Pounds on......and off

catchooky

Hi there I've been lurking since January, only posting a couple of small threads & replies and haven't really helped the debt (in fact its gotten worse) so I am hoping that the lovely people here can give me some advice.
Things have been kinda tough so am hoping that posting on here will be quite cathartic.
This is roughly how things stand with me.....
Am 24 and have been in my current job since 12th November (was temping at the same place since March). I earn 13,000p/a with a 500pound payrise hoped for annually in april. I do overtime in the shop (Friday 5hours and a weekend day, although I'm hoping to either have one weekend off per month or stop the weekend day totally).
My dad also gives me 12pounds per week towards running costs - I usually put this in petrol as I tend to use a lot.

I owe -
75pounds pC world
150pounds ish to Smile (overdraft which I pay 75pounds p/m dd)
80pounds to New Look
2500pounds to tesco
12800pounds to halifax platinum
4000pounds to littlewoods direct - payments not due until September 2008
5000pounds to mbna
160pounds to empire stores
800pounds to freemans :eek:

My OH and I live with my mum and dad and luckily don't pay rent or bills just food. I also pay bills to my phone, gym (which is going to finish in March2008) My oh works in sales and earns 10kp/a without tax, plus commission. He gets paid this by cheque. He doesn't give me any money towards anything and some of the debt has been racked up my me trying to please him by taking him out to dinner and buying dvds to try to keep him indoors. However, he has promised to start giving me 350pounds p/m from his salary as of January. We're due to get married in August 2009 and have only got the venue paid. We have saved 550pounds ish in a savings account and we also have a couple of separate accounts as I'm tryig to save up for surgery as well as a car by this time next year.
We have planned to move out once 3/4 of the debt has been paid off, although I am worried about this as he tends to be even worse with money than me. He leaves lights, fires and tvs on all night, and drinks a lot. :mad:
I don't really have a close network of friends as they live too far away and I'm usually too tired after work to do much around the house, let alone drive for 45mins each way.

I'm also desparate to lose 7stones and hope that I can use this diary daily to track what I spend as well as if/when I lose weight. I have a few problems with depression and feel that this debt hanging over my head doesn't help matters much. I eat because I'm unhappy about my debt, and then I buy things to make me feel better when I feel like a fat lump.

Any hints/tips/support would be received very gratefully:j

ps very sorry about the long boring rambling post

tealady

Hello. At the risk of sounding rude, if you and your other half plan to get married then you need to sit down and discuss how you are both going to clear debts and pay for this wedding.
With the level of debt you have at present you will have few options should there be a major change in your life (eg a baby)
Personally I would put your wedding plans on hold until you are in a better position financially.

catchooky

tealady, I had thought about this but am worried that my m&d will be annoyed cos they were the ones who paid for the deposit of the wedding. They don't know that I'm in debt and I can't let them find out as they would be v disappointed in me. I guess i'm kinda hoping that there will be a magic wand waving in my direction


I currently have 200pounds available credit in my bank and am due my full salary plus about 400pounds overtime to come. This will be paid in 10days time......
i think that I will pay off pcworld and new look in January, as well as smile hopefully.....

skintas_2

sounds ike your oh needs a kick up the backside......paying no rent or bills he shoudl have a few bob stashed away, but hey never mind sounds like my oh..........

remember to pay the highest interst off first....can you cancel the gym........have you shopped around for cheaper car insurance. join all mystery shops go out and eat for free, forget buying dvd when you can get free offers with free rental at the moment, join up all sites that pay you to click away..anyway good luck.you made the first step, by coming on here, welcome.............

