Newbie poster,in debt and technical idiot

really-trying-honest

Does the account fee not mean that I get lower interest charge on the overdraft? I will check that out on monday. I try to shop around for food and clothes but need to try and do it a bit more, time is just a bit tight. As well as working have to do all the bits for my disabled mum (shopping etc) on my day off and am also working to get my nvq3 for work.

really-trying-honest

OK, really need to do some work here obviously, thanks for all the super advice and keep it coming!
The £28 for the car is payment toward the motability car we have because of my mum, but I dont have to pay insurance,repairs,tax or anything else on it.
Generally try to cook from scratch as hate paying out for jar stuff that never tastes as good, but obviously need to try and get ingredients cheaper. One thing I know I spend out on are cookies and mini packs for lunch box. Will have to start making flapjacks etc again.
Generally have trouble getting things like credit cards so unfortunately probably not an option.
My usual overdrawn amount is pretty much up to my £3000 limit, I pay £12 to have the advantage gold account (which I thought meant I paid less on interest) and the debit interest is normally about £35 a month.
Find it hard to balance because of all my money coming in at different times of the month.

doodledo_2

Hi and welcome to the board :beer:

HBFS

Have you possibly not tried totalling up when your various monies come in and how much? Then speaking to various companies asking them to move payment dates so you always have the cash in there?

I know it sounds a pain, but I did that recently and it's such a relief to know everything comes out on the 1st, day after I get paid.

msmicawber

Hi there,
I assume the A&L account you've just opened is the internet one? You may find that it's easier to keep track of your money when you can log in each day rather than having to wait for a monthly statement. I know what you mean about having money coming in at different times sometimes making it awkward, but it can also work in your favour as you can adjust your payments to ensure they go out after a credit to your account. Sometimes when I'm short I put off paying a bill until the following week because I know the Child Benefit will have been paid by then, for example.

elle_gee

You say time is tight.. perhaps you could shop online with Tesco (or any of the other supermarkets) and get it delivered to home. There are usually discount codes knocking around to get money off (£5 off when you spend £50 etc), free delivery, or extra Clubcard points.

Do you often take your son shopping with you? Shopping online would help you avoid the "Muuuuuummm, can I have?" questions thirty times over! If you still want to allow him some treats, maybe offer him the chance to pick 3/5 things for you to order (without him seeing the website) - he won't be able to think of half the things he would ask for just because he's spotted them on the shelves, and the important things will become apparent!

Before you logon, go through your cupboards and the freezer and check out what you've already got - you'll be surprised! - then write a list of everything else you can think you'll need for that week / fortnight and only order what you've got on the list.

Don't forget to buy in bulk if you've got the room to store things.

really-trying-honest

OK,am an idiot, have just been checking out Natwest info on their homepage and it looks like you do not get a better interest rate by paying for the gold account.will give them a call tomorrow.
cant call now have already had 2 glasses of wine:beer:

CRANKY40

How much contents insurance do you have? I just went through quidco, got £60 cashback and insured this 5 bedroomed heap (including my £2000 worth of engagement ring) for £8.50 or thereabouts with TSB.

really-trying-honest

Thanks cranky40, will have a look and must check out quidco.am very ignorant of many things....!

dsljfreeman

Good morning r-t-h,

Quidco is a fantastic website, I changed my lifeinsurance and buildings and contents insurance through them and earned £200 cashback plus the quotes were cheaper.

Do you pay your council tax over 10 months or 12, would be cheaper if you spread over 12 months.

I buy my food shopping monthly and will spend about £75-£80, thats for 2 adults, a child and a dog, I do top up weekly but thats purely milk, bread and pack-up stuff and I spend less than £10. I meal plan and hubby will cook proper dinners, we don't buy processed meals anymore. I do have a little confession to make though, the reason I can spend so little is b'cos I work at Asda and therefore get a discount, plus I will collect coupons througout the month and use them for my main shop, but I do set myself a budget and any money I save goes on my debts.

You have budgeted £30 for clothes, is this for both of you, while it is nice to have new clothes, I think for the next few months this can be used towards your rent arrears, I tend to shop in sales or ebay for my son's clothes, we do have a wicked shop in town which sells excellent quality 2nd hand clothes for kids and I will buy from there, plus the owner buys clothes aswell, so when my son outgrows his clothes I get money to buy him more

I recently swapped from Natwest to Alliance & Leicester, I got so fed up with Natwest and finally snapped about a month ago, I delight in reading when people give Natwest the heave-ho, they used to be a really good bank but ever since I reclaimed my bank charges they've gone downhill.

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and welcome to the board

Laura x