andrewducker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
andrewducker) wrote2005-10-14 08:38 am
andrewducker) wrote2005-10-14 08:38 am
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*breathes a sigh of relief*
I'm crap with money. Really. I spent many years spending more money than I had, because I was completely incapable of not buying little things here and there.
I got myself mostly in order about 6 months ago - consolidated my various debts into one, and started paying it off with a large chunk of my income, with the idea being that it would take about 18 months and then I'd be debt free (and suddenly have about £400 a month more to live in than I'd been used to).
I still wasn't managing to live terribly well within my means though. Take-out and reading material always seemed like fairly small things to pick up, especially when I was tired. But this time last month I got so fed up with the situation (especially having overspent on things like WorldCon) that I decided I had to just not spend any money on anything frivolous at all. Any books I saw would have to go onto the Wish List. I'd have to live without instant food. I wouldn't go out anywhere.
I wasn't entirely successful, but I was hoping that I'd done ok. I was terrified to look at my bank balance until today- when it turned out that I _had_ managed to cut a few pounds off my living expenses, and despite a couple of chinese meals, I've at least managed to break even for the month. Which wouldn't be good enough (I need to _save_ money, not just break even), but seeing as I'm also paying off this debt for the next year, I think breaking even will do me, until I've got that paid off.
I got myself mostly in order about 6 months ago - consolidated my various debts into one, and started paying it off with a large chunk of my income, with the idea being that it would take about 18 months and then I'd be debt free (and suddenly have about £400 a month more to live in than I'd been used to).
I still wasn't managing to live terribly well within my means though. Take-out and reading material always seemed like fairly small things to pick up, especially when I was tired. But this time last month I got so fed up with the situation (especially having overspent on things like WorldCon) that I decided I had to just not spend any money on anything frivolous at all. Any books I saw would have to go onto the Wish List. I'd have to live without instant food. I wouldn't go out anywhere.
I wasn't entirely successful, but I was hoping that I'd done ok. I was terrified to look at my bank balance until today- when it turned out that I _had_ managed to cut a few pounds off my living expenses, and despite a couple of chinese meals, I've at least managed to break even for the month. Which wouldn't be good enough (I need to _save_ money, not just break even), but seeing as I'm also paying off this debt for the next year, I think breaking even will do me, until I've got that paid off.
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And I am going out - this weekend (probably), so it's not like I'm denying myself everything. I'm jut trying to terrify myself whenever it happens, so it doesn't happen often.
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