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Diary of a 30-something idiot

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  • 24ta
    24ta Posts: 266 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    Hoping all hoping all is well with you Fox 😊
  • Fox has failed, or, Fox tries again.

    It's been about a month since I was last here, and I have gone spectacularly off the rails financially. 

    Stepson has moved in and is yet to find work, although he paid me his first two weeks of rent yesterday. We have taken the house off the market. I thought about it a lot, and decided that I would lose a staggering amount of money, end up in a smaller house with less room for the kids, and generally it wasn't going to solve anything. I keep trying to run away from my problems instead of dealing with them like an adult. I keep looking for the proverbial magic wand to wave, the £10.000 radio competitions to land in my lap, the scratchcard to win. And the truth of the matter is there is nothing that is going to save my situation other than knuckling down to it, learning to budget and live within, if not below, my means, and living my life as it is. 

    This month I have not paid my council tax, water, either phone bill, Stepchange, the internet or the van insurance. So that should be a solid indication of just how badly things are going for me. I have no savings left. My PIP claim got denied as I do not take medication for my autism. (??) I am lodging an appeal. I have had to buy furniture for Jr Fox so that he has a proper bedroom. This has necessitated me losing my office space. I'm not working from home yet, so it's not too great a loss, but the upfront, even buying things via marketplace was a pill to swallow. The van developed a fault with the immobiliser, and we had to get it towed to the garage, where our local mechanic fixed the problem [a missing fuse!!] and didn't charge us. According to my spending tracker, which I am unbelievably STILL filling in, 58% of my budget has gone on groceries. I am in a hole. Sometimes I think there is something deeply wrong with me, that I fail consistently to learn my lesson, over and over and over and over again. I've been on this diary since November 2022, and I've made no real progress. 

    My retention payment is due next week, but thanks to student loans and postgrad loans, I have had over £1000 of deductions on my payslip. So I have cleared about £600 extra. This is going to go on catching up on all the missed bills. I'll be £88 over budget for the month. I'm hoping to make that via selling things lying around the house/Vinted.  And then that will hopefully give me a clean slate then for the rest of July. I'm going to start coming back here daily, as it's about the only thing that kept me on track. 

    I'll be working the General Election too, and that money will be going straight into savings to restart my EF. I am so tired of never getting ahead. And so very tired of myself. 
    ❀ total debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76  ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14  
    ❁ currently - £24,950 ❁ emergency fund - £2,500 ❁ 
     ⚜  decluttering medals: ⭐️ || running total physical items in: 74 out: 160
    £1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜
    we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner.  ❧ 
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    twentytwentythriving.
  • dawnybabes
    dawnybabes Posts: 3,332 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Oh Fox you haven’t failed, you really haven’t ! You are carrying the whole household with no support that you are entitled to ….  This could make a huge difference to your budget. 
    Sealed pot challenge 822

    Jan - £176.66 :j
  • kayannie
    kayannie Posts: 534 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I'm so sorry to hear that things aren't improving for you, but you do need to realise that this is not all your fault. It's impossible for you to shoulder all of the responsibilities for the household.
    I think taking the house off the market was a wise decision, there are so many hidden costs with moving home as you are already aware, not to mention the mental stress.
    How are you getting on with the new puppy? They bring such lovel & joy into a household!
    KA
  • Welcome back 
    i would be tempted to let the 2 men in the house deal with dismantling a shed  while you do something else……
    you will get there - admittedly it seems like you are taking the scenic route, but you will get there 😂
  • kayannie
    kayannie Posts: 534 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Your last post sounds positive - I think you need to keep posting on here, it does help to share your thoughts with others. Your puppy is adorable - is he an English bull terrier? 
    KA
  • @Debsnewbudget This scenic route involves a lot of doubling back on oneself, and pit stops for books/wine/decorating supplies. But it's probably a bit more fun than marching along the straight Roman road. Or at least, that's what I'm telling myself so I don't 'drive' myself round the twist 😉 

    @kayannie Yes he is, his name is Ronnie. He's KC registered and my absolute favourite thing. Although less of my favourite thing when he has tummy problems inside the house. 🤨
    ❀ total debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76  ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14  
    ❁ currently - £24,950 ❁ emergency fund - £2,500 ❁ 
     ⚜  decluttering medals: ⭐️ || running total physical items in: 74 out: 160
    £1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜
    we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner.  ❧ 
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    twentytwentythriving.
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