Tired of Fighting fires

StressedSteph

I have decided to start a diary to keep me in check.
Have had a nasty run of events recently that has really thrown our finances into chaos and it has yet again reminded me that I need an emergency fund asap.

My mum died in August with no money to cover her funeral so we have a 3k funeral bill to cover.  Have paid 1k and now have to find the remaining 2k over the next few months.
Then last week DH came home from work (Builder) hardly able to walk and it made me realise AGAIN that if he ever injured himself and couldnt work we would be in a terrible mess with the finances very quickly.  He is alot better now thankfully but it has put me in panic mode.

I have downloaded YNAB again but finding it very tricky as everytime we get any money in I am having to siphon off a few hundred so that we have food and fuel money available until the next money comes in, otherwise direct debits would take it all.  I feel hassled from all angles from companies contacting when when direct debits have failed.

I just need to hold our breath for a few weeks/months to catch up again with bills and then make a definite concerted effort to pay off debts and slowly put aside a healthy emergency fund.

I know I have tried and failed to do this in the past as I am such an impulse buyer and cost us fortunes in half hearted hobbies and crazy ideas.  I am convinced it is an illness.

I am determined to stop the impulses and sell off unwanted stuff that we have around the house to bring in some money.

We both have a fairly reasonable income I just need to be more grown up about how we spend it.

Off to try and make sense of YNAB again.

xxx 

Buffythedebtslayer

Hi Steph! 

I don't suppose you remember me but I was on one of your old diaries and the last thing you wrote about was buying a Golf as a temporary car. 

I am so sorry to read about your Mum, that is so hard to deal with and take in in the midst of everything like debt etc. 

I am still here obviously, currently not in debt but have been stupid with savings, still pay too much rent and have spent too much on my pets. So still don't own a house! 

For a while there you did well with the selling and it seemed to replace the spending - I have been circling this myself recently. It is so frustrating. Just click click click and as if by magic, loads of crap and a CC bill!! 

I hope YNAB makes sense and it is good to hear from you XXXX 

enthusiasticsaver

Sorry about your mum and it is a salutary reminder to everyone that having some sort of savings or life insurance is important to avoid our loved ones being left with funeral costs.  

I have never really got on with YNAB and just stuck with spreadsheets/savings pots. An emergency fund is a definite  must.  Hope you manage to get to grips with stopping the impulse buys.  Removing credit card details from websites and making it a policy not to check out immediately on online purchases to give you time to decide if you really need the item is one way of reducing the thoughtless spends. 

Blackcats

Sorry to hear about your mum.  Mine died in august too - it's so hard isn't it.  I'm always being reminded to be kind to myself and so I'll remind you to do the same for yourself.
I can't get on with YNAB.  I've got paper based budgets and I'm just getting a bit better with them.  I've learned that updating them regularly is the best way to keep to budget - who knew??? 🤣

hugglemonster

Hi Steph so sorry to hear about your Mum, and the difficulties you've had. With your dh being self-employed I can imagine it's been especially difficult these past 18 months.

Hope the kids are well, are you doing your wreaths again this Xmas?

H x

Buffythedebtslayer

Hey Steph, you can't disappear already! you only just came back. Hope you are doing ok XXX