So much debt :-(

reality_check

Oh I didn't realise he was your husband, so clearly you live together :rotfl: I think starting to tackle the debt then tell him is the best plan, my OH doesn’t know exactly how much debt I am in either, he just knows I am paying off credit cards and hasn’t asked anymore and I haven’t told anything…even though I know exactly how much money he has/gets paid!! We have just moved in together not long ago and until I pay everything off I don’t want to combine everything which is what we will ultimately be doing.

Are all your credit cards on 0%? I would probably clear off the O/D's first, just because having fewer debts works better mentally for me, and then I would leave the loans be for now and pick the lowest amount credit card (if all 0%) and start chipping away.

I was very anti survey sites until I found PA! I have made about £75 in 4 weeks and that probably averages out to about 20-30 minutes a day. I only do them in work, not sure if this is possible for you, but could try evenings and weekends if you get the chance. I refuse to buy cheaper make up, my new plan is to pay for my monthly foundation via surveys. I know going through one a month is excessive, but I don’t leave the house without and touch up during the day when probably isn’t needed, but in my work we have a certain expectation to have a full face of make up on – ridiculous really! What I have stopped doing is buying lots of lipsticks (in reality I wear the same 3 all the time) but this was something beauty counters hooked me in with and I felt the need to buy the latest lipstick and places like Chanel are £28 a time! I used to be a regualr cult beauty and feel unique fan, getting sucked in with all the reviews and latest 'must haves'...I think I've kicked this habit, just!

I'll stop typing now! But 100% first thing to do is check the interest rates/when 0% ends/move to 0% if you can! x x

quintwins

Well done on returning your white company order. Do you know the interest rates/fee's on all your loans ect? Also you may find paying your loans off early could result in a fee which could be more than you will save in interest. I would focus on credit cards first personally, either the smaller ones first to get them away quicker or the highest interest ones first.

GeorgianaCavendish

Related to the makeup point, I too am never going to give up my premium skincare and makeup because I love it so much but I've completely given up reading beauty blogs and unsubscribed from site emails so that I have to go looking for temptations.
Every time I have to replace something, I do a google search to see if its on special offer at a different retailer. I saved £10 on my moisturiser last time by doing this! I noticed that the serum I use is quite often on special offer in Boots so I need to work out how to set up an alert to tell me when it is reduced.
I also sized up with shampoo and conditioner, so I've got salon size products with a pump bottle. I find that I use way way less than from a normal bottle, and also it works out way cheaper than buying the small bottles.

reality_check

GeorgianaCavendish wrote: »

Related to the makeup point, I too am never going to give up my premium skincare and makeup because I love it so much but I've completely given up reading beauty blogs and unsubscribed from site emails so that I have to go looking for temptations.
Every time I have to replace something, I do a google search to see if its on special offer at a different retailer. I saved £10 on my moisturiser last time by doing this! I noticed that the serum I use is quite often on special offer in Boots so I need to work out how to set up an alert to tell me when it is reduced.
I also sized up with shampoo and conditioner, so I've got salon size products with a pump bottle. I find that I use way way less than from a normal bottle, and also it works out way cheaper than buying the small bottles.

I stopped this too! I have zero willpower and I am easily sucked in! I do want to try the Aldi facemask that is meant to be like Glamglow, £7 v the £40 one that I bought, that was good, but wayyy out my budget these days to repurchase x

quintwins

with regards to makeup I recently subscribed to beauty pie, it's worth a look. I am going to cancel my membership next month but not because I Havant loved everything just because I'm finding things too tight to justify paying the monthly outgoing when I'm unlikely to need any new makeup other than the odd mascara for a good 6 months-a year xxx

Rachel24

reality_check wrote: »

I stopped this too! I have zero willpower and I am easily sucked in! I do want to try the Aldi facemask that is meant to be like Glamglow, £7 v the £40 one that I bought, that was good, but wayyy out my budget these days to repurchase x

Funny I buy glamglow as well because i absolutely love it! I'm just going to have to stop but I 100% cannot stop buying Est!e Lauder it's my absolute favourite! I'm currently doing surveys so I'm hoping I can build up money from that and pay for my make up through that. I literally have no money until payday which is on Friday now. When I get paid on Friday I'm going to sort out how much I'm putting to debt and how much I'm spending on myself. Problem is I have 3 night outs this month! I just find it so hard letting people down. I think my aim for the first month is to make my minimum payments and have not spend any money on my credit cards!

