Need to stop spending and chasing dopamine!

Pink_Butterfly

Hello! I’m creating this diary to hold me accountable, as I’ve been trying to pay this debt off for 3 years now and I just keep kicking the can down the road so to speak. The good news is it’s all on 0% interest. The bad news is I need to have the most boring year next year (aside from a holiday) to be able to pay it all off before the interest kicks in. I have bad spending habits so this will be a challenge for me, but I’m determined!

The debt as of today:

Barclaycard: £2,989.46
Natwest CC: £2,418.76
Holiday for 2025: £1,938.60
Universal Credit Advance 1: £419.70
Universal Credit Advance 2: £333.28
Very: £111.00
Next: £88.50
Klarna: £25.00
Total unsecured debt = £8,324.30

I want to have this all gone in the next 12-18 months. I’ve done a budget and I think this is achievable providing I don’t lose my job, or the car doesn’t require expensive repairs etc 😁

I’m happy to keep the holiday as I haven’t taken my children away since April 2023, so it’ll be over 2 years by the time we go away, and I’m trying to balance getting in a good financial position and making memories with my kids. The social diary is going to be taking an absolute beating once the Christmas period is over though. I’m not sure I’m ready for it in all honesty 😂 but I guess that’s why I’m here as I know I’m going to need a community of people to help me 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Pink_Butterfly

Today is Sunday and it’s been a nice one! I finished wrapping all my Christmas presents 😊 I’m never, ever normally this organised and I’m not sure why this year is different, but I’m not complaining 😂 I’ve got to buy a secret Santa gift for work once I know who I’m buying for and then I’m completely done. I’ve also written 20 Christmas cards so far which again is very unusual for me!

Spent £28.07 in Aldi and £26.43 in Tesco. Both stores are next to each other which is very handy 😊 My mum & dad then invited me over for dinner which was lovely! I was trying to come up with some meal ideas for my dad as he’s just been told he has type 2 diabetes. I have a little bit of experience with it as I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with DD1 but that was over 10 years ago so I can’t remember a lot!

Although I work full-time I’m eligible for universal credit, which is thankfully being paid in tomorrow as I only have £18.18 in my bank account right now 😳

Pink_Butterfly

What a miserable day! ☔️ Thankfully it was dry at lunchtime so I could go out for a walk. 4 colleagues joined me which was nice! We did a route I’ve never done before. It was ok but I prefer my normal route in all honesty - less mud 😂

I spent £13.19 in Tesco this morning as I forgot to get some things yesterday, and I got the girls and I some advent calendars that were on offer 😁 Also filled up my car which was just over £50. I can think of more fun ways to spend £50 😂

Work was super busy and I’m going to do a bit extra tonight. Not too much though! I really try & keep my work/life balance at a healthy level but it’s not always easy 😬

My youngest brother got engaged 3 weeks ago and he told me today the wedding will be in June, so only 7 months to go. It’s going to mean pulling the kids out of school which I’ve never done but it’s only a day so I’m sure it’ll be fine. I need to edit the budget for this as I assumed their wedding wouldn’t be until 2026 after I’m debt-free. He & his fiancée want my girls to be involved in the wedding and they’re going to ask DD1 to be the ring bearer and DD2 to be a flower girl. It’s going to be a very small wedding but due to the location it’s going to mean at least one overnight stay, maybe two 😬 So it’s going to hit the budget especially when the girls will need new dresses and shoes. Vinted here I come 😂

Pink_Butterfly

Yesterday was raining, today was snowing! Thankfully it wasn’t bad enough for the schools to close but the roads were awful and it took me twice as long to get to the office.

On a positive note it was a NSD 😃

Sarahwithlove

Eeeek that's not long to save up for the wedding. Are you off anywhere nice for your holiday? 

Pink_Butterfly

I know! Although it’s longer than one of my friends who got married in October after getting engaged in August 😱😂 She did amazingly!

