to pay for Glastonbury and my holiday in the next 3 months too! I have literally no idea how I'm going to cover the costs. It's looking like assecond job is my only option now. Which is daunting as I recently had to give up my second job because I felt so stressed with it all... Argh I feel like my life is such a mess right now, my mouth is seriously writing cheques that my !!!!! can't cash right now!!

lcc86

I have my interview in about an hour's time. Unless there is more than one vacancy I feel it's a little pointless but all I can do it try my best and see what happens.

I've been looking back at my spends this month. I wanted to have as many NSD's as possible, but have only managed 5 to date. I think this is mainly because I live within walking distance of my local supermarket so just pop in for a few things every few days rather than do a big shop. I'm not disheartened as I stick to the list, but it's not the most efficient way of shopping I guess.

I'm feeling really guilty about my choice of effectively 2 holidays (albeit one festival) this year as I'll be spending money I could be putting towards paying off my debts. But everyone needs treats, I don't go out during the normal course of the year, and when I do, I drive, so for me these are the only two things to look forward to this year. Look at me trying to justify this to myself....

I've made a lot of positive changes this month in getting rid of direct debits which weren't essential, and this has allowed me to afford to replace the white goods I've needed for well over a year. I think I need to learn to prioritise better - whitw goods were more important than holidays and festivals even if they are once in a lifetime things for me lol :rotfl:

I've also pretty much resigned myself to having to get a second job again now so just need to explore my options as to how I'm going to do that. There's so much uncertainty over my working life right now and it's really getting me down and getting me really stressed. I need to try and resolve it as soon as possible as long term it's no good for a person's health to worry about work constantly, even when they are supposed to be sleeping or studying! It's taking control of my life at the moment.

Well better prepare for this interview and get in the right frame of mind!

SouthernGuy

Hey,

Sorry to hear about the first interview, how did the second go? Try to stay positive as the fact that you are even getting to interview stage is a good achievement and shows that they are interested in you.

Housework*Fairy

LCC - please try to stay positive. You don't have to pay off the debt in super fast time however you do need some things to look forwards to. New jobs will come too. I had a period when I thought I would never get out of my nightmare place of work (job was okay, place was terrible) - it took me 22 weeks but I eventually got out. It WILL happen x

lcc86

Thanks SouthernGuy and Housework*Fairy!

I think the interview went okay, I HATE interviews but one positive of this is that the more I have the less I dread them! :j and you're definitely right, the fact that I got to the interview stage is good, I suppose when you're struggling with a situation it's so easy to focus on the negatives rather than the positives. During the interview I forgot to mention one agency I might work with if successful and dwelled on that for a bit before realising that I'd actually named about 10 agencies so I shouldn't be so hard on myself!!

I find out next week, and I know I'll feel a little down if the outcome isn't what I selfishly want to hear, but like you say, it WILL happen! I forget that when I really put my mind to something I generally tend to make it happen one way or another. I'm either determined or stubborn lol. Thanks again for the support it means a lot

lcc86

Okay so I'm being impatient by posting my March targets on 21st February! BUT I do get paid on Thursday so might as well, and I need to spend much less time on this forum next week as I am getting behind in my studying and really need to catch up!!! :mad:

So to recap my February targets:

1. Have as many NSD's as possible - not as many as I would like but I'm going to adjust my shopping habits to help with this, plus I've pretty much stuck to my shopping lists every time.

2. Sort out my bank account - DONE! :beer: got rid of the account and some other direct debits as well as reducing another and have saved £41 a month. The downside is I'm now committed to paying £43 a month for my fridge and freezer for the next few months, but hey, at least I have the money to do that!!

3. Buy no meat - DONE! :T this was more of a personal challenge but managed it with ease and it cut my shopping bill. Next month I've allowed for some meat within my meal planning but it's good to know it was doable for me with no issues.

So now onto the March targets:

1. Get pension advice for September onwards - I basically cut my pension contributions in half for a year to help fund my postgraduate study. This ends as of September so I need to look into whether to put my contributions back to what they were or perhaps focus on my debt until I'm in a better financial position? I know very little about pensions, I've always paid into one but have no idea what's for the best in regards to the above.

2. Start playing the ukulele - I have no hobbies and own a ukulele so that's my reasoning behind this one, I need to make time for stuff I want to do.

3. Shop at Aldi - I want to see if this will make a noticeable difference to my food bill (currently £100 a month). I have to drive there and worked out it'll cost me £5 total in fuel to go twice a month, so if I can save more than that in my shopping then it's worth it. I've got my meal planning sorted for the month and will use my local supermarket for top up shopping in between.

4. Try to write 1/3 of my dissertation - I suppose this should be number one in terms of importance but I have 7000 words and an awful lot of reading to do by June and I really need to get cracking! :eek: Hence needing to cut down on time spent on forums lol.

Right, that's my last post until next weekend. Now to get back to the studies!!

Dansmam

Hey Icc, stumbled on your diary so hoping you don't mind the words of a (cough) probably older (double cough) not a bloke on here. Things I have learned. Things are just things and second hand fridges are fine as a stopgap while you save for your dreams. Careers go best when you just get on with doing what is best for the people you work for (these are not your bosses) and you can change jobs many times before you find the one you want and they are bright enough to realise they need you. If you're in debt and the house burns down :eek:you'll realise you really wanted to pay for that home insurance. Contents insurance too if you've no savings to buy a bed a cooker and a kettle. Just the words of a mam but believe me I've done all that. Feel free to ignore - my offspring do...:rotfl:
DM