Newbie and in need of advice please

SuziQ1962

Hi good for you getting the courage to tackle this-one bit of advice -throw all catalogues in the recycling bin so temptation is removed to shop! Good luck ;-D
Have you thought about selling some of your clothes etc on ebay i think next stuff sells quite well,and money is money at the end of the day !

Verbatim

If you don't know why the bank has charged you £135 query it. They do make mistakes on occasion!
Good luck with the debt busting.

Gingerjar

Hi Dollybeads

Just read your diary and feel we have many financial parallels. I had my day of reckoning about 18 months ago when I was charged £300 in bank charges in one month! There was enough money going in and out of the account but due to my own numptiness, uncharted spending on rubbish and mismanagement i had bounced cheques, bounced DDs, unauthorised overdraft and more :eek:

After finding this site I went on a total money revamp. I set up a new basic bank account with no fees and paid a monthly DD to get rid of my huge overdraft, shopped around for every utility and phone bill etc, chopped up my charge card and gave my credit card to my husband for him to hide.

After reading lots of Debt free wannabee diaires, I started a spending diary (terrifying to start with) and only took cash out with me.

The OS board helped with meal planning and cooking ideas and I've chopped our monthly bill down from £650 to around £300 (which includes nice food and wine !

Since then I've paid off £2100 in debt and no longer have those horrible stressed sleepless nights and sick feelings.

So Dolly, keep going. If a silly chump like me can do it, I'm sure you can

All the best
Ginge x

dollybeads

SuziQ1962 wrote: »

Hi good for you getting the courage to tackle this-one bit of advice -throw all catalogues in the recycling bin so temptation is removed to shop! Good luck ;-D
Have you thought about selling some of your clothes etc on ebay i think next stuff sells quite well,and money is money at the end of the day !

Hi, yes I go through phases of selling like mad on ebay, but in the past have used up any money saved (which was £1000.00 on one occasion) on buying more clothes,shoes, bags etc which I don't need. I have 3 wardrobes full of good quality clothing and literally hundreds of pairs of boots and shoes. This weekend is going to be an ebay fest, I will be working my socks off to get lots of things on in staggered days (to help with posting once its all sold). This time will be transferring the cash straight to the bank and then offsetting against some of my debts. Will also through lovely next catalogue away, as you suggest its better for me not to have any temptation at all. Thank you for your support

dollybeads

:T

Gingerjar wrote: »

Hi Dollybeads

Just read your diary and feel we have many financial parallels. I had my day of reckoning about 18 months ago when I was charged £300 in bank charges in one month! There was enough money going in and out of the account but due to my own numptiness, uncharted spending on rubbish and mismanagement i had bounced cheques, bounced DDs, unauthorised overdraft and more :eek:

After finding this site I went on a total money revamp. I set up a new basic bank account with no fees and paid a monthly DD to get rid of my huge overdraft, shopped around for every utility and phone bill etc, chopped up my charge card and gave my credit card to my husband for him to hide.

After reading lots of Debt free wannabee diaires, I started a spending diary (terrifying to start with) and only took cash out with me.

The OS board helped with meal planning and cooking ideas and I've chopped our monthly bill down from £650 to around £300 (which includes nice food and wine !

Since then I've paid off £2100 in debt and no longer have those horrible stressed sleepless nights and sick feelings.

So Dolly, keep going. If a silly chump like me can do it, I'm sure you can

All the best
Ginge x

Thank you for this, yes have been reading alot about separate basic accounts which I think I would find helpful, I already have a £2 jar at home but raid it as soon as i need cash (the mind is willing but the flesh is weak). I need to put it away where I can't get my hands on it. Interestingly although I have not started the diary yet, just about to, and after reading on here I have had 3 no spending days, which is totally unheard of. this has already saved approx £20.00 due to work lunches and unecessary food shopping which we end up throwing out.

will be speaking to the bank, as I really don't know what the overdraft charges are for(I am being honest here and not kidding myself). I seriously hope its a mistake!

That aside, spending diary is a must and removal of all temptation until i can learn some new healthier financial habits.
Thank you for your support, it makes all the difference and you are obviously not at all a silly chump if you have already succeeded in paying of that amount of debt. Good for you :T

Oooh forgot, can I ask what the OS board is please, sounds good as I think I need to do some meal planning and have a shopping list for groceries, i like the idea of including wine as well within £300 budget.

dollybeads

Verbatim wrote: »

If you don't know why the bank has charged you £135 query it. They do make mistakes on occasion!
Good luck with the debt busting.

I am going to be brave and tackle them as really not sure what this is for and in the past have had a letter which I haven't got this time. Thanks for your support

DansMum_2

dollybeads wrote: »

Hi, yes I go through phases of selling like mad on ebay, but in the past have used up any money saved (which was £1000.00 on one occasion) on buying more clothes,shoes, bags etc which I don't need. I have 3 wardrobes full of good quality clothing and literally hundreds of pairs of boots and shoes. This weekend is going to be an ebay fest, I will be working my socks off to get lots of things on in staggered days (to help with posting once its all sold). This time will be transferring the cash straight to the bank and then offsetting against some of my debts. Will also through lovely next catalogue away, as you suggest its better for me not to have any temptation at all. Thank you for your support

Go for it this weekend is free listing on ebay

dollybeads

DansMum wrote: »

Go for it this weekend is free listing on ebay

Yay even better, thanks for that, I will be on fire (well small set of lit matches perhaps).

Love this site :T

Gingerjar

Hi Doll (if I may be so informal!)

The OS forum holds all the old style threads which are full of things like how to meal plan, how to make your own yummy takeaways, recipes, preserving etc. It's a make do and mend heaven but not dreary or worthy. It will make you save money in ways that you will have never even thought of. You also don't have to be a domestic goddess to do the stuff either.

Though I did have to refuse the suggestion of washable loo roll made out of old rags :eek:

Keep on trucking and do ring the bank to find out what hey are charging you for - don't forget you're the customer and you're allowed to enquire about your own money. Ok rant over

See you soon
Gx

curlytop12

hi dollybeads,
just wanted to say how lovely it is ti hear someone so enthusiastic and positive at their LBM.
you seem to be making a cracking start-well done and good luck
i love the old style board,and also the health and beauty board!bid savings to be made there too.
will watch your progress with interest