Advice Needed

msasim

Hi,
I have recently discovered this site and I must say after reading through the forums I have become quite hopeful. However I would appreciate any help and advice which would make me debt free as soon as possible.

Here is a breakdown of my debts:

Natwest CC : £1400
LLoyds CC : £1300
Lloyds Loan : £1200
Scottish CC : £1300
Mbna CC : £1800
Mint CC : £900
Friends : £1900

Total approx: 10k(I could check my statements to give the exact amounts but these are very accurate.)

And here is a breakdown of my expenses:

Rent Monthly : £280 (includes gas,electricity,council tax,broadband,tv license)
Food etc : £100
Travelling : £50
Mobile : £50
Payment towards debts:£190

I have cut down my outgoings as much as humanly possible. I have no other expenses other than the above mentioned. My main problem is that currently I work only part time(for the last few months) because I lost my last job due to downsizing(company was closing) and since then haven't been able to get a proper full time job.

What I really need help is with ways to make more money,suggestions regarding mystery shopping,doing things privately,any online jobs etc, ebay.

Thanks
msasim

hypno06

Hi there and welcome to DFW!

I would suggest the following:

1. Grab a cup of tea or coffee - always most important when debt busting.
2. Have a read through the sticky at the very top of the threads, this will help you put together a more detailed soa that the dfw people can pull apart for you, giving you loads of good advice.
3. There is a forum on here I think about ways to maximise earnings and income. Nip over there and have a look - mystery shopping, AQA, ebaying, quidcoing, etc will all be there and you can do as much or as little as you want.
4. Start a spending diary, so that you can see where every penny is going - this will help to focus you and to realise what you can easily cut out.
5. Visit the Old Style board, this will help you cut your shopping bill down but at the same time giving you loads of ideas for eating well etc.
6. Go over to www.whatsthecost.com and put all your debt details in the snowball calculator - this will give you a debt free date, and you can play around with the money to see how much you can bring this forward by with a bit of effort.
7. Grab another tea or coffee......you will need it by now!

Good luck, and keep posting.

doodledo_2

Hi and welcome to the forum.

As per Hypnos post try and post a more detailed SOA as you will be amazed at what people suggest that you hadn't thought of. When I did mine I ended up saving around a £100 more a month when I thought I already had tightened my belt to the max lol

With regards to making more money is there a chance you could take on another part time job maybe? Ebay is definately worth a look if you have much stuff laying about. I have sold lots on ebay over the years and not only does it give you extra cash it also helps clear your house.

Good luck and do keep posting as I find when I am on here and posting I am much more conscious of my spending.

dsljfreeman

Hello and welcome to the board.

GettingThingsDone

Hi msasim, and welcome to DFW!

I also agree with what hypno suggests (I always do whatever hypno tells me to do anyway ).

In addition, I also found that using the exact numbers does make a difference. I don't know why, but rounding always seems to blur things for me. When I got the exact figures from my credit cards and the exact APRs and punched them into the snowball calculator, it made it feel more real and forced me to do something about it.

Anyway, enough rambling from me...

Good luck and keep posting!

gtd

msasim

Thanks for all your advice.I will have a look through the forums and get back.

msasim

lunar

Hi wanted to say welcome to the forum and well done for posting your SOA. i know i found it scary at first but this site has helped me so much, it really is addictive. keep on posting and you will get loads of advice.