Getting my act together slowly!

redsam

So it was suggest I start my own thread....

Reality hit hard this week, turns out that I have the following debts

1 HP car - £197 pcm - 3 1/2 yrs left
1 Loan - £226 pcm - need to check home much left
1 salary paid student loan - payment depends on take home
1 Over draft - £1450

A&L CC - £15300
Halifax CC - £9300
Egg CC - £6700

I have been making over payments for a while, but havent been overpaying enough to really et the debts down much, and then i stick on car insurance or the odd bit of shoppin when abroad...doesnt really get down.

This week after being off work with viral labyrinthitus I discovered I went onto half pay and I am coming to the end of a contract so have had a few sleepless nights and teary days panicing, as I dont hve a job for september and no guarentee I will get enough supply in september.

So yesterday (friday) started to get my act together.

1. moved utility bill to a cheaper supplier
2. looking at finding cheaper Home & Contacts Isurance
3. Applied for a job which i think they have an internal candidate but at least I have applied.
4. Started to put items on Amazon and sold a board game within 1/2 hour!
5. Started to look for any eve/part time work to boost income.
6. think of little ways to make extra cash - sell stuff, offer baby sitting ( I am CRB checked), create a wheat free recipe collection to sell etc...
7. created a sealed pot/tin for extra cash to save toward debts

Today i will be...going through my wide range of fabulous shoes to ebay which as lovely as they are if I havent worn for ages or if I have similar they can go to wards my debts.

Yesteday through I friend a got a small comission to pain a childrens bedroom mural - not a vast amount of cash but a start and a easy job, they will pay for the materials ontop of time...so thats extra to the debts....

Going to get a Makcro card through a friend to get cleaning products/loo rolls etc when on offer to save cash...already got a Costco card and buy offers.

And yesterday, I made appointment with the GP to try and get signed back onto work so i can come 1/2 pay for the remainder of my contract, that will make me feel so much better

I have read a few different threads and got some really helpful and warming support and ideas. I really like to idea of trying to make a fixed amount every day...so even if a pound from selling my excess eggs veg it will all help. We have an allotment with chickens ( and a bee hive in the garden), need to ensure that we dont waste any veg from the plot and eat, store or sell.

Its going to be really hard being frugal but with people helps and support I can do it! As i dont want to do an IVA or DMP, need to be extra vigilant especialy as dont know what will happen supply wise in september!

I writing this ridiculously early in the morning as woke up with the wind, hail and rain and couldnt get back to sleep but I didnt wake up stressing!

I hope everyone has a good day.

bottleofred

Hi Redsam,

Good luck in getting everything sorted out and eventually becoming debt free.

redsam

Thank you Bottleofred..It wil be slow and painful at times!

horsechestnut

If possible, pay the most money off your debt with the highest interest rate first.
Do you have a Home Bargains shop near you? They are often cheaper than buying from Costco/Makro and you don't have to buy vast amounts. If you do, see the H&B thread for their latest offers.
If you do need to buy things, go through Quidco or other cash back sites.
Don't forget surveys. Again, check the threads. It depends on your family set-up which are the best for you, but the vouchers are always very helpful when you do need to actually buy something new!
Good luck.

redsam

Hiya Horsechestnut

Thank you for your advice, I dont mind buying in bulk and stashing in the roof as that way I wont be going to the shops as often and therefore avoid temptation! I have signed onto Quidco and looking at other sites too. Last years i signed up for surveys but it seems I am not the type of person they want , but vouchers are the way forward too.

So do you think pay the minimum on the CC with the lowest rate and overpay in the one with the highest interest?

andrea1968_2

Spot on, throw every penny you can at the card with the highest interest and you'll soon see the benefits.

Use the snowball calculator to show you where you should be allocating the payments.

Good luck

PNPSUKNET

Thats really good, dont bother with makro, they prices are not even as cheap as shops most the time

redsam

I will use the calculator and check prices against Makro.

Ta all

redsam

I went to the sunday morning fruit and veg market this morning...didnt spend very much £6 in total, and i only bought veg l'm not growing on the allotment and stuff i can slice and freeze so there is minimal wastage and a little persistance created a different way to eat courgettes last night...all this rain they are growing like monsters over night! To night will be another version of courgettes! AND sold another gam on Amazon last night yay!