Jules DFW Diary!

Jules

I decided to try and keep a diary in order to get back on track and stay there this time.

I had my first LBM in 2004, thanks to MSE, when our debt peaked at £65,639.22. My son was 4, my husband was too ill to work and we went on a DMP with CCCS. For the first few years I was very proactive and paying off more than I am now even though our income was less. Eventually, 4 or 5 years ago, my husband was well enough to start back to work 12 hours a week and is now working 30 hours a week so we have 2 incomes coming in again but we are slipping back into our old ways.

I decided to go onto a self managed DMP around 2 years ago (I wanted more control lol for the life of me I don’t know why!) and am paying £200 per month to 10 creditors, most of which are in my name and had the realisation a few days before Christmas this year that things really have to change and I need to get back in control of things. We’re living hand to mouth despite having a reasonable income and no mortgage. Things had been slipping back probably from my husband went back to work as we’d extra income and therefore were spending more and then I lost my Dad last year and things have gone completely out of control. I haven’t even been checking bank statements etc but reality hit hard when I couldn’t even start buying Christmas presents until 21st December, when I got paid. In previous years I always had a Christmas pot, in fact I’d pots for everything but they’re all empty. The result...we spent over £800 in 2 days basically panic buying and not keeping track and now I don’t have enough money to see me through until the next payday on 21st January, in fact I’ve £15 so inevitably there is going to be spending on the card but i want to keep this to the minimum.

Yesterday was my son’s birthday and we had a family dinner planned but didn’t even have the money to pay for it, so it was going to go on my husband’s credit card. My sister paid in the end but that’s not the point and my son didn’t get a present from us as we’d no money. I know this won’t kill him as he got plenty at Christmas but this shouldn’t have happened.

I have a large bill to pay for approx £2000 in the coming weeks and I did have the money but this has been frittered away and now I’m going to have to borrow from the credit union to cover this. Thankfully the monthly payment won’t increase but that’s not the point, it’s more debt that we have to pay off.

In 2004 my plan had been to be debt free by the time my son turned 18 and this will be in 2 years time so it’s not going to happen but I’m hoping to make a good dent in it.

I’m no good at challenges; I’ve tried them before so I will concentrate on creating and sticking to a sensible budget and trying to get a buffer gathered so that there is always something to fall back on and get my pots on the go again. I’ve downloaded YNAB and I love it and hopefully this is the first step in the right direction.

I’m also looking at our outgoings to see what can be reduced and got rid of.

Started my spending diary again, used to do this faithfully but this is another thing that has fallen by the wayside.

My husband bought me a present at Christmas and the shop charged him twice for it so I need to try and get this refunded. Not quite sure how, but will go to the bank first thing when they open. I’m also planning to take the present itself back for a refund as it was perfume and I don’t need any but need the money to try and see us through until payday.

I’ve a pair of shoes bought from 5pounds that have broken after one wear so need to get these returned and refunded. If I’ve to pay the return postage, then this will have to wait.

Need to cancel a subscription to a clothing website! Made the mistake of buying boots and not reading the small print and they’ve taken £35 recurring payment the last 2 months!

I’m going to try and post here regularly to try and keep myself motivated and get this debt under control and paid off once and for all. The original debt is down to around £32k, with no interest being charged, but I need to get updated balances. We’ve taken additional debt and some of the interest is high and I need to get balances for what else is owed so I know where I am.

I’m trying not to be too hard on myself for falling off the DFW wagon, it is what it is (a mess), it’s been a difficult few years but hopefully this will help me get where I want to be, ultimately debt free and hopefully sooner rather than later!

Jules

Subscription cancelled to VIP clothing membership - £35pm saved

That's a start!

Jules

A bit of a non-productive day after a very late night /early morning with a very sick kitten. I think she's allergic to the flea treatment, which i got from the vet, and I'm resorting to not feeding her for 24 hours to see if this settles her tummy. She's miserable, the poor wee thing, and won't even take the medication to settle her tummy. There are a few natural / non-toxic options online so it will be one of these from now on and a lot cheaper than the usual vet ones.

I have received an email to return the shoes. Had to laugh as they tried to say I only had 30 days from the date of purchase to return them but as a gesture of goodwill would send a returns lable! I think so too, faulty goods, so no gesture of good will, it's my statutory rights to have them replaced / refunded as they broke the first time I wore them! They may have only cost £5 but that's not the point. No more wasting money and I'll be asking for a refund!

No spend day today which is good.

Eager_Elephant

Jules wrote: »

I’m trying not to be too hard on myself for falling off the DFW wagon, it is what it is (a mess), it’s been a difficult few years but hopefully this will help me get where I want to be, ultimately debt free and hopefully sooner rather than later!

Hi Jules


All that matters now is that you have jumped back on the wagon and want to sort things out. If you had kept your head firmly in the sand then that would have been a problem.


Your debt has reduced since your LBM so have a :T


Now is the time to do the budget and get filling the pots ready for 2016 - I have (what feels like) hundreds of pots for anything and everything but it makes me feel better that I have things covered - well I did until I raided them all to buy a new to me car!!


I also use YNAB, it's great isn't it? Have you created your budget for it yet?


The thing for me that means we are always skint is buying food and bits and pieces for lunch while at work.
I am going back to a monthly online shop with weekly/2 weekly visits to the greengrocers instead of going weekly.
I work in a town centre so can call into a supermarket if there is something urgent we need.
I am hoping this will help with the groceries budget and will mean that I don't have to buy food from my account when the grocery account should cover it.


