Newbies - spending more than we earn

Yorkielass

Rache wrote:

Wow! there are some great tips on these threads. Thank you.

My only (minor) hesitation about this is that although it certainly appeals to my new found thrifty / pro-recycling nature - it is quite labour intensive. As a full time working mum time is something I don't have a lot of. I will certainly bear this in mind once I have worked through the quicker/easier ways of money saving - as I say I've sold on foums and through Ebay in the past so I know it can be done. It's the whole "packaging up and finding the time to get to the post office" part which puts me off.

I've just started selling on Amazon - however the 'you must post within 1-2 working days' thing is restrictive - just lucky I work a couple of minutes walk away from a Post Office at present so it's not an issue.

Takes me 5-10 minutes to package each thing and takes me about 3 minutes an item to list so it's not that labour intensive - but then I don't have any children - but I do work full time.

Having read most this thread - whilst trying to work - I don't think selling stuff is a priority - making savings by switching energy providers, insurers etc if applicable and altering food shopping habits/amounts would be higher priorities to me - reducing the amount you spend so you don't head further into debt/can start to pay some of it back etc.

Hope that makes sense - nearly hometime

Good luck

lush_walrus

Ok, one other little idea that might help a bit on your book buying, but again depends on if you have a bit of time and patience!

What about joining some of the online survey companies, now I know they pay a pitance but at the moment I have nearly £80 worth of amazon vouchures from the sites Ive joined, built up over time. But Im exactly the same as you if you put me near a book shop I want it all and will systematically buy it all. But to cut down on my book spending I decided to restrict myself to only spending the money that I have earnt from surveys and so far in the last year or so Ive managed to keep to my ban of entering book shops but always had plenty to read.

Just a thought, although looking back on my advice so far you and your husband may end up cursing me for my time consuming suggestions!!

Rache_2

nearlyrich wrote:

I can identify with this, I read lots of novels (Tesco & Asda do books for £3.73 or less and they are new releases) but I also read lots of business books and they are not cheap. Have you a library you can use? if you particularly want or need a book after borrowing it you can just buy that one...must take my own advice or sell some on ebay or amazon.

I do buy the occasional book from Tesco but tbh their selection is usually not to my taste. I recently discovered The Book People and my husband bought me the 2005 Booker shortlist (6 books; all but one hardback if I remember rightly) for £30ish.

As I say my local library's selection is catered towards the, let's say, "senior" population, but I think I probably could use it more than I do. My work books are more difficult - probably the way to do it would be to buy 2nd hand if possible and sell them on on Amazon after use.

Rache_2

irnbru wrote:

You should be able to reserve books throughout your region/county in your local library. If they're upto date tech wise, they'll email you when ready for collection.

Good point. I am going to start a "to read" list instead of just impulse purchasing, and get as much as I can through the library.

Is anyone else addicted to this? Both my husband and I are finding the though of being debt-free some day so inspiring, and thinking of ways to spend less is actually quite fun. (But ask me again in a couple of months.....;))

Rache_2

Spendless wrote:

rache -your childcare. Does yours and/or your OH employer offer childcare vouchers and would your provider accept them?

Both self employed at the moment, but if/when I get an employed position I'll be getting these. (Hopefully in next 6 months)

Rache_2

HLK wrote:

However, if your books are to do with work, they are probably technical'ish and these can cost a lot.. check amazon out for them second hand and then if they don't fit the bill offload them quickly. Some out of print technical books can fetch a real premium on Amazon however, so it might be worth seeing how many of your old books are worth some money. One guy was getting £100 and more for specialist technical manuals on the threads I posted earlier!! Obviously I am not suggesting you sell books you need or love .. they are like children!

I love my books and hate getting rid of them; though recently I have started decluttering and have started getting less precious about them - when I know I'm never going to reread them they get thrown out or sold.Good idea re: technical books - some of mine might fit the bill.

HLK wrote:

If your OH is reading bestsellers though.. keep an aye out for book sales or look at https://www.thebookpeople.co.uk who do bookends.

I love the Book People - have got some great bargains there.

HLK wrote:

Good luck anyway, you are lucky that you have so many areas where you can tighten your belts.. some posters on here are literally down to the bone by the time the discover this site!

That's a very optimistic way of putting it. Thank you!

Rache_2

mintymoneysaver wrote:

Rache,
i noticed your mastercard has about £900 left till the limit, while you owe about £800 on your two other cards.Could you transfer those two onto the lower interest one and then cancel them? Might not make much difference but it would mean you could throw any spare money just at the one debt rather than trying to balance 3?

Will have a look at that. That is likely to be a possibility. Thanks for pointing it out. I cancelled a card yesterday, which we'd paid off (with a balance transfer rather than "real money") - very cathartic!

HLK

[QUOTE=Rache...Is_anyone_else_addicted_to_this?_Both_my_husband_and_I_are_finding_the_though_of_being_debt-free_some_day_so_inspiring,_and_thinking_of_ways_to_spend_less_is_actually_quite_fun._(But_ask_me_again_in_a_couple_of_months.....;))[/QUOTE]

Addictive .. MSE ..Never ..!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

(MSE Anonymous meets twice a week... )

On a serious point .. you might not be at the end of your journey, but you are on the right road and headed in the right direction! So well done!

Rache_2

nic82 wrote:

Just an idea but have you heard of bookcrossing? See https://www.bookcrossing.com for detailed info, but it might help a bit with your book situation.

I'm already a bookcrosser:) Have never found a book though, nor has my H - but I'll encourage him to keep looking....

nearlyrich

Rache wrote:

I do buy the occasional book from Tesco but tbh their selection is usually not to my taste. I recently discovered The Book People and my husband bought me the 2005 Booker shortlist (6 books; all but one hardback if I remember rightly) for £30ish.

QUOTE]

I like the thrillers which seem to appear in Tesco as soon as they are published.. Book People are pretty good too, I sometimes buy the 10 packs if I haven't read any of the books in the selection, also WH Smith do the boxes of 5 or 10 sometimes.