"Simply not solvent!

Seaxwyn

Thanks John

I'm off to look at Zurich Insurance now, thanks for the tip. Car insurance is up for renewal next month and I'll definitely do that via Quidco. I joined Quidco and have £12.39 tracked - will it ever reach my account?

Life/mortgage insurance is definitely an area where we can reduce outgoings. Equitable Life have quoted me £11.81 monthly premium for £200k life cover. I'll look at moneysupermarket as you suggest. Who is your policy with?

Unfortunately we don't live anywhere near a Costco or Makro. I've never even heard of Makro! The only supermarkets within reach are Sainsburys and Morrisons. We should do ood shopping online I know, I must get my head round that.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

JohnD76

Make sure you use the Zurich insurance via Quidco this month, since they are offering £120 cash back :-)

I have only been using Quidco since Jan 07 and so far only have 1 transaction validated, everything else is tracked. Think we will just have to be patient and wait for the money to come in....

Let me know how you get on with the Zurich deal. I got a years insurance for £151.50 with £120 cashback (hopefully only cost £31.50 for the year) :-)

Seaxwyn

Gosh I have just looked at Quidco and I have acquired another 70p without even realising it! It must be from a survey I started filling in, then abandoned.

£120 for buying insurance is a great deal and I'm encouraged to see Zurich is a 'fast' payer in Quidco terms.

I'm really grateful for that advice John, I knew I needed to shop around but wasn't sure where to start. Thanks!

JohnD76

You are more than welcome :-)

Check out the QuidBlog on Quidco since you can get another £4.50 or so by registering with a couple of online photo places. Doesn't cost you anything to register and you don't have to buy anything.

chevalier

Can I suggest that you do an online shop with Sainsburies. The reason being
a) there is no temptation to impulse buy what is not on the shopping list
and
b) there are always money off vouchers, for either extra points, or free delivery
c) it will save you your petrol
d) it will save you your time, though of course you do have to wait in for them.

I am assuming you do have a nectar card to take advantage of points at Sainsburies?
chev

chevalier

Also ref holidays. With all due respect to your sister, wouldn't it be better if you did a really cheap holiday, and asked her to contribute the rest to paying off your debts? You can get deals in the Sun and the Mirror staying on a camp site for £10 (may be a bit more for 6 or you though but not that much).

Also how old are your teenagers? Can they get Saturday jobs, do chores to help out (so that you can work more effectively?).

regards
chev

Seaxwyn

Thanks. I will organise myself to do an online shop - though in fact we usually walk or cycle to Sainsbury's. I find the prospect daunting, I don't know why, I'm sure it will be very liberating when I actually do it as I hate shopping with all my heart.

chevalier

the best bit about an online shop with anyone, is that there is the subtotal there to see, so there is no nasty surprise at the checkout. Also there is not pester power, and I don't just mean from the children. I usually spend about £50 on a supermarket shop and some more in the butcher. Made the mistake of taking the family along last week £85!!!!! And still needed stuff in the week. GRRR

Seaxwyn

Hi Chevalier

Thanks for your several posts. I've only just seen the one about the holiday. I've booked it now - a cottage in Cornwall for £550 (which my sister sees as dirt cheap!) I would feel strange asking her to pay off debts as she is a prickly person with strong views and while she likes the idea of funding a holiday she might feel differently about bankrolling our !!!!less behaviour.

I'm very lucky as my other sister gives me £100/month 'to pay for stuff for the children' which in reality goes into the general pot. But it makes me feel a bit less bad about days like today, when I've spent £45 on swimming! (new costumes, goggles and swimming pool entry for 6 children)

The 'teenagers' are in fact only 12, they just act like teenagers. They are good kids and very helpful, particularly with minding the younger ones, and one of them has a real work ethic. As soon as she's legally allowed she will be earning, no question.

I know that online shopping would be better, I must get over my resistance to the idea. I never manage to plan more than two or three meals ahead, which is pathetic I know - I will set a target to write a proper list for two weeks or more.

However my DFW priorities for the next week are to get better deals for our life insurance and car insurance - and to do the maximum possible amount of freelance work.

Thanks again for your advice.

katecheshire

Hi Seaxwyn
If you don't need to be online when you are working at your computer, why not disconnect your internet - it will be so much hassle to connect it up again just to 'pop in' to forums etc. You can set yourself a target and then when you have done that, treat yourself to a little browsing;)

(speaking as someone who is also easily distracted:rotfl: )