Diary of a Spendaholic: Radio Appearance

Hello all!

So earlier on I said that I had been contacted by BBC Radio Wiltshire to talk about my spending and debt etc. Now at the beginning of the month, I had a researched call me up and ask lots of questions and I got the feeling afterward that perhaps my story wasn't what they were after. Then there was nothing.

Out of the blue yesterday, the lovely Annie Weston (who originally contacted me on Facebook) called me and asked me some more questions and I told her all about my two day shopping spree. She seemed to think that this was great (not in a bad way) and asked if I'd be willing to speak on the breakfast show with Matthew Smith this morning.. I said HELL YEAH! Well I think I said sure but hell yeah sounds much more dramatic.

Anywho, at 0745hrs this morning they called me up and I waited patiently on the line through a story about someone from Bath giving turkeys to the Army or something, and I was up!!

You can listen to my interview here. If you fast forward to 1:22:45 it's my introduction. 

Now a few hours later Ben, the shows producer, called me back up to confirm that they want me to reappear - on the phone of course - on 4th January 2011 @ 0815hrs (tbc) to have another chat with how I dealt with the New Years sales and my plans for 2011!!! 

BE QUICK TO LISTEN - I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL REMAIN ON THE IPLAYER, IT SEEMS TO ONLY BE 24HR BUT AS IT'S XMAS NOT SURE IF IT WILL BE ANY LONGER...

Enjoy - I'd love to know what you think so leave a comment for me :)

Jaynee x x

Diary of a Spendaholic: Part 2

Morning all.

So it's 5am and I'm at work (in my break folks, don't worry), and I've just taken a perusal at my Bank Account. And it was painful.

Following my last post about spending I (think) I mentioned that I made the decision to give my debit card to my boyfriend. Well this worked brilliant saving me around £150-£200 thus keeping me out of my overdraft. However, I then needed my card for a few days as I had a few Xmas bits to get for the boyfriend and had to take my broom broom to the garage.

BIG mistake.

It was far too soon to be let out alone with it. In two days I spent over £250 (including car stuff but still). This was on various lovely things like some Lush Cosmetics and some Christmassy bits in Wilko's. And the unnecessary whopper, 3 for 2 on Fearne Cotton @ Boots. There is a deal whereby the Hat Box is on offer from £40 to £26.99 and is still included on the 3 for 2. So I got that and the two nail polish sets. The word whoops springs to mind. I also made an order from ELF which I didn't need and had actually lied about (I was uber jealous I got no freebies - how lame?!)

Boyfriend went slightly, nay very mad and I subsequently felt like crud all guilty and ashamed. I realised I never actually wanted the stuff I got. Then the epiphany came.

I seem to be addicted to browsing, choosing, queuing and PIN entering. Getting that bag and the receipt is a WOW feeling for me, regardless of what I'm buying.

I have now returned all the Fearne stuff (they took the points back too, narf), and have also paid to return the ELF stuff therefore wasting money on delivery and return. Other things like the Lush and Wilko's I kept.

It is still really difficult, especially when there is so much I think I want. I am ashamed I lied to my boyfriend. I am ashamed I bought when I knew I shouldn't and I'm ashamed that this is so silly and pathetic.

JUST DON'T SPEND!

Simple eh...?


Jaynee x x

Blog Neglect: Diary of a Spendaholic

Hello everyone,


So it's been around 5 months since my last post I am ashamed to say, however there are reasons for this.


This sounds extremely pathetic (and ironic given my blog name), but I found I was spending excessive amounts of money on makeup and beauty products; money that I did not have to spare. As some of you know I bought my first house with my boyfriend in March this year, and I didn't seriously assess my spending, and it slowly spun out of control.


Around July/August time it hit me when I finally got to the end of my overdraft (albeit it's only £700 but I rarely went into it before I moved). To put it in perspective, my actual OCD boyfriend saves around £200 a month. Quite incredible and self-disciplined but hey, having OCD has its perks. I was spending maybe £250 on MYSELF. What a selfish bi-atch.


Anywho, this all relates to blog world as I found that reading about everyone else's shopping hauls and reviews of new products made me insanely jealous and all keep-up-with-the-Jones' so I was spending more and more the more I read about stuff. And of course loving what I was reading about those products and wanting to buy them.


I decided to stop blogging, and to avoid as little makeup-related stuff as possible. I haven't been completely brilliant and have still made purchases for myself - there have been a couple of ELF purchases which I made with boyfriend's knowledge which I am actually ashamed of! Like a naughty child sneaking into the biscuit barrel!!


On the whole my spending has significantly reduced through my own willpower but I found it still wasn't as little as it ought to be so that I can pay off my debt (overdraft, credit card and a Littlewoods account). After a stupid vets bill, stupid car tax and stupid car insurance I didn't budget for, I realised I couldn't carry on by myself. I spilled (almost) all the beans on my troubles and my boyfriend kindly gave me some dosh from the savings (building up for a new bathroom - water and cracks are driving his head nuts... damp in wall...wall rots... wall falls down... house collapses... life as we know it is over). In return I forced him to have my debit card so I can no longer make those impromptu little spending trips down Tesco and Superdrug, or the sandwich and Monster Munch binge on night shifts :)


As a result, I am spending nothing but petrol out of my account. Been doing it for 2weeks and haven't bought makeup for well over a month. And I feel proud of myself.


I realise how incredibly ridic and stupid all this sounds, and it's not the worse debt anyone has ever had, but it was straining my relationship. I am pleased to say I now feel confident to return to a world I do miss, and all those lovely ladies :) 


I see this post as one of my final steps (bit like AA meets whereby they write the apology letters to those they've hurt, explaining why and what they've done). Next step will be proving I can control my spending.


Next step: weight loss. Now there's a saga....


I thank everyone who has offered me words of advice and support, I know I can rely on you for your understanding as well.


Jayne x x x