Here goes! (my SOA)

Spentit_3

Keeping_Positive wrote: »

Hello

You have the right idea on lots of things ie spending diary, grocery cut etc. Have you seen the http://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx?country=uk calculator. It will show you a debt free date and what to pay off first. The more you can use the excess monies to pay extra each month the better.

I do think you need to budget for dds car insurance, entertainment, haircuts etc. Its these things that are needed that ruin budgets by being not there or unrealistic.

Good luck

I've been reading here all week since my LBM last monday, that sudden realisation that things may be spiraling out of control. I've been picking up lots of ideas and I'm really really determined to make a start. It's taken me all week to pluck up the courage to post and now you've all been so nice I'm glad I did!

Spentit_3

nic_santorini wrote: »

just had a quick look at your SOA. Must sayu I thought the first half was fine, low mortgage payment and your spending looks very minimilistic now but obviously was not always that way due to the amount of loans and credit cards you have. The same old advice of making sure the secured loans are paid off always and then tackle the credit cards - the highests first with any extra you have. You certainly are on the right tracks with keeping a spending diary and that will stop the unnecessary purchases. I am sure people will tell you to sell your car and pay off one loan - if you can afford to keep the loan, then keep the car - older cars have many unknown maintenance costs. Don't go for the services at main dealers. You need servicing to maintain any warranty and you can have these anywhere where the business is VAT registered, e.g. Kwik Fit. My nissan service was over £200 and Kwik fit was £72 - for the same thing. Menu planning, cooking in batches etc. Hope that helps.

Thank you, all helpfull stuff! I think I have a while before the first service but I would have just gone to the local dealers.
You're right about our spending, I don't go mad on anything in particular but if there's something we need I'm used to just buying it, we've done a lot to our house so I suppose a lot of the debt is from that, but the rest is usually from just wanting something and buying it and of course from Christmas's past :cool: I keep thinking how well off we would feel without this debt hanging round us. I also think there's too much pressure on my husband to keep this income up, I want him to be able to relax a bit without always having to think about work.

Numpty_Monkey

And you've already met SS:rotfl::A

nic_santorini

glad we can all help - the LBM is a great start. Stay positive and keep the light on. Just continually ask yourself 'DO YOU NEED IT' Even if its half price or 75% off, if you don't need it then even a sale price is a waste of money. My weak point I must say. Good Luck.

Spentit_3

nic_santorini wrote: »

glad we can all help - the LBM is a great start. Stay positive and keep the light on. Just continually ask yourself 'DO YOU NEED IT' Even if its half price or 75% off, if you don't need it then even a sale price is a waste of money. My weak point I must say. Good Luck.

My weak point too, Sainsbury's have 70% off sale clothing at the moment, do I need it? No I don't! Probably nothing nice left anyway :cool:
I'm still in two minds about the veg box I've been having delivered every couple of weeks for ages. I've cancelled it but it was fantastic! now I'm back to buying veg in the supermarket it's just not the same. It was £16 and it used to last me for two weeks near enough. Perhaps I should ask about it on the old style board?

Keeping_Positive

Old stlye is good. Work out what you get in a box versus the supermarket cost. Even if the box is a tad more expensive but you use everything its probably worth it to stop the extra spending in the supermarket ie clothes! I have gone back to online shopping so I dont see all the extra. Sometimes I might miss out on reduced but that is more than offset by the savings. Usually online is good for getting free delivery and other money off coupons as well.

Spentit_3

Keeping_Positive wrote: »

Old stlye is good. Work out what you get in a box versus the supermarket cost. Even if the box is a tad more expensive but you use everything its probably worth it to stop the extra spending in the supermarket ie clothes! I have gone back to online shopping so I dont see all the extra. Sometimes I might miss out on reduced but that is more than offset by the savings. Usually online is good for getting free delivery and other money off coupons as well.

Thanks, I could try working it out. Some of the supermarket veg is extortionate, cauliflowers over £1:eek: When I did my shopping today I picked all the economy veg so I suppose it was quite cheap but not half as good as the stuff in the box.
I've been looking at Mysupermarket for a couple of weeks but usually print off the list and take it with me. Doesn't really work for me because I end up getting tempted by offers and everything else. I'll think about getting it delivered.

lukiesgirl

hello from a fellow Newbie! I have being doing internet shopping with Sainburys since it began. It takes me 10 minutes - in fact putting it away takes longer. I can keep to my budget because I can see my running total and take advantage of all available offers. The veg is always good and not too expensive. I chose the cheapest delivery time and best of all I dont get tempted by all the expensive goodies. I always use moneysupermarket because I get cashback points as well as Nectar points. I had 8000 points last year which bought quite a few presents in Argos! Good luck.;)