Russell's 'New Leaf' Spend Less, Make Money, Pay off Debts Diary

lossed

Hiya rusty, ive just read through your diary well done, you going great guns. Hope I manage to do the same. I found this site in desperation last Monday and have come on leaps and bounds in 7 days ( not reducing debts) but how I feel and plans Ive made. I have now decided to do my own diary

jo x

rustysmart

thanks for the post lossed

I'm sure you'll manage to do even better! This site is amazing and there is so much to look on. Take it a step at a time and explore little bits in more detail. It was through this site that I got in to mystery shopping, although I don't make money from that as it covers expenses. I can thoroughly recommend that along with exploring the cashback websites if you buy things online. Other than that, all the forums are filled with great, supportive people.

Be clear on how much your debt is and then everytime it reduces there is something to celebrate - like my last entry, nothing huge but better than this time last month!! good luck and keep in touch

rustysmart

Finally received my Music Magpie cheque today - think it was due to the postage strike rather than poor service on their part. Oh well, at least it has arrived and that's another £25 to put into my savings! YAY!

rustysmart

Not posted for a while, but I'm very happy to report that my delayed pay rise came through this month so I got 2 months bonus! I need to buy car tax, but at least that won't go on the credit card. I have put £100 in to my savings which is a really nice feeling.

Not much else to report really, just ticking through the debts and weighing up the options ahead! Ideas on a postcard please!!

rustysmart

Been a bit quiet on here of late. Not had the best week this week. Went out with friends a fair bit. Saw Green Day on Tuesday which was amazing, but the food had an 'amazing' price too. Then went to the cinema yesterday - Orange Wednesday so slightly cheaper, but feel I've spent more this week than I need to!

On the plus side, I can confirm that I did not put my car tax on my credit card, I did put £100 in to my savings this month and I have sold two books on Amazon totaling just over £5.

Also, quite a nice feeling yesterday - I closed two credit card accounts. Both had nothing on them so it's not like I have paid off a debt, but it felt good to close them. Just got one more to close next week (need to wait for my statement to come through to confirm £0 balance) then I'm a one credit card man!! Ok, that credit card has a hefty balance on it - but it's 0% and I am making all the repayments plus a little extra each month.

rustysmart

cor blimey it's only blimming November tomorrow - that means it's almost Christmas!! This is my first Christmas as a married man! So... time to think of some creative ideas for my new wife. We are both teachers and are very fortunate to get some lovely presents from our classes each year - always so thoughtful and kind. With that in mind though, chocolates and wine are never an option as she'll get those from her children. I always buy her underwear which she loves. But I want to be a bit different this year. And on a budget of course!! She'll say "oh I don't need anything" or similar, but I want her to open some really thoughtful presents this year. So... ideas on a postcard... I know everyone's wife is different, but what has someone done for their wife that proved a success??

Lemon_Tree

hi just found your diary, welcome.
Have you considered using your PAD's against your overdraft? I'm guessing you're paying interest on it, and though you're probably clearing it on pay day it' back up there at the end of the month (i was like that for years), maybe if you challenge yourself to put the first £25 or so against your overdraft you than then reduce it gradually. I started doing this and every 2-3 months reduced the limit by £50 so i couldn't use it again. It helped me get rid of mine and i felt so much better not to be in dread that the bank could withdraw it at any time.
good luck with your journey.

rustysmart

Thanks Lemon Tree for the advice. Great idea which I have thought about doing. I'm with Alliance and Leicester and their overdraft fees are capped at £5 which I'm not paying any more of, but what I am doing is conscientiously trying to be lower each month with my overdraft. I've been a bit of a geek and set up an Excel spreadsheet and it tells me how much I have left to spend at the end of each month - but this is calculated on the previous balance, rather than the overdraft limit. Hope that makes sense. Thanks once again for your advice. Looks like you're doing really well with your journey!! Good luck

rustysmart

Breaking news!! If I have done the maths correctly (and hopefully as a teacher I have!!) I think I can repay one of my loans in full at the start of next month. I'll be using the money from my savings which will mean they'll shrink to £0 which will look pretty gutting, but at the same time I have never paid off a loan before - only ever topped them up with more debt!! Roll on December and hopefully the end of one of my loans!!

rustysmart

Well that's done ... I am now a one credit card man!! Although it wasn't easy!! Just been on the phone to NatWest to close my Gold card and spoke to a lovely lady who transferred me to the loyalty department - that's where the battle began because whoever it was I spoke to, he would just not let me close the account!! Whether it was the "you've been such a loyal customer" line (I've been with them for 18 months - urm, not really that loyal!!), the "I can lower your interest rate" line, or possibly the best one (The guilt trip line) "How are you going to be able to afford Christmas this year". After repeating several times that I wanted to have a spring clean, close the account and remove temptation I was then given the line "shouldn't you keep this card for future use" - uurrrmmm in a word NNNOOOOOO!!! Anyway, as soon as he realised that I was set on my response he then began very rude and raced through his script about cutting the card up etc. How pleasant! Good luck to anyone else wishing to close their account with NatWest, I never had this struggle with Lloyds!!