Washing Away My Debts By 2024

[Deleted User]

That's brilliant! So you can relax and soak up the sun then on holiday!

Did you manage to find some work to keep you busy today? X

Squirrelz92

Sadly not @Deleted_User. On the plus side I have finished reading my Kindle book. 493 pages in less than 2 days. If that doesn't scream 'lacking work at work, I don't know what does! Aah well! There's only so many times you can ask for the same thing before you give up!

Squirrelz92

Morning folks,

I was excited for today as it's the day before payday where I can empty whatever funds I have left from everywhere and slam them all into CC2. This was the plan. It has now changed massively.

Due to me taking almost 2 days off unpaid last period, I have naturally been paid less, taxed as per on this leaving me £200 short. That plus an increase in overall bills (gas and electric/diesel) and an increase in amounts owed (veterinary loan and department of work and pensions debt both being new monthly payments totalling nearly £80), I am on my knees  

I thought I would be ok, but after totalling up the amounts going into payment pots for bills tomorrow, I will be left with peanuts compared to what I normally have floating about in the main account. I am devastated and for the first time in a long time I am genuinely panicking. Trying not to cry at work whilst I type this! 

I have numerous things scheduled for June/July which require money which adds to my sicky feeling. My holiday in 2 days (now no longer can afford to take any spending money). My cars MOT and full service early July (this is £180 before any repairs), my DD's birthday (presents plus small activity for a few of her friends at her chosen facility) and the second lot of horse transport totalling £100. My head is screaming!

I've spent the last hour calculating everything against my pay and it looks bleak at best. I so wanted to throw whatever money I had at my CC and tell you all about it but now knowing my financial circumstances I can no longer do this.

My EF is down to £150 after using £100 to pay for horse transport as planned which is fine. I have £232.65 in my current account which I can throw wherever and I also have £69.56 spare in my CC2 pot not included the normal DD payment. I also think I have £70 phone bill money spare as the dates of payment cross over weird with this periods pay. The issue is, what do I do? 

My head says to whack it all into the EF without question as July is going to be incredibly tight and I need all the help I can get without resorting to touching my CC to pay for something. My heart says to put it to the CC as I have worked so hard for it. I think I know I will go with my head the more I think about it throughout the day as its just plain stupid if I don't.... what do you folks think?

I have already paid off just shy of £50 on top of my monthly DD just by PADding and selling items on Vinted so I should already be so proud of myself overpaying 325% the standard DD amount.

It's just put me in a really miserable mood and I wish there was something I could do to help ease my worry  

shell16

Morning 

Just wanted to say please dont feel dis-heartened, you have said yourself you have already overpaid standard DD already, its one of those things.  Dust yourself off and I would go with putting into EF so you do not add to your Credit and destroy the hard work you have already put into.

I know its rubbish when you come across a major bump in the road but if you dwell too much, this could change your mindset going forwards and de-rail your determination to debt busting.  I have had a few bumps in the road myself, but you will find a way of getting forward again, trust me!

I know this wont help alot but have you tried survey sites? Since being on my debt free journey, I have made over £360 just from one site.  

Could you do something for your daughters birthday at home instead of going somewhere, that way she can probably invite more of her friends and will cost less?

Good luck with whatever you decide.
Shell x

Squirrelz92

Thanks so much @shell16. I think you are right in saying it should all go into the emergency fund. I know I will only be fretting about it if I don't. Plus once its gone to the CC there is no getting it back if I change my mind!

I have tried a few survey sites but I get offered them few and far between
.
She knows she isn't getting a lot for her birthday so to take away her wish to go to Fusion with 3 of her friends feels so mean My house isn't the best and is in the middle of reno work (never have money to do the work) so I don't think I would be comfortable having other children there Shall have to try and think of something! x

LittleMissDetermined

Definitely pop it in the EF, it will give you comfort that it’s there if you need it.  We all have busy months throughout the year and basically, !!!!!! happens sometimes 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s just unfortunate that your sick period was in your first month of this debt free journey. 

In terms of birthday, could you arrange a picnic in the park? Maybe one which has something different to the norm? 

LMD 

Squirrelz92

I shall put it all into the EF this evening @LittleMissDetermined. Too much of a risk I think to pop it on the CC for now with other outgoings inevitable. It's so unfortunate as the only reason I had the 1.5 days off was because my dog was gravely ill and had to be put to sleep  

That's a nice idea and my daughter may be willing to change her mind if I throw in her favourite park £1 ice-creams for hr and her friends. Bit of a difference spending wise compared to £100 worth of trampolining tickets!

LittleMissDetermined

I’m so sorry for the loss of your dog, I lost my old one last year and I still miss her, even though we have replaced with a little rascal.

I always love a picnic in the park, no time limits, no pressure, not much to spend on. Hopefully she will go for it, it’s a benefit of having a summer birthday

BadBookkeeper

I know it feels a step back but use it as a learning curve to make another step forward.  What can you put in place now to avoid these things in the future?   For instance, my son’s birthday is December and although I had always saved for presents, I never used to save for the celebration or party.  Now, whenever I sell his clothes/toys/books throughout the year, that money goes into his ‘party pot’ and that determines what type he has.  If there’s money left over I carry it over to the next year.  He has cake & balloons but not professionally made or big balloon arches.  I used to feel guilty as social media is full of parties with all these extras but I honestly don’t think it makes the party anymore joyful.  Start putting a few £££ away each month for your daughters birthday next year.

Try to ride it out & have a frugal month as possible.  Try & cut any unnecessary car journeys to cut down on fuel etc.  

You’re on a debt free journey, there will be things that catch you out along the way.  Just try to ride them out and then put something in place for next time.  If you don’t get paid sick maybe build up a pot for that in case it’s needed again?  Could you work any overtime or additional hours to claw that money back?

Squirrelz92

Thanks for your advice @BadBookkeeper, it's much appreciated. I currently have a 'birthday' pot which I recently set up. £20 goes into it each week but so far I only have £60 in there. If i continue to do this then I wont have to worry about my DD's birthday or my DS's. It's just this year I will struggle a bit. I agree with you regarding all these fancy professional cakes and balloon arches being completely unnecessary. My two have ben brought up being happy with some blown up balloons cello-taped onto the walls, a £1 banner and a £10 birthday cake from @sda! 

Yes I shall be reducing the food shopping budget as much as possible and shall try to not to buy anything we don't NEED.

A bit of good news, my claim has been accepted for my dogs vet bills and i am being reimbursed £364.28 out of the total £554.35. This however will go straight back out to pay off the veterinary loan I had to apply for to pay the vets upfront. The total bill outstanding for this is £432 as I had to pay £108 upfront. This will leave me owing just £67.72 which I think I am just going to get rid of and pay off. If I don't its hanging over me via DD for 2 months and I'd rather it be gone. To add to this, I didn't realise I could claim for the service of having to put her to sleep at home! I spent £397 of my EF to fund this at the time. 80% of this SHOULD be reimbursed back to me once it's made its way through the claims department and I will whack this back into my EF hopefully alleviating some of this worry!

I shall try to continue with my PAD's even if its just £1 a day. All stacks up to an extra £30 a month paid off CC2 on top of the minimum DD payment currently standing at £25.