Positive Thoughts

Dreaming_always

I've been thinking a lot recently about my money and I desperately want to clear it, currently I owe about £944 on one overdraft and about £769.

The overdraft is interest free at the moment but come September I know they will take it off me so I am anticipating that and aim to pay off £130 a month and also meet the minimum payments on my Next.

My biggest problem is I have run out of money making ideas

I've sold as much as I can, our food budget is good, we spend around £250 a month for a family of four.

We don't smoke or drink alcohol, we don't go out at all life for us is pretty mundane.

I've decided after half term, my daughter won't be having school dinners any more it was costing me £12 a week, had a letter from gas and elec its been changed to £142 a month because we underpaid, so for the meantime I've turned the thermostat right down and will resubmit a meter reading in another month.

In april we will lose some tax credits to the tune of £75 a week so I think this is the kick I need to finally get rid of it.

I get paid tomorrow but after bills go out I am literally left with £22 thankfully my partner gets his monthly salary on Tuesday so if I do a small £20 shop to get stuff for her packed lunch and for dinner, the end of the month is always the worst cos the gas and elec comes out and the broadband.

daftsod11

When we were lost for a little cash, my girlfriend decided to make cakes and sell them, initially it was slow, but now she makes money from her hobby every month. See what you can make!!

Dreaming_always

I was thinking about that, either card making or start decorating wooden letters, I'm not very good with sewing or baking though lol but thank you for your idea

Dreaming_always

Just so its on record total debt without any interest is:

Next : £769
Overdraft : £944

Total : £1713

Plans for 2013, pay them both off and close them down.
Save £1000- I only want to do small targets because I get easily overwhelmed.

I plan on getting some things together for the free eBay listings for this weekend, I'm due some money from my friend this month which will more than cover the Next repayment so any money I make will pay off the overdraft.

tattycath

Ooh, a shiny new thread.
Baby steps and all that. Just remember: 'from tiny acorns mighty oak trees grow'.

Dreaming_always

I've had a thought,I have been accepted for the Barclay card platinum it's on 0% for purchases , if I was to pay off my next account online, it would buy me 6 months time which I will be able to have interest free, which means I can put all my money to my overdraft and pay it off quicker.

And then pay off the credit card, does that just make sense to me?

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary
Keep posting!

Dreaming_always

Well today has been a good day, i have managed to switch my gas and elec provider from £142 down to £112 fixed in till November 2014 same usage plan, really pleased about that.

Will save £30 a month which can be put towards payments, there's not much else I can cut down, water meters can't be fitted, my phone bill is £15 a month and will end in July, virgin is tied in for another 8 months because I recently signed up for broadband contract.

Dreaming_always

Did our weekly food shop today in asda but instead of getting everything in there, I actually stopped buying veg and fruit and certain meats in there, instead only brought stuff I couldn't get elsewhere cheaper, spent £43 in there, another £9 on cleaning and big bags of crisps for dd packed lunch in the 99p store, then went to fruit and veg shop and spent £7 which would have easily been double that in asda , and another £6 in the butchers on some chicken breasts which I spilt into bags and frozen for later this week.

So £65 in total when usually that would be around £80 ish, my partner was impressed and we've decided will do it every week now, but hopefully won't need to get the cleaning supplies and toilet roll next week.

My next bill came through and I actually owe £50 less than I think I do so that was a bonus, however I think I paid £47 in charges so will be using credit card to clear it as it's interest free, but aiming to clear overdraft quicker.

Had a bit more money than the £20 I thought I only had so that was a lt better, haven't listed anything yet on eBay, running out of ideas.

tattycath

Well done Dreaming-That's brilliant x

WelshWoofer

Good luck with it all Dreaming.

To make a bit of extra cash could you do ironing/babysitting? Might be worth advertising in your local corner shop to see if anyone needs anything like that?

You've had some nice bits of good news recently though - long may it continue!