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Advice on debt and spending

Hi, so I’m not really sure where to begin, so I apologise in advice for the long post. 
So I’m 34 and have 2 yr old twin girls, me and my husband have a house with a mortgage. 
My husband earns a decent salary, I earn the most out of the both of us and my job I can easily pick up extra shifts that pay very well. 
I do have a large amount of debt about £25k plus a car on finance and our joint mortgage. With my work I currently pay slightly more towards our bills etc and I also pay for my husbands car finance. But I feel I am not really getting anywhere with the debt as I pay some off I end up spending more. I’m fortunate that I am able to pay for everything but I work a lot of hours and if I could choose I’d like to work less hours and have more time with my children. I’ve written so many budgets and plans but I end up just buying things, or it goes well for a month and then I go make a big purchase. A part of it is I work so much that I feel like I want something back for that as if not why am I missing this time with my children. But I’ve got into a cycle. 
How do I change my behaviour with money? ive even started trying to find financial coaches but that’s just going to make me spend more. I just don’t know how ti change my behaviour for the better. Or do I need to just suck it up and sort myself out? Sorry for how pathetic the above may sound. 
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Comments

  • Hi, I don't post much, but I've been in your shoes and that feeling of guilt is massive. If you've not been there, it's difficult to understand. Firstly, depending how old your kids are, you could try spending time with them instead of just buying them stuff. If you have the meerkats, try cinema on Tuesday/Wednesday for cheaper. Or perhaps a board game or something. Or a movie. It helps a bit with the guilt if you can find the time. Alternatively, my recent find is looking for stuff on vinted or eBay, etc, rather than buying brand new. And when they're finished with it, sell it on.

    I totally get the comfort spending thing. I'm still a bit partial to it myself. But I now peruse the second hand sites or charity shops for a fix if I'm desperate, but you need to find something else to do when you're feeling that way inclined. 
  • It might be worth actually analysing exactly what you fritter money on. I'd get 3 months of bank statements and several different coloured highlighter pens and go through your spending line by line, categorising the spends by colour. It's quite an eye opener.
    Then do an honest Statement of Affairs formatted for MSE.. link will be a sticky at the top of the forum...


    DEBT FREE - Feb '21& Mortgage Free Nov '24
    Now, let's look at FIRE
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 21,798 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    The mortgage is the important debt and the cost of that will be going up, sooner or later.

    So an soa and working together as a family at this is going to be important

    https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

    Cars are always going to be a major expense, which is why we have a dedicated board on the forums. You may want to start asking there. If the cars are on HP/conditional sale you do have a get out free option within the Consumer Credit Act once you have paid 50% of the agreement. Getting out earlier will leave a debt but in many cases that is still a good option, rather than continue to pour money into a depreciating asset.


  • So I have had a go at the SOA it is for my income and expenses only. So any joint bills I have halved. 
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 12,824 Ambassador
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    edited 23 November 2022 at 12:04PM
    AGSmith33 said:
    So I have had a go at the SOA it is for my income and expenses only. So any joint bills I have halved. 
    Advice from CAB etc as well as here I believe is that it's best to do a SOA for the household to get a true picture of the situation.  If you split bills instead of showing everything that might hide/reduce what is actually would otherwise be an obvious problem point.

    For me a few years back with significantly more debt than you have I kept a spreadsheet with my credit card balances and the amounts to be paid over the coming months which I updated regularly.  I printed a copy and kept it in my back pocket at all times.  That way when I was thinking about frittering money (aka not buying things like essential groceries) it would make me pause.  It also helped me manage moving money between cards when there was a 0% offer and to ensure I didn't pay interest for the majority of it.  

    And well done for addressing the issue - that's a big first step.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

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  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 23,152 Forumite
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    edited 23 November 2022 at 12:25PM
    I think it would be fair to say that your best way of approaching this is likely to be as a team, with your husband. Clearly you're both in debt as you refer to paying his car finance - but household expenses like that need to be viewed as a joint concern, not "mine and his". There's no point in your scrimping to try to clear debts if he's still spending as before. 

    You have a house together. You have children together. On this issue, you need to work together.
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    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00
    Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
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  • AGSmith33 said:
    So I have had a go at the SOA it is for my income and expenses only. So any joint bills I have halved. 
    Next step is to post it (formatted for MSE) on here .... 

    DEBT FREE - Feb '21& Mortgage Free Nov '24
    Now, let's look at FIRE
  • Analysing where you are spending is the first step by going through bank statements.  Doing an soa is a  good first step so you can actually see what your financial position is.  Ideally doing it jointly would work best unless you keep your finances totally separate. 

    Changing your mentality towards spending behaviour is crucial.  I totally get the feeling that you work hard so you feel you deserve to buy stuff.  However each time you pay on credit you  are borrowing from your future self.  The fact you have £25k of debt shows you are overspending in comparison to your income and unless you get a grip on that you will eventually fall into a debt spiral. You could say that each £1k you have borrowed is time you have lost with your twins because you are having to work longer hours to cover the debt repayments.  

    There are lots of things you can do to stop the spending.  

    Cut the credit cards up and remove them from websites, apple pay and anything that makes it easy to spend.  

    Set a budget and stick to it.  Use a spending diary to record everything you have spent. 

    Make a plan as to how to manage your money.  A lot of bank accounts have saving pots or budget snapshot tools.  Keep essential spends for food, bills and essential fuel separate from discretionary spends. 

    Set up savings pots for holidays, christmas and car maintenance etc. 

    Save up for emergencies  so you do not need to rely on credit. 

    Start up a debt free diary on here to get support and keep  yourself accountable. 
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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