My soa

Willing2Learn

vintagegirl wrote: »

… I think my problem is procrastination. I have been here many times before with clearing credit cards and then running them up again so what im trying to do here is live well within my means and build up a savings and have some fun money every month so i dont fall into the same trap

I am not sure that procrastination is the real reason. I think the problem is that you have not had your 'light-bulb moment'. You are therefore not motivated to budget properly.

Andyjflet wrote: »

£300 a month date night when you have £8k in debt payments ? Have you discovered Dave Ramsey ? , It will change your life.

vintagegirl wrote: »

I have seen some of dave ramsay but dont really follow it. Could you give me the basics of its principles if you dont mind?

Dave Ramsey has an entire methodology that can help you to budget successfully. (I don't use Dave Ramsey as I am a YNAB covert).

monetxchange

Three adults in the house yet you’re only spending £100 on groceries (or £200 is your husband also contributes the same)? That seems low. Is it realistic? Is the third adult a grown up child? If so, are they contributing too? You put that you pay your son’s mobile phone bill. How old is he and when can he start learning financial responsibility and take on paying it himself?

The date night amount is frankly crazy. If you’ve ran up so much debt on credit cards and putting purchases on credit, you can’t afford this lifestyle of a holiday every month. Please at least consider stopping it or reducing it hugely until you’ve cleared the debt. It’s really doable and you could make great use of a decent wage and tiny mortgage. Then you could start saving all the money that you would have been spending on debt repayment on treating yourselves then.

User_060921

Sorry, £300 per month on one date night. Thats one hell of a luxury

enthusiasticsaver

I think at more than 30% interest on the capital one card I would prioritise repaying that over the £300 date nights.

You say you are picking up the tab mostly for date nights as you earn more than your partner. Does he or she have more than £8k of debt? If you own your house why is it not showing as an asset?

vintagegirl

Fusterclucker wrote: »

Sorry, £300 per month on one date night. Thats one hell of a luxury

I budget £75 a week.

User_060921

i understand vintagegirl.

And i understand the need to spend time with your partner - but, with respect, that is a cost you should reduce by 90 per cent in my opinion.

monetxchange

vintagegirl wrote: »

I budget £75 a week.

I get that it's a nice thing to do, but you can't afford it. You're £8,000 in debt. Spending £300+ on a date night holiday each month probably has much to do with that debt. It's just not maintainable, at least not until you've cleared the money you owe.

Out of interest, how much do you get for your money? Are you just getting a night/weekend away on your £300 (plus your partner's addition)? If you want to continue budgeting this amount, at least have a look into maximising what you get. Nice Air BnBs and country walks and a pub lunch a couple of times a month wouldn't even come to half this.

vintagegirl

monetxchange wrote: »

I get that it's a nice thing to do, but you can't afford it. You're £8,000 in debt. Spending £300+ on a date night holiday each month probably has much to do with that debt. It's just not maintainable, at least not until you've cleared the money you owe.

Out of interest, how much do you get for your money? Are you just getting a night/weekend away on your £300 (plus your partner's addition)? If you want to continue budgeting this amount, at least have a look into maximising what you get. Nice Air BnBs and country walks and a pub lunch a couple of times a month wouldn't even come to half this.

People seem to be hung up on the term 'date night.'
What that includes is lunches at work, dinners out, trips abroad and spending money when we are there.
I have been here before with paying things off and then running them up again, i suppose the only way really to avoid this is to cancel the cards but im scared of that,
and if im honest, my job isnt that stable. I work in sales so im scared if i lost my job and ive spend all my savings what do i do then?

Andyjflet

vintagegirl wrote: »

People seem to be hung up on the term 'date night.'
What that includes is lunches at work, dinners out, trips abroad and spending money when we are there.
I have been here before with paying things off and then running them up again, i suppose the only way really to avoid this is to cancel the cards but im scared of that,
and if im honest, my job isnt that stable. I work in sales so im scared if i lost my job and ive spend all my savings what do i do then?

Don't take this the wrong way but you havent really grasped what you are going to do yet and your defensive posts show this.
You're worried your job may not be stable then thats even more reason to start cutting the debt and cut the cards up isnt it ?

I fear you arent ready and have hit your light bulb moment as yet.

Anyone who is happy to justify spending hundreds a month on travelling abroad and meals out etc is clearly nowhere near their reckoning.

Good luck

vintagegirl

thank you Andy, when i read it back , i realise how it sounds,
i just feel like ive had some sort of debt my whole adult life