Learning to live within my means

efes_shareholder

Hi AK
good luck with your journey
Maybe pay the card down with the interest for a while and when you feel more in control look to move to a 0% even if its just a small portion at a time

astrocytic_kitten

Been a bit of an odd couple of days. A week ago I had just under a tenner in my bank account and was feeling really good about my chances of getting to payday (tomorrow) just on that without taking money from any of the other pots or putting on card. And I almost managed it, but had a family crisis yesterday and in a panic to get there put a £50 train fare on the credit card. I really was in a panic and dug out the card from its hiding place at home rather than just transfer the money on my phone banking app from the home repairs fund, which is what I’ll raid to pay it back.

I’m feeling a bit dispirited about putting something on a card less than a month into my shiny new no debt plan, and also wondering how I’m going to afford the home stuff that really needs done in a couple of months as I’m already raiding the money earmarked for that for a new passport.

Hey ho. I’m stressed about the family thing and didn’t get much sleep, plus I’m having a pain flare, so that’s probably contributing quite a lot to how I’m feeling. I’ve looked at the budget again and should be able to save some from my food budget over the next couple of months, plus I have a few things up on eBay that should bring in a bit - got a great bid today on a dress. Onwards and upwards...

astrocytic_kitten

Well I’ve been paid, and paid off the train fare I’d put on the credit card so it’s back to the same balance. I need to get out of the cycle of putting emergencies on cards. That is what the emergency fund is for. The clue is in the name!

DDs for a couple of cards come out on Monday, looking forward to seeing balance reduce.

I’ve also meal planned for the month (only started this in January and it’s a revelation - cheaper, but also so much less stressful than trying to decide what to eat every night when I’m tired) and figured out what social stuff I’ll need to cover (bonus of chronic illness is that I have a very cheap social life at the moment!). Going to get some more stuff up on eBay this weekend too.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Blackberrycurved

Good luck the health issue v job thing I get it’s me too.

findingthisdifficult

Hi AK,
Well done for paying off the train fare straight away, that’s a step in the right direction.
I can’t imagine meal planning for a month, I struggle to think of a week’s worth of meals.
Hope you’re health flare up calms soon and best of luck on your debt free journey. x

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks Blackberry, it’s so trying to juggle both, hard isn’t it?

@findingthisdifficult, it’s a pretty boring and repetitive meal plan - I’m going to look at it tomorrow to see if I can add more variety!

Had a productive day yesterday and got loads up on eBay, plus have a couple of more things in the queue - trying to list the higher value stuff first. It’s quite addictive seeing the wardrobe get emptier, though the amount I’ve bought and kept even though there’s something not quite right - and therefore hardly ever worn - is sickening. Next wave will be the clothes I love but which are just a bit too small, which will be harder to let go of.

Paying for all the activity today though, am pretty shattered and even putting on a load of laundry seems too hard. Am going to make a pot of tea once I get the energy, and then curl up with a blanket and a library book that finally came up after months on hold.

astrocytic_kitten

Odd week so far, I’m working from my parents house to be close by as another relative is very ill. On the moneysaving front, haven’t spent anything other than buying a train ticket, and instead of spending a small fortune at the station M&S for snacks for the journey I made myself a couple of sandwiches. It’s funny how habitual some things become - as I was waiting for the train I had a really strong feeling that I HAD to buy a cereal bar or hot drink or something just because I always do when getting a train. Gave myself a talking to and reminded myself I already had water and food with me.

I also downloaded YNAB yesterday and I’m hoping it will keep me on track for everyday spending to keep it within budget, and hopefully under. I was about to write that I’m quite good at the overall budget and big spends, but a nightmare at frittering away money day to day, but given my debt level I think it’s safe to say I’m not good at the big stuff either!

Have netted £20 from an eBay sale, and have a few more things coming to an end this weekend so fingers crossed on that front. Only one of the things has a bid on it so far, though it’s a £100 bid so not to be sniffed at - with any luck repairs fund will be looking a bit healthier soon. I can’t wait to get that out the way so I can start properly throwing everything extra at the debt.

astrocytic_kitten

I’ve now gone two paychecks with the debt decreasing instead of increasing or staying level...baby steps compared to so many posters on here, but I’m really proud of myself that things are going in the right direction. This is especially as I’ve had a few unexpected one-off expenses that previously I’d have shrugged my shoulders at, said there’s nothing I can do about it, and whacked on a card - YNAB has been really helpful in juggling the money round to make sure I can cover everything.

Back home now, and have made another eBay sale. There’s one more item finishing tonight that already has some bids on, so that will all be going into the home repairs fund. In the meantime am having a cheap and cosy weekend enjoying being home again and having my cats snuggled up to me on the sofa. One keeps on putting his paw on my mouth, think he’s telling me not to leave again!

ImpulseSpender

Great news and well done on the debt decreasing instead of increasing. That is a huge step! I love YNAB it's helped me out so much and I would say been vital for me in not increasing my debt.

CandyCupcake

Subscribed! Good luck on your debt free journey AK

I'm in a similar position to yourself, just started by debt clearing and EF building journey. We can do this!