Massive debts to tackle

gargrave50

Good stuff, I know where to come to for advice if the same happens to me with AA VISA. Its HBOS really just branded AA, so I doubt they will pay up too easily. I might have to come back to you for advice on FOS if I have to go down that route. Just sending away the initial letter requesting list of charges today - here goes nothing LOL !!!!

KatieShopstoomuch

That's no problem hopefully it will go smoothly, unlikely but theres no harm in wishing although after several months most people seem to get theirs back as the companies don't want FOS investigating them good luck

gargrave50

Just transferred £1.23 into my F&F account - day 2 and I'm addicted. Its certainly a cheaper way to get your thrills than shopping which got me into this mess in the first place. My own version of PAD!

david_hellier

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

If the SOA says you have £450+ leftover but your bank account says you haven't, then it must be going somewhere! Try keeping a spending diary and see where the money goes.

Also, read through other people's threads, they are very motivational.

I'm exactly the same as you are, by the way, lack focus and get bored easily! Wait til my update tomorrow on my diary - am I going to get flamed!!!!!!

Regarding the dental plans, do you actually need much work done when you visit the dentist? Reason I ask is because my ex employer used to pay £10 per month into a savings account and it was originally planned for dental expenses. He never had to visit the dentist in 15 years (I don't know if he had to as I don't work for him any more) but he had all that money to one side still. He reckoned he didn't eat a lot of sugar and took decent enough care of his teeth that he didn't see the need for check ups. However obviously if you don't have an NHS dentist and do spend more than £324 at the dentist then it's not worth giving it up.

Mobile phone bill - don't necessarily say you will go on PAYG. See what your existing supplier can offer you. I was paying £29 per month, but when I rang to cancel they offered me (minus a new phone) a SIM only deal of unlimited texts and 100 cross network minutes + unlimited calls to other 3 mobiles for £9.74 per month.

Otherwise I can't really see any way of cutting down your outgoings, they're pretty much less than all of mine!

Good luck and stay focused.

Another way of using a spending diary is to allocate a specific amount to yourself from your budget each week and deduct from it as you spend through the week. This has the combined effect of exposing your spending habits and preventing overspend.

GeorgeUK

Council tax............................. 125.87
If paying over 10 months, can you ask to pay it over 12?

Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 60
Check the comparison sites to see if you can get a better deal (uswitch, moneysaupermarket)

Telephone (land line)................... 12.00
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 21.00
Internet Services....................... 7.34
Can you get this as a package?

Entertainment..............................100.00
Might need to be cut a bit

Groceries etc. ......................... 220
Have a look at the old style board for meal plan ideas and cooking in bulk for freezing meals

Have you tried getting 0% cards or have you now missed some payments?
It looks like there is quite a surplus so you will need to definately look at where this is going.

gargrave50

Hi George, thanks for taking a look at my SOA. The council tax is paid over 12 months but includes some arrears . I will need to take a look at comparing my gas and electric. At the moment I'm tied into a fixed price deal so will need to see when that finishes (when Martin said lock in to a fixed price deal I locked in).

I need to keep my BT line for Sky but I am enquiring with Sky as I believe I can get my broadband free from them. My calls all go through Sky anyway which is why its only my basic landline.

The Entertainment budget could be cut as we are really lucky and many of the Summer clubs are only 50p or £1 a day for DS. I expected to be having to shell out more cash during the holidays.

I'm off to the local butcher to get some mince to do a spot of batch cooking tonight (with a glass of half price wine in my hand no doubt). :beer:

I haven't tried getting 0% cards as we have been late with payments and because we are now going self admin DMP, therefore have written making reduced payments.

The spending diaries have only been going since Wednesday and already its quite clear that we are frittering a good bit of money. Time to stop the rot and we are preparing for 3/7 NSD each next week:D

Thanks for reading my SOA! All help and suggestions gratefully received.

gargrave50

Well, sadly nothing to transfer into F&F pot today. Just discovered OH has £175 of charges to come off in the next 7 days:mad:. Its all because he started a new job and has to do a week's lying time again. As a result some of his d/ds were returned unpaid and the bank charged £35 a time for the privillege. This is all because he didn't get a wage for one week. What a mess:(. Aiming for a NSD today (no choice really)

gargrave50

Hello all, had a day off yesterday because I've been told I have swine flu and was busy dying on the couch (NSD so result actually!:j). Off to have a look at our bank accounts and see what a fine mess we are in no doubt. Received a letter from Littlewoods today. The usual garbage, sorry your proposed reduced payment does not meet our criteria.....

Well, just off to do my lovely "please reconsider" letter, and in a nice way to tell them that's all they are getting because its all we've got! Wish me luck

gargrave50

Loved the bit in the "please reconsider" letter which said I would continue paying the proposed amount as a goodwill gesture. Made me feel like a bank offering a settlement for bank charges:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

gargrave50

Hi all,

Just discovered Dooyoo reviews. Wrote 20 tonight - aiming for 100 by end of next week before I leave for London. My calculations reckon that will means £50 - not sure whether to take the cash or Amazon towards Christmas?