Not quite sure I'm ready for this?

EssexHebridean

How about having a chat with your bank to see if you can reduce the overdraft level down as you pay it off? So as you get it to £1,500, say, you drop the level to £1,750...and so on? In the longer term it will stop being a problem, but for the time being, it might help you to see less "possibilities" being available?

Miffy79

Hi loveis,
Just another perspective completely-would it help if you thought of it as the coffee shops/bars/clothes shops are all getting rich from you whilst you end up skint.

loveis

thanks for the support Bobarella

EH I will deffo talk to the bank after I get through December. I am realistic enough to not think I can get away with that this month.

Out for birthday drinks/dinner on Friday in town, a long happy hour and split meal means I only spent £27. Happy days. Saturday I only spent £7 all day (on nothing useful but a massive thumbs up for me on payday weekend)
Yesterday BF treated me to a Sunday lunch because I've been knuckled down studying recently.

All in all not a bad weekend.

Bobarella

Not bad at all. Happy birthday by the way.

loveis

Thanks a bunch.

Went Christmas shopping yesterday, within what I budgeted but it felt mad, I completed the niece and nephew bit, and my ma, who knows I am trying to sort my life out will say "don't get me anything" then look really sad if I didn't, so, a jumper in the sale, some books and slippers, done.
It's my friends that are the problem, I've always been one to get them lush presents but this year I feel like I'm letting them down.

rambling

joeyjimbles

Not letting them down - just being sensible. I'm not sure what budget you usually set but you could do them a pamper hamper - prosecco (£5 big or £2.50 little in B&M), lindor chocs (£3.50), and then M&S do nice toiletries on 3for2 so you could get a few and divide them up. Bit of cellophane, big ribbon - nice present.

loveis

That's not a bad idea you know! I know I'll get carried away though and end up over spending still, but so long as I am thinking about it I should be better thanks Joeyjimbles

Had a bit of an emotional morning, so I'm currently most proud of myself for not sad/angry buying shoes. Step away from ASOS haha

I did buy a can of coke though, my other emotional crutch, sugar.

joeyjimbles

You're welcome - its not a licence to spend more, its a chance to buy a few lovely things that they'll appreciate and costs less but means more.

I do a version for my nieces. There are 3 of them so I get 3 pairs of christmas knickers (M&S 3for2), 3 shower gels and 3 body lotions (M&S 3for2), tiny Lindt chocolate bears (20p ea B&M) and then I add in anything else that I find that fits the budget - toe separators, scarlet nail polish, those scrubby gloves that you use in the shower...its actually a lot of fun but keep a list of what you've got and the running total. And try to make them all the same.

I don't buy for many friends but there are a couple including DS1's girlfriend, and my two best friends - they tend to be £5 prosecco, christmas knickers, Boots nail polish or topcoat (I use those £5 off vouchers that they give you throughout the year to get a stash), Lindor chocolates (the £3-4 box), a packet of seeds or a hyacinth bulb (B&M/Home Bargains). Each parcel is wrapped up with ribbons (Card Factory paper - co-ordinating) - and it all looks fab but is economical. And personal - you could buy a v tiny something that is all about them, for one friend I always buy a cooking thing as she's really into her baking - last year it was a smoother for fondant icing (about 70p from Home Bargains) - she loves it.

A few of the supermarkets have 25% off at the moment on 6 bottles of wine - so you could get prosecco even cheaper.

EssexHebridean

You never know, maybe your friends have been feeling slightly awkward about the amount that you spend? Or perhaps, in fact, they are in a similar situation to that which you find yourself in, and in fact a set "sensible" budget might help them, too?

We do our niece and nephews "goodie bags" for their christmas presents. Mainly poundland stuff - pens and pencils, drawing books, craft stuff, small toys. Silly odds and ends like those party blowers that pop out when you blow and make a hideous noise (Sorry Sister in law!). And ALWAYS one of those push-up toys where the legs collapse when you push the bottom. :rotfl: You can get loads of odds and ends, the kids think its amazing because they have SOOOOO much to unwrap!

loveis

So, we went away, had a wonderful time, but as happens I can't bare being paid for though I have no money and split everything, so what should have been a relaxing trip has now caused me all kinds of stress on getting home.
Going to move in with the BF it has financial benefits but I hope it doesn't feel like that is is the reason for us making the decision, so my BF is paying the deposit and the first month as I still need to pack up my life then in Jan, I'll pay him my full current rent which will cover my half and my debts, then Feb I can get on track with clearing my credit card with the left over Money. Feeling positive, it's a small place in a shared house and needs a few bits to make it homely but we can do this.
This week I am back to being honest with myself over my spending, though I have a day trip to Paris to contend with before my next payday