Newbie - seeking advice.

peteuk

Hi

Im sorry to do this, Im sure loads of other have been here befor me.

Im new to the site and was looking for some general advice.

Ive been on a DRP with the CCCS for just under 2 years, our original debt was just under 40k, we currently owe approx 36K. Total payoff is around Jan 2012.

I have always had a penny jar, but it gets emptied more than it should. We collect anything under 50p. I have seen the £2 challenge, but we dont get that many £2 coins.

Im getting my chargers back (£2641) but want (need) to go on holiday.

Weve tried the weekly spend restriction (£20 each) but that didnt last long. I know we need to be stricter.

I have just singed up to quidco.....

Any other suggestions

Pete

GirlRacer_2

Hi Pete and welcome to Debt free wannabees. I was like yourself with regards to the £2 savings club. I didn't seem to get many (or so I thought). I started collecting them at the beginning of February this year and already I've got about £160. It's surprising how much they mount up.

Have you joined pigsback? As they pay you in vouchers, I tend to keep the vouchers for christmas presents.

I'm sure there'll be other suggestions made.

hypno06

It sounds like motivation is needed. So why not make a visual reminder of what you will be able to buy/do when you are debt free and stick it on your fridge or as a screen saver?

If you keep breaking into the penny pot, then why not have one that you can't get into without breaking it? You don't need to spend money on a Terramundi or anything, just superglue the lid on an old empty coffee jar and cut a slot in the top!

And keep coming on these boards, you will get loads of support here.

Good luck!

lynzpower

I reckon the key is here - do you WANT to pay off your debt quicker or not?

Have you posted a SOA?

Surely with the CCCS, you had to do a budget- was a holiday pot not included in that?

Why not have a holiday ( the cheapest you can find- maybe a sun holiday- go camping- go on an cheap package- ask on travel trips & hols they find some great deals- set yourself a budget of say X hundred all in) then offer the rest to your creditors on full & final settlements.

Post a soa lets see if theres any other savings from anywhere we can find for you.

I will say If you are not motivated it wont work.

peteuk

Hi all....

Thanks for the advice so far, I will try and answer some questions.
I havent posted my SOA, I will do so.
I havent heard of pigsback, what is it.
Not sure if CCCS had a hoilday in my budget.

I am looking to earn a little extra, so that when it comes to the end of the month we are not breaking the penny jar to buy food.

We have had a tough few years, my wife had PND after the birth of our 2nd child, she hates were we life. I was sent away with work just befor Xmas and so missed out on everything over the xmas/ new year. We have tried to keep within budget, may be its a dose of self discipline or motivation.

Anyway I will be checking back on here, as much as possible to keep up to date.

Thanks again

Peteuk

Tabby_Kitten_2

Ok... I've only just join the forum, and it's the first forum I've join so not completely sure that I'm post in the right place but here goes any way.

I want to be debt-free, although reading some of the posts I'm lucky and don't own that much, about £1300, but I want to sort things out now, not later.

Theres a couple of things that I'm not sure abuut: What's a SOA? And does anyone know if you can use balance tranfers to re-pay overdrafts as this is what all my debts and from what I've been reading on this site then I should be better off getting a 0% balance transfer credit card and paying it back this way?

Sorry this is a bit ramble, and if it's in the wrong place!

Lucy1982_2

Tabby_Kitten wrote: »

Ok... I've only just join the forum, and it's the first forum I've join so not completely sure that I'm post in the right place but here goes any way.

I want to be debt-free, although reading some of the posts I'm lucky and don't own that much, about £1300, but I want to sort things out now, not later.

Theres a couple of things that I'm not sure abuut: What's a SOA? And does anyone know if you can use balance tranfers to re-pay overdrafts as this is what all my debts and from what I've been reading on this site then I should be better off getting a 0% balance transfer credit card and paying it back this way?

Sorry this is a bit ramble, and if it's in the wrong place!

Hi Tabby.

I's probably best if you start your only thread (top of main board) An SoA is a state of affairs. To get the best out of one, list everything you pay out, include an allowance for birthdays and christmas and also all the APR's on anything you owe. Hopefully someone will be along soon with more help.

Good Luck

peteuk

Tabby,

Start a new thread, and hopefully you will get some good advice. I phoned a company up who said I could do one of two things. Firstly was a DMP (Debt Management plan) the second involved hiring an accountant and tell ing the compamies we would pay so much off. As my wife was going on mat leave we went through the CCCS (Consumer Credit councilling service) who are a charity based organisation who offer advice and help.

Good luck

Peteuk