would really appreciate 2 minutes of your time folks....

antpugh

no - good idea, but I AM a resident in the UK, only just moved over here so i'm still officially working away and living in the UK!

bargainbetty

Antpugh,

If you have lots of accounts etc open, close everything you can except three - a savings account, an operations account, and a fun account. Have your salary paid into the ops account, and set up all your direct debits from there. Have a fixed amount for fun, and only use that account for socialising. Then your bills tick over nicely and you don't have to think about them.

It will clean up your credit rating too, and enable you to apply for 0% transfer cards - better than any loan rate.

If you are paying for a cleaner, yes, at this point, it's kind of lazy. Spend an evening doing your own cleaning instead of going out spending and it will make a difference.

Do some cooking and save a fortune on food too. Invite all your mates over for a dinner party - if they bring pudding/wine, it makes for a great cheap night!

I would seriously stop buying CDs too. You can download them cheaply, and it's a hell of a lot less to store. If you buy two or three a month, do you still listen to all of them? Can you flog a load on Ebay to free up some cash?

The point on consolidation loans is this - not only do they often end up being more expensive than credit-card tarting, they don't encourage you to develop good spending habits. I got one at 23, and then another at 27. I Still have debts, 'cos you just say 'ooh look more disposable income' and spend it on !!!!!! again.

I'm six months on from my lightbulb moment so far, and am gradually breaking 31 years worth of habits! I will never be in this much debt again. Don't get caught in that cycle too - it's awful!!

Good luck x

antpugh

Thankyou for your comments - they are all realy helpful.

One point though for anyone to help with - isn't cutting up credit cards a bad idea purely for the fact that when you call up the companies or log on, they ask for the 16 digit number?

Would love to cut them all up I tell you!

Little_Miss_Winner

when you call up the companies or log on, they ask for the 16 digit number?

It should be on your statement everything you need to know. Apart from the 3 digits on the sig strip. But do they ever ask this? - Not sure?

antpugh

right I done it!! I've just cut up 4 cards - have 4 left that I use and need to keep though.

Can't wait until I've got just the one.