How has MSE changed you in 2005?

Tondella

I always spent within my salary and even managed to put a little aside each month however always in the back of my mind was the knowledge that my OH had credit card debts that weren't going down. Even though i didn't run up any debts i never knew where my money went or how much would be left in the bank whenever i had a look.

MSE site has helped us to get the best chance of clearing those debts in the shortest amount of time by shifting down the APRs and maximising repayments, however it also caused me to look at my spending and make it more effective. I never ended a month with £400 left over in the bank but now i am putting that money towards our debts every month. with a budget I feel confident that when i buy something i can afford it, and there are never any surprises when i look at my bank statement cos i think through every purchase and regularly check my statements online. I ebayed some CDs and books for the first time and have raised enough money to pay for our christmas gifts this year. I totally rethought my wedding budget and brought it down by £3k immediately. And i am alot more savvy about the financial products available, and what is and isn't a good deal.

My OH and I were discussing a balance transfer over the phone last week and he said, apropos of nothing, how proud he was to have me as his girlfriend, helping him repay the debts and knowing how to get them repaid asap, rather than say that it was all his problem and he had to sort it all out. I'm going to be getting married this year safe in the knowledge that we both now share the same outlook on our finances and that we hit what could have been a major problem but worked it out together.

JAMIEDODGER

where do i start.....mse has saved me soooo much its untrue!!

- have been making double payments on my credit cards and they are slowly coming down.
- have purchased a new cooker (through greasy palm), a breadmaker, a slow cooker, leather 3 piece and numerous other things in cash, which has helped bring my grocery bill down
- we eat better and healthier, thanks to OS board
- bought and wrapped all xmas presents by mid november (not paying full price for anything)
- have started on next years birthday presents and have bought 2 out of 4 of my childrens presents for their birthdays already
- have switched phone provider and gas and electricity supplier saving me money
- have scouted for januarys car insurance renewal already and found even though i have lost all NCB due to an accident this year, my new premium will be even cheaper than last years lol
- bought 3 of my childrens school uniforms (all of it) in august not paying full price for any of it) saving a small fortune
- shop at boots buying nappies when they are on offer with points and saving those points for toiletries, therefore putting the money i had budgeted for toiletries in my savings account!
- saved all my tescos point (thank you beef in gravy) and swapped then for £560 worth of deals token which has bought two new beds and mattresses for my youngest two children


the list goes on and on (oh yeah and piggy points too for boots vouchers) so thank you MSE, martin and all you MSE'ers out there...you really are the best!!!

pozalina

Same as lots above!

1. Overpay mortgage by £100 a month

2. Got rid of unnecessary PPIs etc.

3. Changed life ins to cheapest I could find.

4. Haggled for the lowest possible mobile phone tariff when my contract was up - current monmthly bills about £7, including 250 free texts and 100 mins free calls

5. Switched to paperless billing - £5 for elec and £5 gas from BG

6. Got a water meter installed - more than halved our water bills.

7. Began stoozing

8. Save 10% of take home pay into Long Term savings account, 5% Short Term (now got almost £4k in there!)

9. Buy fresh ingredients and bake a lot more - tastes SOOO much better!

10. Drive in a more economical way

11. Take the bus when possible - save £5 car parking

12. Order contact lenses online - £5pcm cheaper than from opticians

That's enough, I'll bore you all!!!

P

skylight

I joined this year too. And to be honest I only found this place for the freebies section and missed the entire rest of the boards for months. :rotfl:

When I first came here (debt board) I was slated for having more important things in life than paying back my debts! I have debts, I am paying them back as quickly as possible, but because I wasn't falling apart as some people do - I was knocked back! (And before anyone asks DD1 nearly died last year and thats why money isn't that big a worry to me - life is!)

BUT! I have:

1. Started to cook all my meals! A someone has already mentioned, its healthier and am losing lb as well as £!!

2. My shopping is within budget. Mainly because I now have one :j . I aim to come in under.

3. Both hubbys and my mobile line rentals for the year are free, plus free calls via E2save - found here.

4. My creditors are happy (ish) as am I - the debts have been knocked down by £3k this year. Only £37k to go!

5. Saved on car insurance. Saved on house insurance AND got a free case of wine via Egg for it! The case price matched the house insurance cost so technically free!

6. Just spent my OS pin money £44 in Clarks sale for my kids - 6 pairs of shoes! I wouldn't have had PIN money before!

7. We are spending within our means. Very well actually. Infact, we will be able to save a little next year and pay a little more to each creditor.

8. Got a free holiday thanks to Tesco's. I always knew about the deals tokens, but never knew about extra points and codes etc. We were not expecting a family holday for years, but Mr T has helped us to get to Disneyland (and being extra savvy, taking MIL for free too and she's paying for the food!!!)

9. Biggest things is - I REFUSE to pay full price for anything now. Tescos bill MUST have discount/points code, internet shopping is always by cashback sites and codes. High Street shopping is in the sales. either money off or a freebie thrown in.


OH and I had already started to face up to things before I came to MSE, but the support and help here has spurred us on to get things finally sorted once and for all.

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

Gonna_Do_It

I am quite new to MSE, but it has already helped me loads so far.

It has helped me put together a budget...
Get the best deal on a loan...
Helped me not spend loads on Road Side Reovery...
Helped me get cheaper Broadband

Most importantly the support of the members and kind words have been of great help to me...

I am sure I will learn soooo much more form now and will continue to use it after I have paid off my debts and start saving. :j

roversbabe

The most important thing for me is that we faced up to how much debt we were in, I had my lightbulb moment then DH did.

We've learned to budget
We've both switched c.c to 0% and tart the balances until paid off
I've cancelled PPI on my loan
I've budgeted for annual bills (insurance)
Our shopping bill is down
Switched electricity supplier
Gone from Sky to NTL saving £25 per month
Got rid of Sky Sports
Cleared a fair chunk of my debt and will be debt free by the end of 2006

Thanks MSE

mountainofdebt

1. I've managed to get us free evening weekend & evening calls cutting my usual quarterly bill from £60+ to £30.50

2. Don't use 0870/0845 without checking for a geographical number first.

3. Have got all the debt down to lowish rates rather than the astronomical rates I was paying beforehand.

4. Go shopping with a list and tend to stick to it.....well I do when I go shopping without hubby!

5. Don't buy magazines/newspapers as often as I used to.

6. Cancelled the all singing all dancing SKY package and now just pay for what we watch.

7. Have put a load of stuff on ebay that was cluttering up the house.....and put the proceeds straight towards our debt.

8. Have managed to convince hubby that card tarting is a good idea!

johannamse

charlotte664 wrote:

When I first came here (debt board) I was slated for having more important things in life than paying back my debts! I have debts, I am paying them back as quickly as possible, but because I wasn't falling apart as some people do - I was knocked back! (And before anyone asks DD1 nearly died last year and thats why money isn't that big a worry to me - life is!)

Sorry about this ... we don't mean to be harsh, although it may come across badly at times. You are more than welcome on DFW at any time. We always need more people who know what their on about.

I am glad you are sorting your debts out anyway.

jcr16

thinking about it , the best thing i have learnt from MSE is the value of money.

we have never been extragant but we are now looking forward to a happier more well of future.

skintchick

It's really that my attitude to money has changed - I no longer think I can/should spend everything I get paid!

I had the book first, and changed my utilities, phone company, credit cards, etc., so have saved lots through that.

Wish I'd found the website sooner, but now have only one debt, which is interest free, and am saving money instead of spending it.

Have slashed my food bill from £100 a month to about £40! And I can't remember when I last bought clothes at full price! eBay here I come!