Starting Afresh in 2017

boxofpaws

Well done StartingAfresh sounds like you are doing really well. I am try to remind myself that it isn't more convenient to buy lunch at work, it's actually quicker to spend 4 minutes at home than faff around in the canteen.

Keep posting
Boxofpaws:)

mfmaybe

Hi StartingAfresh,

Popping in to add support. Does your work have a microwave? This is brilliant for me, as I can microwave leftovers or soup for lunch, but also it's pretty easy to do porridge in the mornings, too.

One of the huge derr moments for me, when I started paying attention to my spending, was how often I was derailed by "one-offs" that were nothing of the sort. Car tax or the house insurance, anything that wasn't a monthly DD or a very obvious expense like the weekly shop. Switching to saving for these things monthly has in some ways made me feel poorer than ever (every penny every month goes somewhere!), but at the same time, I hardly ever get a bill that makes me panic any more.

Good luck with it, have subscribed and will follow progress

Boomer17

I've subscribed!! You are so me! The amount of money I spend on food is ridiculous! I work in an office and I got in such a habit of going to the canteen buying chocolate and a couple of drinks for the day which are at ridiculous prices! So bought a large bottle of Volvic water from co op for £1 to last me a couple of days, where as I'd buy a small one for like £1.50! I'm also making my own lunches as spending maybe £5 (if not more!!) a day on lunch is just too much!!

We can do this!! x

StartingAfresh

Thanks, all! Mfmaybe - that's a really interesting point; every month I seem shocked when I receive my phone bill or my electric bill - even though....they're not surprises! I'm going to look at this more closely.

Today was okay. Work was really boring - is anyone else finding this the longest month in the history of the world? I ate breakfast at home, and didn't buy any coffees or lunch, but I did spent £3 in M&S on snacks, and had to pay for the cinema and a round of drinks for my friend and I, which came to £16 in total (thank you, Meerkat Movies, for halving the tickets, at least!) - my friend bought me lunch last week when I forgot my purse, so I had to pay today to pay her back! We went to see A Monster Calls, and ended up in streams of tears.

I spent more than I wanted to today, as I wasn't expecting to go to the pub after the cinema, but I did owe my friend the money. Most of my friends and I tend to do rounds with dinner and drinks, which is all very lovely, but I always feel like I am owing someone something at any time. I think I'm going to start talking to them about splitting bills/buying our own drinks. I don't think they'd mind.

Tomorrow I am planning a NSD, and will be leaving the cards at home.

Positive money-saving points of the day:

1.Used Meerkat Movies for the cinema
2. Didn;t buy any food at the cinema
3. When my friend wanted to stay in the pub longer, I said no

Other things I would have spent my money on today:

1. My friend and I stayed in the pub for two drinks, and then she mentioned feeling hungry...usually at this point, we would stay out and buy dinner somewhere. Instead, I went home and ate some eggs on toast.

12 days until payday. Oh my God, payday, you need to arrive so badly!

StartingAfresh

Hey All!

So, I feel a little bit blah today. I don't really know why. I made breakfast, had homemade chicken casserole for lunch, and will also be having chicken casserole for tea. I don't want to make anything else, as I'm at my friend's house all weekend, so don't want to waste food. I forgot I'd made plans to see some friends at lunch today, but they ate out and I sat and had a coffee with them. So it wasn't a NSD, but I only spent £2.15, at least.

HSBC asked for some salary evidence for the balance transfer credit card I applied for, and I realised just how disorganised my financial paperwork has gotten! I have a big box where I just throw everything in, but it turned out my payslips were...everywhere in and around this box. I found some in my work drawer, and some in another box with a pile of knitting (?) and colouring pencils and other random crap. So I've just spent a not-so-happy hour organising it all into different sections, so at least I know where everything is. I've also started a change jar, and thrown all my old shrapnel in it.