I know you don't like challenges but I have just joined the Ninja Saving Turtles - January will be interesting!!


Can you post about what you will need to spend between now and 21st Jan and we can see if we can come up with any ideas on how to reduce the cost?
I like the idea of taking the perfume back, are there any other gifts that can be returned?
Have you got any supermarket points/vouchers that can be used for food?
Do you have things to sell on your local Facebook selling sites?


Well done on cancelling the monthly subscription - these companies are sneaky aren't they? Well done for checking the bank account and realising what was happening - imagine if you hadn't checked for another year or more?!!?


Good luck Jules!!

Jules

Thank you Eager_Elephant and a Happy New Year to you. Yes I'm loving YNAB and have just spent the evening doing my budget. I now have the grand total of £83.16 for food etc until payday and that doesn't include the perfume I'm going to return. All other bills until then are covered but because of the bank holidays I have a sneaky feeling there may be another couple of transaction to come out that I've forgotten about. The bank won't update until Monday unfortunately but hopefully it won't be too much.

I'm going to have to broach the subject of packed lunches with my son. He normally gets £25 a week pocket money from which he has to buy his lunch, but obviously we can't afford this. The reason he buys lunch is he was badly bullied and prefers to leave school at lunchtime and go to the local shop rather than eat in school. Now rather than insisting he takes packed lunches 5 days a week I'm going to suggest 3 days as a compromise and I can buy soft drinks in bulk to save a bit.

I get 10% discount from a local supermarket as a family member works there and there was an extra discount over xmas and I bulk bought things like toilet rolls and cleaning products so am OK for them. Food and cat food is the main thing between now and 21st so i need to work on a menu plan. Going to make a list of what's in the cupboards. The freezer is empty so that won't bee difficult! Time to do what your doing and a monthly shop and a top up rarely. At the minute I'm buying day to day and it's definitely more expensive and time consuming. We're all bored with what we are eating so i need menu ideas. We're going to try and come up with ideas tomorrow.

I've loads of things I could sell so that's another thing to look into. I also have the makings of a small business in my garage. I used to do quite well from it but I haven't bothered for a while as I changed jobs, was doing a degree and then dad was ill and I just haven't had the time so perhaps it's time to try and get it up and running again. I just don't want to overwhelm myself trying to do too much all at once!

Can't believe I got taken in by the monthly subscription thing! I wonder how many others have been caught and haven't realised as yet! They must make a fortune from the unsuspecting!

I've just remembered that I haven't budgeted for my son's guitar lesson @ £7 a week and his maths tuition @ £20 a week! Yikes! Need to go and adjust the budget. The guitar tutor will wait but maths tuition is vital as he's his first GCSE today fortnight and maths is not his forte unfortunately! I'l have to pay for at least one more before his exam and then skip until after I get paid.

Jules

Ok so I've just remembered that I have a few gift cards that family and clients have given me over the last year. Got one for Christmas for a clothing store that I love for £30 and have another one for the same place in my purse but I'm not sure how much is on it but knowing my sis probably £20+. So that's work clothes sorted for the next year, I tend to buy in the sale and wear the same things over and over. OH got loads of clothes for xmas as did my DS and he doesn't go out much so no big expenses needed there. I've also one for marksies for around £20, I think, so although their food is slightly more expensive I could use this for part of my food budget, do they do reduced items like the other food shops? Mmm need to check this out. I've another couple somewhere, for clothes shops. Just need to figure out the best way to add these to YNAB so I can put them in the budget.

Food budget is not looking too healthy but I'm determined that if I plan well we will make it through the next 3 weeks until payday.

in_need_of_direction

M&s do good whoopsied items. Well worth using your voucher there.

Jules

That's good to know, in need of direction, thank you. Might take a wee trip out later...after I've done the menu plan!

Eager_Elephant

Hi jules


The Old Style board has some great recipe collections - also if you are stuck with what you can cook from what you have you can post up a list of ingredients and the helpful oldstylers will come up with ideas.


Great news on the gift cards for clothes!

I like M & S for food - they do a lot of meat on 3 for £10 offers - I usually get the 3 largest whole chickens which in other shops would be about £5 each so a good saving - we are a greedy family but we usually manage to get 2 meals for 3 people out of 1 chicken, others can get a lot more.

Just wondering if you like jacket potatoes? I think they are a cheap and filing meal and with a variety of toppings you don't get bored. We went to our local greengrocer before Xmas and got a 25kg sack for £6.80. This will last us ages and as our grocery budget for Jan is only £100 I can see a lot of jacket potatoes on the menu!!


Good luck with the meal plan!!

Jules

Just had the packed lunch discussion with my son. Not happy but will do it!

Jules

Thanks Eager_Elephant! Jacket potatoes are a great idea, thank you. I love them and something I remember my Mum doing a lot of when we were young. I wonder was this the reason lol? Will go to the greengrocers and see how much a bag is. Could use them for wedges, they both like wedges and topping for cottage pie. Maybe get mince in M&S as well as a chicken or 2. Roast chicken and then homemade chicken pie, I've all the ingredients for that.
Hopefully chicken curry tonight, just need some chicken. Hopefully M&S open today!

That's a good start to this months menu. Off to check the cupboards properly