My current money situation

Callisto

samgoffe wrote:

Drove to train station (5-7 miles) paid my car park ticket (£3.50 a day) and my train ticket (£5.60 a day) thats £9.10 a day, but no use of my car really.

Hi, can you get a weekly or monthly train ticket instead of paying daily? This should save you something on the normal fare and means you don't have to sort out money for your fare every day.

I would also suggest keeping a spending diary for a month (record EVERYTHING you buy in a notebook) and see which areas you spend most in. Then you can do a realistic monthly budget and see how much you have spare to throw at the highest interest debt.

Also, consider downsizing or cancelling Sky altogether if possible... if you only have it to watch films etc, then consider joining one of those dvd rental places that will post you new dvd's to watch, then you post them back when you have finished - no late fees. (As an example Amazon do this starting at around £7.99 a month, but I haven't tried the service personally yet!)

skintchick

Actually, I would suggest getting an annual season ticket for your train - you get a whopping discount, usually also get discounts for friends travelling with you (useful for weekends), and you can cash it in for unused days if you decide not to travel by train any more.

Course, you need to find the money upfront but it is the cheapest way of doing it.

illmonkey

yes. i will be buying a "bulk" ticket, but im just trying it out first. Problem is, it makes me a few mins late for work everyday! and i need to speak to my boss about it, apparaently they dont like it when people ask for times to be changed.

skintchick

Get an earlier train? Then use the time to get personal things done - phone calls, pay bills etc.

Of course bosses don't like people being late - it's your responsibility to be there on time. But they don't mind you being early

asandwhen

get a young persons rail card - get you more discount

Bargain_Rzl

asandwhen wrote:

get a young persons rail card - get you more discount

Unlikely, unless the OP works nights - the YP railcard doesn't apply to the morning rush hour (up to 09:30 I think) nor to season tickets.

illmonkey

A week monday i will be getting a monthly rail card, i've tried it all this week and it seems to be working out. Car also goes on autotrader a week monday! (not this comming monday as i have a holiday!!!)

I have sorted out all my shared bills with my girlfriend, we put £200 in each every month, to clea £3500 for the flat we just done up. Thats done in a year.

I am also now putting a furthur £200 a month onto my huge £12000 egg loan, once the flat debt is paid off that will be extra £400! i hope to clear it in 2 years!!

With all of my monies out now and once car is sorted etc i will be outputting £1100 on vital things (petrol, train, loan etc) leaving me with £300 spare a month, most of this though will go towards loans i hope. But it gives me the change to treat my self every so often.

I got £2000 back the other day for the company loan, thats cleared my over draft and £850 off my loan. I also have 10 little britian tickets to sell (£31/each) so thats an other £310 to go towards the loan.

I also wanted to thank people for there help! Also thank the whole forum for the helpfulness towards others and not just my self. It really gives you that "YES I CAN" feeling when i read through some of peoples problems and i hope others feel that too.

Heres to 2008 - My deat free target!

johannamse

Hey Samgoffe,

I just wanted to say that you definitely seem like you have turned the corner, and "seen the light" as it were. Is your girlfriend as commited as you? It can be a nightmare when couples have different financial priorities. I just wondered because, you really do have a prime opportunity to sort your WHOLE financial future now (what with living with er parents) and it would be a real shame to waste it. The rael world is very very expensive. Good Luck. Keep up the momentum.

illmonkey

thanks, i do feel like that as well. I've also been alot happier since starting to sort it all out.

My girlfriend isnt involved with my money, i have my debt and she has her paycheck! We dont share debt but obviously were happy to pay for each other to go out etc.

She is lucky, she live at home rent free, her only comitment is her new Mini cooper that she seems to spend a lot of money on, its her pride and joy.

I hope in 2 years time i will still be living close to rent free and looking to buy a small house!

illmonkey

update:

Car is now sold! Sold it for £5250. Finance is on £5022, so i make a few hundred, going stright onto the loan.

Monthly out goings dropped dramtically now, only paying out £150ish a month (£50 phone, £100 train)

That means i got a huge £1200 to put to wards my loan and other things i need, like clothes for work!

Anyway, thought i would share.