Confessions of a squanderbug!

kittyscarlett

Hiya Pete. Well done for making a good start !

I support the not getting a loan bit. I am speaking from experience as I have done that twice, whilst in an absolute flap a few years back when there were several debts pressing. Whilst the immediate feeling was of relief, not too long after starts the relentless slog of paying the bloody thing back ( not to mention any attached insurances etc you may have inadvertently thought were A Good Idea At The Time ) Plus all the interest !

You have been given some good advice already. The Old Style board is very good for helping you cut down on food and household expenses without actually feeling deprived ! And keeping a spending diary is a REAL eye opener I promise you.... what you think you spend and what you spend it on can be vastly different !!

What occurred to me is that you really need to get your partner on board with this... its nice he has a job that gives him a decent salary and reaps the benefits of it, but if you can have a chat to him about cutting down on unecessary spending and getting rid of your debt, and ask for his support in this, it would be really helpful. You can still have a good life and lots of enjoyment whilst freeing yourself of debt and saving up for a rainy day and/or something really special.

Good luck and keep us posted !

pennilesspete

Thanks. I have come round to the conclusion that a loan is a bad idea, especially as I have all my debt at 0% anyway so as long as it does not increase in the next ten months I have nothing to lose.

I will speak to my partner about it one day - just need to pluck up the courage!

Meanwhile, I sold the last bits of the trainset I had as a kid last night on an internet forum and got £100 which will go straight to pay off some of my o/d.

Took the bus and train to work yesterday and will continue to do so, especially as I have free travel on both.

Will join the Weekly Spend Challenge for next week - this is the sort of thing I was thinking of doing - withdrawing £20 at the start of the week and trying to live off that alone - I find my downfall is putting things on my debit card - it just doesn't feel like spending when money doesn't change hands! Lame excuse I know.

Thanks for all your help and support.

mooomin

pennilesspete wrote: »

Will join the Weekly Spend Challenge for next week - this is the sort of thing I was thinking of doing - withdrawing £20 at the start of the week and trying to live off that alone - I find my downfall is putting things on my debit card - it just doesn't feel like spending when money doesn't change hands! Lame excuse I know.

Put the £20 in your wallet, leave the debit cards at home and join us!!

pennilesspete

Am doing quite well. I was going to have a takeaway last night but instead bought some cheap chicken and made my own curry saving at least a tenner. The only drawback was on my way out for the day I must have driven over a screw and punctured my tyre - I'm hoping I can fix it without having to go to a garage. Today I'm going for a walk and hoping to have a no spend day.

Going to try the weekly spend challenge this week - have set myself a budget of £20 which I have put in my wallet and will leave my cards at home to resist temptation.

Luckycharm_2

Hi Pete

Just wanted to say well done on your progress so far. I have a similar amount of debt which I'd also like to pay off by the end of this year. It sounds as if you are doing all the right things. Good luck!

pennilesspete

Thans luckycharm. Good luck! Just talking about it seems to be helping. Up until now I've buried my head in the sand and hoped it would go away. I've not spent any money today and feel better for it.

mooomin

pennilesspete wrote: »

I've not spent any money today and feel better for it.

Congratulations on your NSD (No Spend Day)!!

Fire_Fox

pennilesspete wrote: »

Took the bus and train to work yesterday and will continue to do so, especially as I have free travel on both.

Will join the Weekly Spend Challenge for next week - this is the sort of thing I was thinking of doing - withdrawing £20 at the start of the week and trying to live off that alone - I find my downfall is putting things on my debit card - it just doesn't feel like spending when money doesn't change hands! Lame excuse I know.

If you are spending on your debit card you can easily work out exactly what you are buying! Sit down with six months of statements and work it all out. Do you really need to run a car if you have free use of public transport?

pennilesspete

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Do you really need to run a car if you have free use of public transport?

Yes unfortunately. As I work in public transport I need to travel to work on the first and last trains. I use it where I can though but the service here is quite sparse. Train every two hours, only one on a sunday! Buses stop running around 6pm too.

Had another good day - not an NSD unfortunately as I did buy a paper but got a buffet lunch courtesy of work!

pennilesspete

Well, after starting the week so well I blew the budget well and truly today. Had a friend round who has recently lost his job and so I bought some beers and took him out to dinner. Also laying some paving slabs in the garden so needed to buy slabs and sand. Will try and do better next week!