We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Good morning, I like a few others think there are some comments here that are not needed, and even though I have raised concerns over OH before, I think they have gone a little too far.
I would say look at your budget now. Not when you get a pay rise or bonuses. If you can make the budget work on the money you are getting in now, then it will always work and any extra can be used to pay off the debt earlier than planned or go into savings pots. Until it is in your bank don't think about it or you will start to think you have more to spend than you have. You never know that is it 100% sure you will be getting it.
Children are ok if you say no to holidays or the latest expensive gifts for birthdays and Christmas. They need to learn that if the money is not available they cant have it, or they are at a risk of repeating the cycle when they are adults. buying what they want when they want, and putting it on a credit card. They will still have a magical day as long as you are there celebrating it with them. With holidays, perhaps a staycation with a few days out or camping in the garden. Making memories doesn't need to cost lots of money.
I hope you found something for your daughter to wear for book day. As I work in a school I felt I should join in, although as I am only in the office it is only a token effort. I printed some Mr Men on an old pillowcase and made a hair scrunchie.
Keep going you are doing a great job and everyone here is hoping you succeed, however they come across.
Me, DD1 19, DS 17, DD2 14, Debt Free 04/18, Single Mum since 11/19
Debt £2547.60 / £2547.60
I redeemed one of my two pawned items yesterday at a cost of £80, but I have a man coming by tonight to buy said items for £120. So sort of a profit. £390 paid off the debts this month.
I had some Skyr in the fridge and decided to make gluten free flatbread pizza for dinner last night, thanks to reading about making greek yogurt flatbreads on here. It was heavenly, but I think I added a bit to much cheese. Proper comfort food. I was going to make fudge too, but it was too cold in the kitchen! The downstairs radiators either don't work properly, or there is a problem with the thermostat being upstairs, because upstairs is nice and warm, and downstairs is always freezing as soon as the sun goes down.
Mini Fox and I have been doing Reading Club in the evenings from 7.30-8.00pm each night this week and its been really nice as it gets her away from screens, unwinding before bed and gives us a little bit of time together, which is sorely needed. It also helps her with the harder words that she isn't sure about.
World Book Day tomorrow - the school have said the children can wear comfy clothes and don't have to come in costume, so great success there. She wants to wear pyjamas, but that cannot be an option. Sorry. I am going to be that parent that says "No, you can't wear your Oodie 24/7". Obviously nothing else actually fits, but we will go to a supermarket or Primark tonight and get her an outfit from the profit from the pawned items. Budgeting £20, hoping to spend less.
Funds are once again running low. The best laid plans of mice and men etc etc. The trouble is, as much as I would like to tweak my budget and base it off my base salary, currently I have no idea what my normal wage is. Which is very annoying. My last payslip had a mixture of my old pay and my new pay. And this month will have the retention pay on it. Which I don't know how much it will be, or how it will show on my payslip. Either way, the budget isn't working. Everyone being here at the weekend along with some unplanned "top up shops" have decimated my pots. I have £85 left in the groceries pot and £95 left in the fuel for another 20 days. Absolutely not sustainable. And part of that is my fault, because I haven't kept up with meal planning at all. Again. I suppose its very easy to enter numbers on a spreadsheet and make them balance, but its harder to keep up with in real life. That is where the discipline comes in, and I suppose that is a muscle that can be trained. I am absolutely determined to make it to the end of the month without having to borrow any money. I don't want to start April and be in deficit again.
Also I know some (the majority) of the comments left are well intentioned, and I do try my absolute best to receive them in the spirit they are intended. But realistically. Ouch.
On the plus side, the sun is shining and it promises to be a glorious day. It is amazing what a mood boost it is to be on the way to work on the early bus and have the sunshine beaming in.
❀ total
debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76 ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14❀
£1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜ we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner. ❧ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well done for keeping your chin up and responding so well to all the challenges and comments, it's inspirational how resilient you are! Keep posting, there will still be lots of support and practical advice however you choose to proceed.
Here's something you might find useful: https://listentotaxman.com/ you can put in gross salary, student loans, % pension, and it tells you how much you should receive.
