A Frugal Life for Me!

MrsR68

Hi nowpanaking,

Glad you are feeling better. I needed to get my head back to frugaldom too.

Hope the meeting are not to bad next week. xx

cazzyd

Hey nowpanicking, sorry to read things have been hard for you atm with sickness etc...must be the time of year. I had stomach bug last week, was off the week before because of a personal matter, and just hoping that i can put a full shift in this week.

I'm having an NSD today, and haven't had to fill my car up since last thursday, I put in 10 pounds a week as I only work about a mile away from where I live.

Hope you feel better soon hunni xx

nowpanicking

Soooo... I've been lurking for a few weeks and have decided to resurrect my diary. Looking at my entries before I sounded so motivated!! Don't know what happened but fast forward to 2018 and I am in around £30k of cc debt. OH is still not working and DS starts high school tomorrow!!

Going to attempt... Again..... To be frugal and to bring the debt down. Hoping keeping this diary will keep me accountable and (fingers crossed) motivated.

enthusiasticsaver

What is your DH doing to find work? That would seem to be the way out of your debt difficulties. 4 years is a long time to be out of work. Has he gone down to a job centre to see if they can help with retraining? Or volunteering?

nowpanicking

Balances on cc's from last statements comes to £29,169.82 :eek:

At the end of last year it was over £31k but it's not coming down quick enough. Worst thing is, I've slipped into using them again at the end of the pay period. This has to stop and I'm hoping this diary will help.

Had a chat with DH today as well about getting a job. It would make such a difference in getting rid of the debt, so fingers crossed he can get something soon.

enthusiasticsaver

I think in your situation I would cut them up. While you have them as a safety net it is too tempting to use them if money is short. Save up an emergency fund first perhaps though. Your DH could do cleaning, dog walking, gardening or driving/delivering if he is not qualified for anything. Shop work or surveys/mystery shopping.

nowpanicking

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

What is your DH doing to find work? That would seem to be the way out of your debt difficulties. 4 years is a long time to be out of work. Has he gone down to a job centre to see if they can help with retraining? Or volunteering?

Hi enthusiasticsaver! thanks for your comments he's been out of work for a loooong time... 13 years, started off as stay at home dad.. Conscious decision by us both as I was the higher earner. He's had 2 or 3 jobs since DS has been in school but nothing lasts. He actually did go to the job centre and they suggested he look online for jobs and that was it. Not very helpful at all.

I've going to use this diary to focus on what I can do to control spending and if DH can get a job then that's a bonus

nowpanicking

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

I think in your situation I would cut them up. While you have them as a safety net it is too tempting to use them if money is short. Save up an emergency fund first perhaps though. Your DH could do cleaning, dog walking, gardening or driving/delivering if he is not qualified for anything. Shop work or surveys/mystery shopping.

I did cut them up originally but ended up keeping them when new ones got sent out part of the reason is so I can still do bal transfers when I get 0% offers. DH has done delivery driving in the past which he did enjoy. Could suggest that to him... Thanks for the suggestions

nowpanicking

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

I think in your situation I would cut them up. While you have them as a safety net it is too tempting to use them if money is short. Save up an emergency fund first perhaps though. Your DH could do cleaning, dog walking, gardening or driving/delivering if he is not qualified for anything. Shop work or surveys/mystery shopping.

Don't know what happened there! Did a response but it didnt post. I have cut up cards in the past but then needed them to do bal transfers when 0% offers come along. Otherwise I would cut them up as they are too much of a temptation. I really do need to build up an emergency fund though!!

DH has done delivery driving in the past which he did enjoy... I'm going to help him look now over the next few weeks and see what we can find.

nowpanicking

Both replies have now posted!! :rotfl: