So what's next?

Dragonpie

I have finally been paid following by rant, Beanielou! It took many emails and a little bit of shouting from my manager but I can finally stop panicking about how I will cover my bills. Yay!

beanielou

That's good

Dragonpie

£110 over budget on general spending this month! I think I have lost focus over the past couple of weeks, and have spent £163.33 just on clothes and shoes which is definitely me falling back into bad habits, I haven't been feeling too good in terms of mental health recently and I know my overspending increases when I am feeling low but it is still not an excuse.
On a better MSE note, my mortgage is on a new fixed deal for 5years, I was already making a £350 overpayment and am now over paying £357 and still paying £50 less than I was!

Dragonpie

Aargh, I was intending to make up for the £110 overspend this month by reducing next months spend by £110 however I have just realised I have 7 nights out planned... Even if I only spend £30 each time (I would ordinarily spend around £50) I will spend over £200 on nights out!

beanielou

Blimey, that's a lot of night outs!

Dragonpie

I know Beanielou! And none of them are avoidable... 3 are concerts which are already paid for, 1 is a family birthday, 1 is a friend's birthday, 1 is a night out with friends (we have a secret Santa event with 6 of us every year) and the other night is with work. I feel like I need a nap just typing the details out!

Dragonpie

Very confused by my credit card direct debit for this month... I use a rewards card and clear it in full every month. This month my statement balance was £406.78, I made 2 payments before the Direct debit was taken (£50 & £10) and £361.78 has been taken by direct debit... No matter how hard I try, I cannot figure how the credit card supplier has decided on this amount?!

Dragonpie

I've bit the bullet and updated my signature with my new total, £19,046.76, this includes my new credit card which I took out to replace my boiler and will add 2 months until my debt free date, I am still aiming to be debt free by March 2021 and mortgage free by January 2nd 2024 (when my fixed rate ends). I can't say I am happy about this, but it had to be done and I think I have borrowed the money in the most sensible way that I could (0% for 29 months)

Dragonpie

My boiler is fitted complete with fancy thermostat which is controlled by an app on my phone... Occasionally stupid things make me feel like I am winning at this whole adulting malarkey and this is one of those things!

Dragonpie

Well, 1st night out was last night, budgeted £30 and spent £50! I'll have to make sure I spend a maximum of £25 on the upcoming nights out but considering how terrible I have felt today (I'm not supposed to drink as I have anxiety and drinking always makes it worse), I definitely won't be drinking as much on the other nights out!