Time to get serious about sorting my debt

Rachel24 · 5 August 2017 at 11:58AM

Just had a read through your diary. I hope you manage to get another job quickly that must be so hard. I'm in the same position as yourself I have a lot of debt. I'm just about to start a second job (part time) then I'll get my finances sorted out properly. Good luck on your journey I've subscribed!

Hayles70 · 5 August 2017 at 1:55PM

Thanks Rachel24. I have a couple of interviews coming up so I'm keeping everything crossed.
I still can't believe how much debt I'm actually in, but my daughter is my motivation now. I'm determined that her childhood will not be fuelled by debt!

Dorastar · 5 August 2017 at 2:40PM

Thanks Hayley, will subscribe when I remember how lol

Hayles70 · 7 August 2017 at 12:15AM

It's been a good weekend, I've only spent £4 which was on milk, bread and a bag of malteasers!

We didn't end up going out on Sunday as both me and LG are feeling a little under the weather so had a lazy day at home instead. However, I did achieve the following:
-I made the caramelised red onion and cheese tart
-I discovered and ventured into the world of Matched Betting.
-I signed up for Goodreads and have entered the giveaways. I've also set myself a target of reading 5 books by Christmas. I'm out of the reading habit and want to get back in to it. I have plenty of unread books on my shelves.

Hayles70 · 8 August 2017 at 9:08PM

Well it's not been a great start to the week. My lg has had a fever since Sunday night and as a result we've not had much sleep...zzzz. Thankfully, she seems to be on the mend now.
I realised earlier that I have missed off some debt in my calculations

. I forgot that I owe my mum £200 and I have a £450 OD on the child benefit account. I have updated my signature accordingly.

I'm having to shuffle funds around at the minute, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul! And tonight, I've had to transfer £300 from my Tesco CC as I was at risk of missing some DD payments. It's certainly not ideal but until I find a job I have little choice.

It may seem strange that I'm not really mentioning my DH in all this, well he is being great and paying for everything at the minute i.e. Groceries, petrol etc He has also been transferring me money for the last few months so that I can cover bills (this was prior to my tenant moving in to the house) He also paid all the rented house related bills such as Council tax, gas checks etc. We have a joint account for our household bills- (rent, utilities, Tv/broadband, sofa, Council tax, House insurance) which we each put a certain amount into, but we keep our own accounts separate. We both have our own debt and expenses and we are paying it off in our own way.

In the meantime, I have been completing surveys and I am planning to put some clothes on eBay this week.

Dorastar · 8 August 2017 at 9:20PM

It doesn't matter how much you've done, just that you're moving forwards, every little step helps. Hope your LG is on the mend soon x

Lemon_Tree · 8 August 2017 at 9:37PM

hi, I've just found your diary after returning to the mse fold.

I also have some tiddlers, 1 and almost 3 eek and like you don't want to fund their childhood via debt. I know it's going to get more and more expensive as they get older but you have to draw the line somewhere. Good luck with potty training, if it's the right time it's not as painful as you dread but be prepared for a few accidents, as of last weekend we transitioned DD off the potty and onto the big girl toilet, aided by a ladder and seat affair, in hindsight I wish we'd gone with that from the very start. At least I know that now ready for when DS is ready for the process.

well done for starting logging your spending, do you keep a running total or will you wait to add it all up? I think i'd have to add it up otherwise I would spend another month in denial whilst i'm waiting for the magic adding up day.

Supermarket shopping is our downfall, I head into town for guinea pig food (£2) and spend £54 argh.

good luck with the job interviews

Hayles70 · 9 August 2017 at 9:59PM

Hi Lemontree,

Thanks for visiting

My LG is not ready for potty training yet but we have introduced the potty to the room so she gets used to sitting on it and she's started hiding and telling us when she's filled her nappy so I bought the pants so that we're ready!

TBH, I have been logging my general spending on here and then I will go through it on my next payday. Groceries, I have saved all the receipts in a pile ready to add up on my next payday. Once I find a job, I'm going to set a budget for both but thought it would be interesting to see how much we spend without really thinking about it, if that makes sense?

When I go back to work we will have the added cost of two days per week of childcare to fund. We are very lucky that our parents have provided our childcare since I went back to work three days a week and they will be carrying on doing so. With this additional cost in mind, it's important that I set myself budgets and find the best way to suit me and how my mind works!

I plan to have budgets/savings for the following:

-Annual expenses - Inusrances(car, contents, landlords), Road tax.
-Christmas
-Emergency fund
-General savings to cover personal spends such as clothes, contact lenses, birthday presents etc.
-Tax return
-Overpay mortgage by £100 p/m (I need to start doing this now due to future plans) I've just reduced my payment by £35 a month so technically I will only be overpaying by £65.

Also, once earning, I will need to spend at the opticians asap as I am desperately in need of new glasses and will need another supply of contact lenses and solutions soon.

I am 100% committed to getting rid of my debt, however I do need to be able to spend a bit of money now and again on enjoying life otherwise I know that I will quickly fall off the wagon. Not very MSE but this will include our first family holiday abroad, the difference is that I'm actually going to save for it!

Hayles70 · 10 August 2017 at 8:47PM

I have been offered a job! Yay! :j:j:j

Now I can do my SOA, snowball calculator and budgets!

Hayles70 · 11 August 2017 at 8:30AM

I haven't done my SOA yet but I've done some rough calculations of how much I will be receiving altogether between now and the end of September and it's quite a significant amount of money. I'm really going to have to be strong because when you've had no money for so long and then suddenly get a lot in one go, it's difficult to not want to buy those things you believe you deserve because you've struggled for so long!
Definitely a need for balance otherwise I will fall off the wagon. My goal is to be able to work part time comfortably again as the mum guilt at the thought of starting work full time is killing me at the moment.:(

Time to get serious about sorting my debt

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