The tight end of the month

However much I manage to earn in a month, however much overtime I manage to work, it never quite seems to be enough to see us through to the next pay day.
Things are becoming so expensive so quickly, that the efforts to reduce spending can sometimes seem pointless.  Cut back on one thing, it soon adds to another.  The temptation is always there to use some form of credit, but this is how the problem came about in the first place.

I have no overdraft, I do not use any credit (other than the occasional loan from the Bank of Mum and Dad), and it can be very difficult.  I know not everyone is in this situation, and  I know how tempting it is to borrow.  But that will only ever add to the problem.  Always remember, more debt equals less freedom.  I will be paying for some time yet, and vow never to make such mistakes again.

There needs to be a change in our mindset on a global scale.  Whole economies have been based on the generation of money from thin air (also known as Interest), which serves only to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. 

Freeing yourself from an addiction to credit is difficult, but it is the first step to taking back your life and living how you really want to.

Time is a great healer

As time passes, the debt mountain that I find myself at the bottom of is gradually turning into a plain old hill.  Regular monthly payments make life easier when it comes to planning out the reduction of what I owe.

I still have along way to go, and hopefully after this month i'll be in a position to increase the payments to accelerate my debt free status.  That is an eagerly awaited day.

How many other people find themselves in a situation like this?  Victims of the good times, when people (myself included) were seduced by an apparently endless supply of cheap credit.

If this current climate of credit crunches and recessions has any good points, it is that it might, just might, get people back to the days when credit was something which was difficult to get and people saved.  A world with minimum credit may not be good for big business, but it will certainly be better for average Joe and his personal circumstances.

Nice little earner!

The ComDem government have pulled a fast one this week with the advice of the moronic Frances Maude, who decided it would be a good idea to provoke panic buying of petrol over the possible fuel strikes.

The government have actually had the cheek to deny causing the situation, even though anyone can see what a mess they have created.  Queues at petrol stations and pumps running dry would never have happened if the fools in Whitehall hadn't recommended stocking up.

The real sickener in all of this, however, has been the amount of tax they have earned from all the extra fuel which has been sold this week - the estimate I heard earlier on the news was £30 million.  Throw that into the coffers the week before the new financial year starts, and things might look a bit more rosy for the austerity plan.

The last thing hard up families need at this time is to be fleeced out of money by a government playing on the fears of the few, which inevitably causes everyone to buy or be left without. 

Perhaps that's what they mean by "we're all in this together".

How can this happen?

We all know how many people are struggling with debt these days, and the many, many more who have so little to live on around the world.  So imagine the disgust I felt last week when watching a programme where there was a chef showing off his latest creation.

The chef (whose name I cannot remember) had made a dessert with gold leaf and diamonds included.  This absolute walloper of a man told the over excited studio audience that the spoonful being tested by the presenter would set you back about two thousand pounds, with the whole dish costing a whopping £35000!

Is this something that we really need these days?  There are so many with so little, it seems perverse that these items should be created.  I know this isn't exactly an anti-debt post, but I felt it has to be said.

Some people would break the bank for the "status" of ordering this monstrosity, as that's what people do nowadays.

Status has overtaken common sense, and it's bankrupting us all.

Apologies for the rant!!!!

Slow progress

This has been an interesting - but largely successful - week in the frugal life.

Payday finally arrived and as usual, the first shop of the month sent my stress levels soaring.  My wife has taken to doing our shopping online with one of the large supermarkets, and it can lead to some really good savings, but anything over £60 for a weeks shopping makes me sweat!!

That is until I watched a programme where the featured family were tasked to reduce their shopping from a whopping £200 per week!!!  I suddenly realised that our bill is pretty damn reasonable, even too good.

Prices are rising quickly everywhere you look, and savings have to be made.  I suddenly realise that is must be easier than it looks as we are doing really well.

Aside from that, it has been another week with no borrowing, and another week where the debt has been shrinking (albeit still slowly)!!!

No new debt since December 2009 - long may it continue!!!!!

A certain start

This last week or so has been a success in my fight to cut down on spending.  Despite the financial hangover which inevitably follows Christmas, I have managed to dramatically cut my expenditure.

And the most surprising thing for me has been the array of basic changes which can make a big difference.

For example, I have learnt that one of the most effective ways to save is to get out of bed half an hour earlier in the morning.  That time can be used to make a proper lunch using what I have, and also results in using less fuel as I don't have to put the foot down to arrive at work on time.  Half an hour which is worth it's weight (or time) in Gold!!!!

Now I know that for more experienced "Frugalists" out there, this is bread and butter stuff.  But for those of us who are making the effort for the first time they can be real eye-openers.

So, for the rest of this month until pay day, we will still be all hands to the scrimping pump.  Hopefully next month might even end with an excess!!!

The beginning of the end (for my debt)

Welcome to my new blog!

By way of an introduction, I am pushing 30 and the proud owner of far too much debt for my liking. It has been getting a lot better over the last year or so, but this is just the start.

When I was in my late teens/early twenties, I was seduced by loans, credit cards, and their "free money".  I am still paying for the privilege.

Now my outlook has changed beyond recognition.  I no longer spend without good reason, and make every effort to make even the smallest savings.

Combine this with the mess the country is in with the financial "crisis", and my reluctance to pay for the mistakes of others, and you get the idea of how I intend this blog to develop.  I have my own problems to sort out.

So please read and enjoy at your leisure, and leave comments if you see fit.