Finding Strength and Balance

helsbell

Hi everyone!

It's been a busy couple of weeks here. I sought advice on the bit of the divorce papers that was worrying me. I've sent back the form now, knowing what I had to write on it so that I don't lose out when we do the financials. I've also told my ex that we need to sort out the financial side, and he seems to be in agreement. Of course, he may feel differently once we get into it, but I can't worry about that now

I've taken my eye off the ball a bit in terms of money: I'm running out of days to fit NSDs into for July, I've overspent a little on a birthday, things like that. Nothing major, the money is there to cover the overspending, and the lack of NSDs is about lack of planning rather than budget blowing. My anxiety has been sky high over the past few months and my depression is also trying to make a comeback, so I'm not going to worry too much about the little things. I am going to keep trying to make changes and hit those targets. And if I happen to beat them without making myself ill then so be it

MeandO

Hello helsbell, I've just read your diary from start to finish and wanted to pop by and say hello. I'm a single Mum too, working on a part time wage and trying to pay down my mortgage/not get into debt, so I know the struggles!

Sorry to hear you're feeling low. You obviously have a lot of other issues you're dealing with, apart from trying to manage the finances. Keep plodding on, take each day as it comes and be kind to yourself.

I'll susbcribe to cheer you along if that's ok.

X

helsbell

MeandO wrote: »

Hello helsbell, I've just read your diary from start to finish and wanted to pop by and say hello. I'm a single Mum too, working on a part time wage and trying to pay down my mortgage/not get into debt, so I know the struggles!

Sorry to hear you're feeling low. You obviously have a lot of other issues you're dealing with, apart from trying to manage the finances. Keep plodding on, take each day as it comes and be kind to yourself.

I'll susbcribe to cheer you along if that's ok.

X

Thanks MeandO, it helps to know you're not alone, doesn't it? Welcome to my world of infrequent posting :rotfl:

Tinkerbelle2000

Another subscriber here too. I have been an infrequent poster too but am determined to keep myself accountable this time.

I'm a single mum too although DD is now working she is still my baby lol. I also suffer from anxiety quite bad at times but last night I went to my first yoga class and I felt amazing after it.

I also know the feeling you have at the weekends when your DD's go to visit their dad. I used to spend a lot of time procrastinating and never actually getting much done. She doesn't go anymore though (her choice) so she keeps me going a bit more.

You are doing really well at your budgeting, better than I used to. I have fell out with YNAB so many times I just use my spreadsheet now and pen and paper.

Keep posting, it will make you focus more.

Take care.

Tink xx

WannabeFree

I've just found your diary and will catch up later. Posting so I don't lose it

x

helsbell

I've just made an overpayment of £36.73 to my Barclaycard. My target for this month was £33 so I'm pleased with that. That's 2 months in a row that I've been able to overpay :T

Here's a breakdown of how I managed it (mostly for me :cool:)

£2.60. left over from last month's grocery budget.
£5.10 additional earnings from Vypr and Citizenme
£7.11 from my 'minimum payments savings' savings pot
£21.92 stashed in Circle and forgotten about

I'm listing it like this as a reminder to myself that the small amounts add up to big amounts.

Some explanations:
The grocery budget really should have had a lot more left over. I spent it on things like eating out (what a surprise )

I've not tried that hard with additional earnings. I belong to several survey sites, but get really frustrated by being screened out all the time. I also don't make it a priority. I'm OK with that.

My 'minimum payments savings' savings pot is the difference between what I used to pay as minimum payments before I shuffled the cards and what I pay now. I don't pay it all over straight away as it is part of my emergency fund. (I find if I actually have a pot called emergency fund I rarely put into it, and I also define almost everything as an emergency )

Now to wait for the statement and work out next month's overpayment target

helsbell

Hi hi!

Wow, what a busy month, I feel like I've barely stopped! We've visited my parents, gone camping for the first time (and loved it!), shopped for school uniform and now my girls are away with their dad until it's time to go back to school. Oh, and we went to a wedding too.

Anyway, enough with the excuses for not posting:cool: Time to update:

6 NSDs so far this month. I set a target of 7 and I'm sure I can beat it by Friday.
My BC is now £995.06 - under the £1K barrier!

It's been a very spendy month, but I always knew it would be as it's the summer holidays. Most of the things I've spent on were saved for and those that weren't were things that I've been putting off for a long time, and within budget. The categories that have taken the biggest hits are:
holidays - I've been saving for the holidays and didn't overspend:)
uniform shopping - as ever, the shoes were the big expense here. I always buy at Clarks Outlet as I think they last longer than the cheaper options so I don't have to buy twice or even 3 times, which I see other people doing. This year I also have to buy 2 lots of specialist clothing for certain classes at school. I bought one lot this month and the other will be paid for next month, as I need to buy it directly from school. High school is so expensive!
car insurance - I've been saving for this throughout the year and so was able to pay in full again this year :A The renewal came in cheaper than last year's premium too, and cheaper than all the comparisons that I did so that was fairly hassle free :T I won't leave it til the last minute next year though:o
breakdown cover - this was done at the last minute too. I was really naughty and didn't shop around as I didn't have time. I was able to pay in full though, by topping up the car insurance pot by around £11 :T
things for the home - my focus hasn't really been on saving this summer. (Maybe you noticed :rotfl:) I've spent all my spare time trying to dig my house out from under all the clutter. I'm finding being surrounded by cr*p all the time really affects my mood so I'm trying to get rid of things I don't need/want and organise what's left. (That's where the spending part comes in ) My friend just came over and I've offered her my spare single bed, which will force me to clear out that room too

I hope everyone is having a really positive month

Honeysucklelou2

Well done, lots of positives in your post. I am still working up to taking the children camping on my own...very impressed by your camping!

helsbell

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

Well done, lots of positives in your post. I am still working up to taking the children camping on my own...very impressed by your camping!

Thank you, I'm feeling very positive.

Just to clarify, I didn't take the children camping on my own, I went with a friend and her children. It was nice to have someone else to talk to :rotfl:

helsbell

I just updated my signature and noticed I'm nearly at 10% paid off :T

Each 1% is just shy of £61, so I'm going to bear that in mind when looking at overpayments, additional earnings, budgeting, etc.

Edit to add: my minimum payments next month are a total of £72.72, so I will reach 10% next month. To reach 11% I need to find another £7.62. To reach 12% I'll need another £60.94 on top of that, plus another £18 or so to cover the interest.

Target 1: £7.62 to reach that 11%. Every little helps
Target 2: £18 to cover that pesky interest :mad:
Target 3: £60.94 to reach 12%. This would be amazing, but is highly unlikely

Let's see how close we can get