The Ultimate Incentive to get debt free… again. Dinah & NIM go head to head!

Tete_en_l'Air

Birdie85 wrote: »

I was quite interested in the Saks deal, but I've gotten quite tight and found a place near me that does dry cuts for £14 so I've started going there! I'm terrible though and average about 3 cuts a year which is not very good!

I managed to find an online pricelist (for a different branch, but still, it's a guide) and hair dying of any sort starts at about £62, so that alone is a good £20 more than my highlights and cut at my normal granny place. TBH, I'm not mad on going to trendy hairdressers' anyway, I always feel a bit inadequate.

I have my MOT next month and am a bit worried about the knocking noise coming from under the steering wheel Would be just my luck to scrap Bluey who used to cost about £120 each MOT and spend £2k on Gilly Grey only for him to be irreperable at the first test...

Birdie85

I used to go to trendy places like Saks and T&G when I had money (ahh the good old days!) and totally agree with the inadequate feeling! I'd always have to make sure I had plenty of make-up on because the lighting made me look dreadful and everyone would be so funky and I'd be there getting my boring undyed hair trimmed in a nice straight cut! I've never had a hairdresser who didn't stink of smoke either... is it necessary to be a smoker if you're a hairdresser?!

I hope Gilly Grey makes it through his MOT! I was so worried when mine was in the other week, I was really nervous when the garage man rang to give me the verdict!

poddle911

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

I managed to find an online pricelist (for a different branch, but still, it's a guide) and hair dying of any sort starts at about £62, so that alone is a good £20 more than my highlights and cut at my normal granny place. TBH, I'm not mad on going to trendy hairdressers' anyway, I always feel a bit inadequate.

Eesh, that's a lot! I'm the same - all that trendy hair and small talk! I've started going to this incredible (Vidal Sasson-trained) home hairdresser who charges £19 for everything. I tried to book in a pre-Christmas haircut but she basically told me I wouldn't need it - very MSE!

Fingers crossed for Gilly's MOT! At some point I thought it would be very convenient if all my car stuff was due at the same time - November, to be precise - it's not! It just means a super expensive month (tax, service, insurance) and I'm shopping around for car insurance instead of lovely festive things - what a wally

Tete_en_l'Air

Glad it's not just me! I always look awful in the hairdresser's mirror - especially after my hair's been washed and I'm sat there all wet and pale

Oh no Poddle, wally indeed. Last year I started putting £50 in a seperate account each month to cover all car costs when they come around - I'm really strict with myself about it, never miss a payment and never take money out of it and it's really paid off so far, it's such a relief to know those things are paid for. Ditto Christmas (though I might have a surplus there this year, not as many to buy for as I expected and don't have to buy any decorations for my own house...) Sigh.

poddle911

But that's the thing - we have been putting £100 a month in a separate car account (and £35 for Christmas) but just not for long enough We used £200 for OH's tax last month (silly non-conformist) and now there's only £400ish left for my tax, service and two lots of insurance. On the up side, it should work out next year...

Birdie85

I'm so glad that we only run 1 car, there's no way be able to afford 2! I'm tempted to get a Peugot 107/ Toyota Aygo etc next as my Mum's 107 is a whole £20 a year to tax! It's super cheap to fill too. I just need to convince OH that it's not too girly for him!

I just checked out my bank balance and whilst it's looking healthier than I feared, I've just realised that I'm going to have to use most of it on Christmas presents. Gah! Bloomin' wedding has meant that we've not been able to save for anything else!

I'm trying to think of what to get for my family this year. We've got a £30 budget for each person but the only one who has actually said what they'd like is my Mum (as always!). Thinking of doing hampers again but I kind of set the bar last time and now the well of ideas is a bit dry! I did a movie one for my brother 2 years ago, do you think it'd be bad if I did another one this year? There's nothing else I can think of, he plays football but isn't really into wearing football strips etc, he likes Warhammer (big nerd!) but I've got no idea what to get him because it's a bit specialised so I'm a bit stuck!

I don't know what to do for SIL this year either, 2 years ago she got a gardening hamper and last year I did a girl's night in/girl's night out hamper with pampering stuff one one side and make up and jewellery on the other. Not sure if it'll be 'lazy' to do the same kind of thing again?

Argh... Christmas is too hard!

wendz86

Hi all,

Dinah - sounds like some good mini goals for your debt, hopefully that will motivate you.

tete - that is good you are feeling more 'normal,' you can't be expected to wallow all the time. It doesn't mean you are over it, just means you are coping.

CMd - sounds like you have a real fearof spiders, I don't like them but not too worried. Hope poor Max sleeps better tonight.

I now get my hair done every 8 weeks and is def keeping it in better condition, so much cheaper now i don't have highlights.

wendz86

Poddle - i have car insurance and aa this month and then tax/MOt in jan, both sides of Christmas....great! I thought my car insurance would go up loads because of my accident last year but hasn't which is good news! Managed to get them down as well as found a cheaper quote online.

Birdie - if they liked the hampers then why not do them again, sounds like a lovely idea. I am debating doing something like that for OH's sisters.

Dinah93

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Those incentives will definitely give you something to work towards - but have you considered the costs of the things involved as well? Like if you pay off £5k then spend £1k on a car, is that £1k included in the next target?

Glad you're feeling a bit better Tete, I think you're probably a bit exhausted and drained rather than accepting tbh.

The plan is clear the target, then set aside however much to pay for the next stage, then start on the next debt clearance target again. Determined to get at least a few bits on ebay tonight!

Tete_en_l'Air

I've just been to Debenhams and spent another one of my vouchers on part of my friend's secret santa. I'm hoping to get another part of it with dooyoo vouchers if I can get my bum in gear soon. It's not so bad if we set a £15 price limit and I only spend about £3 actual cash, is it?

Didn't like the coat as much in real life, which is a good thing I guess.

Edit - Dinah, yeah I feel a bit of a zombie!