I am a Debt Free Wannabe...so where do i start

marfan_not_martian

I agree to turnaroundsue - keep a spending diary its amazing when you look back and see how much you have spend over a week on Nothing. It makes you think twice about spending your money. I always ask myself - do I need it -if yes then purchase it at the right price. If I dont need it and just want it then I dont purchase it.

TurnaroundSue

kirstenc wrote: »

Ive just spoken to home insurers, to see if they can do anything to cut my payments, I have asked for my paperwork too, so that if I switch, Im getting the same product and not just something cheaper that may not cover me the same!!

Im tied into my mobile contract until september, and have to pay a cancellation fee if I leave early, but Ill definately look into something else once that time is up!!

On a more positive note, I have just checked my ebay, and have another tenner in bids, taking me to a massive 151 in two weeks!! im very impressed!!

Ok, so reduce £100 a month down to £25 just now, and use the other £75 for debts, the £25 remaining, rather than emergency fund shall be my xmas/birthday pot...how does that sound?? i hope im getting the right idea?

Just a quick reminder as it might have got lost in my other long post, but don't forget QUIDCO. For anything, especially insurance (as that is where the biggest cashback is made) go there first ....... I can't emphasise that enough - you really do make good money.

Well done on your ebaying - £151 is fab for 2 weeks work. That'll knock a bit of hole in your debt.

I think reducing your emergency fund down to £25 is good and then using it for christmas/birthdays will help then. My only question is though the £2k you have which you use for hotels and trips to the hospital - how long will this last and what plan have you got to 'top' this up once it has all been spent? I only ask this as obviously this is something that you need to do and you need to also plan this into your SOA and budget for the future.

kirstenc

alot of the hotels costs etc is reimbursed to us after the stay, keeping receipts etc. so although i spend on it quite regularly, the figure doesnt change by a great deal.

Talking about groceries, and intolerances and the cost of this, I make what I can home made, and do try to meal plan. My son is allergic to wheat egg nuts pulses dairy soya and tomatoes, which limits what we can do greatly. his diet is very bland, and i am known for buying specialist dietary biscuits etc to give him a treat, as i find it very difficult to make them at home, as he cannot use traditional egg replacer, as it is soya based. it does add to the expense, but i feel that it is probably something i am just going to have to budget for, rather than trying to cut back on them.

I am a member of a cashback site (have £7.11 on there so far) and will def use them when i switch, they have good cashback on elec and gas as well as home insurance, so I'll be taking advantage!

moo2moo

I have a great fruitcake recipe which uses honey in place of egg. Its v. easy to make. Pm me if you'd like it. You're not alone with having children with food allergies. Its made even harder that half the alternative foods out there taste disgusting.

TurnaroundSue

Have you thought of starting a thread on another board or check if there is one already? - not sure whether it would be in Money Oldstyle or health, but ask others for help who are in the same situation. The wealth of knowledge on this site is amazing and hopefully you will pick up some good tips/ideas.

kirstenc

thats a good idea, I'll have a browse!!
found a trinket box today while i was tidying, there was about £8 in small change in it...new look arent gonna no whats hit them lol

I am frankly quite amazed about the help and support there is here, yes im a little embarrassed that Ive gotten myself into this amount of debt in a relitavely short space of time, but everyone is here to help me in my situation, and I really appreciate how kind you guys are being!!

kirstenc

so ive been busy and now have a bit of an update for you.

As my signature shows, I have paid off the provident now, and have put a tad but towards the argos card.

I have been blasting through ebay and in the last 30 days have gotten £443 in bids (postage on top so that i dont count money im having to spend on fees etc!)

that money has now paid the provident, and im witing for a coupole of cheques to cash, and I have nearly enough for the new look and argos card too.

Then its onto the big ones!! the overdraft #1 is getting smaller by itself, as I am in the £10 a week spend challenge, and have noticed a big difference as im no longer withdrawing money!!

have cut down the amount im putting across into savings and will use that towards the debt too.

I am really excited and feel as though I am moving positively forwards. I have more things to put on ebay (im a hoarder, and for once its going to my benefit!!) and I am commited to seeing this through.

Im cooking to a diary and have cut me weekly shop down to around £40. which is only a tenner a week less, but ill get better at shopping t a budget and should see that go down a bit more!!

ecoelle

I'm so pleased for you, it's amazing how hhelpful some of the people on this site are, and how helpful it can be to ask for others opinions, you can obviously take as much or as little on board as you want, and it has to work for you but you're going in the right direction!!!

I think as well, it's not until you begin to deal with the problems of debt that you actually realise it's less stressful to think about the problem and look for solutions than it is to hide away from it. It can have such a positive effect to look at you debt and really accept it, look for a way to fix it, and then make a start.

Still can't believe how well you've done, i'm subscribed to your thread so will keep an eye on when you next update!

ecoelle x

kirstenc

another update guys, so far have done over £550 on ebay since i started my purge on debt, an have just paid a whopping £185.44 onto my argos card!! am planning on ziping down to new look on saturday if it isnt still snowing and pay that off..Oh My Goodness!!!

Such a great feeling and im in control!!

credit card isnt even in use now apart from my weekly shop which I do and then pay off, get clubcard points for using the card so its the same as paying cash but with a bonus!! plus im adding an extra tenner to it so if my shop is £45 im putting it on my card but putting £55 onto it plus my direct debit for the min payment, dont even really notice that going out!!

ecoelle, thanks so much for your words of wisdom, I cant believe it either!! its really focused me and im now always on the prowl for a way to save or make money!!

hehe im so excited!!