A welcome wake up call

twiggy86

Well my habit of posting on here regularly clearly hasn't got off to a good start! In all honesty haven't felt I have much to say! 

So I have now made all my minimum payments for the month. Slightly depressing seeing how far off the target I'd set myself at the start of the year for the month I am - and have no way to reach it. But I guess I am lucky to be able to pay the minimums at the moment. And my emergency fund is now up to a meagre £154! 

The positives of this forced time off for OH is that he has been doing some work in the garden - which seriously needed doing as it was a mess and had been for about 5 years! At the moment he's doing the work he can which doesn't involve any spending, just the preparation work for laying a lawn. Obviously that will involve spending - quite a bit to be honest as we're fortunate to have a big garden! But big garden equals a lot of top soil and a lot of turfs! The money I had set aside will cover some off this but I'm almost ashamed to say that the rest will go on the CC. 

I feel the need to justify that decision... if we're stuck at home I want a home and garden that I'm happy to be stuck in! I haven't sat out in the garden for years as it felt like sitting in a building site and I really want a garden to be proud of (although we're not doing anything fancy!) The other part is to keep OH busy and occupied and feeling like he's contributing something. Maybe that's rubbish justification and I'm mad to be adding to my debt at this time!!! 

clearmydebts

Hi Twiggy,
I've been brutal at posting on my diary too. Has your OH been let go from work? My BIL has and my sister has been keeping him busy with projects around the house. I think it's good to keep busy so whatever works for his mental health is the right decision.

twiggy86

Pleased to hear I'm not the only one! Although in my defence two of colleagues have been furloughed so I'm actually really busy doing their workload - we're only a team of 5 and the other two are the bosses! (Who have been busy doing their own stuff I should add!) He's self-employed but no work as the company they sub-contract for have stopped working. Hopefully he'll get a pay out from the government in June but between now and then it's a case of getting by and keeping him busy until he can work again! 

Chrystal

Hi twiggy, glad to hear that at least your work in not affected. 

I think in your position I'd gladly put the needed garden stuff on the CC.  It's really win win in that it makes OH feel better and that you'll end up with a garden that you both can enjoy for years to come.  The CC will still get paid, and at least you will be able to see and enjoy what it's been spent on!

Keep on keeping on and we will get out the other side eventually.  (((hugs)))

twiggy86

Well I made it to payday!!! It was close but OH sold a couple of bits on eB*y so that helped. Need to be a bit more cautious this month but OH should hopefully receive a tax rebate of a few hundred this month will will definitely help! 

We have now paid out for everything for the garden (or the first stage anyway). Fortunately I'd paid for the top soil on my CC rather than use the money set aside as when I called to place the order for the turfs they didn't take CC! The money I had set aside just covered it, otherwise that really would have thrown a spanner in the works! I saw I had a balance transfer option for zero fee and a much lower interest rate than the card I use for spending, so plan is to transfer the amount that is now on my CC to that card to keep the interest down until I can afford to get it paid off! Of course, I just went to do it and the site is down! 

It does mean my total debt figure is now back up over £10k which makes me sad but I know that this current situation means that my previous plans have to go out the window and at least the money I've spent this month on the CC have gone to a good use and not been frittered away! 

So the budget is all complete for this month. The plus side of working from home is that I haven't used the petrol I filled up in March yet, so don't need to set anything aside for that (as I put some aside last month but didn't use it!). 

clearmydebts

twiggy86 said:

Well I made it to payday!!! It was close but OH sold a couple of bits on eB*y so that helped. Need to be a bit more cautious this month but OH should hopefully receive a tax rebate of a few hundred this month will will definitely help! 

We have now paid out for everything for the garden (or the first stage anyway). Fortunately I'd paid for the top soil on my CC rather than use the money set aside as when I called to place the order for the turfs they didn't take CC! The money I had set aside just covered it, otherwise that really would have thrown a spanner in the works! I saw I had a balance transfer option for zero fee and a much lower interest rate than the card I use for spending, so plan is to transfer the amount that is now on my CC to that card to keep the interest down until I can afford to get it paid off! Of course, I just went to do it and the site is down! 

It does mean my total debt figure is now back up over £10k which makes me sad but I know that this current situation means that my previous plans have to go out the window and at least the money I've spent this month on the CC have gone to a good use and not been frittered away! 

So the budget is all complete for this month. The plus side of working from home is that I haven't used the petrol I filled up in March yet, so don't need to set anything aside for that (as I put some aside last month but didn't use it!). 

Well done on making it to pay day. I'm sure it wasn't easy! These are very strange times indeed and I'm sure the debt will creep up for a lot of people due to furloughing. I tell you something, it has really made me think about my finances and the need to get rid of the debt asap.

Thisisus

I have just read your entire diary, you are doing so well!

twiggy86

Thisisus said:

I have just read your entire diary, you are doing so well!

Wow! You deserve a medal!!! Seriously though, thank you for your comment. 

twiggy86

I managed to do the balance transfer which has gone through already. That makes me feel a lot better about adding to my debt if at least the interest is low. 
Emergency fund has slowly crept up to £166 but will have a few bits to add to that - nearly at the cashout point on two of my receipt apps (which will give me £10) plus have £20 confirmed in TCB and have £5 waiting to cashout in PA. Hoping with those boosters I can get it £200 this month! 

Chrystal

It's all sounding good twiggy.