Feel so alone

12_month_challenge

Hi
Try to look at it all as small steps.. aim to set yourself small goals. I am working on paying extra on one CC at a time. Still paying the minimum on the others and then work through them that way.

Work out your budget and payments from payday and in the meantime try to keep positive. Once you start to get on top of things it actually feels good to be in control.

When I first started I rummaged through the freezers and cupboards and was surprised at how many meals I could make without buying more shopping. It proved to me how much money I was actually wasting. :eek: I also find that rounding down my accounts every day really helps. Even a pound or 50p added to my emergency fund and its starting to build up now. Ive never been one for saving hence the reason I am on here :rotfl:

Keep posting as I have found so much inspiration and good ideas and tips on here. Even if its just for a moan.

amber03

Agree with 12 month challenge, the big picture looks so daunting and never ending, so break it down into small goals, every time you hit one it will motivate you to reach the next one.


Good luck will follow you on your journey, a journey many of us have been on so feel free to ask advice or just rant away if you want.x

Popstess

Thank you 12 month challenge and Amber. I've opened a new current account (Tesco no fee) I just wanted somewhere I could put money and not automatically see it when I look at my account although I can't remember what I wanted it for now lol!!
I'm thinking either to use it as the account I transfer small monthly amounts in for payments that don't come around monthly eg car tax mot school stuff.
Or I could use it as a spending money account and give my self monthly spending money.
What do you guys think I should use it for?
I've also opened a savings account that I can put a monthly amount into but can't withdraw any money until this time next year. This will be my Christmas savings account as in the past I've always dipped into Xmas savings then when Xmas come regretted it and ended up using cc's and catalogues to pay for Xmas.
Feeling a bit more organised but still overwhelmed!
I want to start budgeting better but I don't get paid for a fortnight

12_month_challenge

Hi popstess

I like your idea of putting small amounts away for car tax and car maintenance etc. I need to look at this also. I also tend to panic buy at xmas and have used CCs. However I am determined to stay within my means this year.

Its great that you are looking for ways to manage your money. I have learned so much by reading on here.
Have a look at the Debt free roll of honour board. I love reading the success stories and the amounts that people have paid off just by sheer determination and budgeting etc.

We will be writing ours on there soon. :T

I totally agree about all this being overwhelming. I constantly think about money but in a more positive way now. I look forward to my CC statements coming in so I can use my snowball method of paying them down. I like seeing the balances go down even if it is only by a little amount.

My OH gets paid weekly so I have made myself a weekly budget for shopping Gas /Electric and TV licence etc. I also put a little by each week and this goes towards my debt repayments. I emailed myself a copy so I can check it every Friday and tick them off as paid.

I get paid monthly so my wages cover all of the direct debits and the main parts of my snowball payments.

It seems daunting but its the only way I can keep track of where our money goes.

elfy1807

I've just read through your thread and I'd just like to say how amazing you've done in a very short period of time! Well done! Keep up the good job! Will be subscribing.

I personally love mobile banking. I'm with nationwide (I know some people hate them and I could get a better rate on interest and things, but for now, it's doing the job for me and if it ain't broke...). The mobile app is so easy. I don't even have to log in properly to see my balances. They're there on the view balances button. I can't do anything else without logging in. But sometimes that's all I need.

I have 3 current accounts with them - one for my salary to go into, one for petrol money and one for fun money. The. I have about 8-10 online only accounts, so to be able to access the money, I have to transfer it to a current account. The different accounts I have include car insurance - I have a s/o that transfers £40 from my salary account a few days after I get paid each month, I have a presents find - £7 every Friday gets transferred over so there's always a bit of money for when birthdays come round and a starting point for Christmas. I also transfer £1.40 every Friday to and account nationwide call impulse saver. Just 20p a day for the last year and there's already £71.40 in there. I don't have any plans for it at the moment. But that's £71.40 I haven't missed because it was just 20p.
I've got other savings accounts on there for all sorts of other bits like holidays, house deposit, pay off my car finance, but I haven't really done much with those at the moment, nor my ISA. Tut tut. But I'll get there shortly.
My bills get paid from an old Lloyds account that I've had since I was born and had the direct debits coming out of there before I got the nationwide account, and I've been too lazy to get them transferred. But I like having them separate because then I know what's in my current account is mine, not owed to someone else.

Sorry, I've babbled on a little bit now. Only came here to offer my support, not my life story

Popstess

12_month_challenge wrote: »

Hi popstess

I like your idea of putting small amounts away for car tax and car maintenance etc. I need to look at this also. I also tend to panic buy at xmas and have used CCs. However I am determined to stay within my means this year.

Its great that you are looking for ways to manage your money. I have learned so much by reading on here.
Have a look at the Debt free roll of honour board. I love reading the success stories and the amounts that people have paid off just by sheer determination and budgeting etc.

