New Year - New Me

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

I expect everyone is thinking the same - New Year - New Me but this year I have to get my act together. Have managed to get my debts under some sort of control with all creditors accepting reduced payments. Repayment of this is currently ticking over nicely. The aim for 2019 is therefore to build up some savings.

I currently feel vulnerable as I have no money behind me. Should a household appliance break down I couldn't afford to get it fixed never mind replaced. Have therefore decided that as my debt is ticking along nicely with regards to repayments, this year I WILL save. Have signed up to the Play Pennies which means I save each day (1p on 01/01/19, 2p on 02/01/19, 3p on 31/01/19 etc). Have also saved £70 of my Christmas money.

Have recently been promoted to a management position in work and am in a position whereby I can now boost my income by signing onto the NHS Staff Bank so am able to pick up some extra shifts. Am hoping to get training this coming week and to sign up for an additional 6-8 hours work each week. The hourly pay on the Staff Bank is very much less than my substantive hourly rate but - needs must!

Another area I want to concentrate on this year is my credit score which is awful. Am going to ensure my signature focuses on these two areas so that I can track my progress.

So here goes - New Year - New Me!

jwil

Congratulations on the promotion and good luck with the savings

[Deleted User]

Happy new year, Happy shiny new diary and good luck with the savings x

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

So today I have counted up all the debts I've repaid in the last 24 months and it comes to a staggering £10,160.41. Still got a long way to go but at least I'm heading in the right direction. The ones left to pay now are all large amounts but small steps I keep telling myself!

Savings are up to £101.56 so am heading in the right direction there.
Done as planned last week and got myself registered to undertake some additional shifts at work, just need the necessary training and I'll be ready to go. Hopefully start doing a few hours as soon as possible.

9 days til payday :j

beanielou

Baby steps
Happy shiny new diary.

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

I've survived the first month of the year - payday tomorrow . Still not managed to have my training to work additional hours and can't see it happening this week as off to London for a few days. Have set myself a target to get the training done the following week as I am really keen to do a few hours extra each week.

So, as I said, off to London for a few days but it's a cheap and cheerful trip as have done all the touristy things before. Going by bus so a third of the cost than the train and staying 40 minutes outside London so hotel very cheap. Hoping to only have to pay for meals out. My DD is coming with me and she had a little windfall last week so I'm hoping she'll be up for treating me.

Have had a busy weekend as I've been completing a Uni assignment prior to going away as the submission date is whilst I'm away - all submitted now so feel as if I can enjoy my few days away before hitting the next assignment next weekend.

Have also cancelled my monthly subscription to WeightWatchers and bought myself the Slimming World books - it's just one outlay of £20 as I'm not going to classes as I'm quite disciplined. This will save me an extra £25 per month on the WW subscription. Also looking ahead I have my annual pay rise coming out in Aprils pay so 3 more paydays before I get to see how much better off I'll be. All looking good

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Got my monthly credit report today from clear score and its up to 171, which is good news. I must be doing something right. Still not managed to do any additional shifts at work which is slightly disappointing but determined to make sure I do some in March. Got next week off work and going away for a few days with family so looking forward to that and hoping not to spend too much money.

Still going strong on the savings front, although I don't know how much I've got in total as I've not counted it for a while but at least that is also going in the right direction.

As much as I'd love to be able to pay more off the debt each month, I think for the first time in what feels like forever, I've got the balance right. All interest has been frozen and creditors have been helpful in agreeing an affordable monthly payment. All this whilst still having the very occasional treat!

Also got the annual pay rise in April which will equate to £1000 per annum so hoping that will give me some more breathing space. All in all, I'm feeling pretty positive about things at the moment.

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Am back from a lovely few days away with family and it's back to work tomorrow

Have another 3 random days off this month to use up the remainder of my annual leave and have decided to put it to good use. The first day I'm going to arrange to attend training so that I can pick up some overtime shifts. It will mean giving up approximately 2 hours of my annual leave but it will allow me to undertake the training outside my normal working day.

My second day off I plan on looking into whether I can have car finance. I currently lease a car through work and it's costing me an absolute fortune. If this is at all possible it will increase my disposable income each month considerably.

My third day off will consist of undertaking some uni work!!!

Have had a productive day today in that I've counted out the money in my savings tin and I'm up to £134 which I'm really pleased with. Everything appears to be going in the right direction - fingers crossed with the car!

jwil

Glad you had a good few days away

[Deleted User]

Hello and happy new diary. I've subscribed and will be cheering you on.

Just a thought on the car - do you really need one? It might be worth doing the sums to see if you can make do with public transport instead (I realise that this is not always possible depending on shifts/locations/public transport costs). We got rid of our car and it's saving us £300 a month. We're coping absolutely fine, it's been 18 months! It was a scary step to take, but has been very helpful in debt-busting.

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

Hi Moguline,
Couldn't do without a car as it would be two buses to get to my work base. Would also need to travel between sites to attend meetings so a car is essential, however, the amount I'm paying is extortionate and something I need to address. Have looked at handing it back and it will cost me £250 but before I do that will need to get something to replace it. It's all really daunting.

Have arranged to attend my training so from 01/04/19 I'll be able to pick up some overtime shifts. Don't know how I'm going to fit in any more hours at work but I'm certainly going to try.

Going to spend this weekend doing a Uni assignment so know it will be a low cost weekend for me.

Only got to get through another 12 days before payday :T