debt busting just isn't happening for me

loobyloo1980

Well, have been away and got married, had the honeymoon and arrived back to the usual financial mess.

Before I went away I had a nice plan all worked out, and it was all going to be great.

But so many unexpected things have cropped up since, like school photos for the kids £32, hairdressers £15 (although first cut in 3 months as was growing hair for wedding), £42 gas bill (need to increase monthly payment I think), £100 for wedding flowers, £20 photos from honeymoon to be developed, not to mention post holiday food shopping as we ran down the supplies before going away., etc.

As a result, we are about £300 down on paying things that should have been done in June to keep on target.

Now I have my own birthday coming and my son's 2 weeks after. I'm not bothered about gifts but I am for my son.

Why is it I always have these great intentions but nothing ever goes to plan? I never seem to be able to stick to a budget. I'm terrible. But I really want this. I really want to be debt free. I'm dreading the summer holidays because I just know that everything around here to do costs money.

Ember999

I know exactly what you mean! I struggle to keep to any budget that I set myself. Thankfully we have no debt but I still over-spend occasionally and I cannot seem to stop that happening! This week for example, I planned on spending virtually no money. Fridge/freezer full, all bills paid then my husband told me he heeded a new scarf (for wrapping round his neck whilst cycling to work late at night when it's chilly) cats needed worming/de-flea-ing etc. and I found some athlete's foot on my right foot. Yesterday had to spend just under £50 to cover all this :eek: and my budget is now trashed. How on earth do people stick to set budgets? Something always crops up to kick you in the teeth and mess it up!

Xbigman

Its impossible to get your budget right on the first attempt. You learn from experience. Sometimes you are amazed at whats left over, sometimes (more often) you run out of money with stuff still to get. As long as you learn the lessons and adjust your budget for the long term it starts to work out.
In the short term you have to be ruthless with yourself. You didn't allow for school photographs. Then put £32 plus a bit for inflation on next years budget. This year go without. Your husband needs a scarf, cut up an old cardigan until you have the money, or learn to knit. Simply do not spend the money without it being dragged out of you because there is no alternative.
Regards



X

loobyloo1980

I wouldn't normally have spent that on school photos, but it was my daughters first year so it was important to have them. I may be able to persuade family to help contribute to them though, as seen as everyone gets a copy.

It's just really annoying when you have a spell where things are going so well, then you do badly and think to yourself why am I even bothering.

James240

i agree with Xbigman, you learn from experience, when i started my budget i i didnt budget in loads of stuff and it went a bit squiffy to say the least........sometimes it may seem that nothing is happening with the debt but for everyday you keep to your budget and not over spend its more moeny u can put towards ur debt. So in effect you are making progress into it x

Dont worry everyone has these moments when trying to make dents in there debt, because i know i get these moment s

all the best Loobyloo

James x

Squiffy

James240 wrote:

it went a bit squiffy to say the least........

Oi! :cool:

Stick with the budgeting. Even if you do have some unexpected outgoings, at least take comfort that you are in a stronger position than would have been the case if you'd still been spending money without any controls.

stustu92

The only way you can budget effectively is to be a ruthless ruler of cash. When doing your budget, be realistic and allow for every possible periodical expense, either monthly or weekly. Also allow for one off expenses, but these must be planned for the following months or weeks budget. Once this is done, if a potential expense comes up and its not in the budget,then it doesn't happen! This is where you must be ruthless.
However by implementing this strategy in your situation you will miss out on the school photos because they probably weren't announced in time for you to budget a month in advance for them.
This is where the 'emergency money' comes in. Emergency money is a sum of cash, say £50, which is for emergencies. Not friday night takeaway emergencies, or 20 cigarette emergencies either.
The emergency money is used at the discretion of the budgetmaker for unforseen expenses which weren't budgeted for.
Hence in your situation for your childs first school photos i would say that warrants dipping into the emergency money for. Bearing in mind that this money must then be replenished from the next budget period.

Money isn't intelligent, you are. You make serious financial decisions about your money, it doesn't make any decisions for you.

loobyloo1980

stustu92 wrote:

The only way you can budget effectively is to be a ruthless ruler of cash. When doing your budget, be realistic and allow for every possible periodical expense, either monthly or weekly. Also allow for one off expenses, but these must be planned for the following months or weeks budget. Once this is done, if a potential expense comes up and its not in the budget,then it doesn't happen! This is where you must be ruthless.
However by implementing this strategy in your situation you will miss out on the school photos because they probably weren't announced in time for you to budget a month in advance for them.
This is where the 'emergency money' comes in. Emergency money is a sum of cash, say £50, which is for emergencies. Not friday night takeaway emergencies, or 20 cigarette emergencies either.
The emergency money is used at the discretion of the budgetmaker for unforseen expenses which weren't budgeted for.
Hence in your situation for your childs first school photos i would say that warrants dipping into the emergency money for. Bearing in mind that this money must then be replenished from the next budget period.

Money isn't intelligent, you are. You make serious financial decisions about your money, it doesn't make any decisions for you.

Thanks for this, and thanks to everyone else for your encouragment. I'm glad to know everyone has slip ups. I get very frustrated at our situation when I look around me and see people managing so much better than we do. My cousin lives 2 doors down and has debts which she is clearing through a court admin order at £15 a month from her single parent benefits. She goes clubbing every week, smokes, has takeaways 3 times a week and is going on holiday with her friends in 3 months. She has no credit cards coz she can't get them but never seems to be without. BUT she has always been really godd at budgeting for food and bills. I envy her budgeting skills sometimes, I really wish I could do it.

We don't smoke, very rarely socialise coz of the cost, but we do spend a lot on the kids with hobbies and activities. swimming is £10 each time, for example and that is without swimming lessons which my daughter starts next month (my mum is paying the first 10 weeks, so I have time to save for the rest)

James240

Quote:
Originally Posted by James240
it went a bit squiffy to say the least........



Oi!



oooppsss sorry Squiffy didnt mean i was refferring to you lol meant it went a bit wrong lol :beer:

lipidicman

loobyloo1980 wrote:

She goes clubbing every week, smokes, has takeaways 3 times a week...

She goes clubbing every week = Binge drinking?
Smokes = Addicted to a highly addictive drug?
has takeaways 3 times a week = Bad diet?

(the question marks are there so I can't be too harshly accused of making assumptions)


I wouldn't get too envious......

loobyloo1980

lipidicman wrote:

She goes clubbing every week = Binge drinking?
Smokes = Addicted to a highly addictive drug?
has takeaways 3 times a week = Bad diet?

(the question marks are there so I can't be too harshly accused of making assumptions)


I wouldn't get too envious......

LOL, I don't envy her lifestyle, just her money management skills. If I wanted to do all that my bank would hunt me down and kill me, she seems to be able to afford everything yet I know for a fact she has no credit cards or loans coz she can't get them. she just has her benefits.