Give me a kick up the *** I need it!

Sharon87

Hey I've said I'm not going to one festival. I've already bought the ticket for the other one. I want to pay my debts off and have some debts off already, so I know I can do it. I paid off a £1000 overdraft within 15 months, whilst still having a life. I can do the same to the HSBC one, it's just the past few months that I've realised I have been spending a bit too much. I'm collecting the money owed to me this month, at least most of it. The HSBC overdraft has been there since my student days, but I'm trying not to use it as my main bank now. I get my wages paid into it, then transfer what I am going to spend into another bank account, then leave it in there. But this past month I haven't had as much work as I have had.

I'm at a point where my debts are manageable - I can pay the minimum plus a bit more. I just need that extra push without missing out on life. I don't want to regret not living life, but also don't want to regret getting into serious money trouble.

Trajal

Or... you could push the austerity measures a bit harder for a few months and pay everything off a bit quicker. How much would you be able to sell that ticket for ?

I hear what you are saying about wanting to live life, but right now you are borrowing money from your future self. The debts won't go away, but the chance to lower them whilst you're still in a manageable level might.

atush

I would push harder and pay more and get the monkey off your back. Your problem is you don't think it is a monjey, you think it is a bug.

But given you are still insisiting on overspending on luxuries I can't see you being debt free before you are old. Is that what you want?

Sharon87

It will be hard to sell a ticket for a not sold out festival. May lose 50 quid or more on the value. And then there's the thing of letting the person I'm going with down. They can't go by themselves! I did buy these tickets out of my wages, not credit, on the month when I had lots of income. I also paid off debts that month too.

I have made sacrifices, like not going to the 2 other festivals when I planned to go.

I'm stopping most other spends, but Reading Festival is staying. I can do without new clothes and I'm selling my old ones on ebay as well as some jewellery. I'm going to use these funds to pay off some of the Natwest OD off. I am also going to cut down food spend. I've gotten really bad for work lunches recently. It's not doing good for my waistline either! But I'm starting to improve my food intake, eating (cheap) fruit, and proper food. I'm going to cut out the expensive take aways like Pizza Hut that I seem to get once a month or more. If I do go for a take away, it will be the chippy for £3.50 or less. It's been the little things that have been bad for me.

I want to reduce my HSBC OD limit, but I changed it less than 6 months ago, so they'll probably charge £25 for the privilege. I got my annual review of the OD in September, so I'm actually hoping they reduce it slightly, but not take it away!

backinbusiness

denial and excuses I'm afraid.

not the full blown light bulb just yet.

Miss_Scrooge_2

I have trouble believing this thread is real. You're asking us for help yet it's obvious where your problem lies.

I'll try not to reiterate what other people have said, but it sounds to me like you're having some sort of mid-life crisis, and trying to relive your teenage years (or make up for what you missed) by spending on stuff that is, quite frankly, unnecessary.

Being able to drive (and able to afford to run a car, I might add!) is beneficial to any job, but you are in no financial position to be learning to drive, let alone buying a car. It's not going to look very good if you tell an employer you can drive but don't even own a car. They'll think you're having a laugh. You live in a city, so driving is unnecessary anyway. I also live in a city and I can get everywhere with my own 2 feet - don't even use public transport. You could also invest in a bicycle. The best option I think at this point.

Sharon87

Miss_Scrooge wrote: »

I have trouble believing this thread is real. You're asking us for help yet it's obvious where your problem lies.

I'll try not to reiterate what other people have said, but it sounds to me like you're having some sort of mid-life crisis, and trying to relive your teenage years (or make up for what you missed) by spending on stuff that is, quite frankly, unnecessary.

Being able to drive (and able to afford to run a car, I might add!) is beneficial to any job, but you are in no financial position to be learning to drive, let alone buying a car. It's not going to look very good if you tell an employer you can drive but don't even own a car. They'll think you're having a laugh. You live in a city, so driving is unnecessary anyway. I also live in a city and I can get everywhere with my own 2 feet - don't even use public transport. You could also invest in a bicycle. The best option I think at this point.

