Single mum - need advice please (soa posted)

ElleWoods

That's a great idea! You're right they do put things on hold, so will look into that as soon as I get home. Think I've missed this months though as the money comes out on the 1st but will sort it for next month. Thanks!

Verbatim

Hi there,

Sorry if someone has already asked but are you getting the discount for Council Tax as there's only one adult in the house?

It looks to me as if you are nearly there, but you need to do a bit of juggling and belt tightening. Don't get a loan for your 0% debt!! And if you can't get your low life of balance rate back you could try for another low lob card before thinking about a loan but you don't want to apply for too many within a short time as all searches will be on your redit file and could make you look desperate and a bad bet.

Hope things are going well.

Verbatim

Sorry I wasn't clear. Ring up the cc where you have lost the low life of balance rate and see if you can get it back. It's worth asking. You could well succeed but if you don't ask you won't get and if they say no you're no worse off than now.

ElleWoods

Thanks, I'm going to do that when I get home from work. If they say no I'll ring up the HSBC one to see if they can extend my credit limit to enable me to transfer it to them. If both options say no, I'll be back on here looking for a new 0% deal!

Lydia.42

Re: getting another cc or consolidating.
I would try for another card if possible. If they say no, you are no worse off, but hopefully they may say yes, which would help to reduce your debts/outgoings.
I would be reluctant to go for a loan, as it will tie you in and be less flexible than cards in the long run.

I would cancel the savings, at the very least until you can get out of the gym and counseling costs. Then perhaps re-do your SOA to see if you can start saving again for car insurance, etc.

Think most people have covered the other stuff that springs to mind at the moment.

Keep up the good work, and definitely check out the old style board.

warburtonrichard

Other ways to get your films/DVD fix:

free trials off quidco (already flogged to death above)

local library - cheap

Get an oyster card for about £3.00 online, even if you don't live in london you can get 2-4-1 at blockbuster video (https://www.oystercard.com)

Do box sets (e.g. Lost, CSI, 24 etc) by buying on ebay, watching over a couple of weeks, then selling on ebay again. Sometimes you can make a profit on the whole thing, other times it's cost you net only a few quid for a few weeks watching, cheaper than a monthly subscription to lovefilm anyway.

Local video shops are as often as not cheaper than blockbusters and a lot of them do Uber cheap VIDEO rental (remember those?) Dunno. That's a bit more far fetched, but worth a go.

Thoroughly scour the TV listings on telly and freeview for all movies, and set the video.

How many movies do you watch a month? If you could do two by videoing them off the telly for free, a box set off ebay at net even, and a 2-4-1 at blockbuster with your oyster card for recent ones, you could be down to £3.00 a month and still get your full fix.

And that's before you've started tarting around your free trials.

Luxuries keep you sane, cheapness keeps you fed, this way you could have both.

Enjoy
xx
Warby

mumsyrach

Also make sure you sign up (if you havent already) to all the paid survey sites and also pigsback, that way if you have spare time in the evenings after your DS has gone to bed, you could do a few, know its not a lot of money but every little helps!

ElleWoods

Thanks for all the great advice that's coming in, it really is helpful.

One thing I need to ask is, what are survey sites and which sites should I try? Pigsback has been mentioned above but just wondering if there are any more. Sounds like a good idea to get a few extra pence.

Bambywamby

Have you checked your local charity shops for Videos to watch?
Some of my local shops sell videos for 20 pence each as people just no longer watch them and tend to buy DVDs instead.

You may not be able to get bang up to the minute titles but at such low cost it's worth having a look.

Best wishes X x X

ElleWoods

Thanks, but I don't have a video player!!!

xx