Debt Diary of Nerd #100

bethom

I have no idea what to write in here, I am sure it will come to me as I go along tho!!

As a few of you know I can't exactly post anything too personal at the moment as the OH is a member here and he went up the wall at the idea of me posting our debt so publically.

Well yesterday was the mother of all wake up calls for us, we found we have a considerable amount more going out than what we have going in.

We have made a start on trying to cut our outgoings by so far;

cutting our sky package ~ we had the full package but I don't even watch telly anymore!!

Changing our gas and electric suppliers ~ We have saved quite a fair bit by doing this.

I managed to half our weekly shopping bill from £100 per week to £50 per week ~ Will see if I can get it lower still tho.

I am also going to be selling off anything I can from the house on ebay that we don't need to pay off the cc's. Also gonna look at trying to switch them too for a lower interest rate one or two.

We have an Egg, a HSBC gold card, and an Amex platinum. I don't know any of the apr's on them I'm afraid.

Largest amount is on the HSBC gold card, then the Egg is next followed by the smallest on the Amex Platinum.

We also have a bank loan, which I would presume is a HSBC one again. That is the biggest of all our debts, well apart from our mortgage.

One thing we need to work on is the smoking. I am working on trying to give up at the mo as we have a hefty amount going out on cigarettes. Think OH will be thinking about it soon too.

We have money going out on mobiles and in a couple of month's one will be gone and one will be considerably reduced. So that will be a bit of a relief too.

This is going to be hard, but I ain't gonna let our ship go down without a flippin' good fight!!

GreyPilgrim

Hey Bethom. I'll give you my standard "Have you tried Allen Carrs" Easy Way To Quit Smoking" book yet?

lynzpower

are you on commission from Alan Carr, Grey PIlgrim ?

Nah, only messin' smoking is a dead waste of money make no mistake

If your OH isnt happy with your ins and outs posted for all to see, do have a nose round others SOAs to get a feel of the advice thats offered. However, of course an SOA will give you specific advice to your situation.

Welcome

southernscouser

Hey beffy!

Here's some more things that might help.

1) Do you pay a fee to have your bank account. Quite often it's £10 a month for a "gold" account or some crap! If so just downgrade to the normal account.

2) Get your stautory credit reports from Equifax and Experian. Check that any old CC's or anything are closed. They should be marked "settled". If not phone the companies up and get them to close them. This will make your credit rating healthier which will help later on. In fact, check Martins Tips Email this week as he shows the loophole to get them free. Just remember to cancel them! :eek:

3) Can you change broadband providers to get it cheaper?

4) Start a spending diary. Its great to work out where those extra pounds are going.

5) Cancel any magazine subscriptions you might have.

6) Shop around on all insurances. Motor, house, life!

7) Do you use quidco at all?

8) Do you use internet banking? If not sign up. It's a great way of keeping track of all your money.

9) Have a look at this site. It tells you in what order to pay off your debts (basically highest APR first) and gives you a debt free date which is great to work towards.

10) Check that you are getting all the benefits, tax credits, that you should be! Looky here!


That should keep even you quiet for a little while!

GreyPilgrim

lynzpower wrote:

are you on commission from Alan Carr, Grey PIlgrim ?

heheh, I WISH!!! It's just frustrating to have struggled for years to quit, then to find a way to make it 100% easier, and then have to sit by whilst others struggle to do it the hard way!

But I know it's getting tedious now. Promise to shut up about Allen Carr.:o

bethom

Greypilgrim you can tell me about Allen Carr, I am all ears. I havn't heard of him, but if it is any good I am willing to give it a go!!

bethom

lynzpower wrote:

are you on commission from Alan Carr, Grey PIlgrim ?

Nah, only messin' smoking is a dead waste of money make no mistake

If your OH isnt happy with your ins and outs posted for all to see, do have a nose round others SOAs to get a feel of the advice thats offered. However, of course an SOA will give you specific advice to your situation.

Welcome

Hiya lynzpower and thankyou for the welcome!!

