Shrinking The Debt.....

Hiddenidenity

Have a look around your local news site/facebook/school websites.

There's usually loads of free activities on during the school holidays.

Our local museum is free and so are most others close maybe yours are?
Along with the library free and ours do activities in the holidays too.

drownindebt

Getting into your diary - thanks for sharing!

I understand you thinking of keeping the tools just in case. I did the same for a while (have a spare laptop and video camera equipment), but I've realised that I AM employable and in that case, my employer should cover kit I need for work. Switching from planning my own business to climbing the ladder has made life a lot simpler, and to be honest, if I did want to start my own business in the future, I could only do that with several thou in the bank!

So I don't know if it's right, but I'm the same as you - get as much as you can for the assets you hardly use and plough that into debt.

One thing I have been advised on the forums is to start by putting £1000 back as an emergency fund. THEN pay down the debts with the highest APR first.

Good luck!

TheRoders

Very little to do free of charge in the valleys! It was so much easier when I had Merlin passes and lived a 5 minute drive from Legoland, Chessington and Thorpe Park!

If the weather was better there would be more to do but everything is paid for around here

I am slowly coming around to the idea of selling the laser cutter. It cost 20K originally so selling it now to pay off debts means that would have to be the end to the business. I could never afford to buy another cutter afterwards. It just seems so final. You are right though, I am employable. I've had a pretty successful career in IT. I have just taken on a 3 year fixed term contract so unless I do something stupid and get sacked, should be fairly guaranteed for 3 years. Will I miss not being able to use the laser cutter for personal things? Maybe but I haven't turned it on for a good 10 months now so I can probably live without it. Could I start up the business again and run it in my evenings to add more money to the debt pot? Yes but probably more hassle than the worth of it now.

I'll get it cleaned up, find all the bits for it and then make a decision with hubby. I am sure I can get 2 - 3K for it!!

drownindebt

Have a search for what they do for on eBay in similar condition - maybe you could get more. Also state that it's collection only! Good luck!

TheRoders

Back in work today Had a lovely 2 days off with my son but did spend a little more than I wanted to!

Decided on Monday to go to a lovely park in the Brecon Beacons (only 10 minutes from home but never been there before) and we went for a lovely walk. Free, healthy and fun! PERFECT!! We got back from there just at lunch time and my mum asked if we wanted to go out for lunch. There is a pub next door to our house so we spent the afternoon in the pub Mum paid so it turned out to be a NS day.

However, on Monday evening I got an email thanking me for paying my TV license. I thougt it was next month so not at all budgeted for so thats £100+ gone this month!!

Yesterday was the expensive day! Trampoline park with my son - £7.00, Diesel - £20, Cinema £10 plus popcorn - £10.00. Not as bad as it could have been but worse that I was hoping.

Now I'm back in work I am hoping for another 3 NSDs. Hubby has just text to ask if we could go to the local buffet Indian on Sunday this weekend as there are a lot of birthdays in his family next week (4 including his) so they all want to go out. I can't say no to that so that's going to be a cost I wasn't expecting.

Oh well.... I suppose in a way I am spending it on stuff we enjoy as a family rather than throwing it away on takeaways which is how we normally spend it!!

Dorastar

Just reading through and wanted to wave hello, struggling with the NSDs here cos my two are eating for Britain atm and just at that awkward age where the free stuff is too babyish or too uncool. They are both moping around the house.

TheRoders

It's hard during the summer holidays. In some ways I'm glad he is with my mum so she can take him some places too.

Hubby is off Monday and Tuesday next week and then we'll be getting ready to go away in the caravan for the following week. Looking forward to that although I will meal plan to cut some cost down.

Hiddenidenity

I go to the caravan often (more often than I should but its free for me )

Anyway I always take advantage of the slowcooker. It means I can put dinner on in the morning while the kids eat breakfast then we know even if we spend all day out we can come back to a cooked dinner without too much needing doing.

TheRoders

I swear by my slow cooker. I have it on at the moment while I'm sat 30 miles away in the office. I know for a fact, if it wasn't cooked and ready when I get home then I will run to the nearest takeaway!

I've just finalised my Asda shop for next week and it's £10 under budget right now!! Swapping branded goods for own brand has made a huge difference!

We have a touring caravan (part of the debt unfortunately) and go away as much as we can. Been away 9 times this year so far for next to nothing I would love to be on a seasonal pitch so we can go far more often but they are like gold dust!

Lucylocks

Well done on shopping. Do you have Aldi nearby? My average shop in Asda was 100-120 whereas Aldi comes in between 60-75. I know you don't have convenience of online shopping but it can give huge savings over the month