We are off to Antalya in Turkey 😍 We’ve never been to Turkey before but everyone I know raves about it so I thought I’d give it a try 😁

Today would’ve been another NSD but I remembered I owed the charity tin at work some money for all the chocolate bars I’ve consumed over the last few weeks 😂 They have a tuck shop and all the proceeds goes towards buying Christmas presents for children in the local area who don’t have much. Very heartwarming 🥰

I feel a bit run down so I’m going to attempt an early night tonight. I’m out the next 3 nights so can’t be getting poorly 😬 Luckily I’m working from home for the rest of the week so at least I don’t have to face the commute until Monday 😃

Pink_Butterfly

Just got home from watching DD2 performing at the local theatre with her school choir. She did very well 😊 I’ve got the last song stuck in my head now though 🤣

Spends today was just £5.29 on a Christmas jumper for the little performer 😁 Her dad will give me half at the end of the month as we go halves on everything for both kids so it’s a LSD.

Lonelygambler

Hey - Clearing over £8000 in 18 months sounds like a real goal. 

Looking forward to seeing the journey. 

What is all the debt from? Lifestyle? How are you planning on clearing it all as you’ve said 0% on everything? 

MFWannabe

Pink_Butterfly said:

What a miserable day! ☔️ Thankfully it was dry at lunchtime so I could go out for a walk. 4 colleagues joined me which was nice! We did a route I’ve never done before. It was ok but I prefer my normal route in all honesty - less mud 😂

I spent £13.19 in Tesco this morning as I forgot to get some things yesterday, and I got the girls and I some advent calendars that were on offer 😁 Also filled up my car which was just over £50. I can think of more fun ways to spend £50 😂

Work was super busy and I’m going to do a bit extra tonight. Not too much though! I really try & keep my work/life balance at a healthy level but it’s not always easy 😬

My youngest brother got engaged 3 weeks ago and he told me today the wedding will be in June, so only 7 months to go. It’s going to mean pulling the kids out of school which I’ve never done but it’s only a day so I’m sure it’ll be fine. I need to edit the budget for this as I assumed their wedding wouldn’t be until 2026 after I’m debt-free. He & his fiancée want my girls to be involved in the wedding and they’re going to ask DD1 to be the ring bearer and DD2 to be a flower girl. It’s going to be a very small wedding but due to the location it’s going to mean at least one overnight stay, maybe two 😬 So it’s going to hit the budget especially when the girls will need new dresses and shoes. Vinted here I come 😂

If your daughters are going to be ring bearer and flower girl wouldn’t the marrying couple be paying for their dresses etc? 

Sarahwithlove

Pink_Butterfly said:

I know! Although it’s longer than one of my friends who got married in October after getting engaged in August 😱😂 She did amazingly!

We are off to Antalya in Turkey 😍 We’ve never been to Turkey before but everyone I know raves about it so I thought I’d give it a try 😁

Today would’ve been another NSD but I remembered I owed the charity tin at work some money for all the chocolate bars I’ve consumed over the last few weeks 😂 They have a tuck shop and all the proceeds goes towards buying Christmas presents for children in the local area who don’t have much. Very heartwarming 🥰

I feel a bit run down so I’m going to attempt an early night tonight. I’m out the next 3 nights so can’t be getting poorly 😬 Luckily I’m working from home for the rest of the week so at least I don’t have to face the commute until Monday 😃

Wow that is a short time to plan! 

Oooo I've been to Turkey a few times, enjoyed it every time. Guaranteed sunshine! 

There's alot going around hopefully this colder weather might kill off some of the bugs 

Pink_Butterfly

Oooooo I have some friends! Hi everyone 😁👋🏼

@Lonelygambler My debt is down to some expensive car repairs and lifestyle. I’ve learned that I’m a bit of a dopamine chaser 😳 so buying things and booking experiences is my weakness! I need to try and rein it in. I’m absolutely not promising perfection but I will be trying my best 😂

@MFWannabe I hoped that would be the case but it doesn’t sound like they’ll be buying the dresses unfortunately.

A storm is on its way apparently - glad I’m working from home but I’m going out tonight with a few friends to a well known Caribbean restaurant so I hope I don’t get blown away 🤣