Nearly debt free diary

jemreading

Trying to get back on the wagon so today was a NSD :j I'm currently at home for the evening and have no other plans other than to catch up with some trash TV and make lunch and dinner.

As part of my get back on the wagon of debt busting I'm doing a round up of all the monies I currently have on me and what I currently owe in debt, I'm also going to set out realistic debt payment

Money I have:
- £195 in travel money (my OH owes me £5)
- £30 in £1 coins (£20 bagged up and ready for the bank)
- £73.30 in bank

Money I owe:
- £980.65p to Credit Card

I need to re-look at my budget for next month and allocate money to pots. The only things I really really need to pay for in September is: a friends wedding gift, a wedding outfit, My OH birthday gifts. My phone bill will be higher next month as I had to buy more data for my phone (bill comes in on 19th) and re-do shopping list. Me and OH have been to the gym for advice and we have had to re-do a shopping list.

jemreading

15 days until payday and next month is looking as follows:

Bills to OH - £365.00 (Rent has gone up every month - new figure covers my half of rent and bills)
Food £80.00 (my half)
Electricity £35.00 (my half - could be less!)
LCFC £33.18 (won't change now until May)
Phone £50.00 (added potential data add on!!!) :eek
Gym Membership £29.99 (won't change)
Credit Card £400.65 (seems reasonable?)
Sports £30.00 (football and badminton)
My Savings £0
Joint Savings £0
Beauty £10.00 (women products may be needed!)
Treats £50.00 (includes buying wedding outfit)
Gifts(birthday/xmas) £50.00 (includes OH gift and wedding gift)
Date night £20.00 (may remove, need to discuss with OH)
Travel £50.00 (Going Prague in November)
Socials £60.00 (Covers wedding drinks - I'm not a huge drinker but will probably do a few work socials)

Expenses £1,263.82
Remaining £72.84

Rather than chuck all remaining at credit card I have decided to pay less and leave more in my bank account without allocations. I do tend to buy some songs for my phone, or pay for a taxi after a night out through my bank. These are rare spends but rather than allocate more to a pot I may as well leave it in the bank and take note.

Any suggestions welcome!!!!

jemreading

I've lost it again. I've been super busy since Thursday. Spends coming up, some are accurate, some could be missing a few pence!

Thursday
- Breakfast (£2.00)
- Lunch (£3.00)
- Skirt for wedding (£29.99 on debit card)
- Friend's birthday gift (£10 on debit card)
- 2 songs (0.99p per songs)

Friday:
- Lunch (£5.95)
- OH drink (£3.95)
- dinner (£24.10 - paid for OH too on CC)
- taxi (£6)

Saturday:
- football costs (£1.79)
- gym costs (£2.95)

Owed:
- £25 from OH
- £40 (I had a £1 football bet and won £40 so I've transferred to my bank and will wait for it to come through for holiday)

I've been super unorganised at making food for work so I need to get back to that!

db2016

hi, ive noticed you have spent money on songs.

have you maybe thought of spotify, its £9.99 per month (or 14.99 for upto 5 people in their family thing). . you wont have a copy as such of the music but if you have wifi in places, or data on phone you can stream them, anytime.

so for the cost of what 10 songs you "buy" you could have access to them and millions of others.

just a thought

jemreading

Hi DB thanks for popping by (sorry for the last reply, I've been on holiday!) Yes, I'm looking into Spotify I do use my music quite a lot during work and the gym (both don't really pick up the wifi so it struggles to play music!)

I'm gonna look into it again

jemreading

I'm back from holiday!! :j we had a fabulous time and ate far too much and spent far too much.

I am admitting that the credit card was used I know that my credit card has at least £1,300 on there (however, £270 of it is my OH which he'll give me when he gets paid next month)

I don't have any other holidays until November now so there should be no need to use it. I'm going to look at my balance and re-group..

jemreading

Sorry I've neglected my diary I've had a few bad personal days so have been a bit here, there, everywhere and no-where.

I've been paid and so far my rent and bills, football season ticket and gym membership have gone. Just waiting for my phone bill to go out, and for my OH to figure out the electricity bill. I also need to transfer over £25 as we have to renew our tenancy. I also got £100 for food shopping.

All I got so far this pay day is a new pair of shoes (£19.99 reduced from £25.99 which I'm using for nights out plus the wedding I'm attending in October) I'm going out with my friends tonight and need to figure out how much to take with me. It'll just be: money for a few drinks and taxis.

To update, I took the skirt back for the wedding so I need to buy something else. I've found a nice dress but its £40 and I'm figuring how many times I will actually wear it before making the purchase.

jemreading

Sorry for not updating, hectic life and I haven't been the best at tracking where my money has gone so quick update of debts and monies left:

Debt: £1,112.58p (OH owes £200)
Bank card: £192.08p
In purse: £1.25p
£1 coins: £17

Days until pay day: 16
Things to buy: Wedding gift, rest of OH birthday gifts, wednesday night football.

jemreading

It's been a while I have been at work or at the gym, busy social life.

Days until payday: 10.
Things to pay for: lunch on Tuesday (19th), leaving drinks Friday (22nd), lunch next Sunday (24th) , two lots of football sessions. (20th and 27th)

But bonus, I upgraded my phone this week. I had to pay £4.99 to upgrade but I have saved myself £6 a month and have got more data so I shouldn't have to buy more!!

I've set myself the realistic goal of cutting my debt this year and entering 2018 debt free. No point me throwing money at my debt but increasing debt by putting Christmas on my CC.

jemreading

I'm calling September a write off. I know it's not the attitude but I can't keep dwelling on it. I've been so bad at keeping track of money this month and what I've spent on my credit card. I've increased my debt since having a debt free diary I took my eye off the ball and landed in a mess, so figures have been re-calculated! 3 days until payday.

My money plans for next month are going to be:

1. Get all money out and allocated to spending pots
2. Once all money is out take my debit card out of my purse and leave it at home when I'm out the house
3. Give credit card to OH.
4. Re-evaluate budget and allocate a realistic amount to credit card debt (done this - I only make 1 lump sum payment once I've paid - not sure if this is the right way to go!)
5. Save up my £1 coins
6. Have 10-15 NSD
7. Start Christmas shopping (smaller things like wrapping paper/cards using the gift fund pot)

My life plans for next month are:
1. Finish sorting OH birthday presents
2. Throw OH his party (having a flat party to cut costs!! Bring your own alcohol and stuff!)
3. Prepare for friends wedding
4. Prepare for my birthday
5. Continue with gym class and weights :j