Day 1...

ElleCee

Working_Mum wrote: »

Well done ElleCee on starting your journey - you seem to have got off to a good start.

I would say to myself "right now I am not going to buy XYZ but I will revisit it in 24/48 hours" - this helped me learn and embed healthier behaviours.

I write all of my spends in a lovely book (I love stationery!) and I balance the cash in my purse and payments yet to hit my account each morning - this practice has helped me know what I have available across cash and bank account which i think subliminally has helped me stay in control.

Meal planning and shopping from lists has helped enormously. As has being organised around birthdays etc (C4rd Factory is great for good value cards). I always "shop from home" first (Foxgloves diary uses this strategy but many creative solutions can be found via Pinterest/shopping from home).

Good luck as you navigate this road!!

Thanks for the great advice Working Mum

I've managed to curb the impulse to spend so far by actually looking in my wardrobe and seeing all the lovely things I already have (some of which still have tags on!) and all of which helped get me into this mess! In fact, I'm starting a pile of things I could sell on eBay.

Same with my cosmetics/toiletries.... I genuinely 'don't need' anything right now. I would love nothing more than to treat myself to a new face cream, serum, or face mask but I've got everything I need for now.

MUST. STAY. STRONG....

BabyStepper

Hi there

Around impulse shopping, I just wanted to add that I always keep all of my receipts for every little tiny thing I buy. I keep them in date order so that if I discover I've bought something I don't need and have not used, I can return it for a full refund. At the start of this debt journey I returned quite a lot, but over the months my impulse spending has calmed down so I don't need this so much, I can wait a week and see if I still need the thing. Usually I don't and I just forget about it.

Hope this helps. Good luck with everything, I'll be following.

ElleCee

D_M_E wrote: »

Consider clearing the £300 overdraft as soon as possible then downgrade the account and save the £15 or so it's costing you every month, particularly as you don't or have never used the benefits it offers.

Some banks will allow you to downgrade even with an overdraft too.

The cash saved could go towards one of the debts or into savings.

Hello and thanks D_M_E

Great advice, I'll prioritise the OD and look in to downgrading the account asap. That's £180 per year that will go towards the debts

ElleCee

BabyStepper wrote: »

Hi there

Around impulse shopping, I just wanted to add that I always keep all of my receipts for every little tiny thing I buy. I keep them in date order so that if I discover I've bought something I don't need and have not used, I can return it for a full refund. At the start of this debt journey I returned quite a lot, but over the months my impulse spending has calmed down so I don't need this so much, I can wait a week and see if I still need the thing. Usually I don't and I just forget about it.

Hope this helps. Good luck with everything, I'll be following.

Hello and thank you BabyStepper

What a wonderful idea! The amount of times I've bought something only to chuck it in the wardrobe and not even wear. I given so much to charity shops with the tags still on!

I'm trying very hard to curb the impulse but don't expect not to fall sometimes, so keeping in mind that I can return it makes perfect sense! The old me just 'wouldn't be bothered' to return it

ElleCee

Beauty products. Did you switch brands for cheaper options or try to budget for favourites?

I don’t wear much make up - I love a dash of red lippy though but I do spend quite a lot on skincare and hair care.

Looking at my bathroom and dresser I can immediately see ways to cut it back and save loads:
I don’t need a morning and a nighttime eye cream
I don’t need body lotions for different purposes; daytime, bedtime, special occasions, match my perfume etc etc
Do I really need face oil, serum, and essence lotion? :eek:
I’ve got 3 different shampoo/conditioner sets on the go!
What can I say? I’m a product junkie

The first step is actually use what I’ve got before I buy anything else (I love to stockpile!) and stop buying all non essentials, but after that?
I don’t want to stop using the brands I love.

I know this post makes me seem utterly vapid and vain but it’s something that has come up for me and I’m not sure where my bottom line is yet…

Swap to cheaper brands or make room in my budget?

