Time to face up.

AntoMac

Good luck, I've no doubt that you will succeed

I've just worked out how to subscribe (even though I've been on here probably 18 months) and have subscribed.
I like your idea of clear goals for the month - something I need to get better at.

tunnelandlight

AntoMac wrote: »

Good luck, I've no doubt that you will succeed

I've just worked out how to subscribe (even though I've been on here probably 18 months) and have subscribed.
I like your idea of clear goals for the month - something I need to get better at.

Thanks AM, and I like how in your diary everything is at ultra low interest!! :T You inspired me to have a bit of a rejig, avoiding the transfer fees and get my Capital 1 card paid off and move the balance to MBNA for a quarter of the interest. Now I will focus on my OD.

Although I owe exactly the same having one fewer card to worry about feels really good. So thanks again and good luck on your own journey.

AntoMac

Thanks TnL,

I think it's all about sharing and picking up little hints and tips from each other on here. What impresses me about your story is a) you tried something adventurous (own business abroad - way more adventurous than me although I did once move to the Midlands!) and b) when it didn't work out you pulled yourself up,started again and got on with it.

tunnelandlight

AntoMac wrote: »

Thanks TnL,

I think it's all about sharing and picking up little hints and tips from each other on here. What impresses me about your story is a) you tried something adventurous (own business abroad - way more adventurous than me although I did once move to the Midlands!) and b) when it didn't work out you pulled yourself up,started again and got on with it.

Totally agree about this forum! This place is great to vent and full of helpful people going out of their way to support and assist. And thanks for your kind words about my story. Financially living abroad was a mistake, but it was an amazing life experience, I learned the language, made some great friends of many nationalities and had an amazing few years out there. I know where I hope to retire to!

Hope everyone had a good weekend? Wish it were a little warmer, heating is back on in this house but I did get quite a lot done: weed killer down in the parking area to the rear of my house - one that doesn't hurt bees etc., lawn cut (not well), made a veggie shepherds pie (quite good if I do say so myself), got a quote for selling some jewellery, put some ads on gum tree and did some marking and PowerPoints for lessons on Monday. Sent lots of e-mails and got the house clean and washing done. All necessary if not exactly interesting stuff! BF was watching the Eurovision at the venue in Stockholm and confessed he put £100 on the Russian entry. Russia didn't win. It's his money but what a waste!!!! I think/ hope he knows that....

Still counting the days until pay day. Just over £6 left in my current account. Soon it will be a bit less as I am in need of stuff to make food for next week. I did loads of the shepherd's pie so that will do two days but I must get 2 more lunches sorted. In total I spent £80 on groceries ALL MONTH(!!)(including toiletries) :A- that's good for me, I don't buy lunch at work. But the freezer and store cupboard are in need of a boost. I did spend far too much eating and drinking out I know it was over £110 because that's when I stopped counting. Not good. Diary: I am recording all spends now. No more excuses!!

Is it sad that I am so excited to be paid and have set up overpayments to come out of my account the second I am? My focus is the overdraft (£600 - boo) which will be coming done to £400 in May and I am hoping extra sales from my clear out will get it down to £300. I want it gone!!!

Enjoy what's left of Sunday, everyone. Have a fabulous week of debt busting.
Xx

milasavesmoney

At 17.9% interest it is thrilling that you are getting that down! It will be a real accomplishment to get that nasty thing paid off!! You have attacked it head on. Good job!:T:T:

AntoMac

Definitely not sad being excited about paying off your overdraft TnL.

I love NOT getting regular letters telling me how much my overdraft interest will be for the month. since I tarnsferred my OD to an MBNA 4.9% per life.

Looks like you're doing lots of good things to save money - Not taking lunch, bulk cooking meals etc. I need to be more ruthless about not buying lunch/coffees at work.

brizzledfw

Hi tunnel :wave: welcome to the forums

Good to read your diary. Have subscribed so do keep on posting

Well done on kicking the habit of spending more than you have and taking control. Have a feeling you'll be just fine

xx

tunnelandlight

How lovely to have replies!! I was trying to quote you all but for some reason am not always able to? I expect that reason is that I am pressing the wrong buttons... I have been out for the night - apart from petrol spent not a penny:Abut, despite the time, - just had to reply!


