New Years Goals and Career Changes - A diary for a better me.

myteeduck

Hi all.

Not much to report. I managed to get my fuel to last till today. I'd get home on what I have, however I have a busy evening planned with quite a bit of driving, so i'll have to nip out at lunch.

Still not particularly happy - my mood goes up and down like a yo-yo. Its up at the moment, but was down yesterday and nothing has changed. I was looking at trying St Johns Wort, however I need to speak with the nurse to see if it will interfere with my other medications.

Not much money saving going on. I'm sticking to my budgets and not spending anything on anything unnecessary.

x

myteeduck

Hi all

I got to see my little Jellybean yesterday. Its my niece or nephew (my sister is not finding out what she is having) so we are calling it Jelly for the meantime. It is soooo cute on the 3D/4D scanner. Just got to wait until October before it arrives!

I passed my exam today as well. Only one left and then i'll be qualified in level 2 and i'll need to make a choice on level 3.

Need to make a decision on what I am doing about my car insurance. I have an interest free credit card which has over 6 months left to run. It was a 18 month-er which I took out in September last year. I could either opt to pay my car insurance on a DD over 12 month, pay my deposit and then something like £30 per month. Or I could make the most of the 0% and put it on there and look at paying it off over 6 months. if my calculations are correct, I would need to up in to £50 per month which seems doable.

I filled my fuel up yesterday, but the driving last night and today, means i'm back on the red again. Good job, I only need it to last until Saturday and then I'll be ok. I don't need to go out again today, so its work for 2 days, one trip to the doctors and 2 trips home. Should be ok.

I had to get a leaving card for my friend today, I had a budget of 80p, so I went to Sainsbugs but there were all £2 plus for a card, so I drove to the shopping mall and went to card fact0ry, spent 59p on a card and topped up on cat food while I was there as I have caved and given the cat fresh food in the mornings to make up for not being there all day. We will go back to dry once I am home.

Not much more I can say. My mood has been ok but mainly as I have been on a sort of high since I found out I passed my exam.

x

myteeduck

Hi all.

Not much to report. I finally made it to Saturday on barely and fuel and a house with no food

I have £20 to spend on food and £15 to spend on diesel which will hopefully last me the rest of the week, but the decision is do I get these today or tomorrow.

I think the fuel will have to be today as I need to go home to drop some bits off and feed the kitty. The shopping, I am trying to decide on. I may get it today, that way if mum and dad decide to make me go home tonight I will have something to eat when I get home and for breakfast tomorrow. If I stay, then at least I am ok and won't have to shop tomorrow.

I am currently washing all my clothes for going home, at mums, saving me water and detergent!

I still need to decide what I am doing for finances. I have spent the last 3 years or so in debt and in 3 weeks maximum, the credit card will be gone, I am set up for all other bills and I'm not sure what to do. I hate my house at the moment, because I have nothing homely. I don't like my furnishings etc and I haven't had new bedding in years. I feel like I would like to treat myself each month with a little something for the house but the only way I will do this, is to pay my car insurance DD for the next 10 months, not on a CC. However, If I do this, I will end up paying more. I need to sit down with my mum when she is home and back in normal mood and make a few decisions.

I want to make my home, more homely as I think that I will be there for quite a few more years maybe at least another 5, so if I am not happy there, it will just drag and I wont enjoy it. If I love the house, however I think the time will fly and I will enjoy it.

I wont change furniture, its just some tid-bits e.g. new cushions, kitchen things etc, vases, picture frames etc.

Will off to draw a list of the things I want.

x

beanielou

Do you have a local buying/selling FB page?
You can pick up amazing bargains there.

myteeduck

Hi

I use the local selling FB pages quite a lot - more recently for sales rather than purchases, but I will keep an eye out for bits on there.

I treated myself to a GHD hairdryer yesterday for my 30th - my auntie is giving me a big chunk towards it which is fab and I got £20 off the price.

I spoke with my mum and she said if I can afford it and definitely have the 0% period left, then yes to put the car insurance on it and pay it off - saves the interest that they add of for going on DD.

I was under budget yesterday for food, but I must have gone a little wrong at some point as I don't have as much next week as I thought. It is do-able but a bit tricky.

Mum agreed that my house wasn't homely and that everything I have has been given to me so she is happy for one treat a month and suggested places where I can get bits from, so at least she is on board.

She also said a lot of my troubles will be my car, so suggested in 2017 when my term is up to return my car, walk away with no deposit and no car and get something worth about 5K. I think its a good idea to be honest.

x

myteeduck

Hi

I have been hiding for a couple of days. I spent my shopping money on a meal out.
I was invited to meet the girls. I agreed to go but said I couldn't eat with them - I said i'd meet them after. I asked what time and they said 7pm. I went along and they hadn't eaten. We ended up in a restaurant, not a pub. I ended up having to get food, even though I wasn't hungry because otherwise I would have been a lemon.

I went for the cheapest item on the menu, but even with a drink, it came to £7. I should have said no the meet up but I didn't and now feel stupid that I have £3 for food next week. I should have had £15, but due to the earlier error, this is all I have.

I should make it, but as I also spent my birthday money on a treat, when I get paid next week, I will have to use some of that money this month.

I feel so stupid and have learnt my lesson but I have been ashamed and hidden away.

x

AspiringButAnxious

It's not your fault your friends were inconsiderate. Neither is spending £7 on something you don't need particularly stupid — it's not as if you blew £50 on booze. I've certainly been far more stupid when it comes to spending money I don't have (including buying designer shoes when I was already in debt and struggling on benefits...). Few people would judge you for a tiny slip up, especially in this forum; most people who are in debt have made plenty of poor decisions over ling periods of time.

