If at first you don't succeed!

inthegreen

Well who would have thought I would be back here. I cant be the only one that has crashed spectacularly off the wagon, it seems to happen as soon as I am in a long term relationship. Anyway time to get back on it and sort it once and for all.

Debts

Virgin 2131.88 @16.00% and 1980@0% until dec 2012 – total £4111.88 minimum repayment
Halifax card 7.92 @ 21.45% - minimum repayment
Zopa Loan 8766.34 – 10.9% apr ends 12/2013 324.68 a month
Mum loan 10,000 borrowed 141.29 a month
Overdraft 1500

Total 24386.14

I have just deleted a long list of justifications as to why I am back in high debt but there are none. My OH has no debt (apart from our mortgage) and very rarely pays via debit card he is so paranoid (he pays cash).

This also makes it hard as he is not that worried about sticking to an exact budget and because of his manual job our food bills are through the roof trying to keep his weight on.

The first thing is for me to pay off the Halifax card and close that and my empty Barclaycard.

This week I have started by bringing in my own lunch supplemented by the free fruit in the office, doing a exercise dvd at home and cycling when I can. I will not be going at this debt as hard and fast as I could or have done in the past (when I was single)or as much as some might think I should but I do want to pay it off more quickly.

Looking through what I spend I am also looking at getting rid of the tescos dental insurance, I am petrified of dentists and am not using it, this will save me £18 a month. I have also emailed Hr to ask to cancel my work gym this will not only save me £38 a month but will help my tax code.

Most frustratingly an oil company have just delivered £329 of oil to my tank ordered by the old owner (who died) I have rung them and told them she has passed away and I didn’t order it, they asked me if I would keep it if they gave me a good price and I told them I would consider it (I have no clue what a good price is!) anyway 3 days later and no call back from the manager!

I am making a list of things to do (I love a list)

Ebay clothes, shoes and anything else
Find out what good oil price would be and ring oil company
Cancel dental insurance
Pay off Halifax card
Close Halifax and Barclaycard
Work out what I have coming up that I need money for and budget accordingly
Buy last three Christmas presents as cheaply as possible
Set a weekly food budget and stick to it
Sign up for mystery shopping/surveys
Have at least 2 NSD this week
Start a £2 pot

Thank you to all the other diarists, I love reading your updates and highs and lows.

Oh and any tips for keeping the food nills down and the calories up for OH but down for me would be appreciated!

LAM2011

hi and welcome back.

My OH also doesnt have any debt and although fairly sympathetic to my trying to pay it off can also waste food and money which drives me mad. Sounds like you have the basics under control so good luck - as you know these boards are excellent for tips etc.

I have had a good run with Mysurvey this month - have made £30 and tested a box of dishwashing tablets can refer you if you like and are not already signed up.

inthegreen

Thank you thats very kind of you, do you need any details to sign me up?:)

LAM2011

Sent you a PM but basically just let me have your email address.

You are lucky that you get free fruit at work - I would love that as I often buy fruit and then dont feel like it and it goes to the chickens lol

Was also going to say - signing up to some of the challenges on here really helped me focus to pay off my debts.

inthegreen

well I have photographed and written descriptions of 30 items worth £400 including postage costs. I have listed them on 2 forums first before I hit ebay and the fees.

I am now off to eat left over veg I kept from last nights tea that I usually would have chucked

I have not had a single £2 coin yet, I need to get started:cool:

inthegreen

well I have already sold £33 of items already and received payment of £30. I do need to take the money out for postage but hopefully I can send them quite cheaply.

Spent today so far

5.50 carparking - can reclaim from work
49p milk - to have with the cereal I bought and stored in our london office
1.30 cup of tea - I can't bear the drinks machine tea and have been quite dehydrated recently so have taken this out my weekly spends
Postage - don't know yet
I have to travel later to see clients so am able to claim lunch on subsistence.
Dinner I have in freezer.

Now off to google the nearest post office:)

LAM2011

Morning,

Sounds like a good start with some sales already. I also started with a massive ebay session which knocked a huge chunk off one of my credit cards. Now I am struggling the time to get decent pics and actually put the stuff on ebay and most of it is very low value but really must make an effort.

Enjoy your day

inthegreen

another £17 of items sold and all without listing on ebay and having listing and sellers fees.

Something else to add to the list is find the cheapest way of getting my hair cut, its been a year since I have had it cut and its breaking off, Local salons aren't asking for any models maybe I will have to find out if any of the London ones need anyone.

MFWannabe

For cheap haircuts take a look at colleges nearby. They normally like models for them to train on; don't worry they are supervised.

With reference to your Barclaycard; would they offer you a 0% transfer deal to move the interest bearing debt off your other card?

inthegreen

I have already received the paypal money for the items I have sold so I will be off to the post office tomorrow. I will give the rest of the items until Sunday and then list on ebay

Today I also cancelled the work gym, it finishes on 31st December and last deduction is Januarys pay packet and then I can call tax office and get code adjusted.

I didn't spend anything else today and had jacket spuds and freezer bolognase for tea.

Back to the office with free proper tea and milk and fruit tomorrow so apart from postage hoping to not spend anything else.

inthegreen

things to add to the list

sign up for more surveys and mystery shopping/market research
dig out old mobiles
check all dd's