Around £4k in debt and getting worse

cathybird

hi danmed

don't mean to ask intrusive questions but why are you not willing to budge on the internet expenditure? and do you mind saying who your provider is?

Toomuchdebt

Definitely keep a spending diary and write down absolutely everything that you pay for - it really does help

toontastic

What tariff are you on with t mobile ie how many minutes and texts ? I understand you want the internet people aren't saying get rid of it, they are suggesting you change who you get it from as it's very expensive whoever your with now. And can you split all your utilities up so we can see what your paying as they seem very very expensive for a 1 bedtoom studio apartment.

hels1912

hi, a little tip for the Internet: When I was trying to cut down our package (we're on cable broadband with NTL @ £35 per month), hubby wasn't happy to reduce the speed, so I phoned them up and said that I could now get cheaper broadband with another company, what would you do to keep my custom? (suggested by an MSE-er) They halved my monthly cost
If you're not willing to change the Internet package, it's worth trying this trick maybe!

danmed

HI... to answer the questions..

My main reason for not wanting to change the internet package is because i use it alot and am an internet junkie.. it keeps me off the streets and thus spending more money... i have 10mb from NTL which i am currently paying half price for for thenext 3 months.. @Hels1912 i will definately be trying that one!

All my bills are included in my rent so theres no way i can reduce them unfortunately. the only bill that isnt included is my phone line.. which is why i opted not to get one and just use my mobile.

im on the Flext account that gives you £180 of credit a month for £35.. but when i renewed i got them to give me £200 a month... the price difference between the packages is about £5 but the minutes literally half which would result in me spending more on my bills.

I will start a spending diary as of tomorrow and see where its all going apart from that....

nelly_2

Have you thought about taking on a part time job?

danmed

I do 11 hour days as it is.. i don't really have the time / energy to take on another job unfortunately.

Toomuchdebt

Ok not being rude but if you work such long hours when do you find time to use the internet?Could you not use a 4mb connection instead of 10?Mine is meant to be 8 but my phone line only accepts 4 and it's fine for me and I have my pc on all day every day

Good Luck with the spending diary

bargainbetty

You really don't need 10mb - I know companies that operate five users for less than that!! Seriously, even the most addicted Internet bod could live with 2-4 MB.

It also comes down to a reality we have all had to face at some point - what matters more? Downloading one extra song, or avoiding extending that overdraft again?

I pay £30 per month for Internet, phone line and TV. More effective use of the money really, and I honestly see no real difference.

Good luck x

never_again_2

I appreciate that there are some things that you don't want to compromise on, but the crunch is - something has to give, either you continue to exceed your income each month and increase your debt, or you make sacrifices. It isn't pleasant having to cut back on things - I know. But when it comes down to it, you have to evaluate what's most important - cutting back for a year two years, being debt free and then be able to do the things you want to do, or carry on the way you are and in one/ two years finding that your debts are totally out of control.
At the moment the bank have given you an overdraft, but as this keeps growing each month there will come a time when they won't increase it anymore, and you will fall into the horrible charges cycle, making your situation a lot worse.

Have you looked in to house sharing rather than renting alone? I know you said you can’t get anyone to move in with you because of the size of the flat, but what about looking for someone to move in with?

Can’t you cancel the DD for the Gym?

The Burton store card will probably be APR of something like 29.9%. Can you transfer this balance to 0% card or your Barclay card?