Advice please for a debt free novice

seven-day-weekend

msmicawber wrote:

Thank you, too, wbmf.

The getting out of debt thing hasn't sunk in yet I don't think - I thought I'd be dancing in the street, but I feel sort of vague about it.

Actually, selling things on Ebay's one of those things I haven't had the guts to do yet. I have a large sofa that I need to sell, but don't know if it's the right sort of thing to put on there (a friend of mine told me that people have a tendency to overbid on Ebay, so she thought I'd make more money than advertising in the local paper - does that sound right?) With smaller items I wonder if it's really cost effective once you've paid for postage (or does the buyer pay for that on top?)

The buyer pays for the postage on EBay, and with a large item like a sofa you could advertise it as collection only and ask to be paid in cash when they arrive to collect it. Have a receipt ready with 'sold as seen' on it, and a copy for yourself, and both you and the buyer sign it.

seven-day-weekend

Congratulations on your debt-free status, by the way!

Annie_Fanny

Hey there!

Well done on your debt free status! Woo hoo!

"I’m a single mum without friends nearby..."
How about going about making some new friends? A night class? Sport club? Now that you are debt free it is important for you to stop neglecting those areas of your life that got cut back in order to be debt free.

"The getting out of debt thing hasn't sunk in yet I don't think - I thought I'd be dancing in the street, but I feel sort of vague about it."
I think those feelings are natural but I think ecstacy and realisation will kick in soon! I think you should celebrate your achievement as it is important to recognise big events and to be blunt YOU DESERVE A HUGE PAT ON THE BACK! Maybe you could buy yourself a nice outfit?

Another site to look at is https://www.quidco.co.uk were you can earn cash back for purchases, i.e. I ordered some train tickets and got about £5 cash back. Every little bit helps! Also you can open some new accounts through them as well and get cash back and the initial incentive. I think First Direct, Alliance and Leicester, and Lloyds offer £50 incentives (I may be a little out of date with this info though!) Basically open the account, pay in the stated amount for a couple of months, earn the £50 and then close! I have done that for both First Direct and A&L! What a good little money saver I am!

Good luck!

Annie
Xx

dancingfairy

Studenty type stuff coming up:

Student loan?- for uni
Student bank account? - Natwest is pretty good for uni one's - shop around ! and they have the highest interest free overdraft for me currently - also get a 5 year railcard. If you don't need overdraft whack it into savings account and make a bit of spare cash -o.k not a mint but I'm making a bit I know.
NUS Extra card- £10 has lots of different discounts saving x% off this, that or the other -not too sure about how it's different from normal NUS card and why you have to pay but will find out soon I guess.
Student gym- ours is £70 a year and all classes etc are free/ free gym use then etc for a year.
Check out whether you Students Union has a weekly fruit and veg market - ours does so that useful.
Student railcard?
Student buspass? - our uni subsidises them as well and they work out about £3 a week.
Tesco's evening when bread etc is reduced. Same with Sainsburys I think.
Also try Sundays 1 hour before closing time - Tesco's used to sell of fish/meat/cheese etc quite cheaply - check.
Orange Wednesday's - 2 for 1 - good for seing films cheaply with your new found friends which I'm sure you'll meet on your course.

I'll try and think of some money saving ideas for you.