Sproutjar: grow out of debt habits into savings habits

Layla

11 weeks in · United Arab Emirates

Paid off: AED 53,400
Set aside: AED 3,050

What Ren works from

Every number below is yours to correct. Ren never guesses past what is here.

Take-home: AED 18,000
Payday: not set
To the cards: AED 6,500 · derived
Order: smallest balance first
Review: on payday
Windfalls: no rule yet

AED 6,500 a month is derived: salary, less essentials, obligations, what goes home and what is set aside. You can choose your own figure below.

Edit what Ren works fromSalary, payday, the monthly amount, your wordsShow

About you

NameWhere you live

The month, in AED

Take-home salaryPayday (day of month)Essentials: food, transport, phoneRent, school fees, instalmentsSent homeSet aside for known lumps (Eid, renewals)

What goes to the cards each month

Take-home salary: 18,000
Essentials: −11,500
Rent, fees, instalments: 0
Sent home: 0
Set aside for known lumps: 0
Derived: AED 6,500

The plan runs on AED 6,500 a month, the derived figure.

How you want to work it

Order of the cardsWhen you sit down with the numbersYour rule for money that isn’t salary

In your words

What the money is forSomething you already did that workedWhere your money story starts

What the money is for

So my mother never has to ask anyone for anything.

Ren comes back to this when a month goes sideways.

Something you already did that worked

I stopped using two of the cards in March and I haven't touched them since.

Where your money story starts

“Money was something the adults argued about after we went to bed.”

Things you’ve said out loud

Naming one is most of the work. They’re here so you can see whether they still hold.

“If I can't do it properly there's no point starting.”
10 July
“Saying no to my family costs more than the money does.”
12 August
“I make a plan and it fades after a week or two.”
4 October

Your talks with Ren

One root in the jar for each of these. They only go down.

Ask Emirates NBD in writing what a reduced plan would look likeDone
Leave the grocery run to Thursday, not the day after paydayAnother time
Pay ADCB the day salary lands, before anything elseDone
You just wanted to think out loud. Nothing to do after it, and that was fine.
Move the RAKBANK card out of my walletDone
Write down all three balances on Sunday morningDone

Sproutjar is coaching, not financial, legal or religious advice. For anything that needs a ruling, Ren will point you to your bank, the Central Bank of the UAE, or someone qualified.