only ONE credit card left + mortgage. current mood: content

MistyMountainTop

I hope you manage to muddle through without getting out the cards, though putting off your daughter's dental treatment isn't really an option. i hope things go well and it's not an expensive appointment.

I no longer have credit - no cards, no overdraft. It was frightening at first as I also had no emergency fund and really didn't like the feeling of not having anything to fall back on should something happen. Luckily I've been able to muddle through as I've had no other option. It's made me think twice or thrice about every single purchase, knowing that buying something 'optional' could have a devastating effect until the emergency fund is in place. I have a small buffer at the moment, but it's not a proper emergency fund... though if I had it in my mind that I could use a card if I absolutely had to, I probably wouldn't even have the buffer right now. I'm really looking forward to the day when there is plenty of money in the bank!

fru-girl

Thanks MistyMountain! I'm dreaming about fat savings accounts and I think with a bit of discipline and less non-sense spending I can get there, but it feels like it's a long way...

In other news, my ex has not made a decision about moving overseas, he said he'll decide this weekend - but apparently it's a question of when, not if...

My Friday date is still on, I so need to have a nice evening and forget about the world not sure what to wear though. Initially we were going to meet for a glass of wine, but he's texted me to say full dinner, and he's offered to travel to my part of London, although I was willing to meet half way (which would be central London).

Off to my Tue 30-min spin session now, I'm taking an early lunch, as my class starts in 3 mins :-)

EssexHebridean

OK - your OD covers the cheque, so if it *is* presented beforehand it won't give you a problem in any event - correct? As Misty says, you can't put this off in any event.

On the "potential unplanned expenses" front - worry about them if they happen. It's far more likely that they won't. Leave the Credit Cards where they are.

You have food, so as you say, no need to spend there.

If it were me, I'd see this as a challenge. Aside from the dentist, you don't *need* to spend money on anything, so there should be no reason why you can't manage until Friday. Worse comes to worst, and you realise the Milk's gone off or similar, then the money in your purse covers that remember.

Fingers crossed for your Ex making the decision to stay put!

fru-girl

@Essex: thanks, you're absolutely right. We came back from the dentist, it was a very small cavity which the dentist filled and it was £18, which I paid by cheque and dated it on the 25th just in case. The receptionist said that was fine, she's a lovely lady. Yes OD more than covers the £18; the OD limit is £300 (on 2 accounts actually) but I don't want to go into OD at all. I'm actually thinking about cancelling the OD once I get 2-3 months of successful budgeting under my belt. At the moment I cannot say that...

I don't need to buy anything until Friday so yes I think I can pull this one but I'm dangerously close. I planned NSDs until Friday (not including Friday as I'm going out with the date guy - I always expect to pay 50-50 but some men are just old school and they'll pay so I don't know what will happen).

I have a new challenge to overcome. My dad can be quite a bully and he insisted that we go and meet him next weekend in Paris. Just looked up the plane or train alternatives, it's £375 return for both of us, and that's the cheapest. No hotel needed as they rented a flat for all December. So I need to call him back and tell him I don't have £400 to spend. I feel guilty, as last Christmas was at my mum's and this upcoming one my mum is coming to visit us. 2 months ago I wouldn't have thought twice about it, I would have just purchased the tickets, but I just can't do it now. I don't want him to pay either, sometimes he does that...

If we did go to Paris, that means minimum credit card payments this month, which I don't want to do... I want to pay £500 towards the credit cards, not £200.

:frustrated:

EssexHebridean

Is the easiest route with your Dad simply to tell him it's too short notice now and you already have plans? (Kinda true - you plan to NOT spend £400 on going to Paris! :rotfl:) Bottom line is, to expect someone to drop everything and do something like that isn't reasonable. Also sounds like it would do him some good for you to simply say you can't do it.

If you feel you want to do *something* with the OD is a compromise to say that if you get to the end of december without dipping in, you'll cancel one of them, and the second one can go at the end of February, maybe, if you feel OK about it by then?

fru-girl

I made it to the other side! No spend days including today - I'm going straight home after work :j

Now I need to carefully budget December, luckily most people I know will be away, so only a handful of people to give presents to.

I'm getting a fat bonus in December, but I won't be spending any of it as it's already spent - going straight to credit cards, sadly.

PS. My dad made a bit of fuss about us not going, he's calling me tomorrow. I don't think we'll be going even if he's paying for it, it's just 1.5 days anyway. We shall see.

EssexHebridean

If it were me I'd be treating Dad roughly in the same way you'd treat your DD if SHE made a "fuss" about not going somewhere... . Try practising "Not this time Dad, maybe in the New Year" in a firm tone of voice.

MASSIVE well done to getting through the week with no spends too. See - we said it was doable, didn't we! :T

fru-girl

My dad likes to say he never let go of his inner child

Budgeting of salary done. There's child benefit and child support coming in, but one thing at a time...

Need to update my signature as I made some CC payments. I don't think I can pay anywhere near £500 this month (need to be realistic), but perhaps £300 or so.

In other news, I'm seeing the new guy tonight, getting excited and my mood is good, I could do with some flirting

And I've just signed up to volunteer 3 shifts with Crisis at Christmas, and I'm fundraising for them as well. It's my third time volunteering with them and it's been such an eye opener for me... I recommend it to anyone. My mum's coming over for the hols and she'll be here for 2 weeks, so childcare is not an issue. I'm off from the 22nd to the 3rd of January, might as well do something useful with my time, apart from crushing on the sofa in front of TV

Current mood: good.

fru-girl

PS. Signature updated, decided to pay a bit more.. £385, but that's all for the month, until next pay date, which should clear over £3000 as it's annual bonus time.

CC debt dropped below £13K. Slowly but surely...

MistyMountainTop

I hope you have a lovely time with the 'new guy'!

Well done for not letting your Dad talk you into something you can't afford. Did he try again when he called you?

Huge congrats for getting the CC debt below £13,000! :j