Get debt free on very low income?

savingmummy

And if you haven't already cut up them Credit cards

theboakster

I cut them up today!!!

National_Debtline

theboakster wrote: »

National Debtline - thanks David. I don't think I want to go down the second route. I am more than happy living in a frugal manner (it's totally sustainable if it aligns with your values I think - family and friends are my riches, and there's plenty of free stuff to do!)
I think that I can maybe boost my income a little bit (from Aug/Sept it will be higher anyway) and cut back, which will help in the long run. Much rather pay off the debt and live without it I think

Hello again,

I absolutely understand! It looks like this could well be a temporary situation, and in cases like this (where it's likely that finances could improve) cutting back for a while is generally the best route forward. Paying reduced payments or going down the insolvency route should only really be regarded as last resort options.

Best wishes,

David.

Cottage_Economy

You don't have to give up your trumpet lessons - just put them on hold temporarily until august/september when your income increases. In the meantime, scour the net for resources that will help you maintain your grade 6 and perhaps stretch you a little towards grade 7. Youtube might be a good place to see some fantastic vidoes to help you. Your teacher may also be able to give you some resources to see you through the few months until you can pick it up again.

The gym at £55 is a luxury you can't afford to keep up, unless you can find another gym that isn't so expensive. By the way, why is it so expensive? A few years ago I was paying £30 a month...

Can I ask, do you have a pair of glasses you can switch to instead of paying for contact lenses/ solution etc every month?

The only other things I can suggest are watching the electricity like a hawk and getting that cost down. A rule of thumb I work to is anything with a clock, LED display or little red standby light gets turned off after use unless it is the alarm clock. Before my frugal days I went round and counted 8 appliances besides the alarm clock in the house that were permanently plugged in when they didn't need to be. Now they are all switched off. In the kitchen was a microwave, cooker and radio/cd player. In the living room was the TV, DVD player, cable box and printer. Upstairs was another CD/radio player.

If you're not already on PAYG for your mobile switch across. Never use it for outgoings calls though. Just for texts and to receive calls.

Try doing surveys on places like Swagbucks and see if you can earn an extra £10 a month. There's a whole thread about Swagbucks on the Up Your Income board which might be a good place to have a look at.

Try and up your freelance income by an extra job a month.

Investigate whether switching your car to a smaller more efficient one will bring your car insurance down. Or is it that high due to your age or where you live?

theboakster

Thanks Cottage Economy - I think it's fairly standard gym price where I live (lordy, it's expensive round here!) but you're right, it can definitely go. I can do loads of exercise stuff for free for sure.

I HATE wearing glasses (despite wearing mine right now). I've worn glasses since I was 9 and the day I got contacts (at about 21) I finally felt like I looked nice for the first time! For me, that's totally worth £7 per month (I have to get super thin lenses on glasses anyway, so they don't look like bottle bottoms and make my eyes googly so it's expensive going down that route). £7 contact lenses all the way! It's £10 a month including solution, so pretty good value (that price also includes free eye tests)

I think you're right about electric. I line dry when I can, we have our storage heaters turned off in all but one room, and so some things I'm good at. But I do like lots of small lamps (at the mo I have the top light in the lounge on, plus three small lamps to give it a nice glow...) and I should probably stop that. Def will turn things off at the wall. I got rid of TV proper, but have a TV/DVD player just to watch films, and they're both on standby even though we only use them every few days. Doh!

I'm now on GiffGaff - swapped yesterday, £12 a month, could reduce to £5 or £10 if I stopped using it for internet.

Just exploring Bubblews - made $1.39 by spouting out some rubbishy poetry in about 3 mins yesterday!!

Will give Swagbucks a go

ViolaLass

I agree with Cottage Economy about giving the trumpet lessons up temporarily - what if you told yourself that you could have them back once you're working again or once you've paid x amount off your debts?

Also, could you skill swap? Would your teacher accept something instead of money?

Cottage_Economy

theboakster wrote: »

I think you're right about electric. I line dry when I can, we have our storage heaters turned off in all but one room, and so some things I'm good at. But I do like lots of small lamps (at the mo I have the top light in the lounge on, plus three small lamps to give it a nice glow...) and I should probably stop that. Def will turn things off at the wall. I got rid of TV proper, but have a TV/DVD player just to watch films, and they're both on standby even though we only use them every few days. Doh!

Just to give you some figures, i live with my husband in a three bed semi and I am currently at home all day.

Our electric bill came in yesterday and for three months it was £98. At the moment as I'm sitting here, the fridge, boiler, boiler thermostat and alarm clock are the only things switched on in the house.

Does your current electric supplier have you on a monthly direct debit? When I switched supplier I never gave the new ones my bank details and just pay the quarterly bills. I was sick of having my account constantly raided and monthly payments increasing despite obviously being frugal, and got angry with every futile telephone call I had to endure to get the direct debit back where it should be and which covered what I used.

By the way, might be worth popping over to the broadband boards to get some advice on how to get your broadband costs down from £65. They'll probably have much better ideas and cunning plans on how to slash that cost.

his_missus

I don't have much more to add to the previous posts but if you're really reluctant to give up the trumpet lessons completely could you have less sessions - maybe have a lesson once a fortnight instead of once a week?

Also I agree with Cottage Economy about keeping an eye on your electricity usage. Leaving chargers plugged in when they're not in use, tv on standby etc. Also check if you're in credit with your supplier if you do pay by DD. My DD has been reduced a few times over the past 2 years (now £39 for gas & electric) and I'm still £22 in credit!

Good luck!

theboakster

I'm already down to fortnightly trumpet lessons... but yes a temporary leave of absence might work. I've actually just had a month off as I just passed my Grade 6, and wanted a bit of time from hardcore practice. So it's do-able...

I am on DD with my supplier, because I found a quarterly bill difficult to pay (I'm not very good at saving up an amount each week/month to pay a big bill) but I give regular readings and, so far, I'm not in credit/debit. However, I think now we're into spring/summer I probably will build up some credit.... but if I'm giving regular meter readings, I think I can just phone them up and ask them to amend the monthly payment.

It's definitely BT I need to speak to. Just logged in to my account for the first time in yonks (we're paperless billing, and I never look - the only thing I don't look at in detail for some reason) and we're apparently not even covering the bill fully! I'm £45 in debit! We're going over our broadband useage allowance each month too. Got to sort this one out pronto....

Good thing is, today child tax credit paid in £37 I wasn't expecting. Woo hoo!

trying_to_stay_afloat

Hi
Just a random thought but have you ever considered giving trumpet lessons yourself to fund your next grade. I don't know much about music but surely you could advertise locally (especially in the schools) and teach beginners upwards.
Might make your lessons cost neutral.