Kitten868

You don't need to stop using the brands you love but as you say you don't need so many different creams. I ask for those sorts of things for birthday and Christmas. People like buying what you actually want - they don't feel dictated to. I've just discovered the ordinary. I'm impressed and they're not dear. Work out what you want while you're going through the stock pile.

Cancel the premium current account! You're paying £17 a month for an overdraft. I have the nationwide package account but we use the phone insurance and breakdown cover a lot and it covers the family for £13 so it's worth it for us but it doesn't sound like yours is worth it to you. Its great you've cleared so much of it so fast. Also check if it was missold - martin has a great template to claim it back if so.
Another brilliant win is reclaiming ppi. You can claim it yourself through resolver. Xxxx

pidge04

Reading your introduction was basically like reading my own life story with money and debt!

We can totally change what’s been the pattern of our lives so far.

Get selling, look into Resolver...try and get some extra money in to see those figures go down. It will give you a big boost. You will become addicted to seeing the figures going down and you might feel hugely resentful of spending your money on other things like pick me up treats. That’s what happened to me. Do you really need it (I deserve it treat) or do you need to see your debt figures going down?
Can you try and get your products for free somehow? Start a blog/Instagram - be sent products for free!! It seems to work for some people!!
Good luck!

jwil

I try all the cheaper stuff and see if I like it. There's no point in paying extra just for the sake of a name if there is a cheaper option that works just as well. However, if it is something you can't do without, then budget for it, or ask for it as gifts like kitten suggests.

GeorgianaCavendish

Re: Beauty Products - I still use high end stuff (with a few cheaper options mixed in) but like kitten suggested, I ask for it for Christmas and birthday presents. I also do a google search every time I buy something to see if I can find it cheaper from a different retailer, I regularly save £15 on my moisturiser by buying it from one of the big online beauty retailers instead of Boots.

Streamlining your routine would probably be good for your wallet and might be beneficial for your skin too. I 'downgraded' my moisturiser and serum (was using Chanel :eek: now using Clinique) but actually the cheaper brand is much better for my skin. I've used BeautyPie for a few bits (their mascara, primer and highlighter powder are particularly good) but be careful because they have a monthly subscription fee. I'm lucky because my friend already uses them and places orders for me.

Another thing is to sign up to a cashback site and always use that when buying online and make good use of any reward cards you might have.

And finally, keep an eye on how much you are stock piling. Early on in my debt busting I realised that I had a cupboard full of toiletries that were bought on promotion. Even the stuff that seems so cheap so as to be insignificant adds up. I would always pick up a couple of deodorants in Boots because they were always on special offer. I started using the MySupermarket app and realised that they were always on offer somewhere, so I stopped buying them when I didn't need them "just in case".

ElleCee

Thank you everyone for the great advice and ideas Relieved I don't have to completely give up my product love

Just getting to grips with it all these last few days but very positive and excited now. Bring on the challenge! It feels good to have it out in the open, not in public but with myself, I've finally admitted I have a problem and I feel lighter

Overdraft is cleared; I used the last of my bonus that I'd kept back for a treat... old habits

A new current account (with no monthly fees) is in process and earning me £100 just for switching... happy days. I've wanted to leave Haifax for ages but the OD tied me in, feels good

Unbelievably, I've been approved for an HSBC 0% (for 2 years) balance transfer card! I'll get the Halifax one paid off and I really will close it this time. I will be very careful, it is simply a tool for me pay off one of my debts without the crippling interest charges. I plan to lock the actual card away in the safe - or even cut it up? I won't keep an app on my phone for it either, waaaay to easy to move money around on the go!

Used Resolver to start a claim about my Reward account, I know I'm late to the party here but wow! They sold me that account 7 years ago when I asked for an overdraft, they said I had to get the account to get an OD! Fingers crossed something will come of it

I'm really enjoying tilly tidying my accounts as well, what a wonderful idea. Whatever is there at the end of the month is for overpayments. Set my Monzo to round up and stash the difference too

Accidental NSD too friend offered a lift to work and back as she was staying nearby and I'd packed lunch. Bonus