Riding the wave

Keep_Buggering_On

Last year I started a debt-free diary that really helped keep me on track, unfortunately I then realised that my username was one I had used elsewhere and with a bit of Googling, someone might be able to identify me and use my personal details. I have now got rid of that profile and started afresh- and not a moment too soon as I really need to get my CC debt under control again. I work in HE and have already been made redundant three times in the last five years, so there is always that possibility floating overhead that was unheard of ten years ago! Whilst I am not expecting anything on the horizon, I do want to get ahead of things, especially in the current global/political climate where all certainties are gone. I want to clear my debts and build up some financial resilience so that if the worst were to happen, I am not snookered. Luckily I will have been in my current job for two years come June, so at least at that point I will be entitled to redundancy if that were to happen!

About me- 42 year old bloke, living in deepest darkest Yorkshire. Married, wife and two children, son of 13 and daughter of 10. My wife is unable to work, so we survive on my wage and some U/C. One cat (shortly to be joined by a kitten), and one guinea pig who thinks he’s in charge and bullies the cat mercilessly. I mostly work from home, which saves a fortune on travelling and does allow me to help out with school runs etc. if my wife is not feeling up to it. My current state of affairs:

Debts

PayPal Credit Card- £3776

Capital One Credit Card- £3673.25

Klarna- £129.14

Savings

Help to Save- £900

Holiday Fund- £735 (this goes up and down as I add money in and take back out to buy things for our holiday like tickets etc.)

Emergency Fund- £20 (not good, but it’s a start at least!)

My Monthly Bills:

Income- £2205

Joint Account to cover the Bills- £750

Wife- £200 (goes with her U/C and is used for most of the shopping/kids expenses etc)

Holiday Savings- £250

Help to Save- £50

Capital One- £300

PayPal- £250

House Insurance- £18

Kid’s Pocket Money- £20

Phone Bill- £5

Klarna- £65

Hair cut- £10

‘Big Shop’- £100

Emergency Savings (in theory)- £50

Total bills- £2068

Left over to do family things, pick up things I want, presents, hobbies etc- £137

In the short term, I am looking forward to clearing the Klarna in a couple of months time as that will free up £65 a month, but we are going on holiday to London in August and although we have taken full advantage of all the U/C discounts we can, going self catering and have already paid for a lot of the activities, its still going to be a big strain on my finances until August and I have both kids’ birthdays and my wife’s birthday before then. I feel we are pretty well off really- we have a roof over our heads, always have full bellies and go on holiday once a year- but it always feels like a bit of a slog!

Hopefully this diary will help keep me on track, I can pay down the debts and start building a bit of a financial cushion!

Keep_Buggering_On

Off to a mixed start, and only been a couple of hours! A colleague who lives in the next village has popped down with a rhubarb crown, some nabrisia (I think thats what its called), a load of plant pots and some spare seeds for me. Our neighbours removed the massive ten foot high hedge on their side of the property, as it grew four feet over our side as well, the garden feels enormous now. I dug over the area at the weekend and removed a rubble sack of roots, trimmings and general waste and I have been left with a flower bed 20ftx4ft which now needs filling with plants! I have found some old packs of annuals I have sewn in pots in the workshop and hopefully they will sprout, but I mentioned it to my colleague and she has dug up a few bits from her garden for me which is lovely of her. I know nothing about gardening, so I am aware I have taken on a bit more than I can chew, but hopefully if I plant up some things I will get some colour and make the garden look a little less like a wasteland, I am going to raid my Mum's flower beds at Easter for things I can divide and add to the flower bed…

On less good news, I got tempted by a new model railway engine on pre-order. I can pay in instalments so its only £15 a month, but not really what I was planning to do today… I need to remember I am trying to save money, not spend it and I don't need to buy toys for my hobbies, but no promises!