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Original poster

Debt Free 2007?

551 replies

Flamesparrow · 28/11/2006 17:42

Keep thinking about this since yesterday...

Am thinking that my aim for 2007 is to be in a decent(ish) money situation next Christmas BUT I don't wanna take the swing out of the budgie's cage completely...

I need to work out how to save money, pay all the bills, but still be able to have the odd treat here and there.

I thinking:

  • Decent food budgetting/planning
  • uswitch (I think I am on the cheapest anyway)
  • s/o for savings AND a s/o for treats
  • Work out the birthdays that will be coming across the year and make sure I put aside enough each month to cover the hell months.

What else should I be doing?

OP posts:
CranberryJelley · 07/12/2006 20:56

I ha ve halved his personal spending budget, and he just told me it can go down more, though
I'm hoping that by getting him used to it slowly he might adjust and stick to it.

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 07/12/2006 21:07

Cranberryjelly- does he drive a lot or is it a powerful car?

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 07/12/2006 21:09

£50 a week

CranberryJelley · 07/12/2006 21:09

Both.

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 07/12/2006 21:27

Would he downgrade his car to save money?

CranberryJelley · 07/12/2006 22:36

No. He really needs a van for work, but that wouldn't be cheap, and we'd have to have a car as well.
I don't have a car so we save on two lots of insurance/tax etc this way.

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 07/12/2006 23:07

Just a thought!
Can't understand people running powerful/expensive cars when they don't need to!

ska · 08/12/2006 12:54

I am going to try to reclaim all the bank charges we've had over the last 6 years as in someone's earlier post. It will be massive as we are massively overdrawn. Has anyone got the money back form First Direct and did they have to close their account? I really like First Direct (It's just that they are so easy to use and that makes a huge difference to me) and don't wnat to have to change bank really.

PinkTinsel · 08/12/2006 14:52

hello all, just drew up my weekly budget that will commence in january (wouldn't be able to afford xmas dinner if i start now it's that tight). we'll be eating light but it'll keep us catching (very slowly) up on the rent and make sure dd's creche, the car loan and insurance are all paid for and there's money there for bills, and clothes if theres any left over.

not looking forward to it so we'd better make the most of xmas... be the last fun we have for quite a while!

CranberryJelley · 08/12/2006 17:26

ska - there are useful links on this thread and once you find your way around it the moneysaving expert site has stuff on every bank.
I don't think many people have had their accounts closed but it does suggest you open a "fallback" account as they could withdraw your overdraft facility!

I bought a £1 saving tin today. I think I need to hide it though...

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 08/12/2006 20:29

I am trying to decide whether its worth the hassle of getting my xh to pay more maintenance (from£14 , the CSArecommend £40 )

Helennn · 09/12/2006 20:33

Is it too soon to start posting tips, or should I wait until 2007? I'd better start now or I will have forgotten everything by then, I am already on a money saving binge at the mo so maybe a little further down the road than some.

Biggest tip, as somebody has already said, is moenysavingexpert, sign up for the weekly e-mails and you will save loads. Also buy the book by Martin Lewis, (I know, £3.99 on Amazon but I bet it saves you more than that). Secondly, as previously posted by UCM on another thread, is the website Hotukdeals.com This lists all the discount codes for shopping. This week alone I have saved £8 off my tesco on-line shop, got a £4 Pampers voucher on the way, saved 20% (£10), off House of Fraser purchase, (undies for ME!!!), and could have saved £4.95 postage off Letterbox toy order but discovered it just after I had placed order. So a possible saving of £27.

Also, must sign up for Quidco as everyone says that is good.

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 09/12/2006 20:37

Martin Lewis bookis cheaper on play.com as you don't pay postage(more savings!)

Helennn · 09/12/2006 20:38

Thanks - but I was doing a bigger Amazon Xmas order and I wasn't paying postage anyway. Na na na na nah .

ska · 09/12/2006 20:43

the book is also available as a swap on desciption so for only the cost of the postage of a book you no longer want. Great way to save money on books.

