How can I save?

thevinternet

AliceBanned wrote: »

I was hoping for some lower interest borrowing (balance transfer so that I can pay off cc more quickly, not for more borrowing) after my CCJ dropped off file, which it did today.:). My credit score is 678 with all three agencies (public score higher but I know both scores are not always used). According to checkmyfile.com I can only get 4 credit cards at 34.9%! I do have one default remaining (paid in full) from Feb 2007 so I wonder whether this is causing the still low score. Or is it an ok score? I could pay off the cc with credit union loan but I don't know whether this would even speed things up as that would be 12.9%. Or I could leave things as they are and continue to snowball the Halifax cc payment as I am doing ok with the new budget now.:D. Thanks to support from this thread too.

Hiya! You are doing so well - I'm so pleased that your new budget is working out. If you can manage it at this time of the year, you can manage it at any time!

Well, tbh I've been told in the past that the credit scores presented to you by credit expert etc are a load of old rubbish, I don't know if this is still the case, as that was a few years ago, but I remember once I had a score of over 900, then I was refused for the next card I applied for. It's mystifying!

I would personally say it's worth applying for a 0% card and see how you go - you have a good wage coming in, so that should help. Only apply for one at once though, then wait a few months, as they don't like to see lots of applications in a short space of time.

Sorry to hear about the ex - they always pop up at the worst times!

AliceBanned

PedroMatias wrote: »

Hi, I just noticed you said you pay for counselling. It'd be worth getting an NHS referral, or see if your employer has a counselling service (you'd be surprised how many do).

Seeing as this is all anonymous, do you mind me asking what for? I've suffered from bipolar for years, and went to a ton of counselling sessions. In the end, a £2 book from Amazon helped me more than meds or talking ever had! I'm not suggesting you're the same, and maybe you've found the one counselor who suits you, but it seems like an easy area to save a few bucks... and you'd be amazed how much that improves mental health!

Keep your chin up :T

Thanks PedroMatias, very helpful. I am not seeing it as a long term thing as I had ten years of it in the past! It is not the answer to everything and previous therapies are one of the reasons I'm so broke! I might see her for 2 or 3 more sessions. I have tried to reduce to one session every 3 weeks (every 2 at moment) but she is resisting this a bit so may have to go! It is my budget and my money after all. She seems pretty good though but part of the problem (depression, bad pms and periods of being bullied/difficult relationships) is physical. At my stronger times I really don't think I need to pay out so much and just need to work harder on it all myself. I agree - self help books make a huge difference. I don't have a diagnosis as such - I suppose depression but it is more cyclical therefore physical. Childhood issues also blah blah but to be honest I just want a happy life now and money is def important part of that, I agree. Debt really doesn't help and I've paid for counselling on my credit card! I'm seeing my doc on WEds so might ask her - had short term counselling on nhs in the past and via my employer - like getting blood out of a stone via the GP though.:rotfl:

AliceBanned

thevinternet wrote: »

Hiya! You are doing so well - I'm so pleased that your new budget is working out. If you can manage it at this time of the year, you can manage it at any time!

Well, tbh I've been told in the past that the credit scores presented to you by credit expert etc are a load of old rubbish, I don't know if this is still the case, as that was a few years ago, but I remember once I had a score of over 900, then I was refused for the next card I applied for. It's mystifying!

I would personally say it's worth applying for a 0% card and see how you go - you have a good wage coming in, so that should help. Only apply for one at once though, then wait a few months, as they don't like to see lots of applications in a short space of time.

Sorry to hear about the ex - they always pop up at the worst times!

Thanks, yes I feel better now than the other day. Actually focusing on the debt management cheers me up! lol.

I also looked on moneysupermarket - and am not offered 0% one on there either. I wonder whether Halifax would offer it, as I bank with them, or whether they would be less likely to let me transfer (probably) as they are making money out of my cc currently and out of my current account o/d. Maybe I'll try elsewhere..I'll have a look on the credit card thread and try and get info there. Thanks:).

AliceBanned

thevinternet wrote: »

Hiya! You are doing so well - I'm so pleased that your new budget is working out. If you can manage it at this time of the year, you can manage it at any time!

Well, tbh I've been told in the past that the credit scores presented to you by credit expert etc are a load of old rubbish, I don't know if this is still the case, as that was a few years ago, but I remember once I had a score of over 900, then I was refused for the next card I applied for. It's mystifying!

I would personally say it's worth applying for a 0% card and see how you go - you have a good wage coming in, so that should help. Only apply for one at once though, then wait a few months, as they don't like to see lots of applications in a short space of time.



Sorry to hear about the ex - they always pop up at the worst times!

ps you're so right about time of year. I've not gone for the xmas thing at all this year - in fact all the hype makes me feel more like scrooge! lol. I have to get pressies for my parents but am leaving it to the last minute when I get paid. Our local Metro front page (London) today is going on about how the shoppers are all back..what a load of bull to encourage us to spend - :rotfl:then on another page goes on about people using credit to buy presents.

