The teflon wagon

savingholmes

HI BW

Well done for the progress so far... We joined MSE on our third attempt at clearing a debt and are making a success of it so far... One of the main things that makes a difference is budgeting, meal planning and reducing impulse purchases especially big ones... I may research a new kitchen - work out the true cost and then walk away.... Its learning to walk away and realise that sometimes we don't deserve that thing - as that thing has not just costs, but consequences if we haven't saved up for it first... and those consequences show up in weight gain, loss of sleep, health issues etc

It is hard sometimes - but planning ahead definitely makes a big difference. Also not volunteering for expensive things or expensive holidays is a good one - deciding an affordable budget for holidays and savings up for them is also good. Look at the celebrations board for ideas on how to have a christmas you can afford - don't fall into the trap of spending x amount because you always have. If you've borrowed money from family in the past - then presumably they know and should understand you can't keep spending as if you have loads of money - We told family not to expect so much. My first MSE xmas was one of my best xmas ever as I'd put so much thought and effort into the gifts rather than just money....

Good luck

Bad_Weather

Hi Savingholmes!

Thanks so much for the advice.

Recently (i.e the last month) i've started making friends know that i have debt (not giving away how much) and i'm wanting it cleared ASAP so hopefully the OH and I can move flats next year.

I've really found that letting people know that i have debt and am skint is helping me say NO to alot of things. Also instead of catching up with friends over dinner i've changed that to coffees...works out ALOT cheaper.

Plus my mates have been suggesting stuff and i now just straight away say i'm pretty skint.

Hopefully all these small changes will make a difference!!! Will let you know in a month or two!!! x

savingholmes

Hi BW - check out the £10 a day challenge and cashback sites like quidco - that way even if you spend money you can get some of it back.... Do Martin's money makeovers and see whether you can save any more money off your SOA. HTH

Bad_Weather

Thanks savingholmes!

I was thinking that WHEN actually need toiletries I will use the cashback sites. Will also stop impulse purchases!

Hopefully most of this week will be NSD's! Well except tomorrow where i need to buy milk for work...so it's not really a NSD then is it....mmmmmmm....not quite got the hang of this yet have I? I will take £1 only to work with me to ensure that it is my only spend!

Just done a weekly food shop for me and the OH. £44.06 bucks. That should cover us for all our brekkies and lunches and some dinner! My freezer is still pretty full so would love to be organised enough to start working through that...

We are also going to do an online shop during the week - stock up on pastas, rice, frozen meat and veg. All the non fresh stuff that isn't urgent. But when i buy from city centre costs 3 times as much than if i bought it from a supermarket!

I feel this week is going to be a good week! x

miggy

Hi, just wanted to say well done for keeping your head above water despite everything!
An even cheaper alternative to going out for coffees is to learn to make your own (fancy lattes and so on) and invite friends round to try them out. There are recipes on t'internet and it's easier than it sounds. I got little espresso maker off Ebay for a few pounds and make my own gingerbread lattes, which I love and cost very little.
There are vouchers and discount codes around for first online grocery shops - perhaps try the vouchers threads?

Bad_Weather

Does anyone else with debt get really scared when they hear about redundancy on the news? Its making me more motivated to clear my debt.

Payday yesterday. Debt paid yesterday.

£400 to family loan.
£530 to M&S

DONE!!! :money: Had to pay it out asap otherwise I'd put it off and dip into it. Ideally I'd like to add to this during the month but my current calculations show that this is the max I can pay. :mad:

Not a NSD yesterday as spent 35p getting milk. Really it was only purchased so I now have the carton and im going to start refilling that at home and taking it in. Also sponsored my mates daughter £5 - not to be stingy but RAGE I have not budgeted these things in and its a child, how can I try and explain debt to them??? Rest of week should hopefully be NSD's until Friday!!! :T

Hey Miggy! How are you?

WELL funny you should mention that! My OH has a really good coffee machine which we put back to his parent for space. But recently we've decided were going to bring it back, especially going into winter! Think I might need to make some starbucks gingerbread and vanilla syrup purchases!!! YUM. Also I can make steamed milks and get those hot chocolate sticks that you stir in.....mmmmmm.... :rotfl:

savingholmes

Hi BW - yes I was in a short term job when I found MSE and my driver was knowing I could be unemployed within x period! It really motivated me to pay off as much as I could. I also did develop some emergency funds as we went along the way. The reality these days is that anyone can be at risk of redundancy so we all might as well prepare

Well done on your debt payment £930!!! Well done you!! That's fab! I found the payment a day type stuff didn't work for me as if I had worked out my budget right I'd already paid it off....

The coffee machine sounds like a good idea...

Bad_Weather

So true Savingholmes, the reality is these days whether short term employment or not we could all be without jobs tomorrow! No industry is safe anymore!

I really want to have a "buffer" , the women in my work say you should ALWAYS have 3 months wages as a buffer at any time...erm...yeh...right now i'll just be happy when i only owe 3 months wages! :rotfl:

Yeh the payment a day stuff totally doesn't work for me, as I've said before i'm just not organised enough! I worked out the maximum i could afford. I would usually do my budget then be like...okay so ill pay that at the end of the month..."just incase"....yeh "just incase" i wanted to go shopping with it!!! Thought i'd pay it and get it over and done with...like a martin band-aid for debt riddled adults! :money:

Had a mild breakthrough today...told my OH of my debt...he freaked out...he went mental...started flipping tables and throwing chairs and smashing coffee cups... :eek:

Nahhhhhhhh JOKING!!! He was totally unphased by it. :T It was light a weight being lifted. He asked my repayments - i told him. HE says he thinks i should pay 250 to M&S and 500 to family for next year. Then its "liveable".

I told him i want it cleared quicker than that - told him of my plans to clear 10k and save 10k in a year. He says it will never happen... :rotfl: and i wouldn't have a life, I said it can be done if i'm smart and budget and save for things in advance! I bet him I would by Dec 2012! 20k in 15 months! :beer:

Game on! x

P.S Also this is me JUST checking my interest rate with MS 23.9% !!!!!!!!!! :eek:

miggy

Bad_Weather wrote: »

Hey Miggy! How are you?

WELL funny you should mention that! My OH has a really good coffee machine which we put back to his parent for space. But recently we've decided were going to bring it back, especially going into winter! Think I might need to make some starbucks gingerbread and vanilla syrup purchases!!! YUM. Also I can make steamed milks and get those hot chocolate sticks that you stir in.....mmmmmm.... :rotfl:

Mmm! Now I am starting to drool...!

Re: talk of redundancy. Some jobs have gone where DH works and we really don't know whether he'll have a job in six months, which prompted me to take lots of overtime when it came available over the summer. It just felt that I wanted to start from as positive a position as possible if we were going to go through hard times, though of course it may not happen.

We've been there before, though - redundancy - which led to a move and a really nice few years in the next job, so I know it's surviveable.

We aren't likely to have 3 month's wages laid by 'just in case', any time in the near future though!

Well done on your repayments and telling your OH. Progress! :T:T:T

savingholmes

Where are you? Hope you are still behaving yourself?;)

Even if you have fallen off the MSE wagon - get back on and keep posting...