Thats another fine mess I got myself into

REDMADCURLS

GGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR - just lost my post

Fayei, Moo and BTD thanks so much for the posts - it is so good to know that someone can relate to my mad rantings!!!

Moo - are ebay giving free listings every weekend or just this weekend? I did ebay last year and sold all my best 'tat' but as you say I am sure/know I have more to get rid of that someone will hopefully pay a few pennies for!

When I am debt free, I am going to Nectar Island and telling Richard Branson I want the island I paid for back! 29% interest on the cc now - robbing B'tard! (it is of no consequence to me that he sold cc company to MBNA) So all from ebay to to the anti Richard fund ( from now on known as the ARF)

Re Fags - today bought 10 - for the first time in 20 years I am sure. I am conciously trying to think about how much I smoke a) for my health and b) for my purse!

I KNOW we spend too much on food - terrible folks for running over to the local shop - havent been in a major supermarket since Xmas. We should have enough in freezer until payday and after that I will do a meal plan for the next month and shop accordingly - seems to have worked for many on here.

So far this week I have spent £38.36 - £20 of which was for diesel - but I do get travel expenses which covers most fuel (well I assumed it does, now that I am keeping a spending diary I will know just how much I make.) Unfortunately I have a 50 mile round trip to work so fuel is a major 'up front' expense but I do get 48p per business mile so I am pretty sure it covers all my expenditure. I did buy 3 x lucky dips for the wed/fri/sat lottery - a girl can dream! Strick MSN'ers wont be so frivilous I know.

So just as soon as Emmerdale over - up to start photographing for ebay.

BTD - I just hope the public keep me in cuz I have a real good skint sob story LOL

BILLIE

Hiya RMC - just want to say good luck - the support you get on these threads does keep you going. I wrote to cc's about reducing payments/freezing interest. Tesco and M&S have been very supportive one of the big banks have been very unhelpful. But I would say write you never know. I can sympathise with you - debt is a horrible place to be and one day, yes one day we will all be debt free. I have had my lightbulb moment, but I can't yet face putting my SOA up but I am working on it just as you are. Take care Billie xx

lizguil

Hi RMC.Well done on taking the time to work out where you are with things; it's an obvious thing to say, but you can only start to take the right action now you know what you're up against. My theory (for what it's worth) is that it's done now, the money's spent but you've faced up to this and can move forward now.

I'm with you on the idea to cut the pet insurance! I made the decision to cancel our policy when our lab was about 2 years old. She was ill and we paid cash for treatment, although we could have claimed. We didn't coz we thought things might get worse (her back legs kept dislocating) and when I read the small print it said you couldn't claim for a condition twice. Anyway, the point I wanted to make was that by this time I'd worked out how much £ I had given the insurance company. If I'd put the same amount in a savings account we could have sorted treatment and still had £ left for dog food! Maybe it's worth cancelling the policy and putting half or £10 to one side per month to contribute to treatment if you ever needed it? At least this way you'll be making some saving.

Wish you loads of luck on your journey - you sound determined so I think you can do it!

REDMADCURLS

BILLIE wrote: »

Hiya RMC - just want to say good luck - the support you get on these threads does keep you going. I wrote to cc's about reducing payments/freezing interest. Tesco and M&S have been very supportive one of the big banks have been very unhelpful. But I would say write you never know. I can sympathise with you - debt is a horrible place to be and one day, yes one day we will all be debt free. I have had my lightbulb moment, but I can't yet face putting my SOA up but I am working on it just as you are. Take care Billie xx

Hi Billie - when you wrote to cc companies a) what did you say (lol - always looking for that template letter ) and b) did they put a default on your credit score - not so sure I should worry about this since I have had several missed payments and its probably already sh*t

REDMADCURLS

Liz - thanks for the reply - my dog is 16 and I just don't think it would be fair on her to 'treat' her - I really dont mean to sound selfish or uncaring as DH is making me out to be.

LOL at putting £10 away - I can't save 10p, which is why I am in this mess. Need to learn to be a super saver as soon as! I wouldn't trust myself not to dip into it

REDMADCURLS

Well today just some ciggies - £5.15. My aunt has got medication from GP that helped her quit a 40 a day habit so I have to make an appt and talk to him about that!

Mentioned in work today that I owe Richard Branson - its ONLY £3000, which as you folks know, cuz you are the only people who do know how much we owe. Well our secretary started giving a lecture about paying full credit card bill each month and if I did I wouldn't have to pay interest - duh!!!!!!!! She went on and on and on (if only she knew)
My boss, in an attempt to change the subject, cuz she could see me getting pee'd off, that she was scared to ever have a credit card cuz she would max it out!!!! Anyway, threw secretary out the window (well in my mind I did) and that soon shut her up (in reality I just went to make some tea)

Took lunch to work so no spends there!

Put some CD's on Amazon and Ebay and sold some to Music Magpie.

Real struggle now until payday - 2 cards missed payments this month so need to get this sorted but food in cupboard should do us, so thats a bonus! But did start looking thru mysupermarket.co.uk for bargins in tesco,etc so I am a ready to rock and roll next week!

DH even beginning to think like a follower of the bible according to St Martin of the Money Savers

Cheap weekend ahead, off to best friends tomorrow night (she has no idea about my debt but is the best money manager ever, because she has to be) so I bring my own bottle etc and no additional cost to either of us

PS Stacey - who would have believed it!

fayei

Your cc's etc should come to an agreement with you, when i lost my job i incurred charges so i called my creditors and put a temp plan in place. Some gave me 3 or 4 months at a reduced rate without interest and also agreed if i missed or was late with a payment within this 3 / 4 month period i wouldnt be charged!
It really helped me, and if i had extra money, i paid it!

I think your food planning will really save you some money, use up whats in your freezer before you re-stock, and check your cuboards for shampoo etc, i did and have enough probs till may!!!! :rotfl:

REDMADCURLS

Thanks Fayei! And yes I know what you mean about the shampoo mountain. I decided in November only to buy what toiletries/make-up I actually ran out of rather than the usual 'oh that looks nice' and my God I think I saved a fortune - I had so many samples of stuff and I asked for moisturiser and foundation for Xmas pressies as they are the most expensive items.

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi RMC we cancelled out pet insurance as it doubled when we claimed!!! God forbid if anything happend we would have to borrow the money but i felt agrieved to spend £23 per month! The plan was i would save this seperatly but i cannot lie i have not continued with this!!!
Dont worry about otherpeoples non debts just ignore them!!x

REDMADCURLS

A poorly motivated day - started to clear out clothes for Ebay - God I dread the thought of the photographing and listing but the biggest motivator - a statement from my mate Richard.

Didn't pay him last month so £12 to Neckar Island reclaim and a marvellous 201.91 to pay by March 04!!! Ok so in a little challenge to myself - £300 to Richardo in March - now I know I said I would pay minimum to them all for a while but this one I find particularly annoying (basically cuz I have paid a fortune in interest over and over again)