PedroMatias

AliceBanned wrote: »

Thanks PedroMatias, very helpful. I am not seeing it as a long term thing as I had ten years of it in the past! It is not the answer to everything and previous therapies are one of the reasons I'm so broke! I might see her for 2 or 3 more sessions. I have tried to reduce to one session every 3 weeks (every 2 at moment) but she is resisting this a bit so may have to go! It is my budget and my money after all. She seems pretty good though but part of the problem (depression, bad pms and periods of being bullied/difficult relationships) is physical. At my stronger times I really don't think I need to pay out so much and just need to work harder on it all myself. I agree - self help books make a huge difference. I don't have a diagnosis as such - I suppose depression but it is more cyclical therefore physical. Childhood issues also blah blah but to be honest I just want a happy life now and money is def important part of that, I agree. Debt really doesn't help and I've paid for counselling on my credit card! I'm seeing my doc on WEds so might ask her - had short term counselling on nhs in the past and via my employer - like getting blood out of a stone via the GP though.:rotfl:

Cheers for being open about things. I really identify with the cyclic side of things, and I consider it completely biological too. With me, the smallest trigger can start the swing downwards when it's 'due' - having money worries is the last thing you want. I'd really suggest exploring the free alternatives.

In the meantime - my two book recommendations are "The Devil Within" by Stephanie Merritt, and in particular, "Malignant Sadness" by Lewis Wolpert. They're not self-help books, more memoirs, but they're great for coming to terms with things and trying different tactics when the mood starts to swing down. Wolpert tackles it from a more medical perspective which may appeal to you. Should be able to get them for a couple of quid from Amazon.

Good luck with everything!

AliceBanned

PedroMatias wrote: »

Cheers for being open about things. I really identify with the cyclic side of things, and I consider it completely biological too. With me, the smallest trigger can start the swing downwards when it's 'due' - having money worries is the last thing you want. I'd really suggest exploring the free alternatives.

In the meantime - my two book recommendations are "The Devil Within" by Stephanie Merritt, and in particular, "Malignant Sadness" by Lewis Wolpert. They're not self-help books, more memoirs, but they're great for coming to terms with things and trying different tactics when the mood starts to swing down. Wolpert tackles it from a more medical perspective which may appeal to you. Should be able to get them for a couple of quid from Amazon.

Good luck with everything!

Many thanks, so helpful. I'll definitely get those two. I do find the books more uplifting although sometimes difficult issues. Counselling can make me mope even more! I've also been recommended an acupuncturist and herbalist with 30 years' experience who treated someone's friend's pmt with amazing results. Plus nutrition.

So true for me too about the triggers! Especially at that time. Last Mon it was a) a Monday b) a template caused me havoc at work and the relevant dept wd not help - I thought my world was about to end and it all spiralled down from there! After that I had to recover from the excess of emotion and catch up on sleep, not to mention recover my dignity..:(. All much better now though. But I do want to get rid of this problem and have more control, as the rest of the time I am much more happy and carefree.

onthebreadline

Not much advice to offer, that hasn't already been said.

That aside, Here's a novel way of cutting down on your food and entertainment spend.

Why not get together with a small group of your friends and have a "Come dine with me" contest - take it in turns, to make a three course meal for everyone, even giving a theme, eg italian, mexican, indian - you get the gist.

Great Fun!! You can even score each other and the prize - well doesn't even need to be one - could just be your choice for the theme the next time.

So you cut down on food spend (cheaper to cook for 4-5 persons) than 1 - 4 to 5 times, and you are not spending on entertainment.

thevinternet

onthebreadline wrote: »

Not much advice to offer, that hasn't already been said.

That aside, Here's a novel way of cutting down on your food and entertainment spend.

Why not get together with a small group of your friends and have a "Come dine with me" contest - take it in turns, to make a three course meal for everyone, even giving a theme, eg italian, mexican, indian - you get the gist.

Great Fun!! You can even score each other and the prize - well doesn't even need to be one - could just be your choice for the theme the next time.

So you cut down on food spend (cheaper to cook for 4-5 persons) than 1 - 4 to 5 times, and you are not spending on entertainment.

We did a similar thing, but did 'come bake with me' to make it even cheaper...got the girls round and we had cups of tea with scones, muffins etc - a different cake at each house. It was lush! xxx

AliceBanned

Great ideas! Thanks.:)

onthebreadline

Don't know how you feel about this, but I am a great believer, since I hate taking any kind of prescribed medication.

I had severe hay fever year after year, until someone told me about homopathic medicine,

I was told to go to my nearest Boots the Chemists, and look for either Nelsons Homopathic (green tube) or Boots own brand (blue tube and slightly cheaper)
look up the book/leaflet beside them (sometimes the book is kept behind the counter) with your main symptoms and they suggest
which type/name you should buy. Its like a tube about 3-4" high and has tiny tiny beads (like balls) in it.

I looked up mine, itchy eyes, itchy throat, etc, etc, and it suggests what I should try.

Anyway, a good few months later (after having taken them for a couple of months or more) they did eleviate my hay fever (within a couple of days of first starting them), but I also noticed I did not have my usual PMT symptoms either. I took another look at this book, this time looking up all my symptoms for PMT and yes you guessed it, it also recommended the same thing I was taking for my hay fever. So, all in all, done both jobs. Great stuff and only cost me about 3.00 quid (I obviously got Boots own brand).

I have since told a few work colleagues about this, with different symptoms, hay fever, going through the change, hot flushes etc, etc, and they all report that they have helped.

Please let me assure you that this is not a prescribed medicine, and that it is on the shop floor of boots amongst your olbas oil, etc,etc where anyone can go in and buy it, you will NOT find it behind the chemist/pharmacy counter

I can only tell you my story, but might be worth considering.

Please let me know, how you get on.