Decide what to be and go be it!

Fruity_Dragon

After lurking for a while and never posting, I think it's time to jump in with a diary.

There are so many inspirational people and diaries on here and although I'm in a pretty good place, financially, I have no focus or structure (or savings) and I'd like to get on track with that as well as improve my life.

I currently owe almost £5,000 on two 0% credit cards which just keeps creeping up and up. Other than that, I have no loans or anything like that to worry about. So before things get any more out of hand I need to do something.

I've also had lots of debt in the past, which I managed to eliminate but it drastically affected my social life. So now I'd really like to be more social but with a mindfulness to make sure it's all kept within a budget.

A little about me, I'm female, single and have no children. I have a well paid job in London although I only work part time. Reducing my hours is something I treated myself to when I became debt free, so I just work 3 (long) days a week now. I genuinely don't think I could go back to working full time again.

On the one hand I'm very careful with money, I use cashback sites and I do quite well at bargain hunting. But I'm a mindless spender and also use it as an emotional crutch at times (that and food!!!) so can often go on mad sprees if I'm not careful. Maybe if I'm held accountable on a diary I'll be able to keep an eye on things a little better.

I also bought YNAB when they had the £7.95 sale in January and have set that up and am doing well at keeping it up to date. I'm sure it'll need some tweaking as I get more used to it and how it works for me, but so far I'm loving it.

The title of my diary was chosen because, up until now, I've really been drifting along in life. But now I have a constant reminder that we can all be what we choose to be, even more so if I have some savings behind as a backup.

So, that's me....... I'm really excited for this journey and will maybe even be brave enough to come out of lurkdom and start posting on other diaries too.

Fruity_Dragon

I've been playing with YNAB again today, but I think I'll find some time to go through the tutorials when I can to make sure I'm utilising it as much as possible as I have so many accounts here and there!

I bought a pair of black trousers at the weekend, but they're far too small for me, so I returned them this afternoon and swapped them for the next size up. While out I managed to "accidentally" buy a box of Ferrero Rocher!!! I have no idea how that happened!!! I also decided to have a little look around Poundland and came out with a bag of Roses strawberry delights!!! Eek! They're so nice though!

Now that I bank with First Direct I noticed that they pay 6% interest on their regular saver, so I applied for that account today so it's all set up now. I just need to see it show in my list of accounts so that I can set up the maximum standing order into it each month.

This weekend I'm away in Denmark with some friends. I'm feeling pretty disorganised as I've not packed properly yet but I I do have my currency and all other external bits needed so I'm possibly a little more organised than I realise. These are friends I've never been away with before so I feel a little shy about it. They're all wonderful people though so I need to just suck it up and get myself moving and stop dwelling on highly unlikely what ifs!!!

Payday is in 2 days! Oh my goodness, January is such a long month. It's been 6 weeks since I was last paid and it now feels like a big deal. I also requested overtime payments as I was working a lot of weekends at the end of last year, so a nice little boost in this one. I also pay council tax over 10 months so have 2 months break now too! Ooh, it's all sounding much more exciting!

Right, time to write some lists to make sure I remember everything for payday and for the weekend away. I hope no one got caught in the torrential rain today! I was out driving, and had my wellys in the car! Oh the temptation to bound around in the puddles!!! :j

Fruity_Dragon

Yay! I'm loving keeping myself focused with a diary!

So today I popped to Tesco's to get some medicine essentials for my trip as I have a stinking cold. I bought what I needed but shopped while hungry! Big mistake! 1 pizza, a tear and share garlic bread, some oven chips and red velvet cake later ............ !!!! Oops! I'm really craving rubbish at the moment and giving in to it too! I've never tried red velvet cake so I'm forgiving myself for that, but the rest??? Eek! I've eaten half of the pizza, half of the tear and share and the chips are in the fridge. I ate about a third of the red velvet cake and threw the rest away but oh my goodness that's a great tasting cake! It was the finest range!

I also bought a fantastic pair of boots which were on sale for £12. As we seem to be in for some cold weather and snow, this was a worthwhile spend.

So I'm packed, I've changed my bedsheets (there's nothing like a lovely fresh bed to get home to after a little trip away) and have washed up and tidied the kitchen. I have an hour before I need to think about leaving so am contemplating a fresh coffee.

