Let's get this sorted then!

LzzyIsGod

rachmac3 said:

So don't take out another credit card and buy a round the world flight to sunny and exciting places? Is that what you're saying @LzzyIsGod? 
I am down to my last few pounds now, pleased that I will last until Friday. I had some work done to the house today, just a small patch in my office plastered, which I was meant to get done last April. The money came out of the house pot, so all good. I'm hoping if my office is nice and comfortable I will want to spend more time in it working and earning money. 

🤣 oh don't tempt me!!! Disappearing off round the world sounds very tempting 🤣🤣🤣 but only 1st class all the way mind. 

I was thinking along the lines of what a personal trainer once told me - the workouts you do on the days you don't feel like doing it count the most. I try and think the same on the days I don't want to debt bust, ever hopeful it will one day sink into my brain.

Plastering is one of the jobs I don't DIY myself (destroy it yourself) . I leave it to the pros!

rachmac3

I made it to another payday! 

I had a couple of small unexpected payments from the old/second job on Thursday, which was a lovely surprise the day before proper payday. I decided to treat myself with some of it and reduce an overdraft with the rest. I bought myself a new pair of jeans and two bras, which I've been meaning to buy for a few months but been putting off. I've lost 30 pound since Jan '24 and I'm still pretty much wearing the same clothes (they are not massive on me now, but they were very small for me back then). A lot of my clothes are looking very tired and faded, which is not ok for the days I go out to work. I need to have a good sort out soon. 

Sorted another few boxes of my father's belongings, which takes me a little bit closer to having time and space to sort out my own. 

TSB wouldn't let me reduce my overdraft by £80, only by a max of £70, so it's really annoying me that it's currently £430 limit. The annoyance means I will be trying very hard to reduce it by another 30 as fast as I can!
I'm really looking forward to updating my spreadsheet tomorrow. 

I set myself a few milestones for motivation when I started this journey - 

First milestone – get CC total under 20k

Second milestone – get 1st direct overdraft down to 250

Third milestone – get CC total under 20k comfortably (taking into account fluctuations/work expenses)

Fourth milestone – get loan under 10k 

Fifth milestone – get TSB overdraft down to 0 (from 500) 

I've definitely achieved the first two, and hopefully achieved the third. It might take me a few months to do 4 and 5, but I'm sure I will find other ways to motivate myself in the meantime. I'm allowing myself a decent reward when I get there, maybe an EDT/ 24h mini holiday as I haven't had an holiday for years and traveling is one of my great loves.

The sun is shining and I'm hoping to spend some quality time in the garden this weekend.

rachmac3

Payday means another small reduction for my overdraft. Not all of my payments have gone through but I wanted to update everything anyway, because I am impatient. 
It's very annoying when payments are showing as having left my bank, but not showing as coming off the cards/debts yet. Is that money just floating around in space until Monday?
Another no-show for some of the stuff I'm giving away free, that's three in the week since I listed them, plus about 57 'is this still available?' messages. Maybe that's my sign to stop being so lazy and put things on to sell instead. 
Anyway! Back to the positives! 
Everything is heading in the right direction! I made it through the month without needing to borrow or increase my overdraft back up slightly (after the drastic reduction at the start of the month).
Credit cards are under 20k, and I've reduced both overdrafts by quite a bit. 
Time to update my signature!

LzzyIsGod

Great update! Well done on the overdraft and the CCs!

rachmac3

This is the first of 5 days off work! I'm planning on a lie in (still in bed as I write so I've achieved that one!), then a couple of hours of chores I've put off for weeks, and then me and dog number 2 are driving to Exeter to see friends and staying over. 
I'm a little nervous about the money that will be spent but it won't be an extortionate amount and it's important to still see people and do nice things. I've been such a hermit for the past 5 years.
I'll do a few hours of my second/old job too in the next few days to get some extra pounds in. Planning on sowing some seeds for nice things to eat, and if the weather holds I'll clean the washing line and pull it out in the hope of drying clothes outside soon. I live on a hill in Wales so that doesn't happen often, but now that I'm wfh more it should be more possible because I can dash out to collect it if we have a shower. 
Here's to figuring out a good balance of paying off debts rather than accumulating them, and enjoying some things without spending a fortune! 

