I'm back and ready to go!

Lucy1982_2

Hi :hello:

Right I have taken a bit of a break from this site (ok only a week) But it has been really enlightening. I have realised that I can manage my money on my own. The only think I have bought this week was the new Harry Potter movie and that was only after I shopped around for a cheap price .

But I missed everyone on here. So I have decided to come back, I might not post as much as i did, but I need to be here because of the people. I was disagnosed with depression again on Friday, but I am starting to feel a little more positive. Things at work are going great and I have managed to get loads done this week and found my motivation again. I have an appointment with the counsellor on the 20th (wish me luck) which will hopefully start the healing process, I then have to see my Doctor again on the 23rd.

But how is my debt. Well I have decided to include my really up to date SOA, it includes everything I can think of, please yell at me if I have forgotten anything. Personally I'm ok, OH has been really supportive and treated me to dinner and a cinema trip on Saturday night and we have discussed moving in together next year when we have saved up the money for a deposit.

So here is my SOA:

Income Avg: £1,114.58

Outgoings:

Rent - £207.50
Contact Lens - £10.00
RAC - £9.90
Car Insurance - £32.38
Petrol - £120.00
Phone - £25.00
Loan - £290.22
Living allowance - £120.00
Birthdays/Xmas - £20 (Paid into Savings)
Car - £50 (Paid into Saving. MOT March, Service July)
Internet - £12.49
Slimming World - £15.00 (please don’t ask me to give this up, I currently pay in advance and get 2 weeks free)

Total - £912.49

Leaving – £202.09

Debts:

Lloyds TBS loan - £13,640.34 (APR 12.9%) (this figure includes the interest and insurance I will actually pay back, loan was for £9,000)
A and L OD - £197.13 (APR 0%, £450 limit))

Total - £13,837.47

As you can see things aren't really that bad, I can afford my debt and I am not at risk of defaulting on anything. As some of you will have noticed I have no set payment going into my A and L OD. This is paid through Amazon sales and Ebay ones (assuming I ever manage to sell anything!) and then any money I have left over at the end of the month.

Christmas:
I don't have much savings so Christmas pressies with have to be paid for with the money I have left at the end of the month. I am going to OH's parents for Christmas so will have no spends on food, Mum will be borrowing my car so no spend on petrol for a week.

The plan:
is to stick to my budget as much as possible and get to Christmas with as little to pay off my OD as possible and in a great position to starting saving for a holiday and rent disposit next year. I also want to be able to over pay on my loan, but this will wait until I get any good at ebay or a nice payrise!

I'm continuing to try and lose weight, although my Dr says that this might be difficult while I get over my depression, but I feel like I am taking control again which can only be a good thing right?

So if you will have me back, I would love you join you again.

Lucy x

Snaggles

Awww Lucy, I'm glad you decided not to stay away for too long. Sorry to hear about your depression, but it sounds like you are taking the best possible approach to tackling it.

If you ever feel down, fed up or overwhelmed, you know you can come and talk to us on here.

Your SOA really doesn't look that bad to me, but seeing as you asked...:p

Petrol is quite high - do you do a lot of driving? Long commute to work etc? Do you do many unnecessary journeys when walking would be possible?

Living allowance - what does this cover? Is it food etc?

Phone - Have you reviewed your contract recently to make sure you are on the right one for your usage? Are you getting plenty of free minutes? And if so, do you use them, or could you cope with a cheaper contract with less free minutes?

Nice to have you back hon!

Lucy1982_2

Hi

My phone is tied in until about Feb/March next year. But the £25 gives me about £60 worth of calls and texts which I do use, but I will shop around.

Petrol is high as I do drive to work and OH lives 13 miles away, so there is driving to see him. And also some idiot put petrol prices up so much I am struggling to find any below 99p a litre... grrr!

Living allowance is £30 a week spends. I know that this seems a lot, but it covers everything. I live at home, but sometimes buy top up food. It also covers any going out over the weekend. I take lunch to work, so that's nice and cheap. Any I have left over I try and either put towards a treat at the end of the month or is transfered into my OD.

