How have things changed for you since you first joined? 8 November 2006 at 1:05PM edited 30 November -1 at 12:00AM in Debt-Free Wannabe 46 replies 9K views

katiev007_2

I didn't realise how much moneysaving had become part of our lives until my DD (3 and half) said "when my Dora the Explorer slippers are old can I get Barbie ones?" Before I would have bought anything:rolleyes: she asked for but now always ask "do we need it? Do we love it? Do we already have one? Do we need it now? etc" so I guess she's been listening!

rarele

What a great thread - thanks.

I think my biggest achievement is simply opening "the envelopes" and facing up to it all. In some ways it wasn't as bad as I thought. Although I owe a lot of money & know I've been very irresponsible in the past I felt better by facing up to it.

The other things I have done are;

• a few mystery shopping trips
• Doing a weekly menu for dinners and sticking to it
• Cut food bill from "I don't know what" to £35 per week - and sticking to it - in fact less this week
• Cancelled subscriptions to magazine/museums/galleries
• Opened basic bank account so DMP with CCCS can start
• Taking my own lunch to work & eating breakfast before I leave home instead of on the way (most days anyway) :rolleyes:

I am so grateful for the support and advice on here. I couldn't / wouldn't have started this long journey without it.

Thanks
R

Scully's_Girl

Things have changed drastically for us:
*Applied for a Nationwide card, so we pay no load when traveling (and we do alot of traveling)
*In addition, I got 9 months 0% on that same card, so I dont have to pay for our China/Australia trip till February
*Reduced our home insurance from £899.60 a year to £368.45
*switched my phone plan to PAYG
*Had our council tax reduced from band F to band E
*have received tons of freebies
*Switched our gas/electric suppliers
*Received +£90 from A&L in unfair bank charges
*switched ISA provider from Abbey to A&L

I cannot really put a number on how much we have saved, but we have certainly saved a mint. The weekly newsletter is by far the most important piece of mail I get. I cannot wait till Wednesday when I can thoroughly go through and see what we can improve.

winkle1

since discovering this site i have paid off a £4,000 barclaycard - by transfering the balance and making over payments

cleared 2 storecards

changed my loan term so its paid back quicker - and will be cleared by the end of this year

didnt buy anything for myself for months! so treated myself a to a new lipgloss, eye pencil and dress a couple of weeks back - £20 for all 3!

stopped buying 2 4 1 deals on toiletries/make up for the sake of it and am using up all my old stuff.

stopped buying lunch every day and cooking more at home.

switched gas and elec

moved in with my sis last year for cheaper rent

stopped buying things for the sake of it!

so many things that i cant even list them! a better attitude towards money, i've also got some savings, I am on track to save for a deposit for my own place next year - MSE has changed my life in too many great ways to mention!



joined quidco (got £100 in 2 months!!) and yougov

got back my bank charges

stopped going to the supermarket every night and using whats in the house, plus being more prepared by having stuff defrosted and ready to eat as well as freezing meals for a later date

winkle1

oh and forgot to meantion, cleared nearly £4,000 of student over drafts!

irishwench69

lady_fuschia wrote:

Angelite: Tesco clubcard plus isn't a credit card (as credit cards are the devil!) its more like a solo card- you pay money into an account and you can then spend that money in store and get double points- but you can't spend mor ethan is actually in the account. There's a thread about it somewhere if I can find it!

Hey :hello:

Is this thread what you're talking about?

HTH,

IW x