SOA What more can I do.

Happytogetdebtfree

And are you closing the tesco cc down or keeping it open ? the thing thats hard is that we have already spent the money so we cant get the high of buying new so it always seems somewhat worse paying for stuff we have already had... well done for paying the tesco card x

andys15

Happytogetdebtfree wrote: »

And are you closing the tesco cc down or keeping it open ? the thing thats hard is that we have already spent the money so we cant get the high of buying new so it always seems somewhat worse paying for stuff we have already had... well done for paying the tesco card x

To be honest I am keeping it open, as it wasn't really a debt. I included it in my SOA becasue that was the balance. I use it for clubcard points.

Happytogetdebtfree

Yes its good for the clubcard points :O) what will you do with your 550 ? where did you go on hols ?

persian_star

twistedhazel wrote: »

Just wanted to say "well done" on what you have achieved so far and encourage you to keep going. I had the same wobble earlier this month after a year of paying every penny towards my debt. The amount owing has reduced dramatically, I know when it will be cleared by, BUT......I was sick and tired of living on nothing every month.

I feel exactly the same twistedhazel! It's good to know we're not alone in the frustration of scrimping every penny, but at least it's not forever.

twistedhazel wrote: »

Final tip that has really helped me is every time I make a large payment to a card/loan I figure out what I "spent" that money on in the first place and go and use it. That way it feels less like a debt repayment and more like a purchase, sounds silly but it's helping me. Good luck and keep going, it will be worth it in the end.

My hubby finds this very useful for motivation (look, i've just paid off our sofa!) so I hope it is useful. Me, I find it very un-useful, I like to look at my debt as a whole and chop it into months left. Whichever way works best for you

Good luck Andys15!!

philgee

Andy, I'd just reiterate what I said over on Debtfreein2011's thread - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/36063319#Comment_36063319

Also, as others have said, your budget needs to include haircuts, clothes, presents etc.

If you planned meals and went shopping with a list, then you shouldn't ever run out of things and you should be able to trim your spend here. We plan our meals now, sometimes shopping online, sometimes in store and we do ours for no more than £100 a week (usually less) and we buy a mix of branded and own label (rarely anything value or discount). This is for 4 of us. I think the biggest saving (apart from planning and a list) is that we buy far less meat than we used to. Shopping online also makes it easier to see what is on special offer, so meals etc can be planned around that. Also, its less tempting to put things in your trolley as you see them!

Personally, I wouldn't take another loan to clear the others - you have done fantastically well dealling with the debt so far - as has already been said, if you keep it up, you will be DF in 2 years!! (just in time for the kids starting uni!)

Can you chat to your dad to see if you could defer paying him back until all your other debts are clear? That way, you'd save a load of interest, and you could always spend some of what you save to buy him a nice present by way of thanks.

andys15

I am weak. Yesterday after seeing 20% discount on this site for IMACs, I go and buy one. Add a grand to my signature. AARRRRHHHHHH.

Happytogetdebtfree

well i dont know how much imacs are? but just look at it as your 550 spends and then add the rest to debts, i dont know what to suggest, i doubt you will return it so we wont berate you... i suppose its about looking and seeing where you can increase payments ? if you really wanted to if you dont just do as you are doing when will you be debt free? can you not start paying the MIL back ? with the spare cash ?? i dont know what mil situation is but i dont think i would want to hear you had spent 1k on an imac and not started paying me back, no offence something to consider :@D x

andys15

Happytogetdebtfree wrote: »

well i dont know how much imacs are? but just look at it as your 550 spends and then add the rest to debts, i dont know what to suggest, i doubt you will return it so we wont berate you... i suppose its about looking and seeing where you can increase payments ? if you really wanted to if you dont just do as you are doing when will you be debt free? can you not start paying the MIL back ? with the spare cash ?? i dont know what mil situation is but i dont think i would want to hear you had spent 1k on an imac and not started paying me back, no offence something to consider :@D x

She doesn't want paying at the moment. She has a wayward son who despite his age is begging for money. She says what she hasn't got she cannot give him. Whenever the time comes, or she needs anything we get it and knock it off the balance. If she wanted it all today, I am in a position to do that.

Happytogetdebtfree

That ok, i didnt mean it to sound so cut throat and rude, ... sorry, if thats the case for mil money been available to pay if needed why not pay that off the other outstanding amounts, if your in a position to do so, pay all the finances that are costing intrest would that not be better, maybe enjoy a few months of the 550 and knuckle down, enjoy the imac cant say they really took my fancy

andys15

Happytogetdebtfree wrote: »

That ok, i didnt mean it to sound so cut throat and rude, ... sorry, if thats the case for mil money been available to pay if needed why not pay that off the other outstanding amounts, if your in a position to do so, pay all the finances that are costing intrest would that not be better, maybe enjoy a few months of the 550 and knuckle down, enjoy the imac cant say they really took my fancy

Ha, I mean I could raise £7000. I haven't got it physically. I would have to add to my debt to virgin for example. I am quite lucky at the moment as the only thing costing me interest is Halifax, which will be fully repaid in 1 month, and the 2 tesco loans. On whats the costs, the whole amount of interest paid will be just over a grand. The IMAC was 0% for 12 months, nothing to pay till August 2011. Silly yes, good deal yes, I wont pay any interest on it, but I know myself that is not the point. In my silly brain, I work out that it will make me debt free 2 weeks later, as I pay over 2k towards debt. That kind of thinking is silly though.