Helennn · 09/12/2006 21:02

Me again, see what I said about my memory, I had forgotten I had meant to paste this for you all. It is from the Motley Fool website which can be quite helpful, if a little hardcore! Have a look at this . Bet link doesn't work - it never seems to!

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 09/12/2006 21:09

readitswapit link doesn't work btw

CranberryJelley · 09/12/2006 21:17

readitswapit

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 09/12/2006 21:25

Ta , have a mental block on links atm

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 11/12/2006 12:31

A round up of a lot of the tips/links so far:

  • Decent food budgetting/planning - Email Flamesparrow at gmail dot com for a copy of Capp?s spreadsheet! (Didn?t want to tell everyone to CAT you Capp unless you wanted them to )
  • uswitch
  • s/o for savings AND a s/o for treats
  • Work out the birthdays that will be coming across the year and make sure I put aside enough each month to cover the hell months.

BUDGET
Work out a spreadsheet for your monthly/weekly spending. Spend a couple of months tracking every penny you spend ? you will be able to see where your money trickles away to!!!

SHOPPING
*Shop online if you make a comprehensive list (it will cost more if you miss lots off)
*Menu plan ? easier to make a stickable to shopping list

  • Use Quidco to get money back on shopping
  • If you can be trusted to pay it all off before the end of the month, do your shopping on a Tesco credit card to get the points to use elsewhere
  • Eat before you shop
  • Buy extras like milk and bread at the corner shop ? what slight extra you pay for the milk, you save on not seeing tempting offers!! (4 pts of milk is actually CHEAPER at my corner shop than Tesco Express)
  • Sign up for anything that will send you free vouchers
  • Pay at the self service machines in Tesco as they accept all vouchers regardless of purchases
  • Avoid gift/cleaning aisle in shops ? you buy things you don?t need FOOD ? Menu plan! It can be a 2 or 3 week mix n match type thing, but have some plan to help you shop ? Work out which foods can be economised on, and which are just not worth it ? value mushrooms are just an odd shape, value mince is more fatty, but if you strain it it is fine, but frozen mince tastes like disintergrated cardboard ? Cook bulk meals and freeze ? 2 packs of mince can often make 3 meals, where as 1 pack makes 1 n a bit ? Bulk meals out with lots of veg ? again, a Bolognese sauce goes a lot further if its filled with peppers, grated carrots etc ? Take drinks out with you so you are not forced to buy ? Get Fruit and Veg at markets (have discovered that DH works next to the people who supply the organic veg box people ? we are now getting organic veg for less than basic tesco veg prices

GIFTS
? Keep a list of birthdays with you so you can buy presents as you spot bargains
? Save for Christmas NOW ? Use a club or a separate savings account with a standing order - don?t wait and see what you can afford at the end of the month ? you won?t be able to

GENERAL
? Save up spare £1 coins and coppers etc ? You can get it changed at most Sainsbury?s in a machine ? it does take some of your money in a charge, but I never get it changed if I have to take it to a bank, so it makes more sense.
? Claim back you bank charges if you have them
? Cut up credit cards ? If it is not a matter of starvation or eviction, it is NOT an emergency
ITS NOT A BARGAIN IF YOU DIDN?T NEED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

Useful links
Motley Fool
book swap
Quidco
uswitch

CranberryJelley · 11/12/2006 18:11

I bought my new cooker from Boots, partly so that I could use the points to buy MIL a Christmas present. I've just found out it could be 21 days til the points are credited.
I'll have to look at them as the beginning of my Christmas saving for next year

CranberryJelley · 11/12/2006 18:12

Oh, Flame, will I be able to use the spread sheet? I have a mac, and am not used to things like spread sheets. Could you email it to me if it is compatible and I will give it a try.

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 11/12/2006 18:24

Done

charliecat · 11/12/2006 18:27

Cranberry, keep checking your boots card as they dont usually take that long.
I am spending the bare minimum on anything, and saving my £1s.

charliecat · 11/12/2006 18:30

Add on to the list. If your being charges bank charges for being overdrawn, make a huge effort to stay in the black.

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