Trying to be back in black, in the words of ACDC

Drawingaline

We just took the plunge and left sky. However we still randomly have the sky Premier channel?! No idea how and nothing else works. Keeping quiet about that one lol!

Fudgefund

I would be keeping quiet too Drawingaline. I got a survey through about my experience of my call yesterday, I'm not sure they want to know.

Anyhoo, I have now been sober for a whole month and I am spending my Friday night on MSE. I went to the gym today so that's gone well and I feel like if I can keep this up I will be able to justify the expense. I had a totally stupid panic attack in the gym today and I thought someone had taken my bag out of a locker when it turned out I was looking at the wrong bank of lockers. Half the battle will be going back after I made myself look like a lunatic in public.

I spent £3.49 today to buy chocolate for work and to cheer a colleague up which I have no regrets about considering on a Friday I would usually be buying a bottle of wine and a whole host of snacks. I am troubled by the fact my available balance is not what I expected it to be and so my £115 may have been a bit optimistic. I don't really understand how available balance v the amount I am actually overdrawn works, so I'm hoping when it becomes clearer next week there will be an obvious explanation as I know exactly what I've spent this week. The difference is about £50 and I am mystified. This is obviously the problem with living in my overdraft but it's going to continue until I've sorted some more pressing debts out. I got sent a letter the other week basically offering support with my finances if needed which was a bit depressing, but I guess the bank was going to notice I was suddenly constantly overdrawn. I just hope they don't withdraw the facility.

To end on a positive note - I ate all my pre-prepared lunches and breakfasts this week so no spending there and I've eaten pretty healthily. My first weigh in is in 11 days. :eek:

ryanm8655

Best of luck with the journey, you’re doing well so far...did you ever get that £4?

As someone else said, become that person who never carries cash because your work colleagues take the pee a bit. I used to be like you (and still am to some extent). I’d always be the first and last person to buy drinks in the pub, for example, but over the years have realised a lot of people never reciprocate. I’m in debt and they’re not...that’s helped change my approach...it’s nice to buy things for the office but if others don’t reciprocate and it’s you all the time then knock it on the head. It’s actually quite funny going to the pub with some people as they wait for me to order the first round and there’s an awkward stand off about who’s going to do it now...

If you’ve got lunch and don’t need money for travel then leave cash at home, that’s one way I’ve saved money.

The other thing I’ve noticed is the few quid here and there on snacks. If you can stop that then you can overpay a little more.

How much is the gym? Your budget is tight and it seems like you don’t use it very much (like most of us, have a random burst of enthusiasm then nothing for months). I’d be tempted to cancel.

It would be good to see an SOA as you may pick up on other small expenses that you have and don’t need. How are the household expenses split? If your husband wants sky then maybe he should be paying for it? I wouldn’t expect my OH to pay for my sports package, particularly if she was in debt. I’ve always split expenses in proportion to wage too.

You’re doing well, so keep it up.

I’m early on in my own debt journey and it’s tough but every little helps!

Fudgefund

Hi Ryan, thanks for popping by and leaving such a thoughtful post.

I still have not received my £4. I live in hope, but admittedly that hope is fading. You are right about being the person putting my hand in my pocket all the time (although to be fair I do work with other generous types, it's a bit of a 50/50 split). I am totally stopping now, I have bought my last chocolate unless I am celebrating something. I did feel sorry for my colleague who is going through a bad time though and I think she did appreciate it.

I know you're right about the gym on paper, but I really do need to lose weight and I don't think saying I'm not going to exercise until next year (realistically I am not going to go out on the dark winter evenings) is a good idea. I'm using this as a spur to actually go, so I've been 3 times in the past week to get my money's worth. :j I've started Couch25K again and I'm DETERMINED to finish it this time after a few close calls.

Both me and my DH pay £700 into a joint account every month to cover bills and we split everything. In theory I know you're right about Sky but I do watch it, and DH does help me out, so I don't really want to put my foot down too much.

I've had a terrible day today moneywise. I was bobbing along happily (was a NSD) until I checked my bank account this evening. The money I couldn't account for is £39.99 which has been taken from me by an app. :mad: My sister asked me to download this postcard app Touchnote to send postcards to my unwell relative abroad to cheer them up. I signed up to a free trial and as 14 days have now passed (cooling off period in law) they have taken the money out of my account. I was so upset I nearly cried. I really should have named this diary, 'In the name of Paula Abdul, two steps forwards, three steps back'. I should have been a lot more careful, this is buried away in their ts & cs and loads of other people have fallen for it, I've looked on Twitter where there are loads of angry people who have been refused a refund. I feel really annoyed they didn't send me an email when I downloaded this app, and they didn't make it clear what would happen. :mad: Obviously I know this is my fault but I really could scream. No more 'free trials' for me.

So, I now have a £20 hole in my budget (DH has offered to give me half as I am so upset) and things just got that bit tighter. Going to need all NSDs this week. I've got to visit relatives again for a birthday on Saturday (£7 train fare and £12.50 present) so there goes another £19.50. I'm going to factor in birthdays to next month's budget because I had no idea how much I spend in Sept/Oct on other people!

ryanm8655

That’s really frustrating about the app - if on credit card could try that route? I’d not give up hope of getting it back.

beanielou

I just hate when that happens :mad:

Fudgefund

Reader, they are refunding me. :j

beanielou

Good news:)

Chrystal

Brilliant news!:D :j

Drawingaline

Fab news.

Would opening a new basic bank account without an overdraft facility help at all? Then you can start to pop anything extra into the overdraft account as and when to try and get it down. Maybe something to think about.