Do One, Debt!

GoingToDoIt

Feeling much better at last. Had a nap and woke up hungry, considered delivery food but remembered that ALL the work done on sw@ggy would be going to pay for it, and it didn't seem worthwhile!

Lots of other diaries mention weight...money saving is a bit like dieting in a way I think. When you go to the gym and it takes 15 mins to burn 100 calories, it makes you think twice about eating a kitkat the next day! I suppose we just need a sense of proportion rather than looking for a quick fix or treat. Speaking of which, the "no smoking" is going well, I know that when I feel ill or sad I really want to smoke, so I have to "re-interpret" that feeling as a signal that I feel ill or sad or bored, not that I actually need to smoke.

I've had a root around and found 3 things I could put on Ebay, plus my penny jar has produced £5 in 5p's so I've done well earning and not spending in the last weeks. I think the real test is still to come back at work-remembering lunch, the microwave queue, using the bus more. All the daily grind stuff.

That's enough musings for now, hope everyone's feeling strong and moneysavey

LittleMissDetermined

Glad you're feeling better :T

Well done on steering clear of take out food, all that hard work would have gone to waste. There's a take your lunch to work (LTW) thread which I've joined, might keep you on track and there are lots of tasty suggestions for variety.

LMD x

GoingToDoIt

Hi LMD,
I'm going to join in with "take lunch to work" when I go back to work. You've convinced me!
I had a productive day prepping food for my freezer. I've peeled, sliced and chopped onions, celery, leeks and 3 garlic bulbs. These are things I only use in small quantities so if I buy them I use a bit then prep and freeze the rest for soup/stews etc.
Had to spend some money posting a letter for a refund, and treated myself to a can of diet coke. First time out of the house since Friday! Feeling a million times better and looking to getting back to work next week.
Got my train ticket (12 weeks in advance) so got it for £30 rock bottom price- result. Did a good bit on inb@x pounds, swaggy and rew@rd tv to get the points rolling in. I also listed the freebie Molton Brown shower gel on bay of E. It's much cheaper than when I last used it, and you can have more photos! Update- well that's it now I have £35 worth of stuff listed. Which cost me £22 to buy, mind you there is a present on there. I looked up the value of it and freaked out, so if I sell it I will buy that person a good xmas gift. £18 for hand cream blooming heck!
Sorted through my cupboards and got together a few bits I've gone off and a few freebie/bogof things I got, so I can drop them off at the foodbank collection point when I next go shopping. Being broke is all relative, but I feel so lucky that for me it does not mean being cold or hungry, it just means watching the pennies and cutting down on buying crap.
I'm off to list some (hardly worn!) shoes on the bay of E. Hope everyone is having a nice day!
Gonna

GoingToDoIt

Didn't sleep well last night, had a bit of a money panic. I think it's the thought of the next few months being really strict on spending and going out. Although I don't actually spend a lot on shopping and going out! I think it just "hit me" how much the debt is and how long it will take to repay, especially as I'm about to acquire another £1100 debt from being off work sick.
I think it was set off by baying, I'd forgotten how I used to put all my good presents on the bay of E. I Suppose that's the problem with a lot of debt "keeping up appearances" buying people nice presents and the like, though in my case they were part funded by selling on presents!
Well B@@ts is giving a lot of advantage points today so I bought two items off the xmas list to get £10 of points (I added two 50p items as well just to make sure it came to £60) it gets delivered tomorrow. I did it through TCB on my dibenhams card, so it's a points fest!
It was worth doing now as one item is on offer at half price, so needed to buy it asap.
On the down side switching broadband means I'll be paying two monthly line rentals this month. I've found a little note book, honestly I'm just going to write myself notes about which budget owes which as it's getting complicated!

GoingToDoIt

Wide awake again- well not really, I have a pounding headache. Massive relapse today. So looks like another week on the sick, this is not going well, though this week would be on half pay.
Went on a mega shopping spree to cheer myself up, spent £6 in lidl on cheese, pizza, chocolate crisps, biscuits and pop and a donut. I'd like to say it was a waste but it wasn't! I really enjoyed it. Have not eaten the lot (just half a pizza and the donut).

wishus

Oh no! Boo to feeling poorly again.

Hope you feel better soon.

GoingToDoIt

Thanks Wishus,
Today was much better. I have a hospital appt tomorrow. Signed off for another week but did manage to go out shopping today (fell asleep when I got home). Picked up pressies ordered from B@@ts, also bought a purse from the xmas list and paid in my £20 cheque.

GoingToDoIt

I've updated my signature again, to recognise that I paid my small overdraft as well. I've paid off £618 of debts in October, which is pretty amazing. Helped along by reduced spending from being off, stopping smoking and a service charge refund. When I started this two weeks ago, I didn't even include all the figures of what I owe/owed. I think psychologically I couldn't really deal with it being over 5k. So now the debt is under 5k, but the next few months are going to be tight with xmas and trying to get anything paid down. The little debts are gone so it's just the big fat ones to chip away at!
I recieved my Vrgin statement and noticed that on the back it says my 0% is until dec 2016 so there's no immediate panic to pay it next month thank goodness :T
Whilst it's great news it just shows how out of control my finances are. Now I'm back on the moneysaving wagon I feel much happier, there's still a long way to go, and the loss of £1100 wages hanging over me.

GoingToDoIt

This Really is handy to look back on and refer to. I've worked out how much I need to pay each month in order to get this debt paid before any interest goes on. I pay £164 but I need to pay £235 every month until aug 2017.
Salary 1918
Loan taken from salary 107 (ends June 16)
Salary to bank 1811
Mortgage 286.72
Rent 461.48
Water 32.42
Electric 50.00
Council tax 66.00
Insurance 13.29
Broadband 16
Mobile 7.50
Contact lenses 12
Hair 67
Xmas & bday 70.00
Travel 123.00
Hulifax cc 32
Virgn cc 25
MBNA 25
Cleaner 40.00
Regular saver 140
Total outgoings 1467.14
Money left for food, clothes, entertainment £343
REPAYMENT REMINDERS 0% ends....
£550 halifx by Oct 16
£ all of virgn by Dec 16
£ all of mbna by Dec 16
£ all of hulifax by Aug 17

GoingToDoIt

A good swaggy day! Cashed out a £10 voucher- to use for xmas presents.
So far this month I've got £10 cash and this £10 voucher, £20 cash from inb@x pounds and am almost at reward point for £5 voucher rew@rdtv and £5 from m@bile expressions, plus £10'b@@ts advantage points.
Obviously being off work is helping but it shows that you can get a boost from these sites. All helping to pay off the debt.
Reading other diaries I've decided to try and start a RDF as well, so that there's a bit spare for disaster/celebration/wiggle room.