In pursuit of happiness...for real this time! Donner_kebab's debt diary!

donner_kebab

Heya all,

Just a quick update before I hit the sack for an early night!

Bed arrived yesterday and put it up...was a complete mare and I nearly flung it out of the window I was getting soooo riled up but got there in the end and Emily has slept on it so has stayed up so must be ok!

Had a fab day today with the family...I miss them like crazy! All we do is spend the whole day laughing and joking so a good day was had by all. Had to buy Emily a new school bag as hers had bust and managed to get a nice one half price in Zavvi as they are closing down. Also treated myself to a cheap Metallica cd as they had them reduced but have spent the rest of the day feeling guilty about it...what am I gonna be like when I become debt free and buy something? Probably still as guilty I imagine...as this debt free lifestyle has completely changed the way I look at money. Anyhoooos have been playing it all afternoon and it is fab...preparing me for my birthday treat so go and see them in March! Boyf brought me 2 tickets last November for my pressie...not really his cup of tea but am very happy he is coming with me to see them none the less! I will take the ipod just in case it all gets a bit much for him sure we will have an awesome time! I can't wait!

Seriously concerned about the money situation this month, but know I shouldn't stress as it can't be helped and stuff has cropped up and got in the way messing up my budget plans. Will be able to pay a chunk off of the card, but some of the budget went on decorating Emily's room etc but that was much needed. Only thing left to get is a few pictures and a mirror for her, carpet (which can wait a little while) and a chest of drawers for her clothes. Then it will all be done...most of that can come from Ikea bar the carpet! That's all good...oh yeah and paint the ceiling but that shouldn't cost much really...just a tin of paint.

Have tomorrow off then back to work on Tuesday and not looking forward to it if I am honest but hey...

Whne I have this next card out of the way, I am gonna do some proper budgeting etc and make some charts so I can see payments. I can't wait till April next year as then my bank loan is finished...£175 per month extra to throw at the debts! So only another 14 payments to go....eeeeeek! Get in! Gonna make some sort of countdown thingy!

Gonna try and find a few more bits to fleabay this week...not much left to flog but worth a shot! Still awaiting that Quidco payment and the enquiry should be over by end of Feb so hope they pay me what I am owed...That will make Quidco payment of £50 odd so that is all good!

Right off to make a drink and get ready for beddie byes...gonna read I think...have really got into reading again recently so that is good! Cheap hobby

donner_kebab

That holiday sounds fab MS...don't blame you! I would have snapped that up....I am gonna have my first proper holiday next year...no doubt about it!

donner_kebab

Hello everyone,

Hope we are all well! Just a quick update before I hit the sack!

Soooo glad it is Friday tomorrow! This week seems to have really dragged and I only went back to work on Tuesday! Monday was an awesome day as Boyf took me to Bath Spa and we went to the posh spa place and swam on the roof, steam rooms and a full body massgae...nice! We then had an evening out in Bath as Boyf's bro looked after Emily for me so we made a night of it. I decided to pay for the foodies and drink as he treated me to the whole spa thing so my budget has well and truly gone out of the window for February...but had such a nice day it was worth it without a doubt!

Dam quidco aren't coughing up all of their money, well not Quidco i suppose, more the AA. Only paying part payment so will have about £25 coming from them...should have thought it was too good to be true I suppose. Can't wait to get that but have to wait 10 days or something as just added in Bank Details.

What with that £25, overtime, left over money for the month etc, I have worked out that I will only need to find about £70/80 to finally clear the card! I have been doing my budget tonight and need to also find £126 for the Easter childcare and need to put a bit aside for a hotel for the Metallica gig so won't really be able to save anything this month to put towards the cards but will try my best, as ever! If I can save anything, will be brilliant! Am gonna really try and cut back on the foodies budget and shift a few more bits on fleabay! Should get a bit of a payrise in April too so that is a bonus, as would have been in the job for 2 years!

Shouldn't complain about the ol' money as clearing that M & S card will finally take me down to just 2 cards and the loan, a lot easier to manage.

All is well here, DD is behaving which is nice and I am feeling ok. Have a few more decorating bits to do, but will have to see how finances are really. Next month I really need to start saving for the Ski-ing trip too.

So I reckon I have a very, very tight month ahead but is all good as know I can do this. Once April gets here, I might make a count down loan calender as will only have a year left to pay on it...that will be soooo awesome!

Will be great to start hitting the last 2 cards. I know they are the real big ones, but will be fab to see the monthly interest amouont decrease too. About blimin' time!

Gawd I am soooo off to beddie byes in a mo, go and read till I crash, which I don't think will be long!

Take care all, sweet dreams xxx

beanielou

Glad u had such a fabby day at the spa~you deserve it hun.
Are you quite near Bath thebn?
Ive got relliies in Somerset.
Another card nearly gone

donner_kebab

The spa was awesome...and the evening meal was lush too...and I drank WAY too much...won't be doing that again in a hurry I can assure you! Think I need to give up on the baddie food and drink really, I know I keep saying it but must start to shift a few pounds and will help save money too I suppose!

