Day 1...

ElleCee

Kitten868 wrote: »

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.

This made me feel better, thank you Kitten. I'll check out The Ordinary too

ElleCee

pidge04 wrote: »

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

Same when I read yours and so many others! Same spending, different person

ElleCee

GeorgianaCavendish wrote: »

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.

Happy to hear you still use them too, I really didn't want to give it all up Will defo pare it back though

ElleCee

GeorgianaCavendish wrote: »

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".

This is me with hand wash! :rotfl:

ElleCee

jwil wrote: »

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.

I'm happy to try anything I'm not a label snob, well maybe a little but always end up going back to my old favourites. Which also happen to be expensive :rotfl:

To be fair, I've got enough stockpiled here to last ages anyway

Scott-Weiland

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.

I work for a bank and there no reason at all you shouldnt be able to keep the overdraft and remove the pack unless your credit rating has plummeted.

A couple of little things i have just read on your posts just my tiny little five penneths.

Re Monzo well done on that one i have set an account up on there a few weeks back. Remember they are doing a referral thing at the minute. So if you refer a friend too set up an account you get a fiver and so does your friend, a referred my cousin and my best mate and thats me a tenner richer and all they have too do is set the account up and use there card once.

You mentioned re toiltries and moisturisers etc etc avoid buying them online or supermarkets your best places too buy them is discounters, ie b and m/home bargains/pound land/etc My partner uses quite an expensive shampoo for ladies with blond hair and she buys is it Aussie Shampoo and in home bargains its two quid cheaper than anywhere else.

Next i heard somewhere in your posts you mention receipts lol have you heard of an app called shoppix???? Shoppix is basically a little phone app and any time you buy anything you snap a pic of the receipt on the app and you get points for it which you can eventually spend on paypal, you also get tiny little surveys depending on what shops you have being in.

Another i would also have a look at is these if you have time

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/make-money-surveys/

I made around 1000 pounds last year from surveys online on my days off. And i have made quite abit of cashback on topcashback.co.uk

Sorry too overload you lol.Part of getting debt free is being smart or as my oh calls it FRUGAL lol

BabyStepper

ElleCee wrote: »

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

That was the 'old me' too - I would just grumble about things and never take things back or complain. But when you do, you often get a great result. Keeping receipts also helps when you buy things that do not last as long as they should. You have rights, things should last a 'reasonable time' and when they don't, I take them back every time. Nothing like debt busting to focus your mind about these things.

GeorgianaCavendish

Ooh, I forgot to mention surveys. I agree that they are a great way to generate some extra cash (as long as you can be bothered! ) also sign up for market research focus groups, I have done a lot of these since I started debt busting and they seem to average at £45 for a couple of hours chatting about a new product or service. The most I got was £110 for one that involved a small task before the group and my FIL has done one for a German car manufacturer that was £££s plus a trip to their HQ in Germany!

ElleCee

£100 parking fine in the post today for being 15 minutes late. A**holes! :mad:

On the plus side, had a call from Halifax about my mis-sold accounts claim, asked me about how it was explained/sold at the time and which questions were asked. I won't count my chickens yet but was expecting to wait weeks to hear back so it could be positive...

Pip_Boy_111

Hey! Just had a read after you posted on my diary.
You sound proper enthusiastic! It's great isn't it? Once that light bulb appears.
I see it all as a game or a challenge now as that seems to appeal to my super competitive streak, rather than thinking of it as paying off debts. Works for me could for you.
So in the words of jigsaw.........do you wanna play a game? :rotfl:

(Subscribed by the way:T)