Hello, i'm new!

poodlegal · 19 January 2012 at 10:37AM

Hi, just wanted to introduce myself, I have been lurking for a while but finally this year me and my husband have decided to make inroads to our debt (mainly CCs), its gonna take ages but I have been using the tips on here and for the first time feel really positive and motivated about getting rid of it (its a lot!) At the beginning of the year we did a spreadsheet of our soa and got a grip of ourselves, though to be honest we have had to live frugally for some time as so much goes out each month on just meeting min payments, so real effort is needed now to turn it around, though I feel like we are actually making small inroads into it rather than just floundering. We have three children, 3 dogs and we live in a rural area of Scotland. Hope its ok to join in with the threads as you all seem like a friendly supportive bunch and its really, really motivating to be in the same boat as everyone else. Sometimes I feel like a freak and people think i'm being off, but they obviously dont know what our predicament is.
Look forwards to joining in and hope I can encourage others and share some useful stuff too!:wave:

kittybangbang · 19 January 2012 at 10:48AM

WELCOME POODLEGAL!

Why don't you post your SOA on here, so that people can give you even more ideas on how to cut down outgoings, and get those cards paid off!

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

sunshineangel · 19 January 2012 at 10:50AM

Hi and welcome :-) x

poodlegal · 19 January 2012 at 10:59AM

Hi, well to be honest i'm really embarrassed about it and so it just feels a bit too much 'baring all' at the moment. I am not in denial any more about the debt, (though I was for a while) but we have been through it with a fine toothed comb and we jiggled it around so that we are working on higher interest rate stuff to be paid off soonest. Its been helpful looking through the other threads. We have adjusted all our phone contracts down onto a low tarriff, got rid of SKY, dont buy presents where I can help it:cool:. I am currently working on getting our food bill down and trying not to use the car as much but its so hard living in a rural location! So i'm quite happy that we have got some sort of control now. The kids each had £60 spent on them for Xmas which was mainly 2nd hand or ebay stuff and bless them despite my worrying they had a great day and were happy with the stuff they got (dd originally had an ipod on her list which needless to say didnt happen!)

horsechestnut · 19 January 2012 at 11:14AM

As you said you have been cuting back already, but do look on the OLD STYLE SAVINGS thread for ideas of how to save on the everyday things, plus send away for all the freebies that you can; FREEBIE thread.
Are you near to a large city/town as Boots have got their 75% sale on Christmas items and if you can trade-in an old (empty!) mascara at the Clinique counter they will give you a free one in exchange.
On today's Newspaper Summary thread, the Telegraph is offering £5 off vitamins (code provided so you don't have to purchase the actual paper) I have just ordered some mulitvitamins for £5.01; so I have only had to pay1p.
It is things like this that really do stretch your money and make you feel less deprived.
Do post your SOA as no one on here knows who you are and may well be able to come up with something that you have overlooked; and of course you do not have to take on the suggestions if you don't want to/aren't able to.

poodlegal · 19 January 2012 at 1:27PM

Thanks! Will have a look at that. My mum gave me a frozen turkey suplus to requirement after xmas so I have defrosted it and now I am looking into these threads and seeing the rubber chicken concept! So think this will def be a rubber turkey!!

allybee101 · 19 January 2012 at 1:37PM

Welcome! They're a friendly bunch on here!
Lots of useful boards for cutting back, making more money, savings and freebies etc!
It sounds like you're already on the right track with the Statement of Affairs sorted and getting savvy with your spending.
The Snowball calculator is also really helpful..
www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx

It helps you work out the quickest way to pay off multiple debts.

princess84 · 19 January 2012 at 3:24PM

Hi just wanted to say hi! I'm also a newbie/lurker, from Scotland with partner 2 kids and a dog lol! Definately something about this year making me want to get a grip on our finances too, and start using this site a lot more! Hope you get on great, wish you luck

downsizer3 · 19 January 2012 at 3:32PM

Welcome. Don't be afraid to add your SOA - we've seen it all on here and no-one judges - just looks to help.

thejames · 19 January 2012 at 3:38PM

poodlegal wrote: »

Hi, well to be honest i'm really embarrassed about it and so it just feels a bit too much 'baring all' at the moment. I am not in denial any more about the debt, (though I was for a while) but we have been through it with a fine toothed comb and we jiggled it around so that we are working on higher interest rate stuff to be paid off soonest. Its been helpful looking through the other threads. We have adjusted all our phone contracts down onto a low tarriff, got rid of SKY, dont buy presents where I can help it:cool:. I am currently working on getting our food bill down and trying not to use the car as much but its so hard living in a rural location! So i'm quite happy that we have got some sort of control now. The kids each had £60 spent on them for Xmas which was mainly 2nd hand or ebay stuff and bless them despite my worrying they had a great day and were happy with the stuff they got (dd originally had an ipod on her list which needless to say didnt happen!)

Hi I've just come on recently, £80.000 debt I'm in and people really do help more when they know your situation and it's very good for the soul by posting your soa. You aren't the only one so don't be ashamed x

SpagBol · 19 January 2012 at 7:26PM

Welcome and don't be embarrassed! I find that it helps to post an SOA every so often because we all lose sight of things and other people can see things much more clearly sometimes

Good luck! :j:beer:

Hello, i'm new!

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