Thanks for having me back x

Snaggles

£30 a week doesn't seem excessive really - if you are affording your debts, then I think having a realistic weekly allowance that you can stick to is a really good habit to get into. And as you say, if there's anything left over, you can pay a bit extra off.

I've paid for a lot of Xmas presents with vouchers from Pigsback, surveys etc - do you do anything like that? What about Quidco?

mummum2

Just sending you a huge hug. Well done for remain strong and positive despite your depression. Take care x

littlejaffa

Am just being nosey now but you say you live at home, assuming you mean with family, so why is your rent such an odd amount?
I'm not questioning the value, just what your family charge you the 50p for, why not just £200 or £207! Just curious

Looks like a fine budget with a realistic 'contingency fund' good luck
xx

Lucy1982_2

Snaggles wrote: »

£30 a week doesn't seem excessive really - if you are affording your debts, then I think having a realistic weekly allowance that you can stick to is a really good habit to get into. And as you say, if there's anything left over, you can pay a bit extra off.

I've paid for a lot of Xmas presents with vouchers from Pigsback, surveys etc - do you do anything like that? What about Quidco?

I do have accounts with both, I have about £6 in Quidco and £8 in pigsback, I'm not sure there are going to be much use for vouchers this year, but I will be saving them up for next year!

I am thinking of getting some gifts through them which would up my accounts a bit.

I decided of £30 a week, as like you said I can afford my debts and I know that if I set a lower amount I never stick to it. This way I have £6 for my dance class and money for during the week. I try to save £20 for the weekend as OH plays rugby and I am normally at the club on a saturday afternoon/evening.

Thanks Mummum2, the depression will get there. it's just tough sometimes.

Littlejaffa - The rent is a odd amount because I pay half of our sky subscription. I live with my Mum and managed to talk her into Sky while it was on offer and said I would pay half hence the £7.50

Shineyhappy

Hiya and welcome back!! :j

No more abandoning us ever again!!;) Its nice to have you back:grouphug:

Have you ventured onto the savings board to make sure you are getting the best rate for those? Maybe make some cash from Quidco if you can set up a new one

Lucy1982_2

Shineyhappy wrote: »

Hiya and welcome back!! :j

No more abandoning us ever again!!;) Its nice to have you back:grouphug:

Have you ventured onto the savings board to make sure you are getting the best rate for those? Maybe make some cash from Quidco if you can set up a new one

Hi!!

I have and Alliance and Leicester and the main account has 6% interest and the savings account is something like 5.9% which I think is one of the best out there. Martin suggested it in one of his emails!

Lucy1982_2

Ooo I've just had a thought. I'm growing my hair at the moment, and my hairdresser (a family friend) thinks that only my fringe will need trimming.... so I might be saving on my £20 for the next few months! Even down to half price would be good.

I'll let you know how I get on. I'm seeing him on Saturday so I will find out then.

Lucy1982_2

Afternoon.

Right I have been sat thinking about a few things this afternoon. Mainly Christmas and how to get the best out of this site.

Thanks to Shineyhappy, I have ventured into the comps board and entered a few completion. I will continue this at home. I'm guess anything I win can be used towards Christmas/Birthdays or can be sold on.

We are doing a £5 Secret Santa at work, and I have found something on Prezzybox which would be good, and I nearly have enough lightspeed points for a voucher to get that. If I don't get it in time, I think I can earn either cash back or piggypoints.

OH's family will come in at £30, that's Mum, Dad and 2 sisters. I have a limit of £50 for both OH and Mum. Although Mum is pressing me to spend less.

I have about £6 in Quidco and I have made a list of non spend offers to look through when I get home tonight, which will hopefully add a little bit to the fund, it would be great to be able to pay for OH's family this way.

I have also decided I am going to try and order as much online as possible so that I can earn either cash back or piggypoint. This way I am starting to save for next year.

I thought I would sit down later this evening and sort out and organised action plan for the next couple of months and then into the new year as I am determind to be in a better place and more orgainsed for Christmas and birthdays this time next year.

If you have any tips for this please let me know.

Thank x