getting over this hill

Dansmam

Ok motivation needed. Always £30k in debt on bank loan and 0%s. Now post Christmas it's £32 :mad:and the offers are about to dry up. Can feel it in my bones. Last time I was here OH agreed remortgage and loan. Made it clear he'd not be supporting me if I did it again. Same as a lot of people, I used to have a salary that went up by at least inflation but it's not changed for 8 years now. We now have no mortgage but OH paid it off and the deal is I pay him back my share. £68k to go so I'm in exactly the same £100k total debt I was in 13 years ago. Getting rid of it this time. Just need to know people are watching, because OH certainly won't be on my side. Be friendly please...

Dansmam

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of that union Jack? No idea how that got there

DawnW

Dansmam wrote: »

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of that union Jack? No idea how that got there

Click on 'user cp' on the green bar, then click 'edit avatar' on the left hand side

Didn't want to read and run, not many people about yet!

What is usually advised is to fill in a SOA - there is a link here somewhere which someone more knowledgeable will come along and post in a minute. This gives a picture of your incomings and outgoings so that people can advise on where you could cut down.

Do you have anything you could sell to make some additional money to throw at the cards?

Many people swear by budgeting software such as YNAB (you need a budget) and again, there is a link to a free trial.

If you cannot meet your payments by simply cutting down, the free debt charities such as Step Change can give independent advice.

Finally, why not join in with some of the challenges on these boards? I have been debt free for quite a while now, but find them good fun and they definitely help me to stay that way, which is needed as I had a big drop in income this year.

Good luck xx

Brogden

Dansmam wrote: »

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of that union Jack? No idea how that got there

I was just going to tell you how to do it but I have been beaten

Does your other half really need paying back for the amount he used to clear the remortgage? What would he do with the money? Isn't it enough that you happily live mortgage free and concentrate together on getting rid of the loan? I know all household finances work differently but I can't imagine me ever insisting on anything like that......I am male by the way !!

All the very best with everything regardless

Brogden

Dansmam

Awwh thanks Dawn and Brogden. Flag gone! Meant to say I'll get the little notebook of debt doom out later, and post details to ask for helpful thoughts. OH situation is complicated and all to do with providing for kids from previous relationships (his and mine). Which is what I mainly get into unbudgeted spend on. And must stop.
DM

Dansmam

Ok so I've not had space to sit and quietly record the demon debts. But starting as I mean to go on, by recording spends - because this is how the patterns will show. Nice walk round market with dog and (rare visitor) DS1 this morning. Gloves £1 because I lost the last ones, 3 little dog cans £1 because if we put a bit on the kibble he will eat it. And nice bread £2.40, EEKH because I'm worth it, and treat for son who likes it too. And ground coffee £3.50 because OH asked for it and £7.50 double eeekh drinks in pub because we went to watch the match and OH bought a round and offered to buy a second and I was an idiot and said no I'll get them. Pattern, see?!
DM aka idiot...

chevalier

God luck with your overpaying Could you ask your OH to pay him back after you have paid off interest bearing debt?
chev

Dansmam

Oh dear didn't get on yesterday but happy day of not spending. Veg today £6.69 (lots) petrol £30 - exact - always makes me happy when it's not a penny over! And in bad news posting late Christmas parcel £7.80 as too tall to count as a small package...as nice Mr PO man explained. Kids will have to measure purchases for cousins next time (they paid for presents, just I volunteered to take to post and old habits mean I've not asked them to pay for posting. In fairness they none of them earn a lot)
Chev, thanks for dropping in - nice suggestion and it may come to that but I really want to try and get debt down by not spending before starting that conversation. Need to change some very old habits. I'll get an soa up when I get some space and in theory I should be fine. In theory...
DM

Brogden

Dansmam wrote: »

Oh dear didn't get on yesterday but happy day of not spending. Veg today £6.69 (lots) petrol £30 - exact - always makes me happy when it's not a penny over! And in bad news posting late Christmas parcel £7.80 as too tall to count as a small package...as nice Mr PO man explained. Kids will have to measure purchases for cousins next time (they paid for presents, just I volunteered to take to post and old habits mean I've not asked them to pay for posting. In fairness they none of them earn a lot)
Chev, thanks for dropping in - nice suggestion and it may come to that but I really want to try and get debt down by not spending before starting that conversation. Need to change some very old habits. I'll get an soa up when I get some space and in theory I should be fine. In theory...
DM

Hi!

Its refreshing to see somebody who is looking at the causes rather than 'I've got £XX,XXX debt.....what should I do?'

I say 'refreshing' but I am guilty of everything........period, before anybody says anything !!

I am guilty of going wrong on this too but.........daily budgeting.....is that something you may have considered? You put £30.00 petrol in the car but...(I have some way to go to perfect this)......you could have put in what you needed until the next day (and a little bit more obviously - we don't want the AA coming out !!)

Just a thought but I am trying to contain all spends for a day in an envelope.....sad but true . If something can't be managed in that day then it waits or doesn't happen :T At absolute worst, a bit of money is nicked from the next day's envelope on the understanding that we are 'borrowing from the future' and will have to go easy the next day :o:o!!

Its gone t*ts up at Christmas.......but it worked before - that included large spends on business diesel (which does come back in the expenses payment but I try to ignore that fact and consider it a bonus!!)

Just a thought - probably way off beam :rotfl:!!!

Brogden x

debtfreeoneday

Didn't want to read and run, but well done for starting to tackle the debt. Getting started is the hardest part, but if you stick at it, you can do it!

Next time, let him get the second round in!!! :-)

Dansmam

Thanks so much Brogden and debt free. Not offbeam at all - always put 30 quid in, didn't think twice so another old habit that has to go, and I like the idea of the envelopes...and yes, debtfree he'll be buying any round he offers to get in in future. Just pride and streak of inner feminist kicks in when I'm not watching. Work tomorrow so night now, but at least I don't have to go for petrol first thing!
DM