Drop in salary, and i was doing so well!

Nickynoo1

I totally agree about the smoking. When I'm working in the pub it gets really smoky and I hate it. Believe it or not it makes me cough! And the ashtrays smell. But I do believe you have to get into the right mind set to achieve the goal.

I've got Allen Carr's books so i will retrieve those, dust them off and begin to get into the right frame of mind. I work onboard ferries so cigs have always been much cheaper for me, but the looming thought that I have to 4.20 for 20 cigs is incredible

I know i cant afford them, i know they kill you, i know they make me smell, and i know my tongue is yellow in the mornings. But that doesn't make it any easier.

I know they have to go, but while i'm trying to get my head around it please don't shout at me.

many thanks,

Nickynoo

Nickynoo1

Woby tide,

Was that your first attempt of stopping?

Nickynoo

Woby_Tide

(Sorry I didn't mean to sound like I was shouting)

Yes it was first time, had debts of c.£17k that were continually growing, £120 a month on cigs could be better spent elsewhere. I'd sort of mentally decided to quit on the Monday and went a bit ballistic on the Saturday night, by Sunday morning I could barely look at them let alone smoke them.

coming up to 6 years in January, and debt free

(bar a mortgage and car loan etc. etc.!)

zcaprd7

Only other thing is the car? They are expensive beasts...

Paul_Herring

NTL includes the family pack T.V, phone and internet. I managed to get £10 per month off just by asking. If it was to go I couldn't come on here and as I'll be staying in a lot the T.V is pretty essential, especially as I live on my own.
[...]
Any more ideas anyone??

I'd have to disagree here. Speaking personally (I live on my own, and don't go out during the week any more since I started my diet - 5/7ths on the wagon now ya know ):

I got rid of my TV 2 years ago. Haven't missed it one little bit. When I do watch TV (round friends, mum's, pub when I do decide to call in) I find it irritating.

When at home I'm usually on the PC/'net (dialup, not BB) or reading books (cheap 2nd hand ones from a bookstore - I'd use the library, but I live in a village and it's small and difficult to get to at opening times)

I'm not suggesting you should give it up, just that you shouldn't think that giving it up would be such a terrible thing

Nickynoo1

Hi Paul,
I'm sure if i got rid of tv i would find other things to do. At the moment the tv is on and i'm on here, so it's more of a company/noise comfort in the evenings. But if I keep the ntl broadband i might as well keep the t.v as it's all in the package.

But i do know what your saying, and i would prefer not to become a couch potato.

nickynoo

Nickynoo1

Hi everyone,

First let me say thanks to all who contibuted. I have been looking and re-looking at my budget and i must say that i couldn't see any way of cutting down anymore than i have.

Then along came your suggestions, which i have to admit as they came in i thought "nah cant do that because...........". I've just re-read the whole thread and had a lightbulb moment! I'm still making excuses for not cutting back.

Every item is feasible but i couldn't see it. Her's what i would save if i took up everyone of your suggestions

STOPPING SAVING
smoking 60
NTL 50
plumbing cover 5.95
dogs trust 10
endownment 73.9
isa 50
car 71

TOTAL 320.85

That's a whopping amount, not to be sniffed at!
Add that to the £350 that i would already be putting on my debt and thats £670.85 per month.

Which means I could be debt free by July next year.

Wow guys I'm impressed, I didn't think i could do that on my current wage let alone a reduced one. I really dont know what else to say I'm shocked that i could clear it so soon. Flippin eck

Thanks again guys i've got some serious work to get down to! ;D

Nickynoo

Dohjo

I have a similar problem to NickyNoo.
Going back to work part time after having a baby, so my salary will drop by £400 a month.

I have debts of 8K - 1500 overdraft the rest on cards; Barclaycard, Virgin and MINT - all are interest free, as is the o/d. Thanks to this site
My question is this, do I keep tarting about with the cards, praying that I will always be accepted for the 0% deals or do I take out a personal loan while rates are relatively cheap or do I re-mortgage.
All my other outgoings (utilities etc )are as cheap as poss, so I reckon I can spare between 200-250 a month to try and clear it

Any advice greatly appreciated - thanks

kragen_ironfist

nickynoo I here what your saying about the T.V. however you may wish to condsider this option.

I have NTL broad band this costs me £25 per month - I have no home phone or TV connection with them - just the net. I know there is a cheaper version of broadband - i think its about £18 p/m. It may be worth callin NTL and say that you want to lose the T.V. package - keep the phone and the internet if you need to but think about reducing the speed of of your broadband to the lowest option. and DON't get suckered into a reduced deal package on the T.V. get rid of cable T.V. altogether - if you need more than the 4 terrestrial channels then you could always think about a Freeview box - I think their about £50 now (that is providing your area is serviced) if its just background then you could even consider listening to the radio - radio 2 has some good programs on in the evenings depending on what interests you.

mind you - if you are doing 2 jobs the bar job is most likely to be evenings so you may find you spend less time in watching T.V. than you think

I hardly watch T.V. at all now mainly cos I start work at half five in the morning and don't get home till half eight/nine o clock (i don;t commute either - live 15 mins from work)

lastly this may be a bit obvious but if you are worried about losing your main job - why not dust off your CV and get your nose into the jobs market. The longer you leave it the longer you would be out of pocket if you lose your job.