New Years resolutions!

Charlie2301

Well, I've finally faced up to the fact that my spending habits have got the better of me! After years of trying to keep up with the Jones's I've realised that my outgoings were almost £600 p/m more than my incoming... At the end of last year I foolishly put my debts over to Chiltern Debt Management (dont go there.......) thinking that they would help but all they did was give an unrealistic budget and take £35 p/m from my payments to them for their charges!

Thanks to the great advice on this site I had an appointment with the CCCS today and will be switching over to their DMP with immediate effect.

I know that I've only got myself to blame and that years of credit cards, loans, store cards etc etc have meant I now owe £24,500 in addition to my mortgage and that being a single mum I should never have let it get so bad, but I hope that 2006 will be the start of a more responsible me.

Any hints and tips on how to keep a 9 year old happy without spending money would be greatly appreciated. Im going through everything with a fine toothcomb now to cut back wherever possible. I know it's going to be hard but knowing that there are others out there who have been there, done it and lived to tell the tale is a great inspiration.

Keep up the good work folks!

Charlie

Sunnydoo

Hi Charlie2301,

I'm a single mum too & quite new to this site but have found it a great help.

Is your child a girl or a boy ?(just asking to see if i can think of some free things for you to do )

Charlie2301

A boy who thinks that anything other than sitting in front of a computer or tv is boring....

Sunnydoo

Hmmm!

Does he like museums ?-here we have a free to visit transport museum that my 6 year old loves even though she's a girl,there's bound to be something similar in your area

Going to the park/playing out with friends

Activities organised by local council(usually only in school holidays)

Playing computer games on websites

Can't be much more help than that i'm afriad since i don't know much about boys !

Good luck with your debts & feel free to PM me if you need to talk to someone

JAMIEDODGER

i have two of those lol

Charlie2301

Thanks everyone for your advice. At the moment it feels like we don't have money for anything at all! We went to see Narnia during the holidays so used the Orange Wednesday promotion on the 'earlybird' rate and took our own sweets from home so that was a good day out for only £3.50..

It's difficult as they get older but hopefully once the weather improves we can get out and about a bit more. Dosen't help that I hate swimming though

kathfisch

Hi charlie
first of all, well done for facing up to your debts and starting to do something about it.
I see you're based in kent, I don't know if you've seen the website https://www.kidsaroundkent.co.uk , might be some days out on there that you didn't know about. Obviously I don't know where in kent you're based and some of the activities are pricey but it does include some free paddling pools (for when the weather's a bit nicer!). Good luck and keep posting with your progress!

moonbeam682

have a look at these for a few more ideas

http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/kids.htm

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=83317&page=1&pp=10&highlight=summer+holidays+kids

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=39157&highlight=bored+kids

shame about the swimming!

kathfisch

that's a good site moonbeam, will remember that one.

Charlie, there might also be some good ideas on the Old Style Board, either already disucussed or you could start another thread.

Charlie2301

Thanks for the website, I'll have a look and let you know how we get on..

us,thecat&thedebt

hi

congrats on starting to tackle your debt
as far as keeping kids entertained goes although it will cost you roughly 7.47 per month it could be worthwhile

we pay a subscribtion to tesco dvd rental and they send you a dvd you watch it send it back and they send you another the turn around is good we get roughly 2 dvds a week if i remeber to send it back lol keeps kids occupied they have the latest selection some rental stores charge 3.75 a night for new realeases and if you cant get it back they charge you to high heaven!
i know tesco were doing a month free trial and you can cancel at anytime so theres not contract

i like the fact that it saves me money.. and is so easy and best of all if you forget to send it back for ages they dont charge you a thing!!