Agreed re some of the comments. There's a difference between offering some constructive advice and veering into personal attacks and judgements. I found some of these uncomfortable to read and I can't imagine how they would feel to the OP. Hopefully your diary can return to a place of support and positivity for you X
If you ever had a student loan whilst at Uni it's also worth checking with the SLC to check if you have overpaid. You can just call them and they'll check for you. From my group of Uni friends we all received refunds ranging from £20 - £1000 so worth a check if this applied to you. Martin Lewis has an article about it on this site.
Hi there FoxandFlowers 👋 Just delurking to say congratulations on your journey so far - you've taken so many steps towards your debt free goal. Look how far you've come 😁 You've not reached your destination yet of course but it's a marathon, not a sprint.
When I started following your journey, I will admit that I wasn't sure you would be able to make the changes needed to reach your goals. I underestimated you 😲 I can see now that you know the secret to sucess - perseverance. Keep going, keep trying, keep making small but important changes - you can do it.
Fortune x
Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100% A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais
@redlaces according to that calculator I am earning £1740 after tax currently, and will be on £1752 after April. The Council probably won't make their decision on payrises in until approximately September. I will work off £1720 as at the end of the month my AVC will start (pre tax deduction, I will pay £25.10 a month and get £35.71 in my AVC pot. The plan is to just keep that as a stable contribution, and then I will have a pot of £26,000 tax free when I retire, that has only cost me £10,500. Assuming I live that long, it will be a nice nest egg to leave for Mini Fox.
@iza_belle1 that's a good idea that unfortunately got me a refund of... £12. And I owe the Postgrad loan £2k in overpaid grants, that has been added to Stepchange.
This weekend's plans include washing the van, and listing clothes on Vinted/ random items on FB marketplace. I need to clear the shed out, I have a fridge in there that could be listed. And a gigantic coolbox from Mr Fox's 'drinking days'. Given that he is now sober, that does not need to be kept. And a wicker basket that assuming hasn't been munched on by local wildlife, would make a nice blanket box in the lounge. Shopping from home can be quite good fun!
Have listed both the car and the van on FB Marketplace. Have received a message this morning asking if we would be interested in a part-ex situation for a VW Transporter that is fully converted... I await photos. If that went ahead, I would obviously then keep the cash from the part-ex, and the cash from the car sale, combine, and then plan how to spend/save. Key things for me are to clear credit card, clear mayglothling, and wipe off Ramsdens and get my rings back. Would free up £45 a month in debt repayment money, and also as Ramsdens is the only thing accruing interest, the sooner that gets finished, the better.
edited to add, thank you for your message @Fortune_Smiles. Perseverance is indeed key, and honestly if I am 1% better today than I was yesterday, I would be 366% better at the end of 2024.
❀ total
debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76 ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14❀
£1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜ we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner. ❧ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think one of my comments yesterday was one of the harsh ones people are mentioning but I do think that is now what is needed.
I have very much enjoyed reading your diary and I can tell you are an amazing person as have a lot of other members, but the kindness is now enabling this disastrous behaviour to continue.
You know your husband needs an income, why are his reasons for not doing anything about this valid? If he is too depressed to do anything get him to claim something!!!!
you have borrowed thousands from friends yet think it’s appropriate to spend £500 on 2 bikes before they have been repaid every penny?
These friends who have loaned the money must be very close and trusting of you, can you trust them and openly speak to them about everything and get the input and support of people close to you? But you all need to realise another bail out isn’t the way to go
Have listed both the car and the van on FB Marketplace. Have received a message this morning asking if we would be interested in a part-ex situation for a VW Transporter that is fully converted... I await photos. If that went ahead, I would obviously then keep the cash from the part-ex, and the cash from the car sale, combine, and then plan how to spend/save. Key things for me are to clear credit card, clear mayglothling, and wipe off Ramsdens and get my rings back. Would free up £45 a month in debt repayment money, and also as Ramsdens is the only thing accruing interest, the sooner that gets finished, the better.
Be careful about any part exchange offers on FB - they are usually scams. I was inundated with bogus part exchange offers when I listed a car for sale last year. They included fake vehicles and stolen photographs plus requests for verification codes, deposits and delivery charges 😲
Fortune x
Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100% A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais
