In the Black

Today is Friday. Not only is it Friday but it's the last working day of the month and that can only mean one thing...

Payday.

For the first time in almost a year, I am now up to date with my outgoings and just as well really, as today is also the last day that I have my student overdraft.

When I moved to Brighton last year I had a fair bit. I spent a lot moving down here, on deposits and such, but I had some money in the bank and I was satisfied that it was there and we were spending what we were earning. Then, after 3 months a little disaster struck and I was unable to work for 2 months. That was a massive problem as I was the one paying most of the bills and Christmas was coming up - my first Christmas without my family - and I didn't want to have to cut back just because I was out of work. If anything, I needed Christmas to go well so I had something to take my mind off being ill.

Of course with no money coming in, and lots going out (not to mention the winter heating bill) I had to go into my savings. Something I really didn't want to do, but something I was glad I could do because it enabled me to carry on living down here and we didn't get forced out of our apartment.

The day before Christmas Eve I was offered a job with the company I am now with. It was a huge relief to know that we would soon be on our feet again. And 3 months later when we were getting there, we got more bad news. We were being evicted. Being evicted not because of anything we'd done - but because the apartments were being renevated and would no longer be within our budget. We had to start house hunting again and pay hundreds in admin fees - along with an increase in rent, and a bigger deposit.

We moved in 3 months ago and today marks the day that I have finally sorted my money out. I am no longer dipping into the student overdraft to pay this bill, or that bill, and it comes as such a huge relief.

I am telling this little story because I want to show how important it is to have savings. Next month, nearly everything I have left over is going into another account. And so it will continue. Just because I have money there, it doesn't mean I have to spend it recklessly. And the same tips I am using now are the same as they would be if I were paying off debt. Slowly but surely that sum of money will get larger and sooner or later you'll have something to show for it - whether it be a nice amount in your bank, or that wonderful '0' figure, no longer in the red.

Have a great weekend.