new person trying to sort money out.

beadgirl87

Hello,
I am new to this forum but have read some of the articles on here before and it has been useful.
I am looking to sort my money out so that I don't owe on my credit card and can get out of my overdraft.
I only earn £300 a month so it is pretty hard to make ends meet and racked up my overdraft since finishing uni. However the last few months I have been very strict with myself. I have stopped using my debit card in shops, I get £40 out a week and that is all the spending I am allowed (apart from phone, taxs, internet etc)
I'm surprised at the difference it has made, but is still not enough.
However I'm determined to sort it out soon, so look forward to getting to know everyone.

bottleofred

Hi beadgirl and welcome to the forum,

You certainly seem to be on the right track, but you could also post your statement of affairs if you like and you'll get tips/advice on how you can save extra money which can then go towards your debts.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/107280



Good luck

Red

Tixy

Hi and welcome

Are there any ways in which you could increase your income? more hours, second job? selling things you don't use? Might be worth an idea to take a look at the up your income board for some ideas - eg doing surverys which can earn you vouchers or mystery shopping or something.

Have you checked if you might be entitled to any benefits at all?

beadgirl87

thanks for the replies. Currently looking for a job but I'm sure everyone knows how rubbish it is atm. Tried looking for another job aswell as my current one, or a new full time one...but nothing The job I have is the part time one I had at uni and still have as I can't get a new one. I'm doing volunteering in the hope this will make my CV look good to employers aswell.
Sometimes get overtime, but only 4 hours a week, so I'm not really counting that money.
I have considered benfits, especially as friends of mine get alot more money than I do and it would help out, I've just been trying to live without them. Also a little bit nervous as I was a couple of months late telling the council tax people I was no longer a student. Then again I suppose I will just have to back pay and hope I get help for the future payments.
Also I am dyslexic and not that great with numbers, I've always tried to keep things simple, 1 bank account, 1 credit card (which I don't understand the rates and %s of) 2 student loans. I'm scared to do something wrong or mis read a policy or something.
I use topcashback for online shopping, and looking for stuff to sell and get rid of.

OberonSH

Hi Bead,

The main thing to remember is 1) you're not on your own and b) this situation won't be forever. Keep going and look at any cash-injections you can make. Ebay and amazon anything not nailed down and make sure anything you don't need is cancelled - window cleaners, magazines and papers. Sound's like you're on the right track - keep it up chick!

OberonSH

btw - if you're not sure on what you're entitled to, theres a website (something like www.entitledto.gov...google it (or even better - search using swagbucks and get points towards vouchers. Not advertising them - I use it, thats all lol)

If not, pop to your local CAB and see if they can help out - they'll be able to tell you if there's anything you might be entitled to but not claiming. You could do with knowing the rates of your card - could be worth switching to a lower rate, or a free transfer, save yourself some pennies.

As for other jobs, there's loads of ideas on the extra income boards. I myself went the Avon route (love it love love it lol) but there's loads of ways of making extra cash, or racking up points for rewards like Amazon vouchers - find one that suits you.

Hope to see lots from you!

central

Hi beadgirl, welcome.

Did you get a good degree, one which will help you to get a meaningful job relevant to your degree from a good university or a less good one? It make a big difference.

rdchick

Are you being a little bit picky with jobs? Surely there must be something you can do for more that 300 quid a month? I graduated last year with a good media degree currently I am a receptionist earning 15k a year plus do a cleaning job on the side 3 days a week, don't plan to do this forever but beats worrying about debt

Things can be scary but it's up to you to make things better wish you lots of luck on your debt free journey xxx

Hovel_lady

Hello beadgirl and welcome,
Loads of good advice on here. Have you checked out the Old Style thread?
As suggested do a SoA and I'm sure we'll have some good ideas for you.
Good luck

beadgirl87

OberonSH, thanks for that, I will start selling stuff and take a look on those sites. I think that things are worse because I don't have alot coming in, if I was working full time, I would be in a much better position.
Central - hopefully its a good degree, I also did an MA afterwards. The field is quite small but well connected, just down to the whole 'you need experience to get expereince' situation. I am volunteering in the hope that this will help with the experience side of things. I think in time something will come along.
rdchick - I think that in order for to be picky I need to have been offered 'bad' jobs to then reject them. I can say right now, picky is not the issue, I am applying for everything under the sun....jobs related to my field, aswell as supermarkets and bars and office jobs. I have not had a single reply or call about anything (expect an interview in London, however did not get that job) I'm not being picky and would happily take anything I was offered.
Good for you getting such a well paid job after uni, sadly alot of people I know are scraping by on much less, having to live with their parents and just managing to survive. I am greatful that I at least have some form of employment for now, even if it is not much.

rdchick

beadgirl87 wrote: »

rdchick - I think that in order for to be picky I need to have been offered 'bad' jobs to then reject them. I can say right now, picky is not the issue, I am applying for everything under the sun....jobs related to my field, aswell as supermarkets and bars and office jobs. I have not had a single reply or call about anything (expect an interview in London, however did not get that job) I'm not being picky and would happily take anything I was offered.
Good for you getting such a well paid job after uni, sadly alot of people I know are scraping by on much less, having to live with their parents and just managing to survive. I am greatful that I at least have some form of employment for now, even if it is not much.

I wasn't being mean with what I was saying or trying to gloat in the slightest, I was just saying you don't have to do much (where I live, down south) to get paid more than £300 a month. Have you thought about dumbing down your CV to those supermarket jobs? Sounds insane I know but I did that whilst in uni and got a night job stacking shelves in asda all it means is that you won't look like someone who is too good for it (which clearly you are but needs must an all ) have you tried recruitment agencies, they are brill at finding you work, after all it's their job! That's personally my next port of call for finding a better paid job

Anyways, I hope you accept my apologies for sounding like a meanie when I really wasn't xxx