In a bit of a mess...

lynsayjane

right am new to the debt thing so i'm not much use with that, i tend to find excuses not to cut back, i'm a typical libran and desire luxuries.

my help is better with your weight gain. i joined a local chat forum and got talkin to quite a few of them on msn, i find that sitting on here chatting to them not only increases your social circle which as a single mum i'd imagine is a bit wee (i was raised by one and know what it's like) but it also helps you forget to eat cause your wee fingers are busy typing it's a win win situation.

dazzanator

hi dont worry about sky we have it to and to be honest if we didnt have it we would spend more on dvd rentals and going out so in a strange way it saves us money but when your out of contract phone them up say you want to cancle they will do youy a good deal i done this and iam paying 1075 per month for six months for sky plus and 4 mix and match chanles

i am much like you snack out of bordom spend more money than i need to when i just needed milk i am trying to get out of these habbits myself i must adimt its been a big help that our only suppermarket has brunt to the ground last week but my adivce to you is if you only need milk or bread buy it from the corner shop instead it is a bit dearer but you dont buy anything else so it works out cheeper if that makes any sence

also i think i could buy that cake choclate bar top ect or i could save the money and buy a hoilday new sofa ect it helps me knowing i have a choice as as soon as i cant have it thats it i want it and it hunts me till i buy it

good luck with it all i like you am in the early stages of this do a spending dairy that what i did and i was amazzed that i spent 160.00 on food in a week i have cut this down to 110.00 this week and am looking to cut it down futher but already i have saved 50 pound to go in the bank for a hoilday latter this year which i truely thought was out of our reach

In_Search_Of_Me

Just to say welcome...sounds like you've had some good advice, as always. The spending diary works for me best as helps me keep track...I didnt fill it in for 2 days & went a bit OFF the rails so back on now but cocked the budget up so cutting back - helps to know where you're at! Big hugs and just take it a step at a time! Old habits die hard but you will look back in 6 months & see how much you've changed!

Littlemiss-lotsofdebt

Just wanted to add my welcome and suggest that you look at the Old Style Board if you haven't already? You will receive some great advice on food shopping and cooking on a budget and you'll wonder how you managed without them!

PeachPickle

I can definitely recommend the spending diary. I've had one for a week now and I've spent half of what I usually do and I even feel guilty about that with it written down! It has helped me

sbelle_2

Thank you all so much, just knowing that there are people who have been through the same sort of thing and have come out the other side and are happy to share their experiences and tips is so lovely.

My credit cards are

Nationwide £1393.16 16.9%

Halifax £601.89 0% until feb 2007 then 19.94%

overdraft £1600.00 With Nationwide 0.585% per month

Have been using NW card but halifax was purely to transfer a balance back in Feb.

This has £100 space should I transfer that much from NW to max it out as it's interest free?

Must be strong and not use the nw card anymore!!!

Will definetly start a notebook spending diary...

I'm scared of how much money it will show me I waste each day.

Cheers to everyone :beer: will hopefully sleep a little easier tonight.

lynzpower

Few things Ill chuck in from me

Rent 625.00
Water 26.00
Council Tax 80.00 - do you get single persons discount, if you have kids? I dunno but migtht be worth a phone call? if you havent already
Car ins 18.62
Sky 36.00 ( discussed!)
Electricity 19.00
Gas 19.00
TV License 11.50
Phone & Broadband 35.00 ( this can be done much cheaper, by having a BT line rental only, then another b/b/package eg, tesco value @ £15, Have a look at cxall carriers for your call, i have primus 2 ( evenings & weekends to Landlines 1.5 hours- FREE PACKAGE) and I paid 4.21 on calls ( ie daytime & international) at thier rates -obv cheap!) so by doing this you can save a tenner a month
Mobile 25.00 ( again this is quite high could you reduce)
Petrol 55.00
cc 100.00

And thats it from me!

southernscouser

sbelle wrote:

This has £100 space should I transfer that much from NW to max it out as it's interest free?


I'm scared of how much money it will show me I waste each day.

As long as you can still transfer a balance at 0%. Check first though as sometimes the introductory period is only for a month or so. Also check whether they charge a fee although for what will probably be £2.50 it will still be worth it.

Don't be scared. Be happy that you are going to be enlightened as to where you could save hundreds of pounds a year!

sammy115

I am just reading a book recommended on here called the 'automatic millionaire'. It mentions the 'Latte factor' (American) which means that we have habits of spending money on little things every day - like a latte - which add up to a lot of money over a period of time, and it is these things we should be careful of. Not the big things we spend money on - although they do count too.

On doing my spending diary I realise I have a pinot grigrio and a mars bar factor. Although not both at the same time. LOL!

Good luck with your spending diary, scarey but v helpful