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Tips to get back on my feet please

I have been lurking around on these boards for some time now and although I dont think my situation is too bad compared to others I really want to make this year the year when I get back on my feet and get debt free.

Dh and I work with seperate bank accounts and we are quite happy that way however he is so careful with money and I am just terrible and I feel as though I am digging myself a deeper hole all the time.

I have just paid off a loan I had with a credit union through my employer so thats a bonus however my problem is what I owe to my parents and my overdraft. My OD is £850 and I owe my parents £600 and my catalouge is sitting at around £1500. I only work part time so dont really make a lot of money and I give husband a set amount every month towards the bills and mortgage.

I really want to be able to chip away at this over the next few months and get it cleared before we go on holiday in July (just a UK holiday but want to make the most of it).

I noticed a lot of people sell on Amazon - is this quite an easy process as I have loads of books at home which I will never read again? I have exhausted my home and wardrobe with selling on ebay.

I am also a bit of a shopaholic and love to keep myself up to date with fashion and beauty buys, so is there a way to combat my spending. :confused:

Thanks in advance for any help

Comments

  • Horace
    Horace Posts: 14,426 Forumite
    Hi and welcome

    Get rid of your catalogues would be a start as that way you are not tempted to spend what you don't have. Keep a few key items in your wardrobe - i.e. a couple of skirts, one or two jackets, a couple of pairs of trousers, some t-shirts and blouses and mix and match them. No need to keep up with fashion trends as they change so often. Wear the clothes that you have that fit you and sell the rest.

    When you go shopping for groceries take a shopping list and stick to it. Look at moneysaving oldstyle board for tips on meal planning so that you make things from scratch rather than buy readymade or takeouts.

    Look at the Make £10 a day thread elsewhere on DFW as they will give you tips on how to make free money.

    HTH
  • Primula
    Primula Posts: 953 Forumite
    Hello and welcome
    Some ideas:-
    1. Post your SoA on here - you will get loads of fab advice on where you can cut back.
    2. Join Lula Hula's "Crazy £100 Clothes Challenge". Pledge to spend no more than £100 on clothes this year. I'm sure you could start from now, and it is such a good incentive - working for me so far.
    3. Have a look at the Oldstyle board for ways of cutting costs in shopping/cooking etc.
    4. Join a bingo site for your free daily scratchcards. It's fun and money for nothing, even if you only win 10p per day, in a year that's £36.50 for nothing - spend it in the Jan sales for next year's Christmas prezzies and your quids in! ;)
    Basically, I think if you post your SoA you will get great advice and probably manage to pay your debts off quicker than you think.
    Good luck. I'm going to subscribe to your diary to keep up to date with your progress.
    P
    x
  • masonsmum
    masonsmum Posts: 855 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks for the replies. I have decided going to call Littlewoods and stop my catalogue, do I just ask them to put a stop on ordering? :eek: (I know I can do it). I will throw the book out straight away.

    Had a look at the £100 clothes challenge thread, looks really good, going to start looking in the charity shops and ebay instead of paying full price for my clothes.

    Its all going to change from here. :j
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