Some Budgeting Advice Please

queenbee15

Hi, I'm new to the forum but figure I should post because I really need some advice. I graduated from Uni 18 months ago and walked into my dream job (albeit, I'm at the bottom end of the company!) I'm working hard to get promoted but the wages are rubbish.

I had to move from my mum's house (Berkshire) into a flat not far from my job (which is Greater London) because the commute on public transport was 90 minutes each way (I haven't got a driving license) but my work !!!!!! are 12 hours long so an extra 3 hours on my day is draining and expensive.

As I'm only 22, I have a young person's rail card etc but I'm finding that all my wages are gone 2 or 3 days after I get paid. I pay £30 a month towards my student loan, which goes out before I even see my payslip. I wouldn't mind if I was living an extravagant lifestyle, holidays, the lastest fashionable clothes, going out every weekend but I'm not. I buy food from Aldi, I take packed lunches to work so Im not tempted to buy the extortionate canteen food, I have a contract mobile, which is set on a tarif of £35 and pay £50 into a pension and I spend £40 a month in buses to and from work. That's it, that's all the money I have but I'm finding it hard to exist with the money I'm on, let alone live. Now Christmas is coming and I'm really starting to worry.

My parents are understanding but I'm trying to be a responsible adult and not ask for help, (I've got to learn one day!) Should I get a credit card to help me out over Christmas? However the idea of having one worries me, because I hate owing money. I live in my overdraft facility (£1800) and at the rate I'm going I'm never going to be able to pay it back because I just don't earn enough. There isn't even any overtime at my job.

Please can someone give me some advice. I know £1800 probably isn't a lot compared to how much some people owe and I understand that, it's just I see all these TV programmes with people my age with debts of £20k + on credit cards and it absolutely frightens the living life out of me. I really hate owing money.

Thanks

onamission_2

gett yourself over to DFW board for loads of advice....;)