Ghgghhgggg

*Vikki*

***************

sourcrates

Well declaring Bankrupcy tends to focus the mind somewhat .....!!!

Sharon87

Bankruptcy's a little extreme!

I have (hopefully had) the same problem. I'm using YNAB (You Need a Budget) to create a budget and stick to a budget. It's shown me how much money I actually have to spend, which is less than I thought, so I can still assign money to things I want/need - but not overspend.

enthusiasticsaver

You regain control of spending by setting a budget and aiming to keep to it. Also try and think of worst case scenario (obviously hoping it never happens) - job loss, sickness etc. How would you service the debt or keep up with your bills then? You obviously have the means to get out of debt and lack the will power. My advice would be pay off the credit cards gradually and get rid of them so you are not tempted. Some people should just not be using them and sadly you appear to be one of them. Also look at the amount of loan interest you must be paying if you are doing home improvement loans. My daughter and SIL recently had a fairly aggressive sell from a well known window company who wanted them to focus on the affordable monthly amount they would have to pay for new windows for 10 years!! Luckily they did not sign up to it but rang me for advice beforehand and I did the sums and pointed out they would be paying 3 times the cash amount of buying the windows by paying for it that way. £5k on windows and £10k on interest. Why make the bankers richer? Save up for things you need and stop thinking of things you want unless you have the means to pay for them outright. It only leads to misery.

enthusiasticsaver

Also, BMWs may be normally fairly good cars if you get a reliable one but if you get a dud they cost a fortune to repair. Three times the cost of most other cars. My mum had one and I think each tyre cost around £200!! It costs me around £60 to £70 for a tyre for my Renault.

*Vikki*

*******fgffgggggghgg

*Vikki*

Tggggggggggggggg

lynz68

Being an all or nothing person is possibly the problem then. Maybe when you are tightening the purse strings don't be just so tight so that you're not feeling deprived that you then go on a splurg and build it all up again. Easier said than done I know.

I go through phases of the "I wants" but talk myself out after a few days for me it's changing the car or buy a new iPhone. But the tought of extra monthly payments for things will put me off in the end. Plus the daughter is off to university in sept so need my money for that.

Just forget the personalised number plate really not worth it.

sourcrates

*Vikki* wrote: »

At the moment a private number plate for husband is calling me as id love to treat him to it for his birthday, new fencing for the garden, and new windows and doors as when we had the storm the other day it was howling through. Id love to know how old our current windows are though as they don't seem that old. Need to stop spending!

See my original post above, good luck with the spending !!

January2015

No-one but you can have that lightbulb moment (LBM). People on here can advise about budgeting, tracking spend, etc. all they want, but until you have your LBM it's not going to make much difference.

You post about wanting rein in your spending, and then a few posts later talk about wanting to buy a private number plate for your partner. If you were serious about wanting to rein in the spending the private number plate wouldn't have even been considered, let alone posted on here.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but that's how I see it. This coming from someone who seriously overspent over the years and didn't reach that LBM until the debt level was ridiculously high.

Your debt sounds as if it is currently manageable and can be cleared within a reasonable timeframe. Do that then - clear it. Then start saving the same amounts that you were paying towards the debt (providing the job situation stays the same). You will quickly find you can save for the private number plate, you can replace the windows - you can do it without debt. It may not be an immediate purchase, but it won't take long when you are saving with no debts to service.

Best of luck with it all.

tlc678910

Hi,

Perhaps if all of your debt is at 0% you would get more of a buzz from saving than paying down the debts. Just pay the minimums and resolve to never use the cards. They will begin to come down slowly.

You could save somewhere a little difficult to withdraw like premium bonds for example (or an ISA etc). You could save a fixed amount by debit each month leaving yourself a little bit spare for modest treats. Try to get excited about a goal like "have 3 months salary banked in case of redundancy" it might excite you more than "reduce debt by..."

As your savings build and if any cards are coming to the end of their 0% you could choose to pay chunks off them

Good luck
Tlc