My turn

all_hours

Bubblewrap wrote:

Luckily they dont have council tax over here and car running costs I havnt yet budgeted for. TV licence is paid in advance so wont need to pay that again until June 2007. Unfortunataly im tied into sky for 12 months so im reducing the package rather than getting rid im trying to downgrade from £37 to £18

You still need to include the TV in your budget. You need to include all annual and irregular expenses - divide by 12 to get a monthly amount.

If you don't account for everything when the time comes to pay you'll put it on a card or the overdraft and as it's not accounted for how will you make the extra card payment?

black-saturn

Where on earth do you live for the rent to be so high?

lynzpower

hes already siad he lives in Jersey and theres a specific way that housing is distributed in jersey

Bubblewrap_2

Can i just say a big thankyou to this site and all those on it, i already feel that im very slowly changing my life around! After reading one of the sites about credit cards i rang my egg card and they offered to change my 16.9% to 5.9% for the life of the balance what a big difference, they also said that if i transfer any others then that will also be 5.9% for the life. I know its still an interest but hey better than nothing at all. Im still going to try for another 0% transfer but if i dont get it im already in a better position. Im still far away from getting out of it but with the advice on here and things ive already changed because of this site im already feeling better.

In the last week the things ive changed are....
1. Im now using a spending diary which i find is stopping me from spending on useless items.
2. Ive stopped buying lunch at work, as i live just across the road im now coming home and eating here saving at least £70 per month.
3. I spoke with friends last night and we have agreed to more nights in with movie and bottle of wine rather then go out on the razz! (that wont completely stop as you need it once in a while but not as often)

P.S Lynzpower thanks for your input and also im a she! :~)

flowerofscotland

Bubblewrap wrote:

Climbgirl i know it sounds like an excuse about the spare room and in someways it is i would like to leave that as the total last resort only because being so far from family and friends i so look forward to them coming over, i do miss them terribly and i cant see them coming as much if they have to pay for a hotel! Also i havnt lived on my own for such a long time and im really enjoying it so far, if there is anyway out of it without doing that then i really would like to try that first! (Extravagant needs I know) However i wont truely rule it out until i see what else i can do. Thanks all who have contributed so far.

Welcome and well done for facing up to reality.

Just a thought but as you live in a holiday destination could you rent out your room to holidaymakers on a b&b basis? Though you would have to be careful that you didn't incur too much extra tax liability to make it not worth the effort.

I haven't seen anyone mention the cashback sites such as Quidco, pigsback and greasy palm. I know you have to spend to gain points but they are very useful for essential expenditure such as insurance and you should definitely use them when you are applying for a new credit card.

Don't apply for more than one new credit card at a time as this could affect your credit rating so perhaps the M&S one with LOB offer would be best for you at the moment.

Good luck

Mrs_Sparkle

Hi Bubblewrap and welcome to the site. I'm glad you're feeling better about things- there are a lot of us here in a similar situation so you shouldn't feel alone. Give Quidco a try- there are some free click throughs like Kelkoo that will give you 8-10p a go. Not much but if you do 3 a day that's a few pounds extra a month and every little helps.

C x

Bubblewrap_2

Thanks for the info on that Mrs sparkle and by looking at your balance on your Quidco then i may just have to give it a go!

P.S i know its a little bit off topic but how do people do their signatures and also put icons on their messages?

Mrs_Sparkle

Icons on messages are easy- click on Go Advances at the bottom of the message you're writing.

To edit your signature click on User CP at the top of the board (the line below where your user name is shown and just above the dark blue box with titles in it). Hope that makes sense- I'm rubbish at explaining!

Bubblewrap_2

Thankyou, i have to go shortly so will give it a go, when i come back.