Please help, I've hit a brick wall and don't know what to do

Lucy1982_2

Oh ****!!! just checked my online account and I'm now £360 OD :mad: I badly miss calculated somewhere :mad: . Oh well not much I can do about it is there.

But I have some more books to go onto Amazon, so hopefully that will help. I'm thinking that it might be worth transfering some over from my A and L account, but I don't really want to do that. I might see how I get on in the coming month and do it that hard way.

Guess it's time to start budgeting properly from now on.

Well that's a downer on the day. Not a good way to start. It's my own fault, so I am just going to have to be careful aren't I.

It's just a bit poo. I really hate myself when I do this, I should have learn't by now.

Ok, so I am guessing I should treat this as LBM2 and start again. I know that there is nothing that can come off my SOA, so I'm just going to have to work on the budget. I have to get some shopping tonight, but will make it Lidil instead of Sainsburys.

Trips to the supermarket at lunchtime are going to have to stop and I am only going to buy things I actually need rather than things I want. The things I want can go onto a list for when I have some money.

Wish me luck and I may need some help with this.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stick with a budget? I really need all the help I can get. I'm sat a work and I can feel a panic attack coming on and I've not had one in about a week and a half, I've been doing really well and now I've blown everything.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

(this is copied from my Diary)

Shineyhappy

Hi Lucy,

Dont panic, we all mess up from time to time! How much is your OD allowance? Make sure you stay within that and get it increased temporarily if need be.

Remember that life is a lesson and you learn things each day and this can be a good set back if you learn the right lessons from it. Why not think about joing the uneccasary challenge? That might help with budgeting or keep a record of your allowance and your spending either on your signature or on your diary?

Karmacat

Hi Lucy
I'd say that if you're going to get charged for each payment while you're overdrawn, you *do* need to transfer some money from a savings account, to avoid all the charges. Think of it as a loan, and transfer it back, of course, but don't put yourself in line for more charges.

Lucy1982_2

My OD limit is £700, set to decreasing by £50 each month from the 20th. So I'm not going to be charged.

I've tried the challenge before and was awful at it. I know I should give it ago. I worked out that I can manage this week on £20 (i'm having my hair cut and can't cancel, but it's only £10).

I guess I should try again. I just feel so helpless sometimes.

EmptyPockets

Hello Lucy,

Just wanted to wish you luck and remind you that we all make these boo-boos now and then, some more than other's (me) lol! Don't be too down on yourself, it'll work out in the end like it always does, right?

Best wishes,

EmptyPockets x

madmoney_2

hiya lucy, just wanted to say that ive been reading your posts for a while now and you have helped me loads, i wouldnt worry about the od, as you are within it, from your sig it looks like you have done really well so far so just keep on plodding and remember we are only human and we make mistakes from time to time - dont be too hard on yourself!
xxx

taxi73

Hi Lucy ..please don't be too hard on yourself ..whats happened as happened and can't be changed now but can be a lesson for the future.Are you keeping a spending diary at the moment as this may help see where you are overspending?..there are going to be times that we all get unforseen bills/expenses as life is always throwing spanners in the works.We just have to learn to deal with them the best we can.

duchy

Lucy have a hug first of all. We all mess up and rather than beat yourself up thinking "What can I learn from this ?" can help.
Sounds to me you might need to try my shopping tactic. I shop once a week on-line. I menu plan the week (using special offers and bogof's from the on-line shopping) and that is it except for milk (and when I go to get milk I take the exact money with me to the corner shop ). If I run out of something I substitute or go without it til the next week. Telling myself it's only a few days and I can manage without it. I always nose around on-line for a money off or points voucher which covers the delivery charge and it keeps me out of the shops as it's the "odd bits and pieces" that add up and blow my budget. You're right it's the lunchtime trips that do the damage
If a challenge will help I'll challenge you to do an on-line or single shop this week and then keep out of the supermarket at lunchtimes for a whole week. Take lunch to work and see what a difference a week of been "supermaket free" makes. It'll really encourage you.
Just keep going-all you need is a good week and you'll feel all inspired again !

chocaholic110

Normally you are really positive in your posts so treat this as a minor blip and carry on!
Can you go back over your figures and work out where the mistake has happened?
You mentioned Amazon but have you got anything for ebay (almost anything or everything can go on there!)

hypno06

Go out without your purse and then that way you can't get caught up in the lunchtime supermarket shop!

We can't all be perfect in this DFW lark all the time - eg I have never made my SOA public and can't stick to a spending diary for more than 12 hours But you are still making progress.

So, take a deep breath, get listing on amazon and watch that OD disappear!!

Shineyhappy

We cant be good at everything and obviously its up to you, but if you want to get debt free quicker it might be useful to budget a weekly allowance, but if you dont spend it, then maybe think about putting it in a treats piggy bank so when you do need to spend more then hopefully you will have enough for those little extras?