Anyway..
Thank you, Mila. You are so supportive and positive. :TI really appreciate that and I'm sure I'm not alone! I saw from one of your posts that you have "pots" of cash all doing different jobs for you. It must be wonderful to feel so organised and have defences from what live throws at us. That is definitively something I will try to adopt. I must get a plan together for renewing my car. It is quite old (10) and cost an eye-watering amount of money to repair last time...


Thank you, AM. I shall look forward to not boosting the banks profits quite as much as I have been, too!


And thank you, brizzledfw, for subscribing and your kind words.:)


It is rather late - so signing off and wishing you all a happy Tuesday.


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chevalier

Welcome to the boards TnL, well done on realising you were on a slippery slope and decided to halt the slide. Yes you might go down a little bit more into debt whilst you are organising yourself, but then I am sure you will be well on your way.

Erm not sure how to phrase this but, it seems to me that up til this point, both you and your current partner have been happy spenders and that has suited you both. Now that things might be getting more serious between you (moving in together), you are facing more serious issues around finance.

You mention that he has done nothing to his house since he moved in 11 years ago. Assuming you will sell both your houses and buy one that is 'yours' then he will need money to repaint all of it at the very least in order to get the best price. Likewise if you decided to go the alternative route and rent out both your houses and use the rental proceeds to buy a house together.

However he may want to stay being a happy spender. He may not like the change in you to someone who wants to be more careful with money, as then he would have to face up to how he is with money too. Its a grown up thing and some people don't want to do that.

I can think of several couples on here where one was a spender and one was a saver - it made life very hard for them when they were paying off debts.

Good luck with going forward.
chev

tunnelandlight

chevalier wrote: »

Welcome to the boards TnL, well done on realising you were on a slippery slope and decided to halt the slide. Yes you might go down a little bit more into debt whilst you are organising yourself, but then I am sure you will be well on your way.

Erm not sure how to phrase this but, it seems to me that up til this point, both you and your current partner have been happy spenders and that has suited you both. Now that things might be getting more serious between you (moving in together), you are facing more serious issues around finance.

You mention that he has done nothing to his house since he moved in 11 years ago. Assuming you will sell both your houses and buy one that is 'yours' then he will need money to repaint all of it at the very least in order to get the best price. Likewise if you decided to go the alternative route and rent out both your houses and use the rental proceeds to buy a house together.

However he may want to stay being a happy spender. He may not like the change in you to someone who wants to be more careful with money, as then he would have to face up to how he is with money too. Its a grown up thing and some people don't want to do that.

I can think of several couples on here where one was a spender and one was a saver - it made life very hard for them when they were paying off debts.

Good luck with going forward.
chev

Thank you for your very insightful post. I think you're right. I must think carefully about this.. It really is something we need to discuss and some very plain speaking is required probably on both sides. You are completely right, we are both earning relatively good salaries and have spent our money (and then some in both cases) on nothing very much.


In many ways we compliment each other well, but we are very different. I am not especially shy, but he will join in and try ANYTHING, he's the person whose hand flies up when asked "Is there a volunteer in the audience?". I have had tons of new experiences thanks to him and been to lots of new places. We have fun together, but he has also been very supportive when I've had tough times and I've been there for him through his. But if we can't sort finances then the relationship won't work.


I am hoping that he will see the benefits. For both of us the issue has been over spending on "experiences" rather than material things. In many ways he can be really frugal! He loves shopping the supermarket reductions and he is more than happy to wear a second hand bargain, his TV/ household electricals are ancient and his car is as old as mine. There's hope! The travel/ festivals he will do this year are a lot by most standards - certainly mine - but much less than previous years. I will tell him about what I am planning - killing the debt then attacking the mortgage and see whether he wants to join in. He has pointed out that we'd save a fortune living together!! I don't think he will cut out going out completely but it must be possible to compromise a little - and build a budget around it. I hope so. We need to be open with each other about our finances. I know he has at least one maxed out credit card. I'll tell him my position, hopefully he can then tell me his, and we will take it from there.


His son is hoping to get into University in September. He'd be in halls for the first year but after then, if BF were living with me, he could sell/ let his house and looking to buy where his son will study. Three bed town houses there are around £100K so pretty affordable. This could be an investment for him/ us and save his son a fortune in rent. Hopefully if a couple of other students are there it would pretty much self-finance... all ideas for now!


Sorry all. Another rambling post!


2 and a bit days until pay day. Excited!! I am so looking forward to changing my signature.


Hope everyone is well and got blue skies today? I'm off to mark some books.


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