sillybillyme.....plastic is not fantastic!!!!!!

sillybillyme

hi all
i hope you dont mind me joining but i am a single mummy to 2 boys and i have 2 credit cards that i would love to clear asap!!! im looking for work at the moment so im recievein ctc, income support and child benefit. i would love to knuckle down and clear these debts so i can focus on finding a new job without stressing about money!! :mad:

i want to join the payment a day thread and will add debt in my sig so i can see it coming down hopefully!!!!

so here is my cc debt

asda cc £1232,65
hsbc cc £1549,95

im hoping to have the credit cards paid off and cancelled by the end of 2010 if not earlier.
i will be keeping this diary to remind me how far i have come as i know if i really knuckle down i can do this :cool:

well today being the first day of my debt busting i will check online bank to get an exact amount i owe on the hsbc cc.
i have also got to pick up a prescription for ds1 this afternoon (he is off school and driving me insane!!! :rotfl:)
not up to much else today as eldest off school and it is cold outside so will probably be back to update later inbetween nosing at other peoples diaries!!!!

xxx

yummymommy

Welcome sbm.

Well you've come to the right place. Lots of support, ideas and advice here.

I have only just started my debt diary but am finding that taking a little bit of information or looking at one thing at a time works for me.

Good luck:beer:

sillybillyme

hi yummymommy

thanks for your reply.
i have up credit card figure so i can now crack on with sorting my finances out!!

i have recieved a refund today of £35.00 for a jacket i didnt want to keep so that can go straight towards a credit card when it shows up in my bank. :T

quick question should i focus on 1 credit card first and pay larger amounts to just one or should i pay amounts off equally on each card? hope that makes sense!!! :cool:

xxx

sillybillyme

been having a good look around the debt free diaries and some are so inspirational just shows it can be done!!! :T

bathed kids and they are in bed now so sitting down with a glass of wine (only 1 glass as im the worlds worst drinker!!! )

going to start my payment a day tomorrow as i get my child benefit then so know how much i have to play with!!

looking forward to conquering this debt :cool:

xxx

yummymommy

Hi SBM

Focus on the credit card with the largest interest rate (apr), first. (not necessarily the largest amount). This way the quicker you pay it off the more money you save. Then focus on the next one with the next largest interest rate etc.

This can be illustrated by the snowball calculator. Look it up in the search engine. If not I will try and find it for you.

I have an A4 diary, (bought cheaply of course). I use this as a spending diary. So i go through the diary about two months in advance and enter any direct debits, bills, dd's dance money or dinner money etc. I also include any present buying, petrol, food. Every day I tick off what has gone through the bank and add to it if I need to. (sad I know - possibly obsessed!). I also have a section for a to do list, balances and any notes. Notes could be tips that you've picked up from the forums, or websites that you want to look at , books to read etc etc. I can flick through my diary a couple of months in advance and roughly know what I will be spending. There's always going to be extra stuff coming along. (Like an £85 dentist bill:mad:that I had on Friday). This is my way of feeling in control. I also note any cashback etc etc.

I also look at the freebies forum. :T

Hope this helps x

beanielou

Hope it goes well for you.
You seem very positive
Concentrate on CC with highest interest first.

sillybillyme

hi all thanks for your replies my asda cc has the highest interest rate so will tackle that one first, thanks for the advice

been busy today as ds1 had 2 friends over for dinner tonight so have been clearing up for the last hour!!!

im going to have a look at how much the min payment on my asda card this month is and i will pay that tonight then whatever i can afford to pay each day is a bonus!!

im going to try and have a NSD tomorrow as im sure i dont need anything so i will make sure i dont just pop in the shop to buy rubbish i dont need!! :T

so off to make my pad to asda cc then im going to sit down and enter loads of comps and look forward to the posman bringing me all my wins!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!! (a girl can dream cant she!!) :rotfl:

sillybillyme

have not been on here as ds1 has had ear infection, i paid my min payments to my credit cards today as they are due next week. i will definatly start my pad tomorrow it wont be much but every little helps i suppose!!

i will update my balances when i recieve next months statements as otherwise it is to confusing!!:o

forgot to add my catalogue debt which currently stands at a huge £35.00!
i will add that to my sig too so i dont feel like im hiding something!!:)

yummymommy

Hi SBM

Hope DS1 has recovered now. I no how difficult how it is to juggle normally let alone when they're ill.

Keep up the good work :T