Considering DMP - SOA advice please

AliceBanned

Thank you both. I think I will feel some satisfaction after each individual debt has cleared. With so many in different places it makes my head feel all over the place. If that makes sense!


I also need to not repay too quickly (though I will at first probably just to feel that I am getting things moving) so that I am struggling day to day.


It's true it is a big change of mindset. :eek:

andyfromotley

Hi alice,

budget, budget, budget budget budget. oh and then budget some more!!

try YNAB, it helped me and many many others on here get a grip of their spending, i was in debt when i was earning twice what you make!

My gut feeling is that you can manage this on your own but not without really getting a grip of your money, you do this by using a budget!!

andy

AliceBanned

Thanks Andy. I have YNAB but have just scrapped the one I had and need to start again. It is a bit complicated when you have lots of cards, interest payments etc so at the moment I have my budget in it only so that I can work out how to allocate my money each month! I've spent ages going through the seminars etc. I do like YNAB but find it hard to be 100% accurate, mainly re the cards. It is just taking me a while to grasp how to use it properly, but I have it on my phone too so I can upload spending. I have started again from September salary (October payments) as I am confused about my debts at the mo. I am just now opening a new hard copy file with my statements and getting everything sent to me by post, as I think that is more straightforward and I can easily keep an eye on all the payments etc.


When I am down to 2 or 3 different debts I think it will be a lot easier to organise!:D

AliceBanned

PS listening to Dave Ramsey in the background. Crazy stuff, quite funny some of it. But I am hoping it will motivate me.

DCFC79

When is your mobile contract to end ? Get a sim only plan for a third or half of what your paying.

Where do you do your food shopping ?

Buy yellow stickered items and freeze them.

andyfromotley

Dave ramsey helps, he reduces it to a very simple message.

AliceBanned

DCFC79 wrote: »

When is your mobile contract to end ? Get a sim only plan for a third or half of what your paying.

Where do you do your food shopping ?

Buy yellow stickered items and freeze them.

.


My plan ends in 3 weeks' time and I already have the PAC code. I hated being with EE and have wasted a lot of money but now own the handset, though it isn't great as it is old and a bit worn out. But I am keeping it for at least another year. I saw on 02 deal SIM only for £5.99 for 12 months - unlimited texts and mins and good data allowance too.


I food shop in Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S (when depressed and need an easy day). There is an Aldi nearby but they only take debit cards so not always possible, but I probably should switch to Aldi mostly. What would you recommend?


My local Sainsbury's does quite good deals in the eve - could try this for stickered items. I don't use the freezer or slow cooker enough. If anyone can recommend any books/websites for cheaper eating that would be great. I get a free 3 course cooked lunch at work, so should really cut down my grocery spend to maybe £90pm (including toiletries etc). I have just spent £25 in Sainsbury's today and think I have enough for the next week, cooking most of it from scratch. I resisted homewares, magazines etc as I sometimes browse a bit but not interested now.

AliceBanned

andyfromotley wrote: »

Dave ramsey helps, he reduces it to a very simple message.

I love all that American motivational stuff. Can be so OTT with lots of people shouting and ranting. .


But seriously I think his technique would work - I like the idea of paying off the smaller debts first, after saving for an emergency fund. Actually I'll do those two together if I can.

DCFC79

AliceBanned wrote: »

.


My plan ends in 3 weeks' time and I already have the PAC code. I hated being with EE and have wasted a lot of money but now own the handset, though it isn't great as it is old and a bit worn out. But I am keeping it for at least another year. I saw on 02 deal SIM only for £5.99 for 12 months - unlimited texts and mins and good data allowance too.


I food shop in Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S (when depressed and need an easy day). There is an Aldi nearby but they only take debit cards so not always possible, but I probably should switch to Aldi mostly. What would you recommend?

Id give Aldi a try, some things are cheaper, probably wont be able to get everything you would there, would need to take your own bags unless you want to pay for them.

Aldi do accept credit cards now, didn't used to, its a recent change.

AliceBanned

OK thanks. I've been there a couple of times and found the fruit and veg good and much cheaper. I tried to go again but the road leading up to it was mobbed so I will have to go during the week. We have two in the town and both car parks are packed constantly! Didn't realise they now accept credit cards. Hopefully I won't need that for much longer anyway - trying to switch to cash and debit cards for everything asap. My Halifax cc account is already closed as they put my interest rate up and gave me the option to close it if I wanted the same interest rate. When I took them up on this the guy I spoke to seemed surprised. :rotfl:


Think my next step will be to cancel the Barclaycard or at least cut it up.