Addicted to shopping

Numpty_Monkey

:hello: hi there and welcome aboard

have you had a look at Martins demotivator tool thingy
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/demotivator/

It really is an eye opener:eek:

Sagaris

Just remember - a credit card is a debt card, and whatever you buy with it will cost you extra in interest payments - just remember that every time you spend on it. Helped me to kick the habit, anyway!

Bethshine82

Most of my debt came from my PGCE year, when refused to have extra student loan but stupidly spent on CC instead! Had 6000 for the year, which didn't leave much after petrol, insurance, food bills etc. And had been used to earning about 1000 a month so was not used to struggling. Husband promised to help but did not give me penny in the the end and didn't like to ask. However, now left in debt.
Ebaying and car booting stuff. Also birthday next week so may get some money to pay off CC.

Thanks again for support. xxx

faye1978

Bethshine82 wrote: »

In theory it is spare cash but usually ends up being eaten by some emergency or another - or gets spent on gifts. I like buying people presents - only really close family and husband that I splash out on. My parents are so good to me that I like to be able to treat them to something nice.

I am cancelling all social arrangements that I have planned for the next few weeks - was meant to be going to hen party but cancelled and am taking back dress I bought for it (only 14.99 but every little helps!).

Husband doesn't know I am in any debt. We don't have joint savings or current accounts. He earns MUCH more than me and actually has about 10k in bank plus bonus due of 25k but don't want to tell him. Feel like is my fault and my problem so I have to sort it out.

xx

Hey,

Well done for posting, I am in very similar position to you, In about £6k debt and to be married next year. I'd love to be able to be debt free by then. OH earns over 4 times more than me and ALWAYS has several grand in the bank at any one time - he has no idea I am in debt and wouldn't be happy if he did know. I love buying things - it makes me feel better. Doesn't matter if it's for me or someone else. I think there is an underlying reason that I spend and it's definately something I'm working on findng out and I think I will try the spending diary mentioned.

Problem is tho, at the moment I have SO much going out that I am HAVING to pay from the CC.

Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread - just wanted to say, I know what you are going through and you really arent alone - the people on this site give some fab advice.

Stinkybell

I'm an NQT in debt too, but have found a fab way to be interest free without getting another credit card. At the start of the year I went to the bank and showed them my certificate for the PGCE, and some University documents proving it was a full time course. I managed to convince them that if I had done that a year earlier they would have given me a student account no bother, and therefore they should give me a graduate account, complete with £1500 interest free overdraft!

Because there's no minimum payments, you've got to be really strict with yourself about paying it back - I've been putting £380 a month into a savings account online as soon as I get paid, and when I'm at the end of my overdraft I'll put back in just what I need to see me to the end of the month. (I've managed to "save" about £900 since January) My interest free will reduce to £1000 in September, so I'm going to pay back £500 then in bulk as I'm making a small amount of interest, and will pay back the final £1000 in September next year.

Hope this helps! x

ukdutypaid

Faye... Not really my business, but I think it's time to sit down with the OH and tell him...

I suspect that because he earns so much more than you do, then you're trying to keep up and not to lose face.

That's a castle built on sand though, for it will all come to ahead when you're not in such an easy period.. e.g If you have wedding plans.... You'll have to front some of it, so it's better to have it out now, rather than for it all to come unstuck when you've got that lot on your head...

Certainly, I'd talk to girlfriends about it. I'm sure you're not the only one.
I know it's easy to split bills I'll do the rent, you do the utilities, but if it's a massively larger proportion of your income, you can't carrry on like that...

God, what a busy body I am! Sorry...

belfastgirl23

Just to say too that it's worth trying to see if your friends would be willing to eat out cheaper from time to time. Always seems fair to me that you eat at the salary level of the least well paid member of the party. And TBH even though I'm earning a good enough salary, I'm always relieved if someone suggests pizza rather than an expensive meal out you might find that some of the others also agree with you but have been to chicken to say it. And if there's ever a time when it's socially acceptable to cry poverty it's when you're a student or newly qualified...

The other thing to say is that it's worth trying to have a budget for gift giving. It doesn't always have to be about how much you spend and it is a really good challenge to find things that people will still like on a budget. I tend to set aside £50 a month for presents (this includes whatever Xmas bits and bobs I can pick up as well!) that I allow myself to spend if I see the right things on offer etc....

Good luck on your debt free journey!

Bethshine82

Spent nothing today :-)
Although husband has just rung me and asked me to get some shopping - grrrrrrr. Spend ridiculous amount of money on food and husband always asking me to get "a few things." Trouble is because he never does food shopping he has no idea how much stuff costs - so a few things always costs about 15 pounds! Will get tomorrow though, so that I can feel proud that I have spent absolutely nothing today :-)

xxxx

Bethshine82

Beth's total spend today (on food - e.g. milk, bread etc Why has everything gone up in cost apart from my wages??? No justice) 9.32
Not too bad :-)

saver8484

Bethshine82 wrote: »

Hi,
I am 25 years old and am 1526 in debt. I am desperately trying to reduce the amount by about 200 each month (can just about afford this) but can't seem to stop spending! When I am feeling miserable (lots of the time) I end up buying myself something to cheer myself up - it's normally only something small about 25 pounds or so but I know I should be paying off my debt instead. Husband and I want to start trying for a family in a few months and would like to be debt free by time am pregnant. In theory, after paying off 200 of CC debt and all other outgoings should have about 150 pounds left each month, however never seem to actually have this! But normally something seems to happen that's unexpected that takes up left over money - e.g. car breaking down, washing machine needing replacing etc.

Also a lot of my friends are in higher paid jobs than myself so when we go out it is normally for an expensiveish meal, I don't drink but we end up splitting the bill so I always end up paying for more that I have actually had.
I am also terrible for buying presents, love giving presents so if I see something I know someone will like inevitably I buy it! It needs to stop!
Help me be stricter with myself before my debt gets out of control!

Beth xx

You mention your OH doesn't know, if you own up to this he is likely to understand. He may even be willing to pay it off, save the interest and let you pay him back. Like Martin says pay off debt with savings.

Also if you are honest with your friends you may find they are in a simular situation and would like to cut down too. There are some 2 for 1 meals on the main page. Also you could cook food at home for dinner parties. On Martins show tonight a lady did it for £5 for 5 people.

You mention you turned down a hen night and returned a dress. However you could still go, wear something you have worn before no-one will notice they will all be paying attention to the bride to be. If your worried about spending on drinks offer to be the designated driver, or just pop by for the start or end of the evening.