Debt Diary of the Kinky Pixie

kinkypixie

Well, I signed up to this site back in March last year, having totally come to a dead end and wondering how I would ever get out of the hole that I'd put myself in. Just recently I have been logging on to MSE every single day without fail, and in that time have really managed to curb my spending and get things in perspective.

I'll give you some brief background then I will post my SOA, as I know you guys love that part:rotfl:

I'm 27, 28 in May and have struggled with money since I left Uni and home and moved to Birmingham. I had a bit of debt then (student loan not included), but after landing in a job in a big design studio, I managed to pay back all the bits that I owed. A year in, debt free, I met my now BF. We moved in together and both clocked up debts to buy stuff for the house, furniture and the like, go on expensive holidays etc, and ALL paid for on CC!!!

Anyway, two years on and I decided to get a graduate loan to clear the debt on both mine and my BF's CC bills!! About £5k mine and £3k his. Which I thought would be ok, paying half each back every month. But then two weeks later we seperated (long story, won't bother with that part). So, I never saw a penny, and despite now being back together, still nothing, seriously, not even 1p!!!!!

So, in the year or so I was on my own, managing to stay in the house we rented and just managing to keep my head above water, oh, and an added 4 months of unemployment, which I struggled through. I inevitably added more debt to the £10k loan.:mad:

The start of this year I decided I would get out of this debt, on my own, and hopefully before I'm 30!!!

So now for the good bit, the SOA:

Incomings:
Salary £1535.01 a month, which should increase by about £30 a month next month due to a pay rise!:T
Rent from my Sister £100 she is living with me while she takes a course (until 4th July)

Outgoings:
House:
Rent: £470
Landline/Broadband: £39.00
Water: £14.10
Electric: £17.56
Gas: £23.40
TV License: £11.37
Contents Insurance: £8.00
Council Tax: £80.00

I am unable to change my utility suppliers due to the fact I'm renting.

My Spending:
Car Tax: £10
Car Insurance: £20
Train Ticket: £94.90
Petrol: £80.00
Mobile: £32.00 (approx)
Gym: £25.00

I don't have anything like haircuts regularly and going out is non existent!

Loans:
Natwest: £15,651.88 (will need to check APR) £269 paid each month
Student Loan: £7050.74
Natwest O/D: £400
Natwest O/D (2): £150 (covers bill account)
Loan from Mum: £500
Natwest CC: £327.67 (will need to check APR) £7 min payment

I refuse to get anymore CC's as I cancelled 7 when I consolidated into my loan:o My BF owes me some for this.

I was going to pay £50 to CC and £50 to O/D 1 this month, maybe I should pay £100 to CC? :think:

I am selling on Ebay like mad, but I am now out of things to sell. And I've been really good in setting up a weekly budget, as food just got bought as and when.

It's £20 food, £20 Petrol and £14 for me!

My aim for this year is to get the debt down to £10K!!!

Thanks all for stopping by!

Snaggles

Hi Kinkypixie (great username )!

Once you have found out the APRs of all your debts, have a look at www.whatsthecost.com - it will help you work out which debts to concentrate on paying first, to clear them as quickly as possible.

Good luck with getting your debts paid off, and I hope your boyfriend starts contributing to the loan soon.

Will you have a 2 month break in your council tax in Feb/March? There might be a bit of extra money there to throw at the debts (it would clear the overdraft on the bills account for example).

Keeping_Positive

Hi

Goodluck with your challenge. I hope you get the support from your boyfriend but at the very least make sure he pays his way on anything else from now on.

The whats the cost snowball calculater is excellent though so do give that a look/try.

Not much advice on your SOA as youve already picked up on the usual tips given.

tealady

Hi I don't see why you can't change your gas/elec suppliers. The only way to find out is to ask! If you don't ask you don't get.
Good luck.

Running_man

Hi
£32 for mobile.Is this contract or payg.Whichever one try to get either tariff changed or use less if payg.Gym membership sorry you know what we all going to say ITS got to go.
If you back with partner time he coughed up a bit of cash

kinkypixie

Thanks guys for replies. I'm getting on to the mobile thing today. First mission is to get rid of the insurance on my phone, that's a £60 saving over the year. My phone is contract, but Vodafone aren't the most helpful, despite having been with them for 7 years!! So I'm going to shop around for a good tarrif, say I'm leaving Vodafone, and hopefully they will match it, worked last time:rotfl:

As for the gym, it truly is the ONLY social thing I have and until the weather gets better, the treadmill is my saviour!! I go 4 times a week, so it works out at £1.50 a go.

Auctions are up on ebay today, well, first lot, looks like another £50 odd quid to go on the credit card, which is cool:T

BF won't pay a thing as he too cranked up debt when we split up. He does occasionally by food for dinner/lunch, so that does help.

kinkypixie

Well, some of my Ebay auctions came to an end today, and managed to total £56.03, and that's before I add on the money I make through the postage, so v.pleased!!:j

taxi73

Thats a good start on e-bay ....

Annie_Fanny

kinkypixie wrote: »

BF won't pay a thing as he too cranked up debt when we split up. He does occasionally by food for dinner/lunch, so that does help.

COME AGAIN? You are having a relationship with someone who is quite happy for you to pay off £3k of his debts? Am sorry to be brutal - but that is not good enough. I am horrified! Both of you need to sit down and talk about this. Never ever take on someone elses debts no matter how close you are to them.

Gosh sorry about ranting but really!

Good luck with it all

Annie

kinkypixie

Hi Annie, I know, I've have tried loads of times to talk to him about paying some of it, but he argues and argues with me and avoids the situation. So I just have to live with it!!

ZTD

kinkypixie wrote: »

Hi Annie, I know, I've have tried loads of times to talk to him about paying some of it, but he argues and argues with me and avoids the situation. So I just have to live with it!!

He can "earn" £3,000 just by arguing and sulking, so of course he's going to do it.

Is he taking you for a ride in other ways?