Since being out sick unpaid last year, it’s taking me a while to get back on track financially. Don’t get me wrong, the feeling of relief on pay day knowing that I can pay my bills is huge. It’s early days and I’ve definitely overspent this month but the bills are paid. There’s food in the cupboards and I have everything else I need.
I want to get to the point where I’m paying extra money off my debts. I work in social care which I find hugely rewarding but its not a career to get rich in. I’m not motivated by money and have no desire to be rich. That said, I still buy a quick pick for the Euromillions every now and then. A girl can dream!
I’ve been doing online surveys which is great for a bit of extra money – up to now, it’s been used to live on. Where I want to get to this year, is to use it to pay off my credit cards, student loans and overdraft. I want to be more financially secure. I’d even like to start saving but first things first, debt reduction. There’s no point having savings when I have debt.
I’ve also spent a bit this month on materials to make greetings cards. I’m not sure whether I’ll ever make money from it, but I’d like to. I love a really personal card. I love sending them and receiving them. So I figured, why not make the kinds of cards I like to buy. Checkout my cards on my shop page here or in my Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/HandmadecardsbySassy)
Moving forward, I’m going to set myself a budget and shop weekly. It’ll help ensure that I’m eating more healthily, wasting less food and not spending excessively. It’ll also make me more aware of what I really do with my money.
My pattern is to get over excited on pay day, treat myself and then spend the next few days and weeks panicking if I’ve left myself enough money to cover my outgoings and last me till payday. This does nothing for my anxiety, so it is definitely time for me to make positive changes.
I’ll need to sit tight this month but starting on pay day, come March I will be starting my new approach to money and budgeting.