It's kind of expected to be able to drive when you work in TV, but not expected to have a car as they always use hire cars. Only very few jobs want you to have your own car. Anyway I've already spent some money on lessons, now I can make them count or I can just put it off for another 3 years and not get anywhere! I have people from every job telling me I should learn. If not I won't progress in my career very quickly, and be stuck on the lower paid wages. Why earn £60-£80 a day when I can earn £100 or more per day in a years time? I'm getting the TV experience and I'm ready to move up it's just the next level 80-90% of jobs require a driving license.

Like I said learning to drive for me is more of an investment.

I don't mind making some sacrifices, I am not going to buy any more gig tickets this year, I've seen or will see nearly all of my favourite bands now. I've decided to concentrate on paying off debts and keeping money by for driving lessons. Which I admit are expensive. I may have to have a lesson every 8-10 days instead of once a week.

I have been disciplined in saving money towards the driving lessons, I've taken 10% of my income plus a bit more for a few months, so it's not like I've decided to do them on a whim. I started them 3 years ago, had 8 lessons, moved to London then couldn't afford them. I've managed to pick it up pretty quickly, which I'm happy about so it will hopefully not take me too long. It's a shame I don't live closer to my mum's boyfriend, he's a driving instructor! He's been giving me tips though.

I think I'm going to start a spending diary as well. See where most of my cash goes!

atush

Like I said, DL for work but only after you pay off 19.9% debt. Not rocket science and I am not telling you not to do it soon.

What I am telling you is, that you should TRY to sell your ticket to the festival (and you should have never bought it- you just felt 'rich' one month and overspent because you weren't really able to buy that ticket you just convinced yourself you were as that money should have gone on the OD). You let yourself down by letting your friend talk you into going somewhere you couldn't really afford.

Cutting down on all the other stuff is good, and selling off stuff on ebay is good (free listing today).

But you need to be more serious about this. Otherwise next month and year it will be something else (I really need a car now that I drive, I really need a holiday as I worked so hard, I really need to go to glastonbury this year etc) and you will still be in debt and a year older.

Sharon87

atush wrote: »

Like I said, DL for work but only after you pay off 19.9% debt. Not rocket science and I am not telling you not to do it soon.

What I am telling you is, that you should TRY to sell your ticket to the festival (and you should have never bought it- you just felt 'rich' one month and overspent because you weren't really able to buy that ticket you just convinced yourself you were as that money should have gone on the OD). You let yourself down by letting your friend talk you into going somewhere you couldn't really afford.

Cutting down on all the other stuff is good, and selling off stuff on ebay is good (free listing today).

But you need to be more serious about this. Otherwise next month and year it will be something else (I really need a car now that I drive, I really need a holiday as I worked so hard, I really need to go to glastonbury this year etc) and you will still be in debt and a year older.

I actually wanted to go and phoned my friend who's also a big fan of the bands! Better than paying for 8-9 different gigs to see them all!

I won't be going to Glastonbury - not my kind of music!

I have already told everyone who I go to gigs with that I'm not buying any more tickets to gigs. If they really want me to go with them they can pay

If I really want a holiday I will find alternative free/cheap stuff to do, I'm usually finding good deals for days out - I'm going to Brighton for the day for less than £2 return, £10 spending money for food max, means a cheap day out at the seaside. I have a Merlin Annual pass I got for £72 (b'day pressie) I need to use that more instead of going to costly places!

I'm finding out whether I can reduce my HSBC OD every month or 2 without getting charged, and if I can I will be doing that. I tend to put about 10% of my income towards my debts.

I am going to be moving house in 3 months, I'm going to find somewhere a bit cheaper, if possible! Then put the difference in rent towards one overdraft.

Sharon87

My phone saying it's running out of battery has just reminded I have an old phone I can sell It was my old contract phone I could probably get £20-£30 for it I am going to have a rummage through my room to see what I can sell.

Where's the best places to sell books?