Losing control, time to take charge.

Caspeia

I had a diary that I last updated in December but life has changed a bit so thought I'd make a new diary.

I've really been struggling with my mental health over the past few years and this has resulted in me gaining pounds on the scale and pounds of debt also!

I hadn't quite realised how bad things have gotten over the 6 months. My husband has had multiple jobs as he could only get short contracts after getting fired last November and I'm on maternity leave right now. He is now working two jobs and I'm due back to work end of July, however childcare is going to be a nightmare so trying to find a better job before then. I had an interview today so I'm hoping I get it!

Our debt totals stand at:
Halifax: £523.05 (19.9%)
TSB: £775 (0% until Sept 2018)
Lloyds: £3998.66 (some of this was a 0% balance transfer until March 2019 and the rest is 0% until November 2019)
Sofa: £1122.24 (0% and on monthly payment plan)

Total: £6418.95

The halifax card was cleared until a few weeks ago and my car failed its MOT and I had to put it on the credit card as I had no way to pay it. I also had to use the kids savings account this month as tax credits cut our money by £300 this month and my husband got emergency taxed this month so we ended up being completely skint.

I'm determined to clear this debt so we can start saving up for a deposit on a house. I'd like to be buying our own place by the time the youngest is 5 so that gives us just over 4 years to do it.

Caspeia

I've just moved money into one account and we have a total of £97 until the 28th of June.

We also only have 14 day supply of cat food (we have four cats and raw feed them). I can't risk leaving the order until payday as I'm not sure it would arrive in time. I will just do a small order instead of my normal 10 week supply. I'm going to order £32.20 worth which will last 14 days. Its more expensive as I don't qualify for free shipping so a £6.50 delivery charge but I can't afford the £166 for the 10 week supply right now. I'll have enough food until after payday.

This leaves us with £64.80 until the end of the month. £10 will need to go on the electric, I need to check the gas amount in morning to see if it will need topped up but I don't think it will need be done as we've barely used the heating.

This leaves £54.80 for food until the end of the month. Tomorrow I will make a meal plan, our freezer and cupboards are full so there hopefully should be enough to keep us going for a while.

beanielou

Raw feed your cats?
Not come across that before.

cuddlymarm

Hi Caspeia
First I think you need to take a breath.
You are putting too much pressure on yourself trying to manage, clear debt and save up for a deposit all at once.
Try to cut it up into smaller chunks.
See if you can cut your food bill, including your cats if that won!!!8217;t mean more expenses with vets bills if they are on a special diet.
If you are feeling bad perhaps a chat with your GP or health visitor ?
Try to be kind to yourself and don!!!8217;t feel bad about having to use the kids savings. You can pay them back later when you can afford it.
Keep talking to us on here. A lot of us have been in a similar position and have got through it
Cuddles

Caspeia

beanielou wrote: »

Raw feed your cats?
Not come across that before.

Yeah I started raw feeding them about 18 months ago as one of my cats wouldn't eat the shop bought food, she was getting quite skinny and it was recommended to me. I tried it and my cats all loved it and have gotten a lot heathier. I was buying a range of different flavours which was more expensive (they love vension!) but I've starting only buying the cheaper flavours now until we get back on our feet. It works out to £2.30 for the four of them a day which I'm happy with, its not much different to how much I was paying before. I buy the premade stuff online which comes frozen so I normally buy a 10 week supply as its the perfect amount to fill up my freezer, they have their own freezer for their food. Costs £165.60 for 72 days worth.

beanielou

Dident know there was such a thing!
I have had cats all my life.
Have just taken on two new to me senior cats so now have three!
Feed them a mixture of pouches & dry.

Caspeia

cuddlymarm wrote: »

Hi Caspeia
First I think you need to take a breath.
You are putting too much pressure on yourself trying to manage, clear debt and save up for a deposit all at once.
Try to cut it up into smaller chunks.
See if you can cut your food bill, including your cats if that won!!!8217;t mean more expenses with vets bills if they are on a special diet.
If you are feeling bad perhaps a chat with your GP or health visitor ?
Try to be kind to yourself and don!!!8217;t feel bad about having to use the kids savings. You can pay them back later when you can afford it.
Keep talking to us on here. A lot of us have been in a similar position and have got through it
Cuddles

The saving for deposit is not going to start until we've cleared this debt. The cats meals have been cut back to the cheaper meats but I'm not willing to feed them anything else as I don't want to negatively affect their health. I'm quite happy with the amount we pay for their food.

Its our food we need watch. We live on the main street and have almost 10 takeaways in a 2 minute walking radius from the house. Its way too easy just to grab a takeout when I've had a hard day. I'm thinking right now I need to delete my justeat account, I get a takeaway delivered to my house when the takeaway we mainly use is only around 6 doors up from us. Its pure laziness as I can't be bothered cooking some days when the baby has been clingy buts its a bad habit which I need to shake.

Kids account can wait I think, I feel bad for using it but they don't even access it until they are 21 and the eldest is 3. I have 18 years to fix that out so trying to convince myself its not worth worrying about right now.

cuddlymarm

Hi again
Would it be worth having some meals you can just throw in the microwave in for when you can!!!8217;t be bothered? Not as cheap as making your own but still cheaper than takeaway.
Cuddles

beanielou

No need to worry about the kids accounts at the moment

Caspeia

I'm not sure when my husband will be off next week as he works between two jobs and he hasn't had the rota from his main one yet but on his day off I'm hoping I can try and batch cook some food so I have quick easy meals in the freezer. I'll just send them out to the park for a few hours to get some peace.

For tea tonight we're going to have some chicken kievs I found in the freezer, theres half a bag of wedges we can use up and we'll have some veg with it.
Theres also at least two boxes of frozen baked potatoes in there! Yesterday we spent £6.60 on two take away potatoes at lunch time, I could have just cooked it from home even cheaper. Oh well at least I know they are there now.

I need to have a proper look through to see what there is in the freezer and cupboards as I tried earlier but children were around my feet so it was difficult. I did notice some mince which we could use up for a bolognese tomorrow as I know we definitely have everything we need for that in the house.

cuddlymarm

Hi again
Don!!!8217;t forget most leftovers can go in the freezer to be nuked as a quick meal/snack ( just try and remember to label, that!!!8217;s the bit I forget to do )
It means you aren!!!8217;t wasting food but don!!!8217;t have to eat the same things two days in a row.
Cuddles