The Ultimate Incentive proposed! Time for an ultimate challenge...

Tete_en_l'Air

I'd feel the same as you Birdie, I wouldn't want to lumber him with debt that's not his. Will you be getting any Christmas money do you think? Could you try and use that as your treats spends for Jan and Feb - clothes and things - and throw more of your wages at the debt? Have you ever done a spending diary or SOA?

Birdie85

I've tried to keep a spending diary but I'm no good at keeping up to date with it! I tell you, I'm useless! Must try harder! When I do write down what I spend it does make me stop and think before I buy anything though so it does actually stop me frittering so much on silly things! I wouldn't even know where to start with a SOA, OH set up all of the household bills and such, I'm ashamed to say I haven't a clue how much things cost!

Tete_en_l'Air

Gasp, Birdie I'm shocked at you! You're the one on the MSE forums and yet your OH's in charge of the money!! Yes you are definitely useless hehe!!

Dinah93

Found a new house option this morning. Its not such a long term option as the one we've been looking at, but it'd be a nice starter house for 3 or 4 years. Village is nice, not as nice, but no complaints. The morgage would be around £500, so should be able to make overpayments, and afford it easily in any case. Downside is it has a very small garden, no garage, and only a small kitchen/diner. Upside is it would be quick to clean, its 3 bedrooms plus an attic room, and its in a condition we could move into with only a bit of decorating to do.

Birdie85

I know! He is a follower of the Church of Martin though so he does OK at the MSEing but he doesn't post on here, he's not really into message boards unless it's the BBC sport one! And his frugality has come about through painful experience and he's desperate to not get into that dreaded spiral again!

Birdie85

House sounds OK Dinah but I'm not feeling too much exictement from you I have to say. It seems very OK... but you have to love your home, even if it is a starter house. I'd think that you'd need a big kitchen too!

Dinah93

Well I've looked at a lot of houses and its in the top 1% of what we want really otherwise I wouldn't mention it. No you're right, I'm not as bowled over as I am by the one we've been trying to offer on for the last two months. I love the attic room, but the garden is tiny, bedrooms are small (big enough though), without a garage where would we store Christmas decorations, and the kitchen is small for a combined kitchen diner, and I still couldn't do the cake business from home as there is no utilty or anything for cat food/litter. BUT for a few years its a sensible purchase, could overpay the morgage and be in a much better position in 5 years to buy a family house.

Cinny91

Dinah93 wrote: »

BUT for a few years its a sensible purchase, could overpay the morgage and be in a much better position in 5 years to buy a family house.

I suppose that's what you've got to think of. With the 3 bedrooms couldn't you set one up as like a craft/storage room? Somewhere to do all your painting sewing ect but with a little part cornered off with Screen dividers (so it looks pretty!) that you can put all your christmas bits, suitcases ect behind?? This is my idea for when me and OH move out - top thing we'll be able to afford is a 2 bedroomed place so we'd need to make the space work for us.

Birdie85 wrote: »

I'm not sure I could go 4 months without buying any clothes...

Dont put it like that! :eek: I'm scared now!
Trying to think of some ideas to help with your debt busting! You could set yourself some more short term goals? Like getting your CC1 to £750 before the New Year, then to £600 by the end of January? When I was clearing my CC I found it was better to give myself shorter easily achievable goals as it kepted me focused and gives you a nice boost when you're meeting your target! Hope that makes sense anyways!

Dinah93

Wouldn't need to Cinny, the attic room would be more than big enough for a craft room, then could use the 3 bedrooms as 2 bedrooms and a study. Guess if we chose the right bed we could store them under the guest room bed.

Birdie85

Cinny91 wrote: »

Trying to think of some ideas to help with your debt busting! You could set yourself some more short term goals? Like getting your CC1 to £750 before the New Year, then to £600 by the end of January? When I was clearing my CC I found it was better to give myself shorter easily achievable goals as it kepted me focused and gives you a nice boost when you're meeting your target! Hope that makes sense anyways!

Good idea Miss Cinny! I'm very much a short term goal person as I have a really short attention span so maybe if I did take it in small steps I'd find it easier to tackle! I'll figure out where I am with things and set myself a target, probably for February as January is always a terrible month money wise thanks to the Christmas hangover! Luckily this year we're getting paid on the normal date (this Friday, can't wait!) but usually we get paid a week early so it means that January is really lean because it's 5 weeks until we get paid again and everyone forgets to budget for it! :rolleyes: