Another newbe

JLL

Hi everyone. I thought it was time to post, i've been lurking for months now.

I had my LBM in March 2011. I finally admitted to myself that i had to sort it out, as since xmas i have been in my reserve with the bank and suddenly had a panic that if i didn't sort it out i evetually would be in a position where none of my DD would get paid. So i bit the bullet and phoned the bank to set up a payment plan to pay off my overdraft. After 3 attempts to speak to someone about it and visiting the bank in person (apparently they didn't think i had a problem, which they wouldn't they were getting 22 quid a week off me i'm ashamed to say). My overdraft will be gone by september plus i found out my loan for £7.000 will be paid off in March 2012, i thought it finished in October 2012, so that was a nice surprise. That's £240 back to me can't wait. I have 2 cc which i wish i didn't have. I've always been scared of logging in to my bank account but i'm getting better. My heart still pounds when i start typing my password but im managing to look at it about 4 times a week now, before i'd be lucky if i did it once a month.

So in the last few months of lurking on here, i've managed to cut my shopping from £80 a week to £45 a week for me and my OH. I've cancelled some protection policys which i didn't really need which has saved me £40 a month and cut down our virgin bill.

So can i say to everyone on here thank you so much for all the advice you have written. You have helped me to sort my life out and hopefully given me and my husband a chance to have a great debt free future

isy1011

Good for you. Well done. Now plough all that money into your credit cards to get them paid off before you get too used to having the money.

canidothis

My heart still pounds when i start typing my password but im managing to look at it about 4 times a week now, before i'd be lucky if i did it once a month.

There was a time I would log in to internet banking and keep one eye shut as I tried to move money around, and that is the honest truth, I would not look at the balance for all the tea in china. My LBM was only a few weeks ago and I have got the stage that I know exactly whats in my bank and I can look at the balance square on with both eyes wide open :beer: good luck xx

JLL

Thank you. I can't wait till i can be like that as you say look it square in the eyes, but i know i'll get there. Everthing takes time. The one thing i know is i'm addicted to this site. I think i'm doing my husbands head in as i'm on here every night, but he won't moan at me cause i've got the shopping down because of it xx

Nargleblast

JLL - welcome to the forums and well done for tackling your financial problems. Have you thought of joining in with some of the "challenge" threads on here, eg the Avoiding the shops in April No-spend Day? The NSD group try to find ways of avoiding spending by setting a target of so many No Spend Days in the month - I am sure Bdini and BigMumma and all the rest will be pleased to have you as a new recruit! Have you also tried looking at some of the other forums eg the Old Style moneysaving forum for example, where you can learn about living well without overspending? All these little things help to get your debts paid off and cut your living costs - very important, the ways things are at the moment.

JLL

Thanks Nargleblast. I've been on the old style and put a few things in to practice. I don't just shop at Asda anymore, i go where i know stuff is cheaper. Luckly i've got a Tesco over the road at work, so i pop in there of a lunch time and have a mooch and today i got my first DTD receipt fo £17.96. Im buying a lot of smart price stuff now (except loo roll). I get a few things from Aldi as well.