Loan to pay off credit cards?

AliceBanned

Thanks - depending on when I get Amazon and Ebay credits, I may stay beneath the limit - it is really tight though!

You are right - the damage caused by going over would be worse. I was toying with getting a credit union payday loan but not sure whether that would be worse..I only need £50 really to ensure I don't go overdrawn on anything.

I have charges to come out of my Santander account on Tuesday..£20 which is not in there at present. Really depending on an Ebay sale to stay above board, but annoying as payday is only a week away.

AliceBanned

Thanks I am aware of parkrun - my brother has been on some. I haven't tried yet but have in mind to do it.

AliceBanned

Oh no. Though this might happen. I checked my balance today and my Halifax Mastercard went overdrawn by £20. I needed petrol and just having a difficult month despite moneysaving.

So too late to get a loan - I had applied for a credit union one two weeks ago but not heard back. I wanted to avoid this situation.

Still waiting for payment from Ebay and Amazon so I may be able to pay off the £20 on Tuesday but I will be struggling to find the money to get to work. I have a friend nearby I can ask but I find it embarrassing. He has offered before, when I bought my flat and was scraping together the deposit..

Really trying to improve my credit file so this isn't good. But I have given up letting it depress me. I am dealing with my debts now so onwards and upwards!:)

AliceBanned

Just got confirmed £50 payment from Quidco. Good timing, as I am really scrimping to make sure I can get to work this week. .

Awaiting £10 Amazon payment and have something on Ebay for £40.

There's probably somewhere else where I should be posting this kind of thing; maybe I should start a Debt Free Diary instead of sitting on the fence.;)

I seem to be quite good at saving when there really is nothing left - I can actually live on very little if I have to so I now just need to keep going even when I have money (never at the moment with all these debts!).

AliceBanned

Oh and I have two weeks' free trial on a great yoga website - free exercise, and then not expensive when I subscribe.

Gym now cancelled so that will be handy. I find I am doing more yoga as I can do it at a time that suits me. Meditation even on the train.:)

AliceBanned

Shovel_Lad wrote: »

This is not meant to be harsh but realistic.

I have a question - Do you want to be debt free?

This is from this thread:
"I have gone overlimit since being charged the interest - think I miscalculated.
Would it be better to cut up the Barclaycard and try and pay it off?"

This is from a thread called "Is it best to cut up my credit card" in September 2007:
"The problem is for some reason I went slightly over the balance (even though I was keeping track) and have been charged for it."

It seems you are writing the same things today that you were writing in 2007.
I have read a number of the threads you have posted on MSE over the years and they all say the same things.

As you are aware the people on the Debt Free board are helpful and supportive. They respond to your threads with suggestions of things you could do, things to help and quite a lot of virtual hugs.

Do you then actually do anything to change your life?

I mean long term change not just decide not to do something for a week or two because it'll save £10. You need to change how you behave with money permanently. If you don't you'll never be free of debt and you will be posting again on here in a few months another thread almost exactly the same as this one.

Only YOU can change your life. The people on here will help and support you but you are the one who needs to do something.

Assuming you have said "Yes" to the first question I have another.

What are you going to do about it?

To be honest it has taken me a long time to take this in, and see it in a positive light. I think it was a tough kick up the !!!! and I wasn't ready, but somewhere it sank in, so thank you.

In fairness as I responded earlier, debt can be very deeply entrenched psychologically so I hope you are not underestimating this. I have had health problems due to an ongoing long term health issue also, and I just couldn't handle the directness of your thread at the time, but now I realise it did me some good, even though I begrudge admitting it. .

Quite right I am now repeating some of the same problems, although this time pulling out all the stops to change it and change my lifestyle. I have made some changes and tried over the years, but you are right in saying that some of it sounds the same as in 2007 - not quite but yes I guess these habits are exactly that - habits - addictions even - and you are right only I can change it.

AliceBanned

NHS_worker_bee wrote: »

Just read your post for today, you must have posted it at the same time I was typing! Glad you are feeling better and in a more positive place. Friends are great, running for free along the canal sounds great, spending less on groceries will help, personally I find that all of these moneysaving things are even easier to do as the weather gets warmer, there are so many fun/free/outside things you can do by yourself or with friends in the sunshine

(When your phone contract expires, could you keep your existing handset and switch to a sim only deal? For example, Orange/EE do sim only tariffs from as little a £9/month, we are going to do this as soon as our contract expires) every little savings helps

Keep up the good work

Ps - Personally, I'd be tempted to cancel the holiday and bring your debt free date sooner, as long as you can get a full refund!

Hi

You are so right about it being easier in the summer to do moneysaving things.

I will post a new SOA soon. Today was my first day of using the bus into work. So I have cancelled the gym and reduced my travel expenses. Also had a modest pay rise of 2%.

Who knows, I might even be writing my debtfree diary next! Diary of a travelcard zombie...zzz the bus is relaxing but long and makes me sleepy..I also have to get up one hour earlier and do 2 mile walk/jog to get there (making up for cancelling the gym!:D). Bit of an adventure really..

NHS_worker_bee

You should start a diary Alice (I just got round to starting mine this week!)

AliceBanned

Well done, I'll have a look at your diary.

Going to read some of the others and think about my own then..:)

BillJones

AliceBanned wrote: »

Look, I do have a brain and realise these things. You don't even know me or anything about my life circumstances so are not free to pass judgement, be so patronising frankly.

I know that this was from a while back, but what sort of person posts asking for help, and then refers to helpful respondents like the above?