Never Again. Rose's Escape.

mrosie

pink_fluffy_sparkles said:

Subscribed to cheer you along! X

Sarahwithlove said:

Well done for taking the first steps. 

BadBookkeeper said:

Read the debt free roll of honour to read about people’s successful stories and lots of tips if you haven’t already.  You’ve made a great start writing a budget with everything included.  Good luck on your journey. 

Thank you 

Humdinger1 said:

Yes and @mrosie, just remember that the Queen Mother apparently had an overdraft of £4 million when she died.   If she didn't feel bad, why pray should you? You're tackling it! I've subscribed and am cheering you on.  You'll fix this for sure.  Love Humdinger xx 

Oh good grief, did she?! LOL that makes me feel so much more responsible

mrosie

Debt tally so far. This is going to go up due to fees/interest after I stop paying them, isn't it? While I get settled and start to arrange DMP (I am planning to self-manage)?

M&S Loan: £10822.50
M&S CC: £2649.70
Santander CC: £5054.68
Tesco CC: tbc ~£7k
Capital One CC: £472 (+ car tbc)
Total will be approx: £26.5k

I have car repairs due next Weds (brakes are shot), which I have no choice but to add to a CC, so I don't have a final figure yet. In the meantime, I've been going through my bills and reducing what I can, and setting a budget that I absolutely have to live within.

I fritter money away on small stuff all the time so that's got to be one of the habits I tackle first. No spend days might be the way forward. Today is out as I already bought chocolate without thinking. Will see if I can do it tomorrow.

doingitanyway

Well done totalling your debts.
I found NSDs really helpful, once I got in the swing of things. Initially they are surprisingly difficult to do.

mrosie

Another failed no spend day (NSD! learning the acronyms). Car fuel light came on, so had to fill up (I have to drive a school run every day, no other transport option where we live). Bought chocolate while I was there. Will try again tomorrow. Have final figures for everything except the cost of the car repairs on Wednesday, so then I'll post a complete debt picture and budget.

I'm cancelling the first three direct debits tonight. I feel so nervous about doing this - I've never missed a payment of anything in my life. But I have nothing left, so I can't pay right now and there is nothing I can do about that. Feels like I'm about to commit a massive crime.

Sigh. Will stay positive and take one day at a time.

mrosie

Didn't manage an NSD today either. My son is desperate for clothes (he has one outfit apart from school uniform as he's grown so much in the last year), so I bought him some jeans and a couple of T-shirts.

I joined the alcohol free day challenge for April as I am bad for buying wine on impulse and that really adds up over the month. Better for my health not to drink it too. I cancelled four of my direct debits last night, and made a manual payment of the minimum to the card I have used most recently (out of guilt).

doingitanyway

Don't be too hard on yourself. NSDs are difficult at the beginning.
The AFD challenge is a good idea.

pennywisepoundstupid

Just wanted to say well done for starting a diary it really does help to get everything written down as it can all feel overwhelming to start, it's a good place to have a brain dump whether it's finance related or just general life and everyone is really friendly and supportive on this board.
I have subscribed and will be cheering you on.

Take care xx

mrosie

pennywisepoundstupid said:

Just wanted to say well done for starting a diary it really does help to get everything written down as it can all feel overwhelming to start, it's a good place to have a brain dump whether it's finance related or just general life and everyone is really friendly and supportive on this board.
I have subscribed and will be cheering you on.

Take care xx

thank you x

- - 

Yesterday wasn't an NSD as I bought yoghurt and chocolate. And then a t-shirt for myself online. I never buy myself clothes so this felt like an ok expense, but keeping this diary now has me questioning whether I should be spending on anything at all really. It's starting to become obvious why I am in the situation I am in. When I was working I was always earning a great wage, so I earnt a lot and spent a lot. Being unemployed I now spend very little, but the same underlying issue is there - I am still spending slightly beyond my means. And over time this has mounted up into a situation that is now out of control. When I was employed it didn't matter. There was always another pay cheque, another bonus. A better job. I think perhaps I never really learnt to live within my means. And that's heavily influenced by our culture and the fact that everyone else is spending beyond their means also. If everyone else has credit cards and cars on finance and loans, then it's ok for us to do it to, else it looks like we have so much less.

Anyway. Philosophical ramblings aside I am hoping to see the kids for an hour this afternoon (mothers day on dad weekend). Meeting a friend for a coffee in a bit. Kitchen needs cleaning. Couple of todos on the list also for today.

I'm looking forward to 1st April. That's the true reset and I'll have the car bill in from the garage that day so I'll have my final debt tally.

Goinggreyearly

Hi Rose, just to say we also got in a mess, and are slowly digging ourselves out.  Good luck! 

mrosie

First day of the rest of my spending life. And an NSD finally, yay!

I've had a very long day and I am absolutely exhausted, but today I got a refund from my energy supplier as have changed over and that gave me £293 to put straight into my emergency fund.
Will be back soon with a full budget and debt tally, but tonight I have to get myself into bed asap.