What are you doing NEW to pay off all your debt?

rictus123

I keep and stick to a strict spending diary/budget. How amazing il feel when debt free and got my own money i know myself i cant wait so im working hard to get there taking on as much work as i can.

hattiefats

making my own lunch to take to work and putting my cigarette cash into an isa!

AfterDark

Since November when I finally added up my debts and decided to take control. I've

• cut up all credit cards... Payed off and Moved the debt on them to a low rate loan.
• Stopped smoking to save cash
• Started a spend diary and now do a meal planner for my household shop
• Started leaving the car when possible and walking places if there not to far. To save on petrol.
• Changed Phone provider to get a better deal for less

All really minor changes but I'm starting to notice a drastic change in the money left over at the end of the month, Determined to clear all debt within 3 years. :beer:

La_escocesa

I've not done this yet, so maybe I shouldn't be posting, but have you heard of futureme.org? You can send yourself an email at a future date. I plan to email myself my estimations of how much debt I should have paid off by my birthday next year (£3.5k) and see how I go. Just a bit more motivation!

nicnacnoo

La_escocesa wrote: »

I've not done this yet, so maybe I shouldn't be posting, but have you heard of futureme.org? You can send yourself an email at a future date. I plan to email myself my estimations of how much debt I should have paid off by my birthday next year (£3.5k) and see how I go. Just a bit more motivation!

what a brilliant idea, just got the website up now, cool!:T

loose_sheckles

StrawberryYogurt wrote: »

A lot of times with debt comes depression of different levels which can eat away at you so that you have no motivation to do anything as "whats the point? still going to be in the same carp tomorrow" kind of thing...

Really good point. I'm reading a really good book called 'Detox Your Finances' by Justine Trueman (from the library so no cost:)) . It is mainly focused on women but actually the first half is really good. It helps you understand WHY you get in to debt, how you psychologically view money. For example one of my big expenditures was always on clothes, shoes and make up which I NEEDED despite having a full wardrobe. I have literally spent thousands on this and on average last year spent £300 per month (which was WELL beyond my means).

This book helped me to realise that the reaosn I binge-buy is when I'm feeling down (you can spend time working out when and why that is - not feeling in control of your job, difficulties in a relationship, etc, etc). So actually the challenge for me is to feel better about myself - then I won't feel the need to binge-buy so often and that will help me get out of debt.

It's a different approach but one you may find useful...

Intergalactic_Floozie

I'm sticking to a budget (well, it's something new to me LOL) and doing mystery shopping again,

MoodyBlues

Walking to work from the station (and back again).
Packed lunches.
Small budget for any extras in week.
Free money from Halifax bank accounts

I would consider ebay etc but I know what I'm like so probably wouldn't get round to doing it.

true27

tedsd wrote: »

Hi True27,

just seen your post on here, where do you buy the car tax stamps from? May be brave and do that myself.

Hiya Ted,

Fancy seeing you here

I get them from the Post Office, they call them savings stamps and they are £5 each so I usually (instruct OH, but it WILL be me next time )to buy them on payday and stick them on my card (also from the PO). Makes car tax time a lot less painful esp with a car in the higher tax bracket! HTH

gilligansyle

Nothing new but really helping.

• paying something each day - PAD is addictive
• setting a budget and sticking to it
• keeping a spending diary - and being honest

Also I bank with Natwest and they have a goal setting thing, so use that to keep me on track.