NEW - pay off £20,000 (ish) by Christmas 2009

lemma1968

In my job there are months when i receive knack all, and then months when i get a lot in.

I am therefore always playing catch up especially with the tax and VAT.

Its in the months when i get a bit in that i try and throw some at the debts but not so that i end up starving again cos of the feast or famine routine.

Its the joys of self employment when cash is not the regular payment but you have to wait for a Govt dept to fulfil their obligations to you. Odd they then tend to drag their heels but chase you when you owe them!!!:mad:

Effectively with the money i paid today to my inlaws, we are paying our rent to them instead of the landlord i suppose even though its a loan. That money would have to have come out anyway like someone's mortgage etc.

Uniscots97

Another 1.68 added to my total. Another 3 things on ebay, having a clear out tonight and hoping to get more stuff on.

debt_free_me

Lemma - I see. I wondered if you were doing loads of other stuff that made all that money up and I was thinking how could I ever make that much and wondered what everyone did apart from the ususal.

sarahs999

£50 more to Barclaycard. COME ON! (just been paid for cake commission).

lemma1968

To Debt Free Me:

I have also sold things, pawned things, done online surveys etc

I am just packing up some CD's to go to Music Magpie. You don't get a lot, especially for recent albums but its money i would not otherwise have for CD's i have given up playing years ago. will be doing the same with DVD's next week.

I also now budget for everything. I have almost halved my grocery bill and we have given up on take aways etc. What I would have spent on them i throw to the taxman etc cos the interest they charge is HUGE!

debt_free_me

Thanks Lemma.:beer:
I have a diamond braclet and diamond ring I don't want (from previous boyfriends, I know that may sound bad but i'm never going to wear them again) and was thinking of selling them a) on Ebay but worried when people get them they might try and say they are fake or b) go to a pawn shop, but I have the idea they are seedy and violent places, probably because of films i've seen, whats your experience of them?

lemma1968

Pawn shops have come a long way. There are chains such as Herbert Brown who are also jewellers.

One thing you must know though is that a pawn shop will only lend you about 15-20% of what the item is worth.

The contract would be for 6 months and the monthly interest is steep. You can renew after 6 months so long as you pay the accrued interest to date. Its a purely short term fix as its expensive.

If the jewellery is of good quality then take it to a goldsmiths who may buy it, or good auction room and set a reserve.

eBay is another good option for jewellery cos you can set a reserve there also.

Pawning is not my first choice but as i wanted to keep my jewellery (engagement ring) i pawned and took the short term loan cos i knew i would be getting some money in.

Be careful.

debt_free_me

Oh I didn't realise pawn shops were for loans, I thought they just bought stuff off you. I just want to sell it I don't want a loan

lemma1968

They do that as well.

debt_free_me

Oh ok. I might try Goldsmiths. Thanks :beer: