20/20 Vision (repaying a debt to my home and myself)

Drawingaline

Glad to be of some help!

doingitanyway

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Glad you had a productive day DIA and that you got a reasonably priced printer, they are very useful to have.

I've read an article somewhere about The Salt Path and thought it sounded a very interesting book.

Thanks HH

Homegrown0 wrote: »

Glad the procrastination comments ring true- it's only because those behaviours are so familiar to me haha
Fingers crossed a straight up and out approach works wonders for tomorrow's productivity!

Another failure creativity wise I'm afraid but I had good reason today...I think

doingitanyway

It poured with rain today. I kept waiting for it to stop but it did not. This afternoon I braved the rain and went out for a walk to take back the library book and get a new book.

I had been ignoring my finances but today I received a red fuel bill so that woke me out of my denial. :eek: I’ve known I had no give this month but I’ve still spent on things I thought I needed like a printer and a phone. Both economically done but in reality there were no funds there to do either.

My answer to the financial mess was to borrow from next month’s pay. I also searched for things to bring money in. I put in a claim for health expenses through my work’s scheme. I also returned an alarm clock that didn’t work well. These actions should net me £130 in the next 10 days.

I am eating from stores too so defrosted a YS chicken that I have pot roasted for tonight. Yum

No creative work again! I know, but I couldn’t relax after the red bill and I couldn’t get out early due to the weather.

The other stress I have been thinking of is the MOT. Today I found a garage (thanks Rosa for suggesting a good way of doing this) and booked the car in. The garage is located in a difficult place to find the first time so I am bringing the sat nav purchase forward and will get this next week. I would have bought it with next month’s salary anyway. Again, I will be taking money from next month’s pay.

I overstretched for the windows and the lady decorator so it is tricky financially but as beanie might say, it is what it is.

Hope you’ve all had a good day

mark55man

good luck - just a small local difficulty to be overcome in the big scheme of things

beanielou

Yes, indeed, it is what it is!
Keep plodding!

Homegrown0

Sometimes I think you need to put yourself in tricky situations to remind yourself of how important it is to stay on the ball.

You bought the printer and the phone which left you short for other things that are required but you've come up with a plan to cover the deficit and bring forward some funds.

If you weren't keeping your eye on the ball, it would be so easy to just chuck it on a credit card, declare you'll feel with it next month and then start the snowball of accumulating debt again.

I've got faith in you.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Homegrown0 wrote: »

Sometimes I think you need to put yourself in tricky situations to remind yourself of how important it is to stay on the ball.

You bought the printer and the phone which left you short for other things that are required but you've come up with a plan to cover the deficit and bring forward some funds.

If you weren't keeping your eye on the ball, it would be so easy to just chuck it on a credit card, declare you'll feel with it next month and then start the snowball of accumulating debt again.

I've got faith in you.

I completely agree with this .

doingitanyway

Thanks Mark88. You are right, it is just a blip I will be back on track soon (I hope)
Thanks Homegrown, you make a good point, I will indeed get through this. Thanks for the confidence vote
Thanks Beanie and HH for the positivity

It is official. I have entered a phase of mad spending with no income to support it. This will end and when it does I will build my savings up to £1,000 again.

When I got serious about debt free status I cut up all credit cards and that truly focuses the mind and reduces options for getting out of this mess…

So today I researched sat navs (not using my phone as I’ve researched that already and it is a no for me) Hours later, I have identified a sat nav. All good, but I have a dumb phone and will need a smart one for updates. In fact I am not enjoying using a dumb phone, the retro fun thing wore of quickly so researching a new phone for the sat nav purposes and just life generally.

What does all this mean?

Well, I am spending next month’s money, so I will be back here moaning for the whole of March as I am rapidly spending my March salary so you might want to avoid dropping by until April

I am praying the car gets through the MOT :eek:

I will shop for the sat nav and phone tomorrow. Today I have been ruthlessly decluttering and clearing stuff so now the cupboard under the stairs actually closes. :T

On the upside, the sun is shining and it is dry so my washing dried.

Have a positive day all

greenbee

DIA - last time my ancient Satnag packed up I was surprised how long I managed without it. Mostly I was going to places I knew, but otherwise I went back to the method I used when I first started driving - check the route and write it down on post it notes on the dashboard! It gave me time to save up for a TomTom that didn't need a phone, and had lifetime maps and traffic updates. I do plug it into my laptop occasionally to get the map updates. TBH I really only need it for the traffic, as it makes a huge difference avoiding traffic issues. So have a think about how much you are driving and whether you can wait until you have saved up and will feel more comfortable about it. What car journeys do you have coming up that you will need it for, and therefore when it the absolute latest time you can buy it?

The phone thing is a bit more of a problem. Again, if I'm at home most of the time it isn't a problem as I can use my laptop, but if I'm out a lot then I find I need the smartphone capability. I don't actually get a mobile signal at home

If you've done all the working out and you need to replace things now, then you shouldn't worry about the spending, just live on soup for the next month If you can wait, live on soup, save on fuel by not driving, and save the money so it's ready for when you need to make the purchase.

doingitanyway

Thanks greenbee.

Your post is very helpful.

I do need the sat nav for next week as I have found a garage but even the mechanic says it is very difficult to find. My MOT is due and this is garage that comes recommended. The sat nav will get me there as it is a complicated one way system and I will already be stressed as it is my first MOT in over a decade and I have very little in the car fund. So getting it now is better. I would have got it soon anyway to reduce the stress of driving alone in unknown areas.

You are right about the options (although they both rely on eating soup I note ) I will be doing the spending now and living on soup next month