Rachel24

reality_check wrote: »

Oh I didn't realise he was your husband, so clearly you live together :rotfl: I think starting to tackle the debt then tell him is the best plan, my OH doesn’t know exactly how much debt I am in either, he just knows I am paying off credit cards and hasn’t asked anymore and I haven’t told anything…even though I know exactly how much money he has/gets paid!! We have just moved in together not long ago and until I pay everything off I don’t want to combine everything which is what we will ultimately be doing.

Are all your credit cards on 0%? I would probably clear off the O/D's first, just because having fewer debts works better mentally for me, and then I would leave the loans be for now and pick the lowest amount credit card (if all 0%) and start chipping away.

I was very anti survey sites until I found PA! I have made about £75 in 4 weeks and that probably averages out to about 20-30 minutes a day. I only do them in work, not sure if this is possible for you, but could try evenings and weekends if you get the chance. I refuse to buy cheaper make up, my new plan is to pay for my monthly foundation via surveys. I know going through one a month is excessive, but I don’t leave the house without and touch up during the day when probably isn’t needed, but in my work we have a certain expectation to have a full face of make up on – ridiculous really! What I have stopped doing is buying lots of lipsticks (in reality I wear the same 3 all the time) but this was something beauty counters hooked me in with and I felt the need to buy the latest lipstick and places like Chanel are £28 a time! I used to be a regualr cult beauty and feel unique fan, getting sucked in with all the reviews and latest 'must haves'...I think I've kicked this habit, just!

I'll stop typing now! But 100% first thing to do is check the interest rates/when 0% ends/move to 0% if you can! x x

What survey site is PA reality check? I've joined opinion post so far but not sure what other ones are good! I'm the same I constantly wear make up every day and I just can't live without double wear. I don't care how vain that makes me! It's all the little things that add up. To be honest I think my credit rating is so poor that I won't get 0% interest card. Maybe when I get my payments down. I want to pay £1000 off in total by the end of the year that's my first aim.

enthusiasticsaver

You need to look at the interest rates for those debts and pay off the most expensive first. I would guess that these are Next card and the Zopa loan. A personal allowance is a good idea to keep you on board which you can use for whatever so your Est!e Lauder could come from this.

I would strongly suggest you cut all but one of your credit cards up. Saving an emergency fund and using the first month to live within your income and not add to the debt is sensible.

Using the excuse of not letting people down is a common one when it comes to nights out but if you are unable to do it within your budget and add to your debt you are letting yourself and your OH down. You may often find if you say to people money is tight and can you all do something within your budget then others may thank you too.

A good tip is to stop impulse booking and buying stuff. Don't keep credit card details on websites and make it a rule never to spend money without researching first.

I think you may have to tell your OH too as the debt is 9 times higher than he thinks. Otherwise how are you going to explain how tight you suddenly are with money especially if you split stuff down the middle.

Well done on sending the white company stuff back. Try unsubscribe get from mailing lists which encourages you to buy stuff.

Aaleigha

I just want to say well done

the facing up to the reality is the hardest part

I have to support the others in that no matter how hard it will be you do need to tell hubby so he is on side
try writing down what you actually want to say to him and then share

and reverse the situation - how would you feel if he didnt tell you, I am sure he would rather know than not

and good luck find a few challenges that you like the look of and join them or set up your own

H x

Rachel24

So I get paid on Friday and going to give myself £100 spending money. Decided I'm just going to have to do without getting my hair done. I have a day at the races and a works leaving night, another night out in Glasgow. Going to have to just be careful with my spends. Although I'm fairly building up money on opinion post! Hope it keeps up!