Time to start a fresh.

BlueJ94

Parkyp said:

That’s good, your getting so organised. 

Do you have to watch certain tv programs with your app or do you just watch what you normally would. 

Thanks!

You just watch TV as you normally would, its taken me a week to earn £4 but that's because I don't watch TV every day

MrFrugalFever

Depending on how badly you want to pay your debts off will determine how far you go with and stick to your budgeting.

i’ve conditioned myself to be able to live off £150 per calendar month (food & fuel for car basically). It is extremely challenging but entirely doable. By achieving this, I now know I have the ability to fall back on such a situation should the need arise.

i am, however, relatively lucky in the fact that I earn a very good wage and rarely need to default to this level of budgeting, but it’s not always plain sailing.

BlueJ94

MrFrugalFever said:

Depending on how badly you want to pay your debts off will determine how far you go with and stick to your budgeting.

i’ve conditioned myself to be able to live off £150 per calendar month (food & fuel for car basically). It is extremely challenging but entirely doable. By achieving this, I now know I have the ability to fall back on such a situation should the need arise.

i am, however, relatively lucky in the fact that I earn a very good wage and rarely need to default to this level of budgeting, but it’s not always plain sailing.

I think as much as I want to pay off my debts quicker I need to realise I need to be able to live for the rest of the month when my debts have been paid. I always undercut myself and then struggle.

Yeah my wage isn't great I'm on £1300 a month, I worked out my priority bills come to just under £500 a month. 

MrFrugalFever

It is very difficult for people when they’re on a relatively low income, even worse still if they’re not contributing towards a pension either.

It may feel like you’re sacrificing almost everything in your life for a year or 2, but the benefits will, I am sure, outweigh the pain now. Imagine being £500 a month better off and having that just spare lying around, which is essentially what will happen as you learn to live without it for now.

one top tip I found to be super helpful was to practice a reverse no spend month, whereby when I got paid, I had the first half of the month set up as no spend (other than absolutely necessary food / fuel items & even then I’d try not to), then when it got to say 14/15th of the month I felt like I was able to get through with less stress and worry.

BlueJ94

MrFrugalFever said:

It is very difficult for people when they’re on a relatively low income, even worse still if they’re not contributing towards a pension either.

It may feel like you’re sacrificing almost everything in your life for a year or 2, but the benefits will, I am sure, outweigh the pain now. Imagine being £500 a month better off and having that just spare lying around, which is essentially what will happen as you learn to live without it for now.

one top tip I found to be super helpful was to practice a reverse no spend month, whereby when I got paid, I had the first half of the month set up as no spend (other than absolutely necessary food / fuel items & even then I’d try not to), then when it got to say 14/15th of the month I felt like I was able to get through with less stress and worry.

Luckily I have my pension set up with my employer, nice 5k saved in there already!     

Yes this is true, I do need to make a realistic budget and stick to it! That's actually a very useful tip, my rent annoyingly goes out the 14th of every month also. I will look into doing this! I think I will check my non priority DD ad change them to half way through the month also.

MrFrugalFever

You’ll be surprised just how many no spend days you can achieve when you really put your mind to it.

great news on the pension! I don’t know how old you are but a pension is just a must have, so, so important!

BlueJ94

MrFrugalFever said:

You’ll be surprised just how many no spend days you can achieve when you really put your mind to it.

great news on the pension! I don’t know how old you are but a pension is just a must have, so, so important!

Yes, I'll try it out next payday as I have no money left this month!

I'm 26 But yes agreed! I would of just wasted the cash anyway so better to be locked up safe for a few years yet!

Parkyp

That’s a good idea Of @MrFrugalFever. As soon as I get paid I buy treats, clothes go out for lunch etc. Maybe if I wait till middle of month when I still see I have funds in my account it might make me think twice to I actually need/want the things. 

I think your too young to go on extreme budget though, you need to have some freedom and enjoy life (within your means obviously) 
Do you get paid monthly if so allocate your spends weekly so you don’t over spend and be struggling at the end of the month. 

So do you have £800 left a month to cover your debt, food & fuel and general living expenses. 

BlueJ94

Parkyp said:

That’s a good idea Of @MrFrugalFever. As soon as I get paid I buy treats, clothes go out for lunch etc. Maybe if I wait till middle of month when I still see I have funds in my account it might make me think twice to I actually need/want the things. 

I think your too young to go on extreme budget though, you need to have some freedom and enjoy life (within your means obviously) 
Do you get paid monthly if so allocate your spends weekly so you don’t over spend and be struggling at the end of the month. 

So do you have £800 left a month to cover your debt, food & fuel and general living expenses. 

Agreed! I'm also going to try this next month.

Yes I'll have to do something as I'm always stuck short. See, this is the thing after I've paid my phone bill and other non priority stuff I should have at least £650 left, but at the moment I don't. I don't know why or where the money has gone. I did however take £300 out to pay for the car this month so I should still have about £350 left but I have £50. 

Parkyp

Could you open another bank account. Have an account were your wages go in and leave enough to cover all bills/ dds.
Then transfer what you have left to other account This is what you have to spend For the month.