Being an adult!!

jimmymcgill

Hey All,


Am a fairly new lurker who has decided to take the plunge and start a diary to try and keep me on the straight and narrow!


I'm a single mum to a crazy beautiful toddler, I work part-time and study part-time and I'm hoping to go to Uni in September to study nursing.


One of the reasons for starting this diary, and the reason for the title is that after many years and £000's of debt, I've finally got myself into a position where I've been able to open a normal current account with F**** D*****. For about 10 years, I've had a managed bank account, which was tied in to the company who I had my DMP. Yes, I was stupid enough to pay a company to sort it out, but it's done now, paid off and in the past, so I'm not going to get wound up worrying about it now!


So, I'm finally in charge of my own finances and it's solely up to me to make sure I have enough money in the bank to pay all my bills on time. It's really scary!!!


I've also been able to transfer my only debt, which was a credit repair card, onto a 0% for 35 mths deal, which is going to save me a fortune. I've already cut the new card up, and cancelled the old one, so no more spends on it! As it's interest free, I'm not too fussed about paying it off immediately, I'm more concerned about getting some sort of emergency fund in the bank so I don't need it!


I bought YNAB on new years eve at 75% after recommendations from this site, and it's revolutionised my life! I can't believe how easy it is to put money to one side, as long as I can stick to it, then everything should start feeling a lot more secure asap.


Apologies for ramble - I'm off to meal plan!!!

enthusiasticsaver

Congratulations on getting to a position when you are almost debt free. I use spending tracker and spreadsheets to help me budget, only because I am too mean to pay for YNAB but I understand it is a really helpful tool. Budgeting is the best way of getting and keeping out of debt so wish you good luck on that.


I also think you are doing the right thing on prioritising an emergency fund rather than paying off the 0% credit card. Look forward to seeing how you get on.

mfmaybe

Sounds like you've done very well so far and great news on the card. Will subscribe.

I love the username! Have watched the first episode and very much enjoyed it. OH is away so need to wait for him to be back before we can watch another one.

jimmymcgill

Well, that week and a bit shot by!!


Spent a few days in Edinburgh over half term seeing family, and surprise, surprise, I stayed within my budget - thank you YNAB! I took out the money at the airport, and managed to keep about £20 under. I was helped massively by the fact that nearly everything was paid for by my brother, he's a manager at the hotel we stayed at and we ate there or at his flat so I didn't really have to put my hand in my pocket at all!


One thing I forgot to budget for was travelling as I've had my first uni interview and it cost nearly £20 on public transport to get there and back, and I've got another on Wednesday which will cost about the same. Fortunately, I had set up a £50 buffer for this month on YNAB so I'll move it from there. I have been naughty and done a budget up until June, I know they recommend you don't put in money until you've got it, but as I've just moved from a managed bank account, I'm a bit scared about allocating the money before I know where it should be going. Obviously none of the transactions are marked as cleared, but I can see how much I have available for food shopping, etc at the beginning of the month. Maybe when I get a bit more confident, I'll stop doing it this way, but right now I need the boost!


DS has finally shaken her cough so we've had a few nights sleep, but I'm so behind with my coursework, I've been up late trying to get it done. Have managed to finish one essay tonite, but still have 2 more to do by Thursday!! Probably doesn't help that I keep popping over here and reading other people's diaries!!


Although I am always busy, this diary needs to be kept up as it is so important I stay on track, so I'm going to have to make the time. I might put an alarm on my phone allocating me half hour a day to update, even if I don't do anything!!


Thank goodness Better call Saul is only on once a week, otherwise I'd never get anything done! Mind you, it is my only distraction, apart from MSE!


Night all, I'm off to read about cell division!

andyfromotley

Roll with the punches Jimmy, roll with the punches. I am a new convert to Ynab and it definitely is working for me.

Good luck with the uni thing, i'm off to uni in Sept aged 47!

Sunscribed.

jimmymcgill

Another week flys by!


Uni interview went ok, got another one tmrw so fingers crossed. Andy - what will you be studying? I'm also 40+, but there have been loads of mature students at the interview days and apparently uni's prefer them!


Anyway, still up to my eyeballs in coursework, and should be writing an assignment now! But, I need a break now and again .


Have not had time to go on YNAB for a few days and now my figures don't match although my bank is pretty slow at showing transactions, especially if they are the contactless payment ones, think I'm going to have to stop using it. I wanted to reconcile YNAB and my bank but I'm going to have to leave it for a few days now.


H*me B*rgins have recently opened a shop near to me, and I popped in on Saturday with a friend. WOW! Managed to exercise some restraint, and spent under a £10. Luckily DD slept through the whole trip otherwise it might have been a different story, they had a ton of P*ppa pig stuff at half the price I've seen it anywhere else. Might well have to take a trip over to get her bday presents in advance before they sell out.


Was good today, off work and only spent £8.11 in the local greengrocers, chicken soup in the slow cooker as I type, should keep me fed for a week or so! Am determined to use up what's in the freezer and store cupboard, they are both rammed full. DD is a bit more fussy, but her freezer drawer is also full with hm pasta sauces, fish and cottage pies, so apart milk and bread, I shouldn't need to shop.


Enough rambling, back to enzymes!

jimmymcgill

Any idea why when I thank a post, It doesn't register below my name?

Sellurgranny

I think the Thanked totals below your name are for when other people thank you for your post. So here's a thank you to get you started! And Good luck on your DF journey.

Sellurgranny x