When I went to HSBC today, they said I would only be approved for £1000, not £3350. I asked them what they thought I should do - as I am scared of only transferring a bit of the Barclaycard amount onto a card (I know myself; I'll only end up with £1000 more debt if it's available to me) and the guy said he recommended me applying for some other cards, as HSBC are notoriously careful lenders and I'll probably get a full balance transfer elsewhere. I guess the fact that Tesco recently increased my credit shows my credit score must be okay at this point, but I do feel a bit despondent about it. I asked my sister what I should do. She said she didn't know. I don't know, either. I wish I understood all this a little more. My instincts are telling me to keep looking. HSBC have already been difficult to deal with for the past few weeks, so maybe it's a blessing in disguise?

I just feel a bit of an idiot today. I've never really properly thought about this whole situation, not like I have done this year. Looking at all the paperwork strewn in front of me....sitting in the bank all confused, with some teenage-looking guy telling me to shop around...obsessively looking at the contents of my fridge....I don't know. It's just been a long day, I think.

I guess it's not an easy transition, going from ignoring your debt to facing it head-on. And I want to change my life so badly. I am not going into my 30s like this.

I am spending the weekend with my friend - the £12 coach I mentioned before - and we'll eat at her house and stay in, so it'll be a cheap weekend. I need to see a friend. I just feel a bit overwhelmed about everything! I will spend less money with my friend than I would do here - I live in a house share, and currently everyone else has a boyfriend, and I don't want to spend a whole weekend alone and skint in a house filled with couples. And I also can't afford to go out.

Positive money-saving points of the day:

1. Sorted out my financial paperwork from my knitting. As it should be, haha!
2. Didn't eat lunch out today, even when sitting in a caf!,

Things to aim for tomorrow:

1. Pack sandwiches for the coach

Things I would have spent my money on today:

1. I definitely would not have eaten chicken casserole twice in a row before this - I'd have gone to the supermarket and bought some more food for this evening. And I'd have probably bought lunch, too.

Hope you all had a good day! Here's to Friday tomorrow.

11 days until payday!

LauraB89

Hi StartingAfresh - Just popping in to say that you are doing great!

Half of the battle is just tracking everything and planning ahead. I keep saying to myself at the moment "power through" - just keep going for a few weeks and you will see the difference. Reading the diaries of people that have paid off their debt in the sticky in the DFW thread that have paid off the debts really helps!

I used to go out for lunch 2/3 times per week without thinking at all, and when I started tracking it all I managed to pay off two overdrafts in two months.

You can do this! And you've made a great start!

xxx

StartingAfresh

Thanks Laura! It was really good to read that yesterday - it helped!
I feel better today - my gas bill has arrived and it's significantly less than I predicted (some of my housemates like it hotter than the sun in my house!). I think I was worrying about this more than I thought, and knowing I budgeted enough for it is such a relief.
Currently en route to my friend's house on a long but cheap coach, in the beautiful sun!
I made breakfast today at work and am also eating homemade sandwiches on the bus, and drinking tea out of a flask (which smells a lot like cumin, probably because my flask has been abandoned next to my spice rack for months).
Usually when I travel somewhere, I have a tradition to buy lunch and a coffee from Cafe Nero beforehand, so I'm proud I didn't do that today!
I'm interested to see how this weekend goes saving-wise; I told my friend that I'm really poor, so we're planning some walks and chats. Will update on Sunday.
Have a lovely weekend, all! So happy I started this diary!

clippy_girl

Hey startingafresh

That's pants about hsbc only offering a small limit. Must say though that the guys comments are probably true, I had the same issues with applying for a mortgage fith first direct who are part of hsbc. Not problems with Barclays!

Re trying for a different card, have a look at the balance transfer section on here. You can enter your details and it will calculate your chance of being accepted before you apply without affecting your credit score.mi think most would be likely to give you more than a £1000 limit.

Even if they don't though, just transfer part of your interest paying card onto the 0% one and then call your card provider and get them to lower the limit so you can't spend more on it.

Enjoy your frugal weekend away

LauraB89

Have a great weekend you can do this!

xx

louby40

Just read your diary! You are doing so well.

I love reading about other people's lives and wished I'd had my LBM sooner. Im 48 next month and have 2 teenage boys. My debts are small (now) as I've budgeted, sold stuff and just focused.

In early 2015 my debts were over £10k, probably more. You can do this!