Taking control

takingcontrolatlast

:)Hi, I'm a newbie to the site and feel so inspired by everyone that I am going to start a 2015 diary. I originally posted i had approx £20k of debt but after some investigating its approximately £30,052.93 and I have just remembered tax credits are chasing me for overpayment 2 years ago! I cant remember how much now but will update asap.
This debt isnt even taking into consideration OH debt :eek:

sad story really of being in control and recession hitting business which had knock on effect as husband out of work, i was part-time with 2 children, tried to stay afloat, got into debt, nearly lost house, creditors chasing, ill-health, marriage problems - new debts, wasted money you name it ive/we've been there!

OH finally got a job and i increased hours and children now adults but im sick of being in debt and 2015 im going to tackle it. OH isnt as worried as me but that's another diary entry for a later date

ive joined #86 Pay a debt or reach goal for 2015 as I would like to pay family back who have been supportive to me - £3,270. Any suggestion which is the best way forward to paying family back? ie the family member i owe most first gets paid, or split the bill 3 ways monthly so each gets equal share of what i can pay that month or pay the person i owe least too first?

I am also putting a £1 a day away to save for xmas 2015. I'm determined to be more savvy as i never have been - wish me luck

zenshi

You sound pretty much like me! Self employed, business took a dive etc etc. Added to that was going through a divorce and renovating my house! My kids are now grown, business picking up, I have a second job.

Last year I really got sorted and motivated and am now ploughing through the debts albeit very slowly. BUT I have less stress now as I have dealt with them

You will get there

littleangels3

Lovely to meet you and look forward to reading your shiny new diary x

takingcontrolatlast

Thanks zenshi, i'm glad you back in business although doing 2 jobs! There does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. I actually feel like fighting back now :j My goal is whilst maintaining my debts is to pay back my family members and to save for xmas 2015. I have never ever saved for xmas before! I will also be paying a loan off of £730 this year but aim to do that in less than 6 months to reduce the interest.

My plan to achieve my goal for 2015 is

- For xmas savings i will put £1 a day put away. I can achieve that.

- I have increased my hours so with the increase in pay I will pay towards the loan to have it paid quicker thus paying less interest.

- Paying the family back is going to be harder. Once the loan is paid off all monies will go towards paying family back but in the meanwhile I need to find ways to cut back/raise income which I am working on. I knit and sell my stock to a market stall so that income can go towards paying the family back although its slow and not a large amount but the income but adds up. If there is overtime at work i can do that as well. But i am searching for inspiration all the time.

takingcontrolatlast

Ive managed to do some overtime this week towards paying off my loan. I will know figures in Jan payslip. Ive started taking packed lunches to work but the microwave in work is really nasty inside so dont want to use it - no-one cleans it! inspiration for packed lunches is running low - fed up with cupasoup and bread roll dont want to go canteen and spend money although spuds are fairly reasonable if desperate.

Im still working on my craft (knitting) and Im pleased with it. house needs sorting out - not sure if there is anything for ebay - im not a fan of selling on ebay as hassle - i will see if there is anything ive got and then make decision.

takingcontrolatlast

Joined the Ebay listing challenge and 20p challenge. Cant say im looking forward to Ebay challenge but im gonna look for items in house this weekend - aim is to try and list 10 items and then I can transfer this to PAD challenge the goal being to pay back family asap.

takingcontrolatlast

Hi, ive managed to "ask" daughter to download a picture on ebay of a top i want to sell which she has kindly done before hitting the town ! I wish i was good with technology. Im definately going to make it one of my personal goals this year as i would like to create a spreadsheet to manage my budget. At the moment its traditional pen and paper and online banking.

Im done quite a bit of craft today - decided to get a "stock" up of hand-knitted baby cardis done and then sell and have a lump sum rather than sell 1 at a time. I do love them when they are completed.

Gonna watch a bit of telly now and then bed _ though wont be properly asleep until daughter's key in door at daft o'clock ! x

takingcontrolatlast

Morning, didnt have much sleep (never do when kids out partying) - still like them in bed aged 21 and 18! I was reading other diaries for inspiration whilst awake, and joined a free app called Spending Tracker, so i will see how i go with this. (just to download an app is an achievement for me!)

I didnt spend any money yesterday and plan on spending none today, well infact im not planning on spending at all as im waiting for pay day - I get paid early this month (23rd) so im gonna budget before this. Currently i have £17.20 in purse and £20 Tesco gift voucher till last me till then. The cupboards are full, (OH will top up when required) DDs come out 28th, car 3/4 full petrol, taking packed lunches to work so I know I can cope - though not enjoyable. 13 days to pay day and counting!

Actually this week may be tough as OH birthday - we dont really buy each other presents just get cards for bdays but inlaws want to take us for a meal on Friday. I explained lack of funds but they have insisted its on them as they are also paying for OH sister and her OH as its her bday 2 days later and its a thank you to us all for the past year - which is really lovely of them. But the thought of going out with no money depresses me as normally i wouldnt go out if had no money. Feel awkward but if i can keep this £17.20 i could offer to pay towards taxi. At least OH will have been paid and will have some funds if needed.

Got to renew car tax this month but i dont have to pay - phew! as its a newish car and i think there is some other reason i dont which i have forgotten about - but alas i have to do it online - as you probably have gathered im rubbish with technology but learning!

judi24

Found your diary and will subscribe and cheer you on! I know what you mean about kids out partying! I always sleep with one ear open when my DD2 (and DD1 when she lived at home!) were out - it doesn't help that the dog is an early warning device and wags her tail on the stairs just outside my room when she hears them coming in so even if I do get to sleep she wakes me up just to let me know they are in!!!


I can't get into ebaying at all (to be honest I haven't tried!) but really should as I have lots of bits that could sell I'm sure - so well done on joining the challenges!:T
January is such a hard month for many - the early pay in December and the extra bits that always seem needed plays havoc with the budget - I overspent despite having a plan and trying hard not to succumb to the commercialism of Christmas - but definitely not as much as I usually do! It is hard going out with friends or family and not spending whilst not appearing to be mean or skint! If your DH has some money may be you can agree that he pays for anything you need on the night? After all you are both going out

twiggy86

judi24 wrote: »

It is hard going out with friends or family and not spending whilst not appearing to be mean or skint!

I find it better if my friends and family know that I'm paying off debts so I don't need to keep up appearances. Went out for "lunch" with some friends I over Xmas - ate before I went and drunk water so completely free day and I still enjoyed myself!

January is hard - but I'm telling myself if I can stick to budget this month I can do it any month!

takingcontrolatlast

Thanks Judy, i would really appreciate the support! So much going on, new job, etc.

Yeah OH will offer but im quite independent and still like to contribute but i think on this occasion i realistically may not be able to

Taxed car on-line and it was easy! What was I worried about? And I dont have to pay for MOT this year either - i should put what i would have paid towards my PAD challenge and I will - I cant remember costs of MOTs say approx £40 and car tax say £120? Need to filter this in to my budget. Infact it will go towards paying a will for my mum as she cant afford one and I owe her money

Thanks Twiggy - its family and they know situation and its inlaws treat - even if i had money i know they still wouldnt accept it If I get invited out with friends and "skint" i offer to drive Stay positive this month, im certainly trying (roll on pay day) :rotfl: