Laid Bare

starkitten

I'm new so be gentle!
I spoke to Martin on the phone the other day, he was on 'the wright stuff' so I thought I'd ring and see if I could speak to him. It was kinda like a spiritual awakening.(steady now!) I've seen him on the telly and been on this site and it's all gone over my head in the past but I'm making a serious effort this time! I've been trying to look for a new job for the last couple of weeks but failing miserably.(Had two interviews and they both rejected me) Been looking at the possibility of doing a second job, (there's no chance of o/t in main one.) In the meantime, I'm working on the training to get upto the next pay level. I've looked at what Martin told me to do, so here we are:

• HSBC Managed Loan settlement fee £15,177 @14.9%apr. 95 pymnts @ £262 p/m = £24,890 Filled in the forms on yourpersonalloan.co.uk's site and got a call saying I'd been refered to Freedon Finance. Will know more in 48 hrs.
• first direct o/d £506 rate ?, I pay £25 p/m & chgd ~£5.50 int.
• Ikea card £174.35 12.9% on purchases~£2 int p/m. DD min. pymnt.
• Evans card £172.82. 24.8%!!! SO £10 p/m
• Partner's car loan with GE Cap 12.6% ~30 pymnts £182.95 p/m
• Partner's Barclaycard £336.56 19.9% purchase annual rate SO £10 p/m

So thats approx £500 a month going out on debt! My partner and I roughly only bring home £900 each per month.

Mortgage 578.90
Home & Life Ins 58
Council Tax 79
Gas & Elec 72.50
Water 26.70
Car Ins 70.26
TV Lic 11.37
Sky & internet 38
Landline & Mob ~50
Boiler cover 12
Union Fee 5.33

So thats another £1000.
1800
- (1000 + 500)
__________
300
__________

We are trying to make £50 of petrol last two weeks and £50 a week on food shopping, which means that we are just keeping our heads above water.
We seem to have been living like this forever, then when something like the car tax crops up or christmas or the cat needs vet treatment then we need to borrow money from family members, (which we must owe thousands too!)

My dryers broke, my hair needs cutting, I need new underwear and the car needs servicing...HELP!!!!

droopsnout

I'd suggest getting rid of Sky and the mobile(s).

Good luck.

stephenwilliams

And the cat.

angchris

i`d scrap the boiler cover and put the £12 a month into a savings account so that at least you are earning interest on it, don`t touch the money as its your "just in case boiler fund" before long if anything does go wrong with your boiler you should have a nice stash to pay it with. im sorry but boiler cover/pet insurances etc etc are one of my bugbears in life, you are paying them your hard earned cash on a "just in case" pay yourself instead!

tealady

:hello: For cheap haircuts try a local college. Insurance - go via a cashback website when they are due for renewal. Check you are on cheapest tarif for gas and electricity. Check you are getting the best mortgage deal as well. Keep a spending diary (back of an envelope will do), look at the Old style board for great cheap meal ideas. Finally put your debts into a smowballer to see which should be paid 1st and how much difference overpayments make.
Hope some of this is useful to you.

Dumb_Blonde_3

Speak to your council and see if you can pay your council tax over 12 months instead of the ten - that will free up a bit extra cash - or you could wait until we get to february and March and put the £79 a month that you would be paying onto your cards

how many of you in your family? why don't you try the value brand food challenge - it can really save money - did you see Martin on LK Today last wednesday morning?

The thread title is called 'Anyone interested in this challenge' - its started by Mumzyof2

Good luck