Suckered Punched

LookingAhead

Yep collecting £200 would be ace! Sadly not to be though eh, unless something unexpected and lovely happens.

So what is the problem with the PC then that is preventing you posting stuff on EBAY? I am intrigued. When you make your next list of things to do, I think that should be top of the list as it is a real problem that is actively stopping you making some cash.

Are you able to list anything on Amazon to sell rather than EBAY in the meantime? Books, CD's, DVD's and maybe some electrical items too are all able to go via Amazon and you don't need photos - just check your email every day once you've listed them and you'll know if you've sold anything - they give you all the details there on the mail.

I was like this :eek: when I read your BF isn't paying his credit card bills. Crikey, don't let that affect your own outlook will you? I guess you can't expect him to understand about clearing debt if he hasn't had any sort of lightbulb moment himself. It could be an idea to just tell him you are making a stand with your own debts and he either accepts it or he doesn't. Who knows you may have a positive effect on him. Don't go on at him, just lead by example (you know what men are like - the more you tell them something the less they listen and just say "you're nagging!". But funny how when you stop going on they then say "Why are you moody?" Can't bloody win! Anyway slight off topic!).

It's NOT sad that you have started Christmas stuff alredy, it's not sad at all. Put that thought out of your mind and concentrate on that - it's brilliant that you have that skill and you enjoy it and you can save money at the same time. I'm not really "crafty" at all - wish I was, I could save a small fortune!

Meals: Can't encourage you enough to make a meal planner for the week. Once you know what you are making on each day, go out an only buy what you need. Some people think it is more expensive this way but it isn't - not once you get over buying your herbs & spices and general provisions that you can use in a lot of different meals. Sainsburys do a buy three for £1 on their
tinned pulses so I sometimes stock up on those (ones that you can't get in their 'basic' range) and then plan to make bean casseroles, curries or whatever. If you haeva massive bag of rice in the cupboard too you can make chili, curry, pilaf, gratin and all sorts for not a lot of cash.

Have you check out the Old Style board and their "Mega Index"? It is a "sticky". Within that Mega Index is a recipe section and I have gleaned several ideas from there for soups and cakes etc that are cheap and help use up old bits & bobs. Brilliant thread - can't recommend it highly enough.

Anyway make a list and stick to it.

Start to look at things as challenges. If you are sitting around the house, ask yourself what you can do to occupy yourself which benefits the house, yourself, your bank balance or whatever which is free or very cheap.

I told myself a while ago now that I was sick of being part of a population which has shopping as its number one hobby. That is sad. OK I still like to go out and come home with some nice things from time to time but the difference is now that I only buy what I know I really need and don't just get up on a weekend and head to town to see what tat I could spend my money on. I make lists of what top I need to go with what trousers or what personal grooming product (for want of a better expression!) I need and go looking for those things only and the best deal possible.

But even better now is I have discovered Quidco! So I only buy what I need and get some cash back on it = result.

Can you do a car boot sale or table top sale anywhere to make some pennies? It gets you out of the flat for a morning/afternoon and it can be fun too especially if you do it with a mate.

Today I haven't gone anywhere but I spent the early part of the afternoon pampering myself = pedicure, facial, painted my nails/toenails, deep conditioned my hair etc. It was all stuff I had so that helped but maybe if you don't have stuff already in the flat, you could look to get some samples or make your own Old Style treats i.e. salt on a face cloth is a good facial scrub. (By the way, I love my bright pink toenails today :rotfl: )

Keep a spending diary too (if you don't already...?) I said this on another thread today - it's an eye opener and shocking to see the money build up on stuff you just don't need. Sometimes you just need to see it in black and white.

It's not easy at first whilst you adjust, we all sympathise. But I can honestly say that as soon as I started looking at it as a challenge and analysing my spending/looking for better deals, it got a whole lot easier. I even look forward to my loan/credit card repayments coming out now so I can edit my signature and actually see the figure coming down.

Anyway I guess that's enough from me!! Keep coming back and reading and posting - you can do this and in the end you will be rightly proud of yourself.

L.A. x

CAFCGirl

Well to answer the question, something (god knows what) is going on with my usb ports so I can't upload photos.
The majority of stuff I have to sell are clothes and shoes so really do need photos.Have listed a number of books on Amazon and sold three so far.

I had a good look at my bank statement for april and was shocked at how much money goes nowhere.I'm counting today as a lost day although this post has really made me a lot more motivated.

Tomorrow is a brand new day, and I'm going to really look at different areas of my life per evening.Tomorrow I'm looking at my food consumption, and gonna make some muffins so I can take one into work each day

Thanks for everything, any real tips on what others have done are really helping

Dr.Lou

Hi CAFCgirl, I'm sorry you feel so down this weekend. Don't worry things will get better, everyone has ups and downs in thier life, its natural.

