Debt clearance advice

Ceri_2

no probs. Are you on the haigh street or online tariff with O2? I was on the online tariff & got 500 texts & 200 mins for £30 a month plus £5 insurance. When I called they could not do enough and I said I wanted to stay with O2 but just go to pay as you go. They asked how much I planned to spend a month & I said I would have to keep it to £10 a month to get the 300 mins. So she matched the £10 gave me 500 texts & 100 mins (she checked my usage first), the real bonus was the new phone. My old one was playing me up & I was ready to pay £50 to get a new phone & sim card from them for pay as you go, but they even gave me that free (ok I downgraded but it still makes calls & sends texts)

What I am learning about this site that making a dent (then clearing) your debt is down to comprimise (that so does not look right).

The gym, if you use it & use it a lot, then stick with it. How long have you been with that gym? maybe if you suggest you are gonna leave they may cut your monthly rate??

NiciD_2

hiya, I've got an online tarrif. when I signed up in may last yr it was £30 a month with 500 free texts and 50 free mins so already your original deal sounds better than mine! Ive had a look at their current offers and my tarrif doesnt seem to be on there so I'm gonna give them a call I think and see what they can offer.
As for the gym Ive been with them for almost 1yr and half I think. I have thought about seeing if they'll offer me reduced rate if I threaten to quit but I need to stick with it until summer so will prob stay with it for now (just in case my threat to quit backfires!)

Ceri_2

NiciD wrote:

hiya, I've got an online tarrif. when I signed up in may last yr it was £30 a month with 500 free texts and 50 free mins so already your original deal sounds better than mine! Ive had a look at their current offers and my tarrif doesnt seem to be on there so I'm gonna give them a call I think and see what they can offer.
As for the gym Ive been with them for almost 1yr and half I think. I have thought about seeing if they'll offer me reduced rate if I threaten to quit but I need to stick with it until summer so will prob stay with it for now (just in case my threat to quit backfires!)

I also called them a month before my 12 months were up (about 3 weeks before), I got my phone right away but my new tariff doesn't start till next week. So I wouldn't worry about calling early either. At least if they arrange something you can budget for coming months better.

I doubt the gym idea would backfire, they will just want your money, but I can see why you don't want to try that till later.

Good luck!
Ceri

CLAPTON

i think the crucial question you should ask yourself is as follows
'on average is your debt rising month on month or falling'?
If its falling then the isue is to speed its fall but its not critical just very desirable. However, if every (most) month there are 'extras' to find then you need to take urgent action to either or both cut spending or increase income.

firstly I'ld strongly suggest you keep a spending diary, write down absolutely everything you spend and preferrable put it in a spreadsheet in some way. then update your budget to include all those extras including all car related expenses (tax, insurance, mot , serving, allowance for maintenance(tyres, odd repairs)) plus newpapers, magazines, lunches, going out, presents ...in short absolutely everything.

secondly can you increase your income, overtime, part time job, take a lodger

thirdly...depending upon the results of the above you can reduce spending fairly painlessly on gym (38), mobile (by 25) by getting PAYG and only use if necessary,
you can get very good rated on land lines by using https://www.call1899.com and /or https://www.call18185.co.uk , you could shave a bit of gas and electric by using less(adjust the timeswitch on the CH etc) but there's not much else except for the rent ...I'll leave that for now

Fourthly: obviously use the egg card if you can although you will probably have difficulty moving from one egg card to another, but perhaps if your credit rating is ok you should look for a live of loan type card with a low rate.


sorry for long post