Molehill currently feeling like a mountain

katiepants

Very, very cold here at the moment. Think I need slippers at work. Brr! Heating is doing a good job of warming the house, but still needing to snuggle under a blanket in the evenings.

Finances are not looking too horrendous at the moment. I have nothing left to buy for Christmas, so will just be usual petrol and food expenses between now and next payday. I have had a couple of unexpected costs recently,!for example the hotel room for OH's work do on Friday night (£20), and the extra present that OH bought the other day and asked me to go halves on!


Other than that I expect to be going into the new year with £350 owing on the CC, and £200 into my overdraft. Could be better, but could be a lot worse.


I expect to be able to get a handle on all this in January. I need to be super organised. I've got myself a teeny tiny diary to record my spending, and a separate purse. Decided that I should withdraw 'spending money' in advance and then I know what I can and can't afford.

With having my horse on livery I also need to make sure I plan ahead for everything...


No plans tonight, just need to do a little food shopping at Morrisons. Currently have a veggie chili in the slow cooker so that will be a nice warming tea tonight!!

beanielou

All sounding good.

Drawingaline

Sounds like you have some firm plans in place.

Jealous about your horse, I have always wanted one, but I can't even afford to ride anymore. But my daughter does lol! Priorities right?!

MMC87

Good luck, Katie. It might seem like a mountain now but it’s absolutely nothing compared to what it could be if you hadn’t have decided to confront it. Most of us where probably like you at some point - with a relatively small amount of debt - and I’m sure we will all agree that it can spiral out of control VERY quickly.

katiepants

Thanks all!

Ended up going to visit my mum on my lunch break. She lives alone in the middle of nowhere, and in this weather I wanted to check she was OK. Took her a bag of shopping (fruit, chocolate and bread) as well as some kindling as she'd run out.

Came to about £7 but money I didn't mind spending. She was very grateful and I'm glad she and the animals were all fine.

katiepants

My diary was very neglected for a while - oops!


I had a very bad few weeks between Christmas and new year. Had a lot of additional, unexpected expenses with moving my horse, and then my Mum got flu so I was driving to see her every day to take her supplies, walk her dog etc. So that was a ton of petrol. Just lots of stuff piling up and when I checked my bank I was £800 in debt I just had a mini breakdown. I just couldn't see a way out at all.


The long and the short of it is that my absolute angel of a boyfriend has given me £500. I assumed he meant a loan and refused at first but he insisted that it was a gift and he didn't want to be paid back. I was overwhelmed by that gesture and extremely grateful. Everything seems a lot more manageable now, and I slept properly last night for the first time in weeks.


So, I'm now £300 in debt, which I'm hoping I can claw back over February as it is a bit of a shorter month. I get paid on Tuesday, and that will include the 3% pay rise that we've all been given. I tried to work out exactly how much that would be but I think I'll just need to wait and see.


I have £10 in my purse, and I can't spend anything else now until I'm paid. That £10 is destined for a meal tomorrow night for a friends birthday. I've already chosen what I'm eating, which costs £9.50, and I'll just drink water. Apart from that there shouldn't be any other expenses until payday as I won't really be driving and we are staying with friends from tomorrow to Sunday night.


On the upside, the £300 debt doesn't take into account the two savings accounts I've started, one for my car and one for holidays and Christmas. They each have about £80 in so that's a good start. Also, not bought any snacks since 31st DEc. The result is no pointless spending, and I've also lost 8lbs!


I've also been really, really good with meal planning and shopping this month. I've kept all of the receipts to add up, but I estimate that we've spent around £120 for the two of us for Jan (3 meals a day pluss baking for snacks). This is a pretty good achievement since my OH is really skinny, likes huge portions, and won't eat a meal that doesn't include meat...

Been rejected from a few jobs but still applying for loads. Fingers crossed!

Onwards and upwards...

katiepants

Just cleared the balance on my CC, so now the whole £300 Is in my overdraft
Roll on Tuesday and payday!!

beanielou

Greay news on being down to £300.
Keep plodding

katiepants

Happy Monday!

Very tired today, so hoping for a quiet day at work. Today is not going to be a NSD as I really need to do a big shop. Managed to get creative with lunches today but really can't stretch another day. I've done my meal plan and written a list. Normally go to Morrison's but will give iceland and Aldi a try later.

Have realised I really need new underwear so I see a trip to m&s in my future.

katiepants

Did a big shop last night and spent £32. More than I was hoping but we did need some staples and they had an offer on Pepsi.

I don't think I'll be shopping at aldi again. What a horrible shopping experience. I still had to go to Morrison's for basic stuff that aldi didnt have, and personally didn't think the stress of shopping there was worth the few pence saved. What a weird place!

Today is payday, and I've just put £30 of petrol in my car. Hoping that I can keep petrol to £150 this month but will have to wait and see.