We will be writing ours on there soon. :T

I totally agree about all this being overwhelming. I constantly think about money but in a more positive way now. I look forward to my CC statements coming in so I can use my snowball method of paying them down. I like seeing the balances go down even if it is only by a little amount.

My OH gets paid weekly so I have made myself a weekly budget for shopping Gas /Electric and TV licence etc. I also put a little by each week and this goes towards my debt repayments. I emailed myself a copy so I can check it every Friday and tick them off as paid.

I get paid monthly so my wages cover all of the direct debits and the main parts of my snowball payments.

It seems daunting but its the only way I can keep track of where our money goes.

I love this site!!! Reading all the tips and the success stories can't wait for that to be me!
I'm feeling a bit stressed with the budgeting at the minute. I don't get paid until the 15th but I still need to buy things and have a few bills to pay. My mortgage doesn't come out until the 1st which is so annoying I wanted to change it to the 16th but they said it would change my payment so I never.

Feeling a bit stuck in my debt free journey today I want to start paying chunks off but I can't until I know what's what with my money and my budget plus Xmas is looming

Popstess

elfy1807 wrote: »

I've just read through your thread and I'd just like to say how amazing you've done in a very short period of time! Well done! Keep up the good job! Will be subscribing.

I personally love mobile banking. I'm with nationwide (I know some people hate them and I could get a better rate on interest and things, but for now, it's doing the job for me and if it ain't broke...). The mobile app is so easy. I don't even have to log in properly to see my balances. They're there on the view balances button. I can't do anything else without logging in. But sometimes that's all I need.

I have 3 current accounts with them - one for my salary to go into, one for petrol money and one for fun money. The. I have about 8-10 online only accounts, so to be able to access the money, I have to transfer it to a current account. The different accounts I have include car insurance - I have a s/o that transfers £40 from my salary account a few days after I get paid each month, I have a presents find - £7 every Friday gets transferred over so there's always a bit of money for when birthdays come round and a starting point for Christmas. I also transfer £1.40 every Friday to and account nationwide call impulse saver. Just 20p a day for the last year and there's already £71.40 in there. I don't have any plans for it at the moment. But that's £71.40 I haven't missed because it was just 20p.
I've got other savings accounts on there for all sorts of other bits like holidays, house deposit, pay off my car finance, but I haven't really done much with those at the moment, nor my ISA. Tut tut. But I'll get there shortly.
My bills get paid from an old Lloyds account that I've had since I was born and had the direct debits coming out of there before I got the nationwide account, and I've been too lazy to get them transferred. But I like having them separate because then I know what's in my current account is mine, not owed to someone else.

Sorry, I've babbled on a little bit now. Only came here to offer my support, not my life story

Hi elfy :j
Thanks for the reply and your words of encouragement. I love the idea of 20p a day!!! Small amounts that add up are great!
I'm just feeling a bit stretched at the minute and not sure which way to turn in terms of what to save and where etc!

I think I'm probably over the initial shock :eek: of all the debt I'm in and need to start making really good solid plans that I can stick to.
I also need a good play around with the snowball calculator I had a quick look but didn't fully understand it.
My next aim is to get this very account paid off!
How do I find out what my interest rate is on my Tesco cc? I've looked on my statement but it's not clear. It appears to be quite a low interest rate but maybe I'm kidding myself

2rea22

Hi Popstess

Just read your thread and wanted to say well done and wish you well on your journey! With reference to bank accounts I've got two. My salary gets paid into the first one on the 18th. I have all my direct debits, mortgage, bills etc out of this. I've worked out how much I need to leave in this account for the month to cover everything. I then have a standing order on the 18th set up to transfer a set amount to the second current account which I use to cover everyday expenses. I know that as long as I don't touch the first account (never keep debit card for this one in my purse!) it doesn't matter what day of the month the DD or bill comes out because there is money in to cover it. I can only spend out of the second account. This method has got me out of the overdraft cycle, missed DD etc. It nearly kills me sticking to the amount in the second account but it's beginning to help me on my budgeting and debt free journey!:T

Popstess

Just wanted to share some good news! I changed tariff with my gas and electricity supplier and knocked £7 a month off my direct debit :j that's £7 a month towards paying my debt off :j

Popstess

Hi 2rea22 :j
Thank you!!! It's a roller coaster that's for sure!!!
The more I think about it the more I think a "spending" account is a good idea I might use my new Tesco current account for that.
I can't believe I've been living my life so chaotically for so long!!!! I am still very mad at myself :mad::mad::mad: such a fool!!!
I'm determined to use the lessons I've learnt to teach my son how to budget properly and about debt. I don't want to scare him just educate him in a way I never was.