I too have been going down the interview route (for nearly a year now) with no luck....it really sucks, and I totally know how you feel! But think of how it will feel when you get the job that you are really happy with! As for changing your job regularly for better pay and conditions, that just shows drive, ambition and a respect for yourself, and I think the right employer will recognise that and not be bothered by it!

As for getting organised, I bought an expandable file just over a year ago (for a few quid - try Woolies, wilkinson etc) it has sections for rent, bills, reciepts etc. Everytime I have something I need to file away, I put it in the designated section, and its helped me to become more organised and find everything I need to find! I have a similar one for job applications too. I also use a A4 file for keeping bank statements and that is useful too.

This sounds really sad, but to keep myself motivated when it comes to money, I keep a spreadsheet of all my finances and a related graph. When I have a good month, and see it on the graph, it makes me feel really elated and it is an amazing motivation tool. You can also put a figure on how much you have left to owe, and this gets updated too. Wonderful, I have become addicted. If you need a simple excel spreadsheet, PM me and I can send you a similar blank one to the one I made for myself.

You could also start a 'debt' pig (see Aliasojos thread on mortgage free wannabe), so when ever you feel the urge to splurge and don't, you put the equivelant amount of money in the pig, and pay it against your debt at the end of the month! This may also make you feel a little better too, as you can see what your efforts (in being good) have gained in terms of debt repayment!

Another motivational tool, would be to have an idea of what you would like to do when you are DF and can save up for it. I always have this in the back of my mind when I say no to lunch out, new top etc.

You could also pop down the library and get some finance related books, try Alvin Hall / A Girls Best Friend is her Money / Martins Money Diet etc. for inspiration. I do this if my drive is flagging a bit!!

With respect to BF, he just needs to have his own LB moment; in the meantime, try not to get your finances involved with his, until he is sorted out himself!

Wishing you all the best....just keep chipping away at it and you will get there in the end!!!

CAFCGirl

Thanks very much all.

I'm going to try and get a better budget sorted out for myself for this week and really make a point to stick to it.

I've got a 20p/£2 chicken believe it or not, its my pig lol.Got it at easter! It's got £2.80 in it at the moment!I hadn't really thought of giving myself something to save for because I'm more hooked on paying off the debts.
Maybe I should focus on one debt at a time.Make sure they all get the minimum at least and then concentrate on over-paying on one of them?

Is this a reasonable idea?

Dr.Lou

CAFCGirl wrote:

Maybe I should focus on one debt at a time.Make sure they all get the minimum at least and then concentrate on over-paying on one of them?

Is this a reasonable idea?

If you do this, pick the one with the biggest APR% so you are not paying so much excess interest.... you could also target some smaller debts as well (e.g. a store card) and tackle them, to give you a sense of accomplishment!

Dr.Lou

p.s. If I could I would put a link to it (havent got to grips with it yet), look for a 'Snowball' calculator and input your debts into that....should give you a DF date, and give you some clarity on yout individual debts!!

Dr.Lou

http://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx

Found one there! - not sure if its the best one but worth a go!

CAFCGirl

That was great thanks
I've just plugged in my 4 main debts, only to realise my intentions would have been ill-advised should we say. I've got a relatively small debt £250 on one card, but yet its got the highest interest rate of them all, but yet I've left that one pretty much well alone but it seem insignificant compared to the others.

Hopefully be end of week I can transfer my CC balance over.Quick question, if I want to trasnfer the balance do I ring my new cc company or the old one?

Another quick question, is it possible to cancel PPI against a loan? I can't find anything in my terms and conditions relating to it other than within 30 days of opening I can cancel it and get my money back.

lynzpower

depedns what car you have CAFcgirl.
I have a 0% card with egg and I just transferrred the balance of the other cards to that my typing the other cards number in.

Is there any chance you could do a car boot? ( yes im obsessed with boots at the mo, my ever increasing pile of stuff...) Im guessing even £50 from one of those out your ebay boxes will feel like you are physically SEEING your 4efforts. I cant wait to do mine as much of my debt figures dont involve ACTUAL CASh. its all figures on webistes, and i feel a real hard cash moment will buck me up no end!!

Dr.Lou

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=117175

Just had a look about the PPI, there is a whole thread here!

I'm also planning to do a carboot too...amazing how much junk you collect over the years!!

Also CAFCgirl, you know the earings you bought for £18, if you haven't worn them, can you keep them for a b-day present for your mum, sis or friend? - saves you buying one at the time!