misstiques debt diary help me pls!!

mae

Sorry I kept editing my post so have added other things

Most people on here say definatley do not consolidate. 6.9% sounds a much better option than the 22% :eek: Some people are stuck with these rates so being offered that rate you are very lucky so I think I'd snatch their hands off but I'm sure someone else will be along to give advice too.

silkglade

misstique wrote: »

my out goings a month....
phone bill £25
internet£10
mobile £20
food shopping£222.5 that includes all work coffees and food
cable and broard band £20.00
gifts £40 b days ect
new clothes £78
work clothes £48
hair cuts £36 not every month
going out £60
other bits eg cleaning products papers mags ect £59
my total is £1219.7
my total income is £1000 but on occasions i get a bonus but not verry often so i havent included it!
im 219 a drift

my virgin card is 0%till aug
my rbs card is 22.47%
my halifax card 26.75%
looking into my loan i think its 9%

Hi there - all the things that are there ar the things that I think you should be able to cut back on.

Your food is MORE than ours for a family of 5 and that includes the cleaning products!! :eek:

I think you could cut down on clothes and presents easily too, it is a temporary thing not for ever. :rolleyes:

Get STARDROPS from wilkinsons at 58p its a bargain and does everything from your loo to the bathroon and kitchen. it is concentrate and therefor lasts for AGES!!!!! try to borrow mags and papers instead which also helps the enviroment too :T

Going out, think you could cut this down too if you halved the anount of times you go out till your debt free anyway (we totally cut it out since feb 06 :eek: but then we are married, which is why i suggest to just halve it)

Your spending FAR too much each month on clothes, only get if and what you NEED

you are spending around £60 per week on food, think you could easily get this down to £25 - £30 without starving.

Try virgin media for your internet, telephone and mobile - their offer is £30 a month for all three, that could save you a bit too.

let us know how you get on.

misstique_2

:T thanks silkglade
i will have to admit my lifestyle is an addiction !! im a manager for awell know clothing line i do have to always wear current stock because of it! so my work spend is due to this although i must admit i do get obsessive about my uniform! i get agood discount of 500 at 50% a month but i seam to spend twice as much so i dont realy save 50%!! and my other clothing is what i wear out of work i like my labels !
so i am going to stop my emelda marcos way with clothes im going to half my buget on new clothes to £30 work clothes also get a buget of £30 that saves me £66 per month also im going to list some of my clothing on ebay but sadly cannot list my work clothing as its against companie policy!! but i did see a thread about a clothes swapping party and that sounds good !! maybe that will save me some going out money two!!
my food bill is just pure ignorance with food!! if it looks iffy i throw it away! and i get into tescos and im away with the buyone get one frees!! also i buy food at work it cost me about £10 a day so i started last week to bring food to work but it was a saving but they were micro meals so i still think i could save more if i made them myself, but like i said im not a good cook!! plus i dont have a cooker ! but i do have a george , slow cooker and a steamer.
but with limited knowlage on food and freezing im hinderd by this!!

affordmylife

Hi misstique All of the other replies are spot on but the most important thing is to increase your income (somehow) and reduce your spending. My guess is that apart from what is listed you spend money here and there all the time and it just disappears. ( speaking as one who knows!) Its so easy to let it slip through your fingers isnt it.

I now ask myself do I need it before I buy it. The answer is always no. Its just that I want it. Then I ask myself do I want it more than I want to be out of debt. No I dont its only a pair of shoes or a top or something for the house. Yes I love it but I DO NOT NEED IT. Its working so far and this month I pay off my last store card. Chopped them up months ago so its just the cash from now on. Best of luck.

misstique_2

you right i think that i compensate for things i dont like for instance i work over so i buy myself what ever i want for dinner! i feal fat ill buy myself something as a treat! i have also noticed that i spend alot on other people for example i went to dinner with my friend last week and the bill came i didnt have any cash so i paid on card, the next day i realised i paid for my friends dinner but she didnt give me the cash for her half and i didnt want to seam penny pinching so i didnt ask for it back!!
again last night i went out with a good friend she was des to save money when we got to the club she needed a cash mashen so i offer to pay untill we got to one but again i now dont want to ask for the cash back!! dont get me wrong my friends would always do the same for me if i needed it but sometimes it feals one way!!! what should i do??

affordmylife

Toughen up, love, its the only way. Be strict with yourself. You deserve a treat for working yes I agree. But the treat is to be debt free not another pair of shoes or expensive treat for dinner.

Once you embrace the frugal life it becomes easier and you will find more and more ways to save money. Keep posting you are among friends.

mae

Only take enough cash out with you that you will need for you, that way no temptation to say I'll put it on my card etc and no chance of saying I'll pay til you friend gets to cash machine.
So cash only seems the way to go then no embarrassment and you can just say oh sorry I've not brought my card and I've only brought X amount out with me.
I know its embarrassing asking for cash back I too would feel awkward so this may help further problems.
Also as someone has already mentioned how about a spending diary. Loads of people use them on the site and they feel it helps the pin point where they are wasting money as well as keeping track. You literally list daily every single penny you have spent then at the end of the week or month you can check back to see what you've spent cash that is not absolutely necessary.

misstique_2

Thankyou gosh you all know more about me than most of my good friends !!! i think that todays been a real eye opener! and your right im going to work a spend per day and only take that amount out!!
some more good news my ebay stuff i put on last week has gone and ive got a £110 wow so thats going straight on one of my cards!!! i also joined a mysterie shopping companie and did my first shop yesterday i did think theres alot of work involved for the small amount paid but it was verry interesting to see it from the other side!!! so i think i will try to fit acouple of these in a month!!
i think im going to start a wish list of things i want that way instead of buying them then and there, i have to wait till the end of the month
i can pick one thing off the list i can afford and buy it that way i dont think the withdraw will be so bad!! and if i carnt afford i cart have it!!! simple
big hugs and kisses to you all for your help i will keep you all updated!!!

mae

Yes keep us updated. I can empathise with your friends not knowing about your debt I am also a private person in many ways even though I am very close to my friends, it works for me.
Keep up the good work.

budget_counsellor_shaz

Hi Misstique

I help many people in a similar situation to yourself, it is so easy to get into debt and spend money.... my suggestions to you are:-

1) Cut up your credit cards and only use cash its amazing when you see the money slipping through your fingers.
2) Set yourself a budget and try to spend less money on clothes and food, look on the tesco codes thread.
3) Start a savings account some of them reward (with higher interest) look on this website for help and advice for the right account for you.
4) Try to text rather than ring on your mobile its cheaper. Send emails and talk on messenger.
5) Take a homemade packed lunch to work and a drink.
6) Sell stuff you don't need or wear anymore at a boot fair or on Ebay


I really hope this helps you to get to your goal...... start with small steps.

Shaz;)