I can quite agree with ya about the smoking, so wish I hadn't started again. :doh:

I will have a good nose about and see what else we can come up with, I am hopeful that he will let me post it one day tho. Think he is just embarrassed that we have got into this mess, sure he will settle down after a while!!

krisskross

Hi Bethom

I also gave up smoking using the Allen Carr book...went from 30 a day to zero the day I finished the book. Have no idea how it works really but it HAS worked for so many people. I did it over 2 years ago, won't pretend I haven't occasionally fancied a ciggie but I feel I am like an alcoholic. One cigarette today will be 20 tomorrow. I believe addicts will always be addicts.

The book is called Allen Carr's Easyway to stop smoking.

bethom

southernscouser wrote:

Hey beffy!

Hiya ss

Here's some more things that might help.

1) Do you pay a fee to have your bank account. Quite often it's £10 a month for a "gold" account or some crap! If so just downgrade to the normal account.

It's not a bank account, it's a gold credit card. We wouldn't pay extra on a bank account. We both bank with HSBC with normal current accounts.

2) Get your stautory credit reports from Equifax and Experian. Check that any old CC's or anything are closed. They should be marked "settled". If not phone the companies up and get them to close them. This will make your credit rating healthier which will help later on. In fact, check Martins Tips Email this week as he shows the loophole to get them free. Just remember to cancel them! :eek:
That is job number one for him tonight!! I think we had one last year and did some checking about, but it dn't hurt to be thorough!!

3) Can you change broadband providers to get it cheaper?
We are gonna be doing that next. We are supposed to be going on talk talk BB, hopefully, lol.

4) Start a spending diary. Its great to work out where those extra pounds are going.

That is a great idea. I can guarantee that most is on cigs tho, lol. Also he eats out everyday while working. He is a fusspot where his food is concerned. Will have to train him outta that!!

5) Cancel any magazine subscriptions you might have.

No none of those, waste of money them!!

6) Shop around on all insurances. Motor, house, life!

Always do, spend a week doin it before renewal on all of them getting the best deal!! Yey does that make us not too bad now??

7) Do you use quidco at all?

Errr no, should I??

8) Do you use internet banking? If not sign up. It's a great way of keeping track of all your money.

No tried to get it sorted so I can internet bank and the hopeless so and so's still ain't sent me me security number. Must get on to them!!

9) Have a look at this site. It tells you in what order to pay off your debts (basically highest APR first) and gives you a debt free date which is great to work towards.

I will go through that link with OH as he has all our details, thankyou!!

10) Check that you are getting all the benefits, tax credits, that you should be! Looky here!

Unfortunately yes :rolleyes: But was worth a try!!


That should keep even you quiet for a little while!

Cheeky!! :rotfl:

Thankyou ss, some really helpful stuff there to start us off!! You are great!! xx :kisses3:

bethom

krisskross wrote:

Hi Bethom

I also gave up smoking using the Allen Carr book...went from 30 a day to zero the day I finished the book. Have no idea how it works really but it HAS worked for so many people. I did it over 2 years ago, won't pretend I haven't occasionally fancied a ciggie but I feel I am like an alcoholic. One cigarette today will be 20 tomorrow. I believe addicts will always be addicts.

The book is called Allen Carr's Easyway to stop smoking.

That is so true. I have given up from days to years and still gone back to it.

But I am determined that this time will be for good as it is just burning money that can be put to much better use!!

I think I will get this book as it sounds like it could help me :j

Thankyou krisskross!!

xbox

err....here goes

downgrade the car - use money to pay highest debt
stop smoking - yeah I mean it - 5 fags a day starting tomorrow
Telewest (if you are in area will knock the socks of Sky/talktalk)
Start making packed lunches that he likes - make him WANT them lassie
Mobile phone - you've got to be kidding - please tell me you are on the best possible deal???!!!!
Face facts - you and M have to sort it out - first step is facing it together - no excuse for "not knowing the APR's"
Food bill - can you make that work? Have you done a meal plan?

DESTROY THE CREDIT CARDS NOW - PHONE THEM UP AND SAY PLEASE STOP ME USING MY CARDS

I'm sorry if this comes accross as being very harsh lassie, ya know that I lv's ya!

Will.