Yep, live in Bristol so wasn't that long a trip as went on the train!

Somerset! Not far!

Yep, soooo can't wait to get rid of this card. Feel bad for having such a pants MSE month this month but can't be helped really as things crop up!

I have been looking at Festival tickets for the last 20 mins. I really wanna go to the Sonisphere festival, a new rock festival in Knebworth in the summer. They are doing coaches from Bristol too and have family camping (as I know Emily really wants to go). Ticktes are £160 each including camping. Awesome line up so far...but cannot justify it I hate being skint sometimes Can't wait to get rid of this debt... rubbish!

beanielou

Life gets in the way sometimes~dont beat yourself up.
I would go for the festival as you deserve it after all your hard work

skint_spice

Donna, I think we all need a treat sometimes - can't you get the tickets and set yourself a wee challenge to raise the £160? mind you I suppose you've got extra to find for Emily's holiday so maybe it's not doable but if it is then go for it and give yourself a break.

gallifreyangirl

Just read all 54 odd pages. Must say am really impressed you presevered and passed your test on the eighth attempt. I have only just re started after giving up in September last year. You not old lol I am not far off you age being 28 myself. I must say think you are doing a splendid job with your daughter and sound a great role model. I would't be hard on yourself you have made a great chunk of your debt in the last year. Have now suscribed to your thread and look forward to seeing you clear more of your debt and reading your dairy.

donner_kebab

Thanks you guys Think I might have to leave the festival though as would want Emily to come too so that would be 2 lots of £160...plus getting down there and food and drink etc...would cost a fortune Have to put it donw to being something I would love to do and possibly do in a year or 2...who knows?

Had a bit of a crappy weekend, have been feeling a bit cacky really. Emily went to stay with a friend on Friday night so I had an evening to myself...watched a bit of telly and went to bed but woke up feeling yuk! I had to then pick Emily up from her friends house and the house was unbelieveable. Absolutely massive and could tell from looking at the girl and the house that they were completely loaded. Makes me feel a really crappy mum as Emily has nowt and we live in this hole so would be mega embarrassing for her to have her friends over really. Emily said the food was so posh she didn't even know what it was! She makes me realise why I am doing all of this...she is the most important thing to me on this earth...and it is my fault I am in this mess so really wanna work my butt off to get us out of it and give us a better life. I know a lot of the parents are a lot older than me, some of them are even older than my dad! So suppose they done things the proper way, career, house, marraige then kids etc I just don't wanna be embarrassing to her.

Saying that she is having a friend over on Friday so hopefully at least the house will be semi clean?!?!

Sorry for the depressing moan...done now

Anyhoooos, brother and nephew gonna come down next weekend so we can go the a local farm and check out some animals for something to do! It's free to so that's a bonus and something to look forward to.

Have not yet paid any money towards the M & S card so will be doing that soon. I need to get the Easter childcare sorted and the Metallica night out taken care of too...cheapest hotel room going and pre book trains etc and then see what I am left with money wise. Went to Tescos last night so have foodies for the week so that is good. Gonna make sure I don't spend anything during the week if possible, to keep tyring to save the £££. I know that card will be gone by payday this month so that's cool...then ready to hit the biggie ones!

Hope everyone here is well, gonna get an early night tonight and try and wake up a little more positive! Had a late one last night...watched a movie with Em's till 11pm then Emily REALLY wanted to watch this film on Film 4 called Death Note, all in Japanese with English subtitles...which went on for 2 and a 1/2 hours so she went to bed mega late and I had fallen asleep on the sofa! Surprised she sat through it but now said it is her fav ever movie with the sequel being on next week...so think that will be a late one too! I am getting too old for this!!!

donner_kebab

gallifreyangirl wrote: »

Just read all 54 odd pages. Must say am really impressed you presevered and passed your test on the eighth attempt. I have only just re started after giving up in September last year. You not old lol I am not far off you age being 28 myself. I must say think you are doing a splendid job with your daughter and sound a great role model. I would't be hard on yourself you have made a great chunk of your debt in the last year. Have now suscribed to your thread and look forward to seeing you clear more of your debt and reading your dairy.

Hiya :hello: Gawd, read all of this! That must have took a while...eeek! Yeah, 8 attempts! That was gonna be it...told myself if I don't pass that time I will really give up. I often had hardly any minor faults either, just silly things would crop up and the examiners would always says, next time! Sooooo glad to be able to drive now though and I adore my little car! It is hard work but soooooo worth it! That day meant more to me than getting my degree! Never wanted something so much in all my life (other than being debt free obviously!)

I just want rid of it so bad, but at least I am tackling it now and not years down the line and I have a better money head on my shoulders too...just need to stop putting the guilt trip on myself I suppose!