Reality Check...

reality_check

So I now have a new plan.... Plan E I think since keep changing my mind to what approach to take....

The new plan - put petrol and food on my credit card, that means £200 can go to Barclays and then I will continue to use the credit card to free up my overdraft as much as possible....

Credit card is interest free, so makes sense to use that as oppose to overdraft that costs me money!

I put £43.32 petrol to fill up my tank last night, probably had a few pounds worth left.... So it costs me £45 for a full tank, will keep notes of trips to work/anywhere else I go to see how long a full tank can last me!

reality_check

p.s I will have a look into Amazon regulators, i'm sure I asked last time I was on the phone but whoever I am speaking to doesn't seem to know what day of the week it is and utterly hopeless!!

note3

It may be worth posting on the main board to ask advice as I'm obviously new to it all but is it worth doing a 0% cash transfer to into bank to pay off overdraft then immediately call bank and remove overdraft facility so what you have is yours in there? I was tempted to have a small overdraft for emergencies but then realised I'd just get back on slippery slope of dipping into it.

reality_check

Hey Note - thanks for the advice, I went onto Barclays as they show offers online and one of them is £2000 % free transfer until November into my bank! I didn't know these existed!! I always thought cash direct into the bank would be high high interest rates!! It says I am eligible with a 1.9% fee! Will cost a one off £38, but I pay around £39 a month EACH month currently! THANKS! :beer:

It also means I can switch banks and cash in on that! I am with Bank of Scotland currently but I have no loyalty to them they haven't brought me any luck, so when I switch I will get a £500 overdraft if they let me, I like the safety net...but i might try without....

I am off to phone them now!! xx

reality_check

Gave them a call - but need my long card number and as I am waiting on my bank card can't do it until I have it! but the offer is on for me until end of the month, so all good!

I am happy that frees up an extra £35-40 per month to help pay off my debt!!

Feeling good! xx

reality_check

Had to take my dog to the vets tonight and he is now in the emergency vet hospital Will have a bill to pay, I'm not bothered about the cost I would pay anything for him to get better, just hoping he will be, but not looking good!

Bought dinner on the way home as couldn't face cooking, will update weekly spends at later time.

Off to bed to read a book... Night diary xx

note3

Sorry to read this...how's he doing?

reality_check

Bad news about my dog - had to put him to sleep on Wednesday in the middle of the night. He had a seizure we went to the vet who sedated him, then went to animal hospital and got the call to go during the night. Absolutely devastated, he was the best dog you could ask for, we got him when my daughter was 8 so she is also heart broken. Just need to remember he had a great life, always happy and wasn't in pain...it really was the best, his quality of life the past 2 weeks wasn't good.

My budgeting/debt busting well and truly went out the window since Wednesday!

Since Wednesday I have added £843.56 to my total debt!!

£383.29 - Vet bill
£20.00 - cash that has all been spent minus 40p on an indian takeaway
£39.00 - cooking voucher as a gift to my neighbor, she checks in and walks my dog daily so like to get her something good
£14.70 - chinese takeaway
£4.55 - Costa coffee
£9.91 - a load of junk food in Morrisons
£27.10 - Boots, on "essentials" that my daughter "needed"
£133.50 - jacket for my daughter
£49.84 on paint
£71.17 - Sainsburys, a weekly shop where anything and everything was flung in but hasnt amounted to much but got about 3 months worth of washing capsules that were on offer
£14.50 - iphone phone cable charger
£50.50 - Next x2 pairs of shoes for me
£15.50 - Ikea (was actually £35.50 but had £20 voucher that needed used from xmas tree voucher offer)
£10.00 - Cash withdrawn for my daughter

A lot couldn't have been avoided but A LOT could have been!! But oh well, onwards and upwards! It is done now and I can't go back. I could return a few items, but won't as the shoes I really needed and the phone charger....

Took 2 days emergency holiday and back to work today, brought my lunch in with me! Need to pay for my carpet this Friday, and then I will do the total figures!

I'm ready to commit to this debt reducing and get back to filling this in to keep me on track! xxx

MERFE

I'm so sorry to read about your dog reality check, its such sad news. I wouldn't feel too bad about the slip ups, I don't think anyone can concentrate on money when they are dealing with grief.

note3

Oh what a shame about your dog though like you say...he had a good innings and didn't suffer

Write off this bit of financial binging as a coping mechanism but don't let it continue as that's a potential slippery slope. Back on track now ��

Edited to add: the question marks on my post was an angel emoticon but it hasn't shown up that way!