Why can't I change??

Paula_anne

Maybe, scrap the emergency fund for a while, travel? is this oyster card? maybe try biking to save some pennies.

Maybe try value brand food or shopping at markets/bootfairs? you spend £37.50 on groceries a wk, i have been spending £40 odd on our family of 5, shop late at night when foods are reduced, there is a website that gives recipes where u can feed a family of 4 for £100 a month (google )

Im not an expert, and have no idea on london prices/travel cost etc.

Can u ebay anything?
Extra job? (xmas is coming)

hth

Yockers

Hi Paula,

Oyster Card is unfortunately essential as I need to travel throughout London duriung the day - fine to go back and forth but I can't turn up at my clients sweating! I spoke to an advisor a while ago and they said that I should always save some money so that I am not forced to borrow! The food is a good idea and I will look that up today - Thanks. Nothing to Ebay unfoirtunately...

The 2nd Job is something that I am open to. I need to look into this more!

Thanks

Y

Paula_anne

And keep talking to people, problem shared is a problem halved.

You'll get there, my children are my motivation to get debt free.

Maybe just speak to a free debt adviser debtline/payplan/cab etc, it'll be a huge weight of your shoulders speaking to someone who doesnt judge you and is knowledgable.

Take care
Paula

foxgloves

I used to come up with all sorts of reasons why I, as an intelligent person, couldn't manage money. They were all unfortunately rubbish, and it came down to a simple equation of me realising that in continuing my bad spending habits, I was actively choosing to be in debt. I sometimes used to have a frugal month in which I'd cook economically, cut tubes open to get the last bit of make-up or whatever out, etc, but such things had no effect on my debts at all because while I was doing all this at home, I was still going out & spending! We are now almost debt-free but we are in our 40s & wish like anything we'd have done it earlier as we'd be much more financially secure by now. You can tart credit cards around, swap accounts, sell stuff & 100 other things all of which help a little, but nothing has helped us as much as doing a budget every month as soon as we are paid & sticking to it. There will always be emergencies that put you slightly over, but if you are choosing not to stick to your budgets, then you have to face the difficult reality that you are actively choosing to remain in debt long term. I don't know about bankruptcy but I'm sure lots of people can advise. All I know is that people CAN change and be better at managing money. You just have to want that more than anything else. Best of luck sorting it all out. Some of the amazing people on here who have paid off huge sums are proof of what can be achieved.