Actually, I can

Greyflowers

This was the year I was supposed to get debt free. Unfortunately my wages got cut and I did pretty much the opposite instead. I did some classic hiding under the duvet and stumbled along with the help of my credit card but I'm now back on £814 a month, thank goodness. The relief is intense.

I was mostly just being glad and still ignoring the credit card issue but I also applied for a PPI refund just before the cutoff date (because nobody can procrastinate like I can) and that came through - £862.31:j

This was obviously brilliant so I unburied my head from the duvet and decided to apply it my credit card. Which was when I looked up the actual balance £4755.80. Which was a bit of a gulp but the real gulp was the discovery that the £65 or so I was paying each month was almost entirely eaten up by interst and I was actually paying off something like £7.50 a month. It would take me 50 years to pay it off at that rate. :eek: Of course I'd probably be dead before that point (not sure if that's good or bad).

So after I used my PPI refund, I also raided my emergency and paid all but £250.00 off the credit card. And I was so nearly back at £1,000 too.

(If anyone wonders at the logic of saving for an emergency fund while running up credit card debt, the answer is that there was no logic. My credit card (because I have forgotten the pin and never got around to ordering another) is for internet purchases, presents, cat stuff, clothes, books for uni and so on. I just closed my eyes to the balance. Groceries and things from shops came out of my bank account which usually ran a slight surplus which I dutifully saved.)

So my debt is currently £4,755.80/£3160.83

I'm expecting extra money in next months pay because I applied for a rebate on my uni fees. I'm a mature student and my work does a thing where you save money for something educational and they add a little and then you can send them an invoice for educational fees and they'll send you your saved money minus tax and NI. This should be about £750 so that will help too.

I'm trying again with a diary because now I can actually make ends meet if I pay attention, I should pay attention. My first job is to get through Christmas without using anymore credit. I've already bought several Christmas presents on the card. I feel a bit guilty about this because I deliberately did it before I looked at the balance and started being MSE. On the other hand I am now more organized for Christmas than I have ever been, so that's a plus point I guess.

I also need to get my bedroom window fixed. The double glazing lock doesn't quite lock and it is cold!! I also need to get the boiler serviced because I ignored its yearly service this summer and I really shouldn't have. So as part of my being more responsible, a boiler service is on the list.

This time I really will get debt free.

[Deleted User]

Happy new diary and best of luck ! xx

Greyflowers

Thank you SSDD23.


Not a very succesful day today but I did tidy up my bedroom so I can see floor, did washing, and made a big saucepan of soup. The soup had beetroot in it so by the time I was done chopping it looked like there had been a gruesome murder and my finger tips still have a very fetching pink tinge.

Although not strictly MSE I do feel this gives me a clear space to get started from. I also went through the enormous pile of paperwork and threw away all the unneeded stuff, so I now have a small pile of paperwork that something actually needs sorting. And I found two things I can return to amazon s that's helpful and should cover an amazon gift voucher for a Christmas present.


Now I just need to do that.

FootyFanDan

Hey :hello:

Just wanted to wish you the best of luck on your journey to debt freedom. I have found keeping a diary so useful

Greyflowers

Thank you Dan :hello:. I think writing something down helps. I have been trying to write down everything I spend and today I went through and added everything I missed after checking my bank account. I missed rather a lot. It is Christmas but it still rather alarming.



This Christmas I'm going to list all the gifts I bought and how much they cost. I think that will be alarming too. I dont have many people to buy for but one present is not enough so it's easy to end up spiralling and losing track of costs. Nearly done all my Christmas shopping though, one set of friends children left to buy for, but I haven't heard back from my friend about what they want. Also the Christmas paper I bought cheap last year after Christmas is terrible, so that's another thing to buy. It's not a bargain unless you actually want it. If I repeat that a few times it might sink in.


Once we get to the weekend I must try and rationlize my bank accounts. I opened a few when there were offers and I currently have 4 which is too many and I'm locked out of one. And I have a small savings account with Sainsburys I cant get into either. So I'll need to write to them. I think I would be in a better position if I was more organized. I'd be more aware of my posiion anyway. I feel bad because there are so many people struggling on this site and I'd be okay, I think, if I just paid attention. I will do better.


One plus note, I finally found my winter pajamas, and although they are a bit shabby they will do for this winter, so now am all warm and snug. :j