From Jags to Ritches

Craig_THW

Not quite sure were to start with this! But thought this may just help me on my way to being debt free and let me chart my progress on the way! I'll try and update as often as i can and hopefully you lovely people shall help me along the way

Let's see..

Background.. 21yr old Male from Scotland, Live with my parents, Got a car, Lovely Girlfriend and my main passion is Football! Follow my Team Partick Thistle (Which explains the thread title.. not a typo, its our nickname) home and Away and Follow Scotland home and as often as i can Away from home.. Which is were most of my Money Goes.. Football is sorta non negotiable for me and more a way of life than a un-neeeded luxury.

SOA..

Income

Wages - £1100.. Aprox.. 950 Basic plus i do an hours overtime every day im at work.

Outgoings

Digs - £100
NTL - £25 (Covers 2nd Box in my room and i pay towards SkySports Subscription)
Car - £180
Mobile - £45 - I currently have 2 contracts.. £25 a month with Orange which i use and £20 a month with Vodaphone which i dont use and am just paying until it expires, still 6 months to go! I was runnin up huge phone bills on the contract i was on so am saving money this way but will obv get rid of vodafone when it expires. was 18 month contract for 45 a month i was silly to take at time
Petrol - £160.. Use about £40 a week to and from work, Goin to OH's and gettin to Footie
Footie.. £50 a month approx... My season Ticket is paid for.. just Away games at approx £13 a game plus payments to my bus membership for season.. Depends how many away games we have in a month or if Scotland are playing.

Debts...

Overdraft £1000 0%
Natwest CC 3,254 13.9% 0% for another 10mnths
BarcleyCard CC £2,556.00 14.0% 0% for 13mnths
Virgin 1,319.05 15.9%
Loan.. Unsure of amount but 15mnths @ £220 left

Total amount
11,429

Using the snowball Calculator i have calculated that.. Paying the £350 a month to my debts (Not inc my Car).. £220 for the loan plus another £130 i'll be debt Free by October 2010

I have already Canceled by Nuts Magazine Subscription, Canceled my Phone Insurance and set up direct Debits to all my cards for the min payment.. ill pay any extra each month by Debit Card.

I've started bringin packed lunches in and eatin cereal in work rather than rolls from the van ad have so far not Spent a Penny Since Sunday.. When usally i'd spend abot £5 a day

I used to eat out alot but am trying to cut this down or stop all together altho will still treat the OH to a meal every so often..

My Lightbulb Moment..

Ive been thinkin about my debt risin alot lately.. Alot of it is a result of a gamblin problem.. sorted that out mostly.. only have one or 2 occasion lapses but hopeful of solving this..But it reallly Hit home the other night in a convo with the OH of us getting a house together and how much i wanted it but would struggle to afford it with the debt i have.. So it really Hit home.. At the same time decided to overhaul my lifestyle totally and cut down the amount of take aways and rubbish i eat.. the 2 will go hand in hand.. Currently having a clear-out of my room and will decorate it.. mum and dads treat so will sell anythin i can on ebay altho most of it is junk which i doubt would sell..

We'll this is a bit longer than i was expecting so if you've read through it this long Thanks!

SarahNeedle1872

Craig_THW wrote: »

Not quite sure were to start with this! But thought this may just help me on my way to being debt free and let me chart my progress on the way! I'll try and update as often as i can and hopefully you lovely people shall help me along the way

Let's see..

Background.. 21yr old Male from Scotland, Live with my parents, Got a car, Lovely Girlfriend and my main passion is Football! Follow my Team Partick Thistle (Which explains the threat title.. not a typo, its our nickname) home and Away and Follow Scotland home and as often as i can Away from home.. Which is were most of my Money Goes.. Football is sorta non negotiable for me and more a way of life than a un-neeeded luxury.

SOA..

Income

Wages - £1100.. Aprox.. 950 Basic plus i do an hours overtime every day im at work. Can u do any more overtime than this to get a bit more cash? Or could u get a part time job?

Outgoings

Digs - £100 What does this cover exactly? Just rent, or fod etc as weel?
NTL - £25 (Covers 2nd Box in my room and i pay towards SkySports Subscription) This could go to save money....?
Car - £180 What does this include?
Mobile - £45 - I currently have 2 contracts.. £25 a month with Orange which i use and £20 a month with Vodaphone which i dont use and am just paying until it expires, still 6 months to go! I was runnin up huge phone bills on the contract i was on so am saving money this way but will obv get rid of vodafone when it expires. was 18 month contract for 45 a month i was silly to take at time
Petrol - £160.. Use about £40 a week to and from work, Goin to OH's and gettin to Footie
Footie.. £50 a month approx... My season Ticket is paid for.. just Away games at approx £13 a game plus payments to my bus membership for season.. Depends how many away games we have in a month or if Scotland are playing. This could be cut back.... away game at least

Debts...

