Challenge number two on my list is to get out of debt and yet I rarely blog about it; it’s depressing for me and it’s boring for you.  In fact the last time I mentioned my money situation was six weeks ago which means I’ve only made it worse, I now have to write a financial summary for six weeks in one post.

Back on 12th January I said “I’m now going to aim to [...] blog at least three times a week (one of these will always be on Monday).”  If you’re a regular reader you’ll probably notice I haven’t been keeping to that, from now on I’m going to stick to it and blog every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (I’m following Gingell’s lead here).  Every Friday I will record my spending for the previous week and  if you don’t like it you can go read her post.

Week commencing 12th January (blogged three times this week)

Incoming: £1,000 worth of Premium Bonds cashed.

Outgoing:

• £16 food
• £30 utilities
• £56 repaid to Frosty
• £10 repaid to Guy
• £20 loan over calculation repayment
• £15 insurance monthly direct debit
• £75 on something that is lost to the ages

Total: £222

End of Week Total: -£2,343

Money Saving Tip: You can’t cut back on your spending if you don’t know how you’re spending the money.  In future I will keep hold of receipts and update the spreadsheet every couple of days.  This will avoid me spending £75 and then not knowing what I bought.

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Week commencing 19th January (a shocking lack of posts)

Incoming: £300 worth of Premium Bonds cashed.

Outgoing:

• £28 food
• £23 drink
• £35 transport (this included a return ticket to Oxford amongst other things)
• £6 entertainment  (I went to see Frost/ Nixon at the cinema)
• £14 presents (combined with all the Boots giftcards I had you can get quite a good present for £14)
• £60 additional (that’s all it says on my spreadsheet, I presume it’s Oxford shenanigans – I need to keep regularly maintained and detailed records)

Total: £166.

End of Week Total: -£2,209

Money Saving Tip: Not drinking.  Not going to the cinema.  Not buying people birthday gifts and then not going to their party in Oxford.  Ultimately the choice is this, be boring or be broke.

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Week commencing 26th January (three posts, back on target)

Incoming: £55 Birthday money.

Outgoing:

• £10 food
• £10 drink
• £6 entertainment (I went to see Seven Pounds at the cinema. A good performance from Rosario Dawson but otherwise disappointing.  The film takes too long to let you in on the plot and, while the unfulfilling ending shows love at its most twisted, it will bring you down if you are alone in the world or questioning your purpose)
• £25 Vodafone (they got it right again)
• £5 utilities
• £283 Council Tax (that is with a 25% discount as well and that’s only what was outstanding, there’s more to pay.  All so they can empty my third of the rubbish bin when they feel like it)
• £7 interest on my Nationwide overdraft.  Not impressed

Total: £339

End of Week Total: -£2,493

Money Saving Tip: Don’t go to see Seven Pounds and, because you’re reading this in the future, don’t buy Seven Pounds on DVD.

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Week commencing 2nd February (two posts and slipping)

Incoming: Nada.

Outgoing:

• £5 food
• £728 rent (took a few weeks for him to decide to cash the cheque)

Total: £733

End of Week Total: -£3,229

Money Saving Tip: Squatting.

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Week commencing 9th February (one measly post)

Incoming: A one off benefits payment of £82.  I don’t have the energy to explain this now but one day when I’m feeling stronger I’ll attempt it.  Suffice to say it took a lot of effort and there won’t be any more.

Outgoing:

• £20 food
• £7 drink
• £8 transport (I went to Birmingham)
• £20 loan over calculation repayment
• £15 insurance monthly direct debit
• £10 additional (I got a £6 haircut and bought a £4 book.  Shoot me.  In case you’re interested the book was The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl by Belle de Jour, made me realise how much is has been watered down for television.  If you think you’d enjoy frank, funny and full on sex stories then buy this book, otherwise probably best to give it a miss).

Total: £80

End of Week Total: -£3,217

Money Saving Tip: Even if you only return a few of your benefits forms and even if those are returned way after the deadline you may still get money.  So make sure you keep going in every two weeks.

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Week commencing 16th February (finally back to three whole posts)

Incoming:

• £20 loan from my dad.

Outgoing:

• £8 food
• £2 stamps

Total: £10

End of Week Total: -£3,218

Money Saving Tip: Steal lots of computers and give them to your elderly relatives.  Give them each a Gmail account and teach them how to use it.  No more stamps required.

As a reward for reading through all of that I’m going to redraw the graph for you.

The Poverty Line, for the week commencing 16th February*

Yes, your reward sucks but that’s life.

* As regular readers will know this does not include my student loan debt of £19,754.92.  If you study at Staffs Uni head over to register your debt at Brokebroken.com, get some financial advice and at the same time help to support the NUS’ Broke & Broken campaign.