Joining in at last ........... !!!!

debbiedebt

Hi everyone

I signed up for DFW a few months ago and I've only come back today. I had a fab surprise when I updated my signature the debt is going DOWN - I can't believe it!!!

I've read this site so many times but haven't joined in but the good ideas have rubbed off.

This week I searched for cheaper house insurance and my renewal was £495 and the one I got was only £245 thats a massive saving.

Thanks to you all making me see sense.

I have had 2 days this where I haven't spent a single penny. I am taking my lunch to work and making a packed lunch for my OH and DD.

I am getting addicted to this.

Tomorrow I am going to do my groceries tomorrow with a list and just cash in my purse.

What is a sensible weekly living allowance for 2 adults and teenage daughter for food and bits and bobs? I was going to try £120.

Can anyone tell me what "clicks" are? I am selling on ebay but haven't done quidco and i don't understand some of the other things that people do to earn money.

I am going to join in on the forums from now on.

RAS

Well done. Keep at it.

Need_To_Sort_It

£120 a week!!!!!! Thats pure luxury lol

I am doing me, a 16 year old and a 13 year old (both with hollow legas) for £25 a week and managing nicely.

Nice to hear you are making a dent in that debt well done :-)

debbiedebt

Can you really feed all 3 of you for £25 a week - I wish I could. what sort of things do you eat?

I am really excited about being involved with other DFW's

thefuturesbright_2

Welcome and well done, long may it continue

debbiedebt

I am watching a programme on TV about debt management. Hope I'll learn something

skint_spice

There's a thread on quidco in the freebies board which will hopefully explain it all to you.
£120 is a lot of money but if you have cut down to this then try shaving another £20 a week and making gradual adjustments but I'd say £60 would be generous and that's half of your spending. Try the old style board too for tips on recipes, plan your meals before going shopping and try to plan at least one using stuff you already have in the freezer this combined saves a fortune! I'm watching that show too.

kizzykizzywizzy

well done with your savings so far:T definately cut down on the food £50-£60 a week will be loads, have store cupboard clean out use up things that have been in there for a while & use up things in your freezer to give yourself a bit of extra dosh to pay off of your debts, it's amasing how much food you think you need to keep in the freezer, especially when the shops are open all the time!! Make things from scratch, cut out takeaways for a bit, it all adds up.

I watched the programme too - has made me feel really depressed, no where near as positive as Martin's programme ( & I'm not just saying that!! )

Forgot to say are your ccards 0% if not try to move them

debbiedebt

Thanks kizzykizzywizzy I'll check out the freezer.

My biggest debt is with Virgin and because the minimum repaments are so low if I swapped to 0% I don't think I would be able to afford the minimum. Also I don't think another card provider would give me £10,000 credit.

I don't know if people are aware but the Virgin card minimum repayment is less than the interest due each month - it's sure to make the debt bigger. I pay off an extra £100 each month. If I cut down on other things it could be more.

Thanks everyone for comments.

dancingfairy

I'm sure if you post your SOA you'll get loads more fab ideas. Are you making use of the snowball calculator at whatsthecost? you put in your debts and it tells you the best to pay off first (ie the ones with the highest interest rates) and when your debt free date will be. I haven't used it myself but I hear it is quite addictive shaving a month off here and there on your debt free date.

Need_To_Sort_It

Hiya Debbie, its not easy doing it on £25 (maximum) it means being chained to the cooker, but needs must for me right now. To be honest though, even before I had to sort my life out I would have struggled to spend £120 on food each week.

Eg a tin of corned beef, 1 onion, a few carrots and 5lb of spuds does 3 whole meals for the 3 of us. Corned beef hash, pasty with chips and cold pasty as a lunch - so thats £2 max for 3 meals for 3 adults really cos the boys eat like adults. ( I will freeze the pasty so we dont end up having the same type of meal day in day out)

Joint of gammon ham £4.59 = boiled ham and parsley sauce dinner, ham baguettes next day (44p for 2), ham egg and chips and I use some in my sarnies for college.

I just have to be organised but its not easy, continually planning meals so they dont get bored, cooking, baking and freezing etc but its what I have to do right now, I only find it hard cos I hate cooking, my mum for example could do what i do standing on her head cos she loves to cook.

I salivate at the thought of a take away lol