I think it is time!

INT1

For me, I would get rid of them cards,can you take out a loan to consolidate them all and then close them, maybe leaving 1 open for emrgencys...

splishsplash

Well done on your first non-smoking day!!:T

I admire you so much for giving up - I'm about to try too, but my willpower is rubbish:o
Just think, with all the money saved from not smoking, that Debenham's card will be history by the end of January, and you can start snowballing that Capital One card and get it cleared within a few short months. That means you have an extra £200 to throw at other debts every month!
Best of luck, you can do this!
Don't forget to join the 'Giving up Smoking' thread for support.

nearlyrich

Welcome to DFW, good luck with giving up smoking.

southwester_2

Hi

Does your husband know about the debts??
I was in a similar situation and kept it from my wife, when I told her it was the biggest relief ever and we sorted it out together. I may be wrong just probably adding 2 and 2 and getting 5

Heffi1

Good evening,

Thank you to all your suggestions, yes hubby does know about the debt, but I have taken enough off him in the past that I do not want to have to ask again. Also he pays all of the major bills in the house so it would be really selfish for me to expect him to help me again when he has his own bills to pay - along with mortgage, gas, electricity, phone etc.

I am determined to stop smoking and will be going to a smoking cessation clinic we have at work also (NHS) so it is free :T

All of the cards are not in use and I never take them out of the house any more. The temptation is too great - I do know this about myself.

The Debenhams is definitely the one to be working on first so hurry up pay day so I can start.

Christmas will be a poor do this year, but I have explained to the family that this year I am not buying presents - My mum said she would love a chocolate cake so that is her sorted. Good job I can cook! Son regularly disagrees there though, he went to college to train as a chef so obviously I do it all wrong. (that does not stop him asking my advice :rotfl:)

Well I will be totally honest in this monologue of mine - I have had a few cigarettes today, normally by now I would have had about 15 and I have only had about 5 so not great, but a definite improvement.

I will keep trying though.

Thanks for reading I do hope I am not boring you all

Heather.

RAS

What is the limit on your AMEX and Egg cards?

Heffi1

RAS wrote: »

What is the limit on your AMEX and Egg cards?

Unfortunately I do not have any spare on any of the cards so I cannot even do a balance transfer. I just wish I had not been so silly and taken them out at all.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it?

PasturesNew

Re ciggies, if you can't cut down or stop, then have you tried rolling your own - but the posh way?

I got a Concept rolling machine + concept papers (pre-rolled paper tubes with a proper filter on the end) + special ciggy tobacco. Got the lot from Asda.

Machine was couple of quid.
100 papers/filters are 99p (so 1p each)

The tobacco is sold in what looks like a cigarette packet. Inside that are two packs of tobacco. I manage to squeeze 12 out of each pack. Costs £2.35. So I am paying £2.55 for 24 cigs. Cheaper than £4.22 for the cheapest cigs going.

The machine is easy to use, just stuff the tobacco in a slot, put the lid down, stick the empty tube on the end and push the machine back/forth once and it's a fag. They then fit into the box the tobacco came in, so looks like a pack of cigs when you've finished rolling.

I just never drive/smoke those in case I've packed one a bit dodgy, so I buy cheapo Sterling at £4.22 to smoke when I'm driving - and smoke the others the rest of the time.

Random links from google are showing:

- machine £3.50 https://www.thebackyshop.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=421

- tubes 99p/100 http://www.thebackyshop.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_85&products_id=220

- tobacco £2.35 at Asda (not tried elsewhere yet) http://www.brucciani-ltd.co.uk/shop/images/products/rtc.jpg

I am NOT a hand rolling type. I am useless and a wuss. Yet I find these a great way to cut back without cutting back

RAS

OK

There is little scope in your own SOA, apart from food and ciggies and hopefully you can cut the second down if not out

On the other hand, do you really need a car, can you cut your mileage, get the bus, work extra hours, take second job? anything to start clearing the really awful cards?

To make the point, rog2 found that although he stopped using it and was paying the minimum every month, in the year before he was made BK, his debt to MBNA increased by £1000.

As a household it may be possible to cut other expenditure but really people need to see information about all the expenditure not just yours.

The other minor thing to look at is chevaliers excellent list of survey sites and pay per clicks. Some people collect £50 per month and every penny helps.

Heffi1

Pasture New that is a great idea, I would really love to stop altogether though. I may keep it in mind as a fall back plan anyway.