Where do we start with our debt??? Help Please

neverdespairgirl

optical wrote: »

Food - £350 - for two this is very high. Fair point... goodbye Sainsburys....hello Aldi

You could cut that in half, cooking a bit in advance, freezing stuff, thinking about what you buy, leaving you +£175.

optical wrote: »

Car Insurance - £62 - this is high. This is for two cars, we need both unfortunately.

It's still a lot for 2 cars, when renewal time comes along, do check out cheaper deals.

optical wrote: »

Going out? Hardly go out these days but have the odd weekend away e.g New Year with friends which cos us about £400. Weekends at home usually get wine and a take away, rough cost £20 each

I think at the moment you need to bin this lot. You can't afford £160 a month on takeaways! Home-made curry is easy and actually a lot nicer, so you could save £120 here and still have some wine etc. I certainly think the £400 weekends away need to be put on ice?

optical wrote: »

Presents? ?? No idea how much we spend on gifts, no budget but roughly £500 a year

Budget for these, perhaps £20 a month for the moment, max? Saving £260 a year.

optical wrote: »

Holidays?£1500 a year maybe

I think this needs to be cut down too, for the moment, you can't afford it. Halve it?

tealady

Have reported grand963

stapeley

I wish i had a spare £400 a month ! £ 4800 a year! With another £200 savings a month , £2400 a year. Thats £ 7200 a year ! Wish i had that . The doctor can help stop smoking . Its there for you if you want . GOOD LUCK.

optical_2

thanks all, im feeling that my £32,000 debt isnt as bad as I thought, really need to work on where the 'spare' £400 a month each goes. reluctant to give up holidays / time with friends as I work 50+ hours a week. (Sick this week as exhausted) Trying to give up fags on Monday and will keep reading this sight. Could kick myself for getting into such a pickle as without the debt would have cash a plenty ... what a stupid girl i have been. Started debt as a way of life when I was at uni, got used to buying on credit / overdraft and thats my sorry mistake.

stapeley

You must sit down with OH and look at your monthy budget . And read some of the post on here , there,s alot worse off than you! You,ve seen the light , now act on it! Some people will die still in debt you have a chance to turn it around in a couple of years ! I do wish you the best of luck .

Keeping_Positive

Its easy to get into the borrowing habit usually as a teenage just left school, first job etc or starting like you via the uni route.

Good Luck again, I hope to see you around the forums maybe.