Dear Diary Love from Rebecca

Rebecca01

I am off for the school holidays and have read a few diaries and coined by Suffolk las and ToPm. I have realised I have never had my light bulb moment. I have had the dimmer switch. Also reading three life crisis I have the living for the moment mentality. I am also addicted to holidays and food.

I am in debt and I have become fat! I am 38 this is not good.

I could blame starting teaching again full time for the last two years which has put constraints on my time and I could put living at home on the holiday addiction. But no I would probably be the same no matter what.

Living with my parents has improved since I started this diary. My oh now lives here and we all support each other. It!!!8217;s not perfect. There is little space. We have a few fallings out but looking at it appreciatively has changed my perspective.

However since my first page nearly 3 years ago my debt amount has not moved really. Give or take a few hundred.

Is this my LBM? Probably not. I am off on holiday on Monday. I can!!!8217;t afford to. I have done it in the MSE way. I have saved up for 2 months for this. It proves I can do it. I could have paid the 2k off my debt but no I am going to the USA instead.

I have all my spending money and do not want to add anything to cards when away. I may even post from over there to keep myself right.

I need to get rid of all my debt and save. Will I be able to avoid booking a holiday for the next summer holidays. Well we will see.
However I can and I am determined to cut down on takeaways, fad diets and mini breaks. The wine will need to be cut down too.

2-3 stone to lose and about 13k. Will check now.

Natwest credit card-£8510
Barclay card- 4512
Total- £13022
Ugh!!!
Maybe the fact that I do have so much disposable income lulls me into a false sense of security. I have been reading other forums too ( mums one) people on there can not sleep with even a few thousand debt. While that is not what keeps me awake at night ( family health and teaching) it did get me thinking.

However its never too late and I have not given up yet.

Income ( salary, cb, maintenance) 2102
Bills ( board, phones, insurance, internet) -£402
Grocery- £200

That leaves £1500 for debt or other monthly expenses. I know I should budget for car stuff per month etc. But I want to try it this way for now.

September expenses coming up are my nephews and my boyfriends birthday. Also I have a literacy tutor booked for my daughters SATs at £25 a time.

Off to pack will try and do my holiday in the MSE way. The dimmer switch has at least been ranked up a couple of clicks.

erin_transport

Hi
Keep posting in here to stay focused.
Maybe set a mini goal? Cut up the barclaycard and aim to clear it by 1st of March perhaps? See how it goes. Small bite sized goals in achievable timescales works for me.

Rebecca01

Thanks. March sounds like a good goal.

I tend to give myself silly goals like debt free by Christmas and then fail as its too extreme.

Rebecca01

Holiday was great. It seems long forgotten now as the first term back at work is always the hard one.

Debt as it stands

Natwest 7.5k
Halifax 1.3k
Barclays 3.6k
Total 12.4k

It hasn’t come down much and I am out of money until pay day. I may need to look at disposable income so that I can stick to a budget. There is always stuff that crops up like daughters school trips and photos. Will update at pay day with my monthly plan.

Rebecca01

Intended bills for this month. I may have a slight pay rise but not sure until Wednesday

Income ( salary, cb, maintenance) 2102

Bills ( board, phones, insurance, internet) -£402
Grocery- £200
Dads 70th 100
Christmas presents 110
Swimming lessons 100

Leaves £1190 for debt repayments. I will split this between minimum payments on Barclay and Natwest and main bulk to Halifax.

It is half term so any extra spends will have to come out of the grocery budget. This is one of the first school holidays I have not booked even a night away. So hopefully that is the first step in breaking the cycle.

Kitten868

Hello! 3 years! Wow! Glad to hear you and OH are still happy together and having new experiences all over the world.

I think you need a big change to make a big change. Move out. Owning isn't the be all and end all and the saving isn't happening. Get your own home for your own family. It will have such a big positive impact for you. It will take away the big disposable income. You deserve it. You won't be paying for holidays to escape- you will have escaped. I'm in loads of debt again too by the way so I'm not being judgemental. I'm trying to be encouraging. I don't have a diary any more but I'm still about xxxx

Rebecca01

Hi Kitten

Great to hear from you. Sad to hear you are in debt too. It isn’t easy is it? How are you apart from that?

I hear what you are saying. I am going to try this final push and assess on my birthday. If I am still in the same situation then I will do what you advise.

I find out in March what school my daughter will be going to. I only put the name of one on the form. As it should be guaranteed really.

Kitten868

Right then - you've got your deadline. I'm not bossing you about just pointing out you need to cut yourself some slack.

How am I? I'm alright. Just can't believe how much has changed in 3 years. My youngest is 3 now. Eldest is at school and youngest is in preschool so life is totally different. And they both talk now! I can't remember if I said but we wanted a house as I fell down the huge concrete stairs carrying them. We got a house. Half an hour away from where we wanted and it's a real fixer upper. Debts come from being on a low income and fixing up the house. It's only cosmetic not structural but we're having to replace everything. Wood panel bathroom yuck! It was a HMO. It's a lot of work but only downstairs and half the garden to go lol.

Well done on securing daughter's space at the school you wanted. It's taken you out of your comfort zone but you've done it. Xxx

Rebecca01

You fell down the stairs!! Could have been very serious but glad you are ok.
Well done on the house. You will fix it up in time. At least no more concrete stairs.

Thanks about my job. I am actually preferring it to my old place. I miss going to work with oh but my department is amazing. Lunch times are such a laugh which breaks up the day and everyone is so supportive.

Kitten868

I've just moved jobs too - same job different place and having nice people makes such a difference! Im so much happier. I'm so pleased you have that too! I think you deserve to be happy at work - I never understand why people opt to be so miserable at work.

Nearly £1200 off debts this month will be very good! Xxx