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Original poster

Who else is up for saving/debt clearing in 2010?

38 replies

Flame · 02/12/2009 13:53

I start each year with good intentions then it all goes wrong.

By the end of the month I'll have accurate numbers (tax credits etc) for our monthly income next year and I can recalculate our budgets.

We have to move next September, so rather than focussing on debt wiping, I need to have saved enough for deposit, movers, deep clean and possibly paint to redecorate (in rented and DS has trashed it ).

It should be easy due to under 1 tax credits bonus (breastfed and cloth nappies so she isn't costing much yet!!), but supportive thread always works wonders

OP posts:
scaryteacher · 02/12/2009 20:14

I'm up for it - need to get the cards down.

DontEatMountains · 02/12/2009 20:16

Me too, need to save to move out/on.

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 02/12/2009 20:20

Will return in Jan (am head in the sand until then) But am up for clearing some of this debt definately.

em83 · 03/12/2009 13:24

count me in !!!!!
debt free here i come lol x

Original poster
Flame · 03/12/2009 17:35

Yay!

Had a quick look last night and on paper it looks easy

OP posts:
DisElfchanted3 · 03/12/2009 17:36

Oh me!

3frenchhens · 09/12/2009 10:52

Im in! just did my sums and hopefully by may just in time for mat leave i will be nearly sorted just no treats til then. flame i dont understand tax credits at all what is the under one bonus about?

Rhian82 · 09/12/2009 10:58

You get more tax credits when your child's under one - when DS turned one mine went down by £10 a week Not sure why as they get more expensive as they get older!

I'm up for trying - don't know if we'll get anywhere as getting through a month, paying our bills and buying food tends to be an effort, but we need to get rid of the debt if we ever want to buy a house, so need to start somewhere!

KEAWYED · 09/12/2009 11:04

I'm definately up for trying.

We want to move in 18 months but have so much debt that needs clearing first.

3frenchhens · 09/12/2009 11:56

Thanks Rhian82 does seem odd as they do get more expensive the older they get!

MuppetsMuggle · 09/12/2009 11:57

Count me in too

Mousey84 · 11/12/2009 16:32

Oh, Im in.

Not in debt, but want to do some serious saving next year. Got a little off track with savings in last few months and want to step it up again in January.

Original poster
Flame · 17/12/2009 18:12

Still waiting for our final numbers, but as it stands, if we live to our old budget we should be able to put by £200 a month

I will be needing all the support i can get to stick to it

OP posts:
JACKIEwrappingPAPER · 17/12/2009 18:22

count me in. this thread is just what i need. am starting a lower paid (but much better than current one) job with less hours in the new year so will hve less disposable income. on paper though should dtill be able to save somewhere in the region of £200-300. that's if i buy nothing other than bill and food. hmmmm. have got to clear overdraft and credit card first (less than a grand tho)

apparently according to the calculator we should have £600 'spare' each month. so how come we never have any and are always skint huh? where does it all go!

Original poster
Flame · 17/12/2009 18:28

spend at least one month writing down absolutely EVERYTHING you spend. every packet of crisps you buy with the £10 change in your pocket etc... it is frightening where it all goes.

OP posts:
Mousey84 · 21/12/2009 19:08

Flame, what about trying to put the £200 aside (a seperate instant access account) as soon as you get paid. You can access it if you really really have to, but its tucked away so cant be spent easily.

Dont forget to budget a monthly amount towards xmas/birthday gifts. And hairdresser / dentist / cheap days out in school hols.

As for amount you need for moving, can you hire a van and move everything yourself ?(dont know how much movers or van hire costs, but guess diy is cheaper!)

For deep clean, are you intending to pay someone to do it? Could you rope some mates in, in exchange for a takeaway for tea and promise to return the favour? (Or help them spring clean this year!)

You have time to look out for offers on paint. Sign up for newsletters for local large diy stores to stay informed. B&Q sometimes do 15% off vouchers. You may be buying it months before you need it, but they take up very little room and you could save a fair bit. Or if painting all one colour you may be able to go to a builders merchants and get a massive tin of paint for cheaper than smaller ones at b&q.

caramelwaffle · 29/12/2009 01:01

Count me in.

lowrib · 29/12/2009 01:50

I need to get debt free so we can move. At the moment we're going backwards!

I'm in.

Here are my debts.

£1,400 - Overdraft (approximately)
£3k - credit card 1
£3k - credit card 2
£1.5k - my parents

Fuck. I don't even want to add it up. But unfortunately I am pretty numerate, and so the grand total £5.9k.

My income - 0 (looking for part time work)

DP runs his own business. This is keeping us afloat - just - but doesn't stretch to getting us out of debt.

I'm going to pay it off by:

  1. Getting a job
  2. Ebaying stuff (a drop in the ocean, but no harm in doing it)
  3. A miracle

Any ideas anyone?

TinyPawz · 30/12/2009 00:15

Oh oh me too....

I have a nearly 12k loan and owe 7.3k to my dad (he gave me the deposit for my flat)

I am working tomorrow and am planning on buying money boxes...there is a little shop in town that sells them for £1. I need 1 for daddy, 1 for mummy (I am going to put away a little each week for her...she seemed to really struggle this xmas so if I am able to hand her a few hundred at the start of December, it might just lighten the load a little) and 1 for Xmas. I will lift the money on payday...I somehow manage to go through it if it is in my account.

Pwsimerimew · 30/12/2009 14:30

I'm in. I can't understand how we're in this mess with two of us working. We don't go abroad, we don't have sky tv, we don't smoke. We treat ourselves to wine and a takeaway now and again, but we do not live extravigantly.
Our tatty sofa is on its last legs and yesterday in Homebase, I saw a two seater and three seater leather suite for £509 FOR BOTH, BARGAIN! It worked out that if I could pay £85 quid (family allowance would cover this) a month for 6 months, it would be paid off with no interest charged. But hubby says no. Sad.

Pwsimerimew · 30/12/2009 14:33

Every month I say that I won't touch the FA so that we can out it towards clearing overdrafft / cards, and every month it goes towards basic living. ...must...try...harder....

sunburntats · 30/12/2009 14:37

There are some fab tips on the moneysaver, you know that Martin Lewis bloke.

Menu plan, plan for the week, make a list of what you need and buy that and only that, i save hundrends of ££ by doing this.

I collect all my 50p coins and £2 coins in a jar. When i get £10 i put it into an acount where i can only go in to draw out, no card, no internet access, i saved £200 since about August, payed for xmas food n pressies this year.

Good luck guys xx

Mbear · 30/12/2009 14:52

Can I join too? - just spent an entire 20 min walk with ds fantasing about how i'm going to spend my lottery winnings!!

Need to rejoin real life!

tiredemma · 30/12/2009 14:54

Me!!!
My loan (originally 9.5k) finishes in August 2010 (THANK GOD)

Still have 4.6K on a credit card though

Jajas · 30/12/2009 14:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.