You had a setback, but it's not the end of the world and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. You can adjust your budget over the next month or two and make up for what you spent. Have you got some food in the house? If so, you could buy a few vegetables (carrots, something green and leafy, anything cheap) and use them to bulk out your stores. If you have no food in the house, buy rice or pasta and beans/lentils to use as the basis of your meals. Even if you spend more than you can afford, keep the amount as low as you can and pay the extra off your credit card as soon as you can.

Sure, it's made things a little more difficult in the short term, but your slip-up shouldn't affect your long term goals.

myteeduck

Hi all.

I seem to have been able to do it! Payday is Friday and I have £1.51 in my back account and today is my 30th birthday so I think I am going to be ok!

I will be paying my credit card off completely on Friday and I am also looking to transfer my bank account in September. I am trying to decide if to move to the Halifax or Nationwide (I'm thinking the main move is for potential future mortgage purposes). If I move to the Halifax I can get £100 for switching the £5 per month, or I can move to the Nationwide (better mortgages options as my parents recommend them) and I'll get £200 for switching as a one off. (I get £100 and dad would get £100 for recommending me - but he said I can have it all).

Which would you go for? Potential extra money over a longer period or less upfront money but better mortgage rates (potentially)?

Can't believe I am looking at bank accounts on my birthday!! Shows my age

I am heading home in 20 minutes for my presents Had a few nice ones from work - some flowers and Cava (to go with a relaxing bubble bath) on Sunday and some choccies + £20 to treat myself with. Also planning a meal out again with my friends (50% off the bill so should be a cheappy) but its all budgeted for so should be fabulous!

Can't believe that I only have 2 days of no money and then everything will change!! Its been a mad few years, but as my friend said today 30 is the new 21 and hopefully from today is the start of fabulous things to come. I definitely hope so!

Here's to on-wards and up-wards!

x

Orange_Ena

myteeduck wrote: »

Hi all.

I seem to have been able to do it! Payday is Friday and I have £1.51 in my back account and today is my 30th birthday so I think I am going to be ok!

I will be paying my credit card off completely on Friday and I am also looking to transfer my bank account in September. I am trying to decide if to move to the Halifax or Nationwide (I'm thinking the main move is for potential future mortgage purposes). If I move to the Halifax I can get £100 for switching the £5 per month, or I can move to the Nationwide (better mortgages options as my parents recommend them) and I'll get £200 for switching as a one off. (I get £100 and dad would get £100 for recommending me - but he said I can have it all).

Which would you go for? Potential extra money over a longer period or less upfront money but better mortgage rates (potentially)?

Can't believe I am looking at bank accounts on my birthday!! Shows my age

I am heading home in 20 minutes for my presents Had a few nice ones from work - some flowers and Cava (to go with a relaxing bubble bath) on Sunday and some choccies + £20 to treat myself with. Also planning a meal out again with my friends (50% off the bill so should be a cheappy) but its all budgeted for so should be fabulous!

Can't believe that I only have 2 days of no money and then everything will change!! Its been a mad few years, but as my friend said today 30 is the new 21 and hopefully from today is the start of fabulous things to come. I definitely hope so!

Here's to on-wards and up-wards!

x

Ah happy birthday myteeduck. Welcome to the 30's! :T;):beer:

Fantastic achievement to get your credit card paid off, well done. What a good week, birthday and credit card gone! :beer:

Ooh which bank?! Difficult one. I'm currently with Nati0nwide for my current account and mortgage although I'm just about to switch my current account to Fir3t Direct. I have opened up a brand new Nati0nwide account purely for spends because their mobile app is great and I don't want to lose it. I have a few savings accounts which you can rename which is so handy for monthly budgets and yearly bill saving. I do also have a H@lifax account although I don't get the rewards as I don't pay enough in. Not so keen on their banking app. But it's not about the app, it's about the incentive for switching! Personally I'd go for the upfront Nati0nwide bonus but maybe that's just me. It's very kind of your dad to let you keep all of it

Good luck deciding.

Enjoy your meal out with your friends too

myteeduck

Orange_Ena wrote: »

Ah happy birthday myteeduck. Welcome to the 30's! :T;):beer:

Fantastic achievement to get your credit card paid off, well done. What a good week, birthday and credit card gone! :beer:

Ooh which bank?! Difficult one. I'm currently with Nati0nwide for my current account and mortgage although I'm just about to switch my current account to Fir3t Direct. I have opened up a brand new Nati0nwide account purely for spends because their mobile app is great and I don't want to lose it. I have a few savings accounts which you can rename which is so handy for monthly budgets and yearly bill saving. I do also have a H@lifax account although I don't get the rewards as I don't pay enough in. Not so keen on their banking app. But it's not about the app, it's about the incentive for switching! Personally I'd go for the upfront Nati0nwide bonus but maybe that's just me. It's very kind of your dad to let you keep all of it

Good luck deciding.

Enjoy your meal out with your friends too

Thank you Orange!

I think I am looking favorably towards Nati0nwide as the £200 upfront will be better as a big chunk towards my AAT Level 3. Also mum and dad are heavily recommending it to me. I will ask dad to make his recommendation and hopefully I will be switched over and sorted.

I am currently re-looking at my finances - I will pop back once I have finalised a few things x