catchooky

skintas - unfortunately hes def mine! he didn't work for a while and didn't claim JSA (Long story) so i was funding him. he spends 30pounds per week on his bus fares to work plus what he spends on drink and doesn't tell me about. He is trying (I hope) to sort out his drinking but we only really have one evening together per week so I can't be with him for support. He works late most nights til bout 1030pm, and all weekend. Think this is why I'm glum....
Dad pays car insurance
I do clicks myself and average out 60pounds per month from quidco
I wrote to cancel gym but it won't finish til March 2008. I was told when I signed up that I would only have to give 1months notice but I got a letter thru today saying that it was actually 3months. Called the gym but had no joy in stating my case.
I am trying to finish off the smallest debts at the mo so that I have a sense of achievement.....
The Halifax is quite a lot so i'm trying to work out which bills I could pay off and not feel like i'm slugging away with nowt much to show for it. I have a savings account with around 50pounds so far - i'm trying to throw some money into it every month so that when i have a large um I can make a capital payment
Am selling some bits on ebay. Sold my wii last week for 250pounds and was kicking myself when I got offered 500pounds 30mins later aAAArgh! still thats 250pounds towards halifax.
Selling my ipod hopefully this week so will have an extra 120pounds for another capital payment, this time to tesco i think

catchooky

Well had planned on a NSD today but the girl from the office next to mine came round with 'find the football team' competition, to help the team her daughter plays for. Felt like I couldn't say no, so paid my pound. just have to hope i win now!!!!
I am going to have a look on argos - through quidco - to see if I can get a small table to sit my laptop on in our bedroom as it currently gets in the way with its wire draping everywhere!!! I also could do with a new concealer as I look like death warmed up all the time but am going to look at Superdrug through quidco to see if I can get a bargain. Feel slightly down about cash today as although I already have my chrimble presents, I have been hoping to buy a basic sofa & laminate flooring for the living room and spare room, hoping to buy this in January but not quite sure how I can afford it.
Food-wise I have been bad - because I felt glum I ended up eating 2 bags of minstrels and an alpen bar as well as the food ive 'budgeted' for (except the apple, funny how healthy food isn't as appetising as saturated-fat-laden chocolate) One plus point though - I actually made chilli like I had planned to with food I ha defrosted. I usually end up buying food to freeze so I always have soething to eat, and then once its defrosted I end up wanting a chinese instead so it goes in the bin.
Have been thinking about New Year Resolutions so maybe that could be the first 1) No more takeaways (at least until DFD)

Lemon_Tree

hi just thought as a fellow planner of a wedding i'd say hello. My OH currently lives away and has little overheads but the darling is saving great towards the wedding. But i'm having to educate him in MSE ways, luckily he doesn't have debts though.

catchooky

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

hi just thought as a fellow planner of a wedding i'd say hello. My OH currently lives away and has little overheads but the darling is saving great towards the wedding. But i'm having to educate him in MSE ways, luckily he doesn't have debts though.

Lucky you - I think my OH thinks that we're going to be showed in 20pound notes and won't have to put any money towards this. We're so lucky to only have debt repayments and not rent etc, but I can't understand where his money goes. In fact, I'm going to guess.......:beer:

I just can't make him understand that things cost money. He's been kinda spoiled by his mum (worrying since he's just turned 48 :eek: :eek: ) but I get the feeling he thinks my mum and dad will pay for everything (they're quite well off) but I want to stand on my own 2feet



So Lemontree whens the big day??

ani*fan

Hi Catchooky:hello:

Welcome to the boards...such a great place to be!

Sounds like you haven't quite got a handle on your dfw plan yet. Laminate flooring and a new table? You could get the table on www.freecycle.com and if you wait long enough the laminate will probably be offered too and it won't cost you a penny except collection. Try using the snowball calculator to work out your debt free date and then see how much longer it will take you if you buy these things new. It always motivates me to not spend.

You need your oh onboard with this. In my experience, it's impossible if you share your finances with someone else and they don't appreciate what you're trying to achieve.

If you stick your SOA up here then we can have a look and offer some good advice on how to reduce your costs.

And if you figure out how to stop spending on chocolate, let me know!

Good luck.

catchooky

Thanks ani*fan. I have a problem with spending which i'm trying to curb - it's the same as my eating. going to pop off now but will be back on as I have my weighin tomorrow.
BTW didn't buy owt on the table/concealer front as I have 220pounds to last me until payday on the 21st so thats a cheque that can be sent to PC World to get rid of it....... Will just have to go to work plooks and all!!!!!

catchooky

BTW clicked on the link you posted and seems to be an ad.....am i just confused.....????????????????