Biting the bullet

savvylondoner

Also have gone back onto Chip and it's been taking a bit... going to try and leave that alone. Have also put a bit of savings into NS&I having used that in the past. I know the odds are tiny but I like the idea of possibly winning big. 

savvylondoner

So.. haven't had the best few weeks. This seems to be the next cycle I'm getting used to:
Payday -> Big motivation -> Pay off a bit more than I can afford -> Running out of money and motivation at the end of the month
CC has gone up by £200 in the last two weeks because I can't help myself from going for coffee, dinner out (even at half price it's still money) etc. Need to curb this. 
When I say I pay off a bit more than I can afford, I think the reality is I'm not sticking to my spending budget and struggling to do so. Maybe if I just cut up my cards?! Any tips welcome. 

savvylondoner

I also withdrew the £100 I had put by on chip

WinterWarrior

I’ll wait for the good advice coming in....sadly not from me as I have just taken back savings I was not going to touch as I’ve also run out...2 weeks to pay day too...sigh! 

savvylondoner

Suzanne54321B said:

I’ll wait for the good advice coming in....sadly not from me as I have just taken back savings I was not going to touch as I’ve also run out...2 weeks to pay day too...sigh! 

It's a pain isn't it?! Three steps forward, one step back and all that...

FOMO_overspender

I hear you! I have had a terrible few weeks too... going out and eating out has always been my vice and partly to blame for my debt in the first place, so was always going to be a hard habit to break. It's not advice but I would definitely say try not to give yourself too much of a hard time, we are only human after all! There were always going to be glitches along the way.

Naomim

savvylondoner said:

So.. haven't had the best few weeks. This seems to be the next cycle I'm getting used to:
Payday -> Big motivation -> Pay off a bit more than I can afford -> Running out of money and motivation at the end of the month
CC has gone up by £200 in the last two weeks because I can't help myself from going for coffee, dinner out (even at half price it's still money) etc. Need to curb this. 
When I say I pay off a bit more than I can afford, I think the reality is I'm not sticking to my spending budget and struggling to do so. Maybe if I just cut up my cards?! Any tips welcome. 

Run before you can walk  springs to mind. Although I think we're all feeling it a bit now lockdown has eased. We all want to try and get out and about and I'm certainly finding myself spending more. 

I think you need to not overpay straight away. Set your DD's to just over the minimums on cards. Then at the end of the month, once everything has been paid you will know what's left for overpayments.  I usually make mine the day before payday.   But, you also know what I'm going to say.... you have to stick within your budget.  Is it too small? do you need to increase it a bit? We can't live a life with no treats but that have to be that, a treat.   It takes time and effort to get the balance right but you will get there.

I also don't know what Chip is 😕

Naomim

savvylondoner

I think perhaps my budget is slightly too small. You're totally right to leave overpayments to end of the month - I'll try that. I need to just not spend the money that's sitting there waiting to overpay... @FOMO_overspender yes I shouldn't give myself a hard time, but also need to get into better habits!

savvylondoner

Pay day has been and gone, and cautiously paid things down with a hope of staying within my means this month. 

Virgin was £700, now £0
Natwest CC was £1966, now £0
Barclaycard was £2067, now £0
Natwest Loan was £1570, now £325 - Final payment next month!
Paypal was £2650, now £2200
Lloyds CC was £3763, now £3500
AMEX was £6879, now £6930
TOTAL REMAINING £12,955

Desperate to get to 4 figures by end of 2020!!!

ryanm8655

You're doing really well.

I've also had a leaky month so feel your pain...I feel a bit frustrated with myself but then you have to live a little every now and then I guess...