Dilemma....

mrsmag

I am willing:

Not to go on holidays abroad (the holidays we save for are to the holiday home, which doubles up as a family visit as my brother lives there, its an expensive ferry ride, but we may be able to leave the car a lot of the time as he now lives there)

Not to buy new clothes or shoes for me or husband

To eat supermarket meat instead of the butcher (which believe me is a sacrifice)

Not to go out in the evenings, hey I've got a child - its really no sacrifice at all!

Not to drive to work, and be a 1 car family - this is a breakthrough for us

Not to get takeaways

Get an unattractive, fuel efficient car (believe it or not!)

Eat home made lunch and never spend at the work canteen, difficult but already being done

No sweeties or magazines - my weakness and proving difficult, but I'm going to do this, I'm willing to cut that out


But I'm not willing to make both of us miserable, even for a year, as its an important year for my daughter and she doesn't deserve a miserable family. Every single person needs something that makes them feel good, and we are willing to sacrifice lots - just not everything.

So I'll keep going with the budget, paying off the cc, and hopefully it wont take too long. It certainly won't take as long or cost as much as if I did the mortgage thing, so thanks to those who confirmed that for me!

mrsmag

Also, sorry if my comment on people avoiding these boards offended the majority of very helpful posters here, but as much as I find this place mostly helpful, it has a reputation for being a little unfriendly at times.

I am aware of it and am used to being on forums so it doesn't really bother me (although I succumbed and had to point it out) but I don't want the majority of helpful people to be offended.

anxious_mum

backinbusiness wrote: »

I believe the Cycle to Work Scheme isn't running at the moment, sorry

As an absolute coincidence my HR department emailed us just yesterday advertising this scheme, so maybe it is company related as to whether it's running or not. Although I'm in England, not Scotland so I don't know if that would make a difference. I'm going for it anyway, it's a really good deal.

mrsmag

I am aware that my situation is not as bad as some, but I am equally aware that it needs close attention for me to come out of it unscathed. The reality of this situation is that I could be credit card free in 3 or 4 years even if I revert to making the minimum payment (saving me £250 on my current monthly outgoings) maybe that's the saving I should make?! And then at that point I'll be a 34 year old with a 30% LTV mortgage, so forgive me if I don't declare myself bankrupt now!

I actually have seen sense about my situation.... I have manageable debt which I'm trying to pay off as fast as I can.

I mean I have bought these things in a different state of mind - pre-lighbulb moments if you like, where I am still living as though I'm on full time wages. I think I've been pretty honest to say that I realise these things are luxuries, and tried to make it as lighthearted as I could! I am aware that I am lucky I'm not in more debt and I had my lightbulb moment when I did.

Where are the lovely posters of this morning? Hello, are you there? I miss you!

mrsmag

Anxious mum, for some reason I don't have a thanks button for your post so thanks! x

mrsmag

Whatliesbeneth wrote: »

so someone posts a pretty sensible and well balanced reply to try and make you see sense about your situation and that makes this forum unfriendly? re-read your own posts and see how much of a snob you come across as. i would take the advice you have been given, people want to help you. if not why bother asking?

??

Is there any need for the personal digs though? 'or if that's not good enough for you' and you want things easy and the like. Doesn't sound like a well balanced person to me, never mind a well balanced reply.

That reply is the only one that really was a bit unneccessary - totally personal, totally judgemental - exactly the reputation I had heard of in the past, but like I said - my experience is usually different.

But there's always one (or 2 in this case)

anxious_mum

I agree with you Mrsmag, there seem to be some uncharitable remarks floating around today. Is there a full moon due or something

If you're like me I tend to put all my thoughts in the forum, I find it cathartic and really useful to put things in writing and get them straight in my mind, but some posters seem to pick up on odd remarks and make a meal out of them x

Mikazaru

Is it possible to swap over contracts with your OH? If his has come to an end and yours has a way to go but you don't use all your minutes/texts etc could you go to PAYG? If your contracts cost roughly the same a month getting rid of one would save ~£30 a month which would almost cover your surplus. Any other savings you make could then go straight towards your debt.
Do you use Quidco/Top Cashback etc?

mrsmag

Yeah, I think you can get iphone sim only deals with O2 (he's with O2, I'm with Vodafone). Will see if I can persuade him, its so unfortunate that my lightbulb moment came after I got my phone, it looks bad - I get what I want but he has to pay So I'd be more than willing to swap, but he doesn't like my blackberry *big eye roll* its never easy lol! Will be investigating the phone situation on all fronts though, so thanks to everyone with those suggestions!

And no, I don't know what Quidco/Top Cashback are, slightly embarassing! I'm obviously a newly realised debt fighter!

Mikazaru

If you could get the phones unlocked you could then just swap the sims over so he could keep his iPhone.

Quidco et al are cashback sites so when you shop for car insurance, utilities etc you get cashback. If you do take out a sim only deal you should get cashback and it can save a lot of money for house insurance if you take that out.
https://www.quidco.com/home/