Its been a bad year (and only day 6!). It can only get better!

Lizzy_o_2

<deep breath>

Well...this is really quite a nerve-racking experience (BRAND NEW TO THIS SITE!)! 2007 has not been the best year to date...at about midnight on NY Eve I broke my ankle and had my handbag stolen.

Soooo....I've decided to take positive action in order to make myself feel better and what better than to take control of my debt RIGHT NOW! I can't go out shopping (leg in plaster) so it all makes sense and for whatever reason I've ended up on this site and I can tell that every last person on here is an inspiration. Fate see!

I can't get up and about to check on all the paperwork and for some reason my EGG MONEY MANAGER system isn't working properly at the moment (great place to keep track of everything in one place, if a bit depressing at the mo) so these are going to be guesstimates in places for the moment but I will definately update later when I can get exact figures. For my (and his) sins then.......


TOTAL DEBT 06/01/2006 = £30,613.88

Northern Rock Loan = £23k approx (approx 7% interest), currently paying minimum monthly payment of £280

Lloyds TSB Platinum Visa = £3864.41 (approx 5.9% interest), currently paying minimum monthly payment of approx £80

Egg Money Mastercard = £2149.47 (7.9% interest), this card is supposed to be a budget organiser with a neutral balance, I pay in £250 per month and am supposed to spend that on essentials etc, but clearly, weve not budgeted this properly

Nationwide Visa Credit Card = £1600 approx (currently 0% - changes in March) paying minimum monthly payment of around £35

I know full well that i could currently pay more towards the above, and I think that my first step is therefore to decide which and how much...not sure which would be best to start with? Any suggestions!!?? I'm assuming the one with the highest interest?

Im getting a positive spin in my tummy...its happening already folks! Hoorah! :T

Will have to buy a camera to get stuff on ebay (my camera was in my stolen bag alas)...actually that can be my next step...check if I can claim / if its worth claiming on my house insurance!

Right...2 things to do. Thats easy compared to some of your lists! I should manage that much by Monday!

Thats my goal then! I'm feeling your strength already everyone!!

x

savvykaz

It really is going badly for you Lizzie! - it's 2007:D xxxx
Anyway, whatever year it is, welcome to MSE :T

beanielou

Welcome to MSE.
Hope 2007 picks up for you from now on!

itsarichmansworld

Welcome!!!

and well done for taken control.

try https://www.whatthecost.com and snowball it will tell you the best way to get rid of the debt and the best rate etc.

best of luck!

bukhaariuk

You may not need to buy a camera. Think of borrowing one, using a mobile with camera function or you can also use a web camera to take still pictures.

Have your pictures and descriptions ready for the next 1p listings.

Good Luck

arthur_dent_2

I think you probably need to concentrate mostly on one card at a time. Get as much as you can transfered to a 0% offer or a low life time % offer and then get rid of them by trying to overpay on them one at a time starting with the one on the highest interest rate.

This is obviously easier said than done, but good luck with it.

Lizzy_o_2

Blimey! Thanks Everyone! That was such a quick response!! It most certainly is 2007 but so much has happened already, it feels like we are WAY further in than day 6!

Not least, the fact that since posting my last comment I've already now checked out some of the fab suggestions on the site and made some serious moves towards my debt free goal!

I've now checked out my exact debt details which was very interesting, particularly as i thought the Lloyds rate of interest was a lot better than it actually is:

Nationwide 14.9% £1162.98 o/s
Lloyds TSB 15% £3872.56 o/s
Egg 7.9% £2149.47 o/s
Northern Rock 8.9% £22,500 o/s

Just been on the https://www.whatsthecost.co.uk site which was a recommended one on here and entered all my info to the 'snowball calculator' - it tells me that I could be debt free by June 2010 - NOT FAR TO GO AT ALL! Just got to follow its recommendations in terms of what to pay off first. So I've now changed all the direct debits - paying off the Lloyds card first as it suggests.

Sooo excited!

Thanks for the suggestion re the camera - my bf has a fantastic camera phone on his in particular so that's a really great idea!

roswell

post your incomings and out goings and we might be able to find some spare cash in there for you as well.

Gemmadm

Hi and welcome. I'm new as well and already love this site. Just to say that I had my mobile phone stolen and had no insurance (brand new phone I had for 2 days) . I claimed on the house insurance as I had no money to get a new one and it was sorted in a few days so it might be worth looking into. My premiums didn't go up either which was great. I hope the year starts getting better for you.
Gem xx

Triker

Hi and welcome also.
Bad news about your stuff getting stolen but hey, things can only get better right, because you are on here and there are so many folks out there...here...you know what I mean that will be able to guide you in DFW land.
Good luck.