Overdraft £1000 0%
Natwest CC 3,254 13.9% 0% for another 10mnths
BarcleyCard CC £2,556.00 14.0% 0% for 13mnths
Virgin 1,319.05 15.9%
Loan.. Unsure of amount but 15mnths @ £220 left

Total amount
11,429

Using the snowball Calculator i have calculated that.. Paying the £350 a month to my debts (Not inc my Car).. £220 for the loan plus another £130 i'll be debt Free by October 2010

I have already Canceled by Nuts Magazine Subscription, Canceled my Phone Insurance and set up direct Debits to all my cards for the min payment.. ill pay any extra each month by Debit Card. Make sure u throw all ur extra cash at the Virgin debt, as this is the only one with interest, and DO NOT spend on the 0% cards, or they'll add interest.

I've started bringin packed lunches in and eatin cereal in work rather than rolls from the van ad have so far not Spent a Penny Since Sunday.. When usally i'd spend abot £5 a day Good start, well done! Perhaps u can teach me how to do this!

I used to eat out alot but am trying to cut this down or stop all together altho will still treat the OH to a meal every so often..

My Lightbulb Moment..

Ive been thinkin about my debt risin alot lately.. Alot of it is a result of a gamblin problem.. sorted that out mostly.. only have one or 2 occasion lapses but hopeful of solving this..But it reallly Hit home the other night in a convo with the OH of us getting a house together and how much i wanted it but would struggle to afford it with the debt i have.. So it really Hit home.. At the same time decided to overhaul my lifestyle totally and cut down the amount of take aways and rubbish i eat.. the 2 will go hand in hand.. Currently having a clear-out of my room and will decorate it.. mum and dads treat so will sell anythin i can on ebay altho most of it is junk which i doubt would sell..

We'll this is a bit longer than i was expecting so if you've read through it this long Thanks!

Hi Craig, well done for posting and taking the first step.......

I've out a few things onto ur SOA, but u seem to have a lot of things missing.... food being the main one, but also for things llike any insurances, birthdays, Xmas etc.... Take a look at the stickys at the top of the page, and look for southerscousers thread for newbies.

Congrats on dealing with the gambling, my OH used to gamble and I know how hard it must be for you to stop. Are u getting any professional help (GA etc?)

Also does ur OH know about the debts? try not to keep it a secret from her if u can, it only adds to the burden.

The boards are a bit busier at this time of night, so u should get a few more answers soon....

HTH

Sarah x

Craig_THW

SarahNeedle1872 wrote: »

Hi Craig, well done for posting and taking the first step.......

I've out a few things onto ur SOA, but u seem to have a lot of things missing.... food being the main one, but also for things llike any insurances, birthdays, Xmas etc.... Take a look at the stickys at the top of the page, and look for southerscousers thread for newbies.

Congrats on dealing with the gambling, my OH used to gamble and I know how hard it must be for you to stop. Are u getting any professional help (GA etc?)

Also does ur OH know about the debts? try not to keep it a secret from her if u can, it only adds to the burden.

The boards are a bit busier at this time of night, so u should get a few more answers soon....

HTH

Sarah x

Thanks for the reply Sarah! To Answer a few questions

My Dig money is money i pay to my mum each month.. Covers everything really.. She provides all my food and the like.. or i eat at the OH's so i only ever pay for take aways or lunch if i dont take a packed lunch from home so got it pretty easy there..

My Car payment covers my Car loan each month... Insurance is paid up until May which will then require renewal.. im expectin a price of around 350 for the yr..

As i mentioned the footie isn't really negotiable for me.. its part of me... no missed games in 4 and a half yrs tells alot i think...but i have cut back how much i spend on it.. Stopped buyin programs and pies at half time and joined the bus this yr which saves me a fortune over the season on petrol drivin to the games and is much more fun too..

My scotland Trips are done on the cheap.. Ie instead of flyin direct we fly through 4 different countries to cut the price in half.. more fun too!

My Other half knows about the debts.. shes got debts herself she is tryin to pay off so we're cutting back our spendin together which is good.. she doesnt know the full extent of the gamblin problem which led to them but does know its a problem..not got any prof help.. was on gamcare website for a while which helped me over the main problem.. i have had a relapse every so often but i am quickly back on the wagon.. it seems a vicious cycle my gambling and my debts.. my gamblin gets me in the debt then in the past ive seen it as maybe a quick fix of getting out of debt only to go more into debt.. if that makes sence.. hopefully now im out tha cycle and goin about it the right way!