Payday tomorrow, but haven't had a chance to check how much. I'll have a look in the morning on my phone before I get on the plane.

I checked in for my flight this morning and found that a friend had already reserved a seat for me, which I really appreciated. I was worried I'd be sitting alone as I booked my ticket at a different time to everyone else, but that's all been fixed for me.

Right, I think I will have that coffee and go through the YNAB tutorial videos now.

Almost the weekend for everyone!

Levi-

Welcome! Congrats on the new diary, you're in a great place for support and inspiration Keep posting..:) x

Fruity_Dragon

Thank you Levi. I've just started reading your diary. Support and inspiration definitely sums this site up, doesn't it? I'll definitely write on your diary once I've properly caught up. x

So I've worked my way through 2 YNAB tutorials and can see my confusion now. As I get paid tomorrow I'll wait until I'm back from my weekend away and I'll reset to a fresh start and set it up in a more logical way!

Coffee was lovely. It's freshly ground decaf (caffeine absolutely hates me!) and was a really nice boost.

I've got quite a drive in front of me now. I hope the flurries of snow haven't caused too much chaos!

Up, up and away!

Spuddy27

Hi Fruity,

I just started my diary today too, subscribing to your diary so I can see your journey progressing

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Lx

Fruity_Dragon

Hello Spuddy, thanks for reading. I'll pop over to your diary shortly and will subscribe too.

Fruity_Dragon

Wow! Well, I've not posted since my trip to Denmark because I came down with the dreaded bug going around, which knocked me hard.

My weekend away was really good fun. We used Air BnB and had a beautiful large apartment in a really central location. Because my cough had started on the way there I was given my own room, which belonged to a very young boy! So I slept in a little bunk bed (bottom bunk as the top had no mattress etc) with a duvet set that was covered in pictures of cars. My bedside table was a little kitchenette! I was surrounded by lots of toys, including one very creepy doll. Between the 6 of us that were there, it worked out a great price, and the bed was really comfortable. I had no trouble sleeping. Much better than a hotel.

We did lots of sightseeing during the day, had an early evening meal and then just relaxed together in the living room of the apartment in the evening. Really enjoyable.

Since then I've felt really out of sorts so have just spent my time relaxing and trying to get better. I think I'm almost there now..... phew!!!

Fruity_Dragon

I was paid on 28th January and received my overtime in that wage too, although not at the correct rate, but I may still be able to claim what was missing. So my manual payments have all been sorted and the rest will wait for the Direct Debit dates.

Today I applied for the Halifax reward account with account switch too, which was accepted. I've also come to the end of my mobile phone contract, so I reduced that to sim only as I'm happy with my phone, so that's gone from £37.99 a month to £10.00.

First Direct paid me their incentive payment today so that was immediately transferred to my saving account along with the cashback I received in January from my 123 account. Once Halifax is in place I'll be able to sweep that incentive and monthly payment across too. It's all adding up quite nicely.

I'm sure there's more financial things to report, but can't think of anything else today.

Fruity_Dragon

I have been quite productive on finances today. I applied for a TSB account for their interest rate, a natwest account to use as a switch account, and a Nationwide basic account to keep my personal budget separate from my bills and savings. I know my credit file will take a hit with these searches but I want the account benefits more than an unsearched credit file right now.

I sat and organised how to meet the monthly criteria for these accounts so have a few standing orders to set up once all details have been finalised. That was why I decided to keep free spends away from the chaos

I also needed to pop into Nationwide with ID which was well timed as I had my passport on me. I love it when things synchronise so well.

So while on a high note, I rushed out of work and bumped straight into an ex! Normally I stay in good contact with exes but I haven't with this one as I found him too difficult to get on with as a friend. So bumping into him with nowhere to hide was really uncomfortable. Fortunately someone else he knows wandered over so I was able to rush off but it doesnlt sit comfortably with me whn I feel I'd rather avoid someone than say hello.

I had a brief chat with my boss today regarding my low overtime rate so there's a chance I'll have another boost to a future salary slip.

All in all a pretty good day. I really want to boost my savings as much as possible this year and I think I've organised the best accounts for me right now.

Right, I think I hear my bed calling me....

January2015

Hi Fruity

Glad things are coming together for you. Great news about the potential boost re. overtime rate

Keep going with the diary so we can keep up with your progress.