Ermmmmm can you help

bloomers5

my nails are down to the quick - pls help what do I do. I know we are not as badly off as some but that's because I have systematically been paying off debts.

State of play:

We have a bank overdraft of £2,500.00 (£40 interest a month)

A mortgage of about £30,000 on a 2 yr tracker deal which ends in Jan.

We really want a holiday abroad - don't mind camping but even that's not cheap in August.

My husband has just started earning £150 extra a month now . What do we do.

We are looking into moving overdraft debt to a 0 per cent deal
. My gut reaction is to get as much much paid off mortgage while we have this deal.

My husband says life'spretty penny pinching and miserable - so that's have a break in France. Which I completely understand.
But...what would you do?

bloomers5

By the way - we have no savings

arealbasketcase

look I am nooooooooo expert (quite the reverse actually) but a mortgage of £30k doesn't sound so bad. I suppose it depends on your equity, how old your are and on your income.

Can you get one of those cards with a good 0% interest free period and get rid of the £40 your paying in interest, most of them last at least 12 months?

I know people say pay off your mortgage as quickly as you can but everyone needs a little sun in their lives. By next Jan all this fuss over credit crunch might have cooled off, the UK is much better placed than most, I know it looks bad from where you are sitting but from here (USA) you guys seem to be in clover compared to some of the problems here!

Some of the guys on here will look at an SOA and give you REAL advice, I just thought I would let you know someone was here and prepared to offer some support.

Find yourself a bargain holiday (I'll bet there's a thread around here somewhere), give yourself something to look forward to and stop worrying, let the MSEr's take the strain.

Good luck.

Kaz2904

Really you ought to try and get your overdraft cleared.
You may well be able to get a 0% OD but use it wisely- not going on holiday.
Pop over to the DFW board and stick up a SOA and they will advise you.
Why not make a target for a holiday for next year and then you can start saving things like tesco deals tokens towards it.

kezza12

well firstly transfere that overdraft to a 0% card asap and start saving the £40 per month towards an holiday and then if you look in either the mirror or the sun this week start collecting the holiday tokens, me and the OH used to go on these all the time about 6 years ago and they're real good value for money. i think the tokens started on saturday though so you might have to get some back issues, they're even doing them abroad now.:D good luck.

bloomers5

Thanks everyone - very thought provoking stuff
The trouble is.... the very deep down and dirty attitude to money .
I am intense - need to to do everything we can : scrimp, live in primark to pay off debs...while my husband who is fairly frugal - likes a lil bit of luxury ..something to look forward to. I can't enjoy a break if I know I have a debt to pay...can be a bit of a boring !!!!!!!...but he's pleased when I find car insurance reduced by £200. Do feel like I am the parent to the child sometimes......is anyone doing free therapy these days!!!

Kaz2904

See that's the thing. You have to learn to strike a happy medium. If you go too gung ho about things then the entire family will rebel. You say you feel the need to live in primark- do you actually need new clothes? Can't you get them from a charity shop or ebay? Often you can pick up good classic clothes that are well made and then find you don't need to replace them so often.
Have you spent any time on the old style board in order to see how to cut down your grocery spending?

Just try one step at a time because you'll get there eventually but rush at it and you'll all rebel and scupper your plans!

PS. I can't believe you got so many replies at this time of night!

poppyoscar_3

if you do decide to go for the holiday, and assuming you have the kit for camping, try one of the municipal camp grounds in france - they're often really good and really cheap!!

PO xx

ps - i personally would get the debt down first though - a 'holiday' at home ie: treats and eating out and days out evey day for a week can just be great and the hotel is FABULOUS! lol

dimbo61

dont forget brit trips with walker crisps
I am so sad i collect empty crisp packets but 2 multi packs paid for
a free day out at quarry bank mill , styal for the family with the nationl trust.
also consider eurocamp and canvas holidays static caravan in france near
eurodisney and holland, this included ferry/eurotunnel for whole family.
very good value for money GOOD LUCK

arealbasketcase

the camping idea in france is a really good one, why didn't I think of that, maybe 'cos it was midnight and I should have been in bed?

I lived down near Carcasonne for a while and (being a bit vague as usual can't remember everything) but there is some rule about every commune (I'm not talking kibutz here, this is a type of administrative region) providing camping facilities. Sometimes these are parts of car parks which ain't the most attractive idea but I know of at least one, in a little place called Montolieu that has a pool and everything. AND Carcasonne is wonderful and only about 1 hour from the coast, not far from the Pyrenees... in which lies a problem: getting there. But there must be hundreds fairly close to the ferry ports.

Now I'm going for coffee, morning all anyone for croissant?

poppyoscar_3

mine's a pain au chocolat

merci!!

po xx