Craig_THW

We'll Spending my First Money since Sunday! Was at the pictures last night with friends to see the new Saw Film so £6.30 on that (sis paid by card so still need to give her the cash) but managed to resist pick and mix or popcorn or the like.. Also no bread in the house so no packed lunch today so having a friday treat of a Subway for Lunch.. However in good new my mum owed me £10 from last week for stuff i got for her so this will cover Cinema and lunch with a wee bit left over to put in my money tin.. So Still got the same £10 note in my wallet since Sunday! Quite Chuffed with myself!

OH is coming round tonight for dinner.. Im cooking her stuff from what i have in the house as opposed to goin out for dinner or ordering take away.. Also got plenty of Drink in my "Bar" In my room so will tuck into that over the weekend as opposed to goin out.. :beer:

So Only need to pay to Get into the Footie tomorrow and i've had a very good week! :j

(Land_of)_Maz

Lovin the thread title! Will read with interest, i always have a soft spot for anyone scottish! Or with a love of football!

Good luck with the journey, you're doing great so far!

lunar

HI, well done on your LBM and for posting. hardest bit if you ask me. well done on facing up to the gambling problem, i have a friend who has just declared bankruptcy due to online gambling. If you and your oh are facing up to the debts together it wont be long before you are able to have your wn financial independance. if you can afford to go to football and make overpayments on the debts then let that be your one extravagance and cut back on all the other spending.

keep on posting you will get loads of support and advice on here

itsarichmansworld

Hi good to see more scotties here

To save lapses on your gambling you can get free software so you dont go onto gambling sites on the net.

immoral_angeluk

Craig_THW wrote: »

I've started bringin packed lunches in and eatin cereal in work rather than rolls from the van ad have so far not Spent a Penny Since Sunday.. When usally i'd spend abot £5 a day

that's a fantastic start well done!

nicola1982_2

Oooh your thread reminds me of a less extreme ep of spendaholics. His team was Chelsea and that was where he needed to cut back. Basically the said no away matches, no post match pub drinking and he was encouraged to do fitness on away match days.

How necessary are away matches? My dad is a huge County fan but he'll only go to away matches within a certain radius as occasional treats. He listens to matches he can't attend on the local radio station.

Also Sky sports subscription seems extravagent for someone who is over £11k in debt whilst still living with parents. You have the opportunity to really kill that debt - eventually you'll want your own place. Our rent sets us back £525 PCM, plus rates, council tax and food on top of that, debt repayment becomes a lot more of a challenge. Take advantage of your low rent/bills/food costs!

Craig_THW

nicola1982 wrote: »

Oooh your thread reminds me of a less extreme ep of spendaholics. His team was Chelsea and that was where he needed to cut back. Basically the said no away matches, no post match pub drinking and he was encouraged to do fitness on away match days.

How necessary are away matches? My dad is a huge County fan but he'll only go to away matches within a certain radius as occasional treats. He listens to matches he can't attend on the local radio station.

Also Sky sports subscription seems extravagent for someone who is over £11k in debt whilst still living with parents. You have the opportunity to really kill that debt - eventually you'll want your own place. Our rent sets us back £525 PCM, plus rates, council tax and food on top of that, debt repayment becomes a lot more of a challenge. Take advantage of your low rent/bills/food costs!

Not going to the away games is a non-starter.. As i said footie is a non touchable area for me.. Some may find that silly and prob even worse considering my debt but it's always come before everything and Holidays and the like have always been planned round it! :P We dont any coverage on the radio or tv so theres no way of listenin to the games and its something theres just no way i could ever give up..

Problem is my Rents don't know about my debt.. I'll have a word with my dad see if he can cover the Sky Sports Subscription...

I Plan to go to Euro08 in Austria/Switzerland next year but it will be prob my only holiday of the yr.. However I have £500 put away from my 21st Last yr which i have kept especially for this purpose.. My Rents are getting me a new Kilt for Xmas and will get the other bits and bobs i need from the OH for Xmas.. Now all Scotland have to do is beat Italy on Nov 17th :T

dumpy

Lots of people come to these boards and say that they won't give something up, often it is sky.

It's really difficult but at the moment your family are supporting you.

If you want to move in with your OH you'll need to have more money available to pay the rent/bills and it will need to be a lot more than £100 a month. You also want to be budgeting for the car insurance, saving about £35 a month towards that.

It's having to decide what is really important to you.

I also think you've underestimated how much you spend on footie.