Taking control

parsniphead

Sounds like a good plan taking control.

I'm trying to follow Dave Ramsey but still stuck on baby step 1.

Saving can be so difficult, especially when so many other things crop up.

takingcontrolatlast

Hi,

Is that step 1 raising something like £1000 emergency fund? cant remember? I havent listened to Dave Ramsey in a long time.

If it is then I suppose that's what I'm trying to do in a sense...by trying to put 10% away of income before I pay anything. I never have any money for things like the dentist, or an iron and am always robbing peter to pay paul if i need anything etc.

Ive never saved so dont know how I will get on - but I dont think I'm going to call it savings more like a "life fund" which I can dip into if necessary - but if I know 10% is going in each month it should increase (step 1) for emergencies (life).

I think it must be hard to have some savings knowing you need to pay debts off etc but I no access to credit and as I said, never have "spare" cash to replace things or dentist/new glasses - even struggle to get hair cut!

I can only give it a go and see how i get on... put it this way, my first 10% when i put it away doesnt even cover the dentist bill so its going to be a while before i see benefits :rotfl:

takingcontrolatlast

I was looking over my budget for June that I had prepared and it hit me.... I have miscalculated by £300!!!! No wonder I wasnt panicking when I finished the budget!!

I forgot to deduct it and budgeted like I had it :eek:

Hence panic mode is kicking in now!!

The main problems are I need to overpay a loan, pay a double payment on the credit card to bring it in order, pay a family member some money back as she is upset i havent paid it back by now and needs it (plus she is threatening to tell DH although he already knows I owe her), buy shoes to go with dress for graduation ( I honestly dont have a pair that matches plus the new ones will double up as work shoes) Oh and put in to housekeeping but now I havent got the full amount i should be putting in !!!

My head is swirling how Im going to achieve everything.

I have started writing out another budget for end of June pay going in to July and I just havent got enough to do what I need to do. This is what gets me down. I'm so stupid and angry with myself and i'm going to bed :mad:

takingcontrolatlast

Well i woke up in a "not too good" mood but thought there is no point worrying about getting through July when I still haven't gotten through June yet!!

I think the only way forward for me is to be pro-active - so with that in mind I cleared the spare room and started washing the woodwork and window frames. When this will be finished, the next step will be to prime the plaster ready for painting.

I'm not sure what to do with the room yet - ? guest room, nursery (got no little ones so bit weird but may attract buyers), dressing room.. I would love a nursery tbh ... they are so adorable and cute. It may be cheaper to do a nursery as i dont have a bed in there and I'm sure someone in the family has a cot!... although I did watch a tv show once and she made a make-shift bed out of boxes and threw a duvet over... it looked really good :rotfl: ....cant make my mind up :eek:

After decluttering there was nothing to sell to put towards my financial problems for July unfortunately.

However, karma was good to me .. i withdrew from Quidc* £4 and my friend sent me £5 for petrol as I "done her favour" and she didnt want me to be out of pocket - so that is £10 and Ive also received £10 for an item of mine that I have sold - so this £20 will go towards paying my family member back.

I also ran my sister on an errand and in return she bought me a large bag of wool so I dont have to buy any for a while :A

I am going to try and make some savings on the food shop this week - the budget is extremely tight for the week but where there is a will there is a way! So tonight i'm meal planning.

takingcontrolatlast

Well I saved £4 on the weekly shop so total saved £24 towards paying family member back.... want to pay £50 so nearly half way there.

Completed ironing :j

DH pulled a face when I said i could turn the spare room into a nursery - think he thought I was feeling broody :rotfl:

So it will be a guest bedroom ... eventually...... although DH said leave it empty but the tv shows says a room has to have a purpose. But one step at a time ... still cleaning woodwork and then it needs priming. Another step towards getting the house ready for sale.

I keep looking at my budget to get through July.... where can I cut back? There are 2 big debts ... my loan and credit card. These are the only 2 where I can cut back this month oh and the housekeeping!

The loan I will pay the minimum plus some extra as I promised but it will be paid and finished by the end of August and I cant wait!!! This will be a debt gone and I'm never getting another one !! On countdown for that.

The credit card .. I will pay last month's and a bit off this months and then try and play "catchup" with it throughout July.

The housekeeping .. ive spoken with DH who said just pay what I can this month ... feeling guilty about this as it puts extra pressure on him but will do my best to give as much as possible and to try and find ways of increasing it/saving on shopping throughout July.

So the objectives are set but i'm still under budget for what I want to achieve for July... back to the drawing board!

note to self: DO NOT GIVE UP!

takingcontrolatlast

An extremely busy week for me - I'm really tired.

I'm looking forward to actually doing some housework today as tbh I have neglected it towards the end of the week. The spare room that I decluttered has started to acquire shoes, boxes and other bits and bobs that DD1 and DD2 dont want in their rooms so I'm going to have to play tough mum and give them straight back haha

I had a lovely time at a party last night (I drove) - however, it meant the small savings I had made went towards a card, present and petrol have gone. I made the choice to attend as it was a special birthday for a colleague.

It means I am going to have to have another review of the budget for July and cut back and look at ways at raising some extra pennies.... I can do this, I can do this, I can do this!!!!!

I'm sat typing and the cat is next to me....I just love watching her wash her face.. .dont know why :rotfl:

takingcontrolatlast

I was listening to Dave R*msey earlier.... I havent done so in a long while and he and along with the other people I have been listening too are encouraging an emergency fund. I have already committed myself to this starting with this month's pay. I have tried in the past as I joined the challenge on this site but I kept using it and infact I didnt even raise 10% of my salary!

So step 1: i'm going to rejoin the challenge!

parsniphead

I only started with my emergency fund last month.

Even though he says £1000, he does recommend £500 if you are on a low income. I have set this as my target.

I think with Dave it's best to watch him regularly to keep motivated.

Keep going takingcontrol, you will get there.

takingcontrolatlast

Hi Parsniphead,

I started listening to him again after you told me you did and I must confess I have found him motivating. He has a no nonsense approach which I find scary as I'm totally guilty of "being stupid" :eek:

I absolutely hate being in debt and wish I could turn the clock back but I cant.

I so wanted to put 10% of my wages to the EF but realistically this month I dont think I can... my intentions are good but I just have too much to pay out. But I will put something in it and make a start.

I wish you lots of luck in reaching your target of £500 - have you joined the EF challenge?

thanks for encouraging me on :A

takingcontrolatlast

I'm still awake at 2.31am ..... just cant sleep tonight which means tomorrow I'm going to be really tired waking up (7am); i'll be okay after a coffee and then I'll peak in the afternoon

My head is twirling with worries.. whether DD2 is ok (boyfriend troubles), DD1 gets her graduation results Tuesday and whether she can find a job in the science industry and the big one... yes money!!

Thought writing this down will make me realise that I'm being stupid and everything will work out okay. DD2 is a young adult and can make her own decisions but at least she has me as a shoulder to cry on - 1st love and all that ! DD1 WILL graduate hopefully with a 1st which is what she honestly deserves and she has to chose her career path and she will find a job. Money.... I have a thousand ifs and buts, and will it ever end and the answer is yes... just got to work hard at it.

I'm thinking too much about it which I think is the problem. I need to stick to my financial goals each months which are atm:-

* plan a budget and try and stick to it as far as possible
* put in the EF

I admit I am rubbish with budgets and I will be very happy if I can achieve a budget and finish the month with a penny to spare

Right its 2.45am and I am now going to sleep.

I am going to have a lovely day tomorrow.... I've decided so therefore it will happen

nite x

PS a bird has just sang outside OMG! I need to get to sleep quick!!