rachmac3

I did pretty well with my mini-trip. I took snacks, breakfast, and drinks to limit the spending. Unfortunately my friend chose a national trust place for us to meet and it was £17 to get in and £5 to park. I nearly died. £22 to walk the dog and have a catch up! 
I've done 90 mins of my old/second job - not as much as I should have, but I'm going to do another hour now. 
I've started some tomato and cucumber seeds, and some radish and beetroot. I've spent almost 5 hours today painting the horrible 8ft high ugly breezeblock wall that runs the length of my garden. I didn't even finish one full coat in that time, even using a sprayer, but I've made a start at least.
I didn't want to check my numbers today because I knew they wouldn't have reduced since I checked last weekend, but I have had a word with myself and got it done this evening. I can't expect them to reduce every week and it's important to notice that they haven't gone up either. No more ignoring things when I don't think I'll like what I see.
In other news I've just collected some food from Olio for the first time, just some salad for now but it's a start. I've always felt too guilty, that I might be taking food from other who are more deserving/more in need. It's just some salad, it's going to waste, I waited at least half hour before requesting it to give others a chance.
I also had a chat with my sister about us encouraging/supporting each other to get some things listed on vinted soon. I have other more urgent things to do first, but at least we've had the conversation and we can check back in with each other about it in a few weeks. 
I still think your debt should reduce by a pound every time you're brave enough to check the balances.

rachmac3

I'm having a few unexpected spends this week, a friends birthday meal that I had forgotten about yesterday (although the food was delicious so I am very glad I went) and now one of my chickens is ill so I've spent some money trying to help her, but without success so if she makes it through the night it will be a vet visit tomorrow. I am reminding myself that I have a small emergency fund for these things, but it still feels a bit disheartening for some reason. This month feels very tight, and I am genuinely not sure I will make it to payday without dipping into my tiny emergency fund. I will try my best. 
My old/second job didn't pay me today. They really are annoying, I could have done with that money towards the vet visit. I cannot wait to be finished with them so at least I can find a new way to earn extra money and hopefully one that is a bit more reliable. Hopefully this weekend and I'll be done, although I think I've been saying that for at least a month. 
The chimney sweep moved his appointment from April (after next payday) to today, so again although there was money in the emergency fund I am a little bit annoyed as it was allocated out of my next pay. It's not cost me any more, just a little early, so no real reason for me to by grumpy about it. 
I am being paid to do 90mins of work one evening next week, which is lovely as I had actually agreed to do it for free. It didn't even occur to me to charge until my friend asked me for costs. repeatedly. because I ignored her the first time. and then got flummoxed the second time. I really need to work on that mindset. 
I would very much like a dopamine hit now please! 

rachmac3

I've had a shower, put some newish pjs on, and had a word with myself about all the negativity lately!
I know how much I earn and exactly how much I owe. I have faced up to it all.
My debt is heading in the right direction.
My mindset is slowly changing.
My physical health is the best it's been in 5 years.
My mental health is the best it's been in 5 years.
I've finished uni and I never have to study ever again.
I've started a job I love that lets me wfh lots and walk my dogs in daylight.
It's spring and the days are getting longer.
I have friends who still want to spend time with me even though I've mostly isolated myself in recent years and cancelled plans a lot.
I have sooooo much to look forward to and the possibilities are endless.
It's all going to be ok.
That's better!

1stTimer

rachmac3 said:

I've had a shower, put some newish pjs on, and had a word with myself about all the negativity lately!
I know how much I earn and exactly how much I owe. I have faced up to it all.
My debt is heading in the right direction.
My mindset is slowly changing.
My physical health is the best it's been in 5 years.
My mental health is the best it's been in 5 years.
I've finished uni and I never have to study ever again.
I've started a job I love that lets me wfh lots and walk my dogs in daylight.
It's spring and the days are getting longer.
I have friends who still want to spend time with me even though I've mostly isolated myself in recent years and cancelled plans a lot.
I have sooooo much to look forward to and the possibilities are endless.
It's all going to be ok.
That's better!

I love this post and am going to write my own list this weekend to remind me to stay positive! (I have always been a naturally negative/anxious person) but maybe if I stick some thing like this on my bedroom door it will give me the positive nudge I need to start my days! 

Thank you for inspiring me 

rachmac3

I'm glad you liked it @1stTimer . Things just feel really hard sometimes, but there's usually some good things too if you look hard enough.
When I was struggling most I used to do a ta-da! list instead of a todo list. So even if all I'd done was get up and get dressed I could still say ta-da! With jazz hands if necessary!