Debt mutual support thread number 7 ....... Spring is coming - let the sun shine into your finances and your life

[TalkinPeace]

This thread follows on from the last six threads in the series, the most recent of which is here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

We live in a society that makes it horribly easy to get into debt but makes it incredibly hard to admit you have a problem and even harder to get out of debt.
The posters on threads, new and experienced, are here to help people get to where they want to be.

I am not in debt, any more.
Here is a link to some spreadsheets that might help
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/1987219-SPREADSHEETS-for-Debt-Control-Budgeting-Mortgages-etc

and lots of people use this
YouNeedABudget

The important things to remember are

• yesterday is as past as the Crimean War

( we will not judge how you got into debt, but we will support you on the way out )

• this is an anonymous forum

( we will not tell your employer, family or friends of the reality of your numbers and we are here day and night )

• this thread is about supporting people through the huge mindset changes needed to come out of debt

( feel free to offload all of the feelings that drive you to want to spend, that make it hard to save and that generally make life crap at times, including getting those closest to you to recognise the changes needed )

Join in, bare your soul and come out the other end.
Its worth it.
You are worth it
The long term results for you, your partner, your children, and your friends and family are worth it.

Hi there andsmile
Good to hear from you.
Yes, it is all about the mental habits - only by altering them will maintaining the finances become second nature.
But each time you haul yourself back into line you are getting better at control.
And the fact that the card balances are showing a steady downward trend is something to be proud of.

Absolutely agree....no point putting the debt on a 0% cc (which we have done) if you don't alter your spending habits.
We have another 14 months on this damned mortgage rate but am hopeful we will be better off after that.
One thing that helped me was going through my spending for the month.
I was really shocked how much I spent on coffees out (for example).
Also Amazon. Too easy to order! (I have started a wish list for my b day in October!)
Ditto next (I have closed that account now).
I will stick to supermarkets and sales for the kids clothes. I don't need any.
Uniforms all bought for next term. Phew.
Just need some stationary items and water bottles (ds1 has lost his again)
We hope to start saving next month for emergencies/Xmas etc.

Well done and .

Getting a refund on some unifom I ordered that was too big! Hooray!
I have been doing a lot of thinking about my spending over the last few weeks...
I should be able to afford to go to a salon to get my hair coloured (I am VERY grey) but I cant
(Cancelled my appt that would have cost £60 earlier today)
My mum did my hair with a home colour that cost £5. Ok, it doesnt look as good! But it's £55 less.
I still need it cutting but will hold out as long as I can.
We are off on holiday tomorrow and DC needed some new swimwear (watching ds2 trying to shoe horn himself into his age 5 shorts was quite funny :)) BUT the order I placed (in the h and m sale) hasn't arrived.
So that will go back after I return. £60 back.
They can manage til next summer.
I didn't order "nice" smellies from lush (as I usually do...we all have excema and need decent stuff) what we have will do.
No new books on my kindle. I will read what I already have.
We are taking a picnic lunch tomorrow as we are stopping halfway (long drive)
It doesn't sound like much I know, but it represents a real change in attitude for me.
I am also not taking my purse or bank card....so no temptation!????

Baddz
Join me in the going grey with pride camp - it saves an absolute fortune
I have a massive white streak and am now salt and pepper all over : I'm modelling my hair colour on Christine Lagarde - and she's got the same year round outdoor swimmer tan as me so all good!

But WELL DONE on thinking through before spending.
That way control comes.

I would tip, but Dh is horrified I would even consider it.
I have black eyebrows...I don't what to look like Alastair darling! ????
I can't see me dyeing it much longer....it's such a faff.

Baddz
Is he greying or balding ?

Hahahahaha.
Both.
And not in a good "George clooney" way!
????

Nuff said.
He can reduce HIS spending to pay for your hair dye then

Oh yes!
That lasted about 2 months!
I hate being told off about spending money I don't even want to spend in the bloody first place!
God, he is an arse sometimes!
The sooner I get myself a job the better!

HUGE HUGS
to everybody who has been shafted by the budget
from somebody who has been shafted by the budget.

Hi TiP was just thinking about you and this thread yesterday. I have no idea at the moment how the budget is going to affect us, because whole circumstances are changing. Baby arrived safely in May, have been on maternity leave, but circumstances at work mean ive been offered a 'negotiated exit' (this is on good terms, it's due to a reorganisation And ive decided not to stay in the new plan as it wouldn't allow me to be part time and spend time with our son ). So, we will actually be completely and utterly debt free, apart from mortgage on my house that I rent out, but that is covered by the rent. But I am going to be a SAHM for a while before looking for a new part time role next year, still hopefully at a senior level. In the meantime, we will living on DH's income, and a little bit of the savings we'll have after the payout. It's going to be extremely tight, and I want us to enjoy the next year, not spend the whole time worrying about money, so I want to figure out a way to manage it without it feeling like a constant burden. It's a big decision to take and I feel like it's already brought us closer together as a couple though. We will be entitled to child benefit but I doubt anything else, although I'll check. We've done some serious budgeting and calculations to make sure we can afford everything, now we just have to stick to it! So, scary times ahead.....

Hi Jonty
Debt free SAHM with a new baby.
Wow, that is a mega life change.
The main thing is to become slightly tight fisted most days to leave yourself space to be generous on the occasions that deserve it.

Not scary times, exhilarating times

Congratulations Jonty. Tip how are you being shafted by the budget? I'm not sure how we'll fare.

Quasi
The dividend changes and the Employers allowance changes between them will cost DH and I between £3000 and £6000 a year

Blimey. Ouch.

Oh from the calculator we'll be £221 better off per year.

As I was typing in just my income I'd have been 1500 worse off. I began typing my high earning dhs income in and it went into positive figures.

Seems to be proving that the poorer you are the worse you fair. I mean, I'm pleased for us that we'll be a bit better off, but not pleased that we're better off as we aren't in 'need'.

calculator here

.

From the calculator we will be £141 a year better off
Very odd budget
Business people not happy which is unusual for a Tory budget
Punishing the working poor...as expected :(

Well its looking like there is a bit of backtracking going on - esp re the limits on employer allowance.
I'll need to restructure both DH's and my companies
but should be able to mitigate the loss down to under £2000
still a kick in the teeth but a much smaller one.

I do wonder how much of this budget will be unravelled in the March one (before any of it takes effect) as its currently electoral suicide.

Keep paying down that debt folks (especially now that my spreadsheets are mended)

Tip...I can't seem to input my figures....what am I doing wrong?
Am going to show dh when back from our hols...set up a SO etc

Hi Baddz
I just tested it now, logged out of all my google accounts - and it behaved.
Are you on a tablet or something?
It works best on laptops and PCs

Ah
I Will try it on the pc when we get home

bump.