Santa's Grotto???

[Bevziibubble]

I can't wait for the grotto to open!

 

[Logan's Mum]

I don't think I want Christmas this year. I feel sick. I'm stuck in an embarrassing payday loan loop which won't be paid up until December and it's wiping out my part of the disposable income. Grand total of payment will be £50 short of double the amount I originally borrowed. I took it out for DD2's birthday fund as OH couldn't (didn't) contribute. I daren't mention it to him.

Do you have a local credit union? If you do please look into them...their rates are so low n help you save too. I first got mine years ago when my car broke... i paid something like £1100 back on £1000 loan. Ive saved woth them ever since x

We do, yes! I've emailed the application form off, thank you! I hope it gets accepted. Applied for £700 which will wipe out the early repayment of £675. I originally borrowed £650 and full repayment total is £1246 - £207 a month x

I hope you are accepted for it, that repayment amount is shocking!

I still have the Grotto saved as a shortcut on my phone so keep checking it to see if it has opened on the sly without me knowing

I'm going to start buying after Logan's birthday (25th July), as no other birthdays to plan for after that, yay!! I would love to get Logan a Nintendo DS, but can't find one that's a decent price. Not sure about Eric's present yet.

 

[SmartieMeUp]

Thats shocking hope you hear back from Credit Union soon x

I wasn't successful as I don't have a savings history with them.

 

[Babybump87]

Thats shocking hope you hear back from Credit Union soon x

I wasn't successful as I don't have a savings history with them.

Oh no ! It’s horrendous the things these companies get away with !

I was thinking maybe try and apply for a 0% interest credit card.

 

[LoraLoo]

Thats shocking hope you hear back from Credit Union soon x

I wasn't successful as I don't have a savings history with them.

Oh gutted for you... it must differ place to place as when i got mine i just had to agree to start saving but it was only something like a tenner a month til loan was paid off. That was 5 year ago theyve maybe got strict 😔 x

 

[SmartieMeUp]

I was reading up on a few of them. Some require credit checking, some prefer equity as back-up (in which only allow double savings amount) and some prefer longterm members. I've applied to be a member as they asked in the letter which cost £5, I'll try throw in some random saving amounts over the next month and grit my teeth, then reapply. If not, then come clean to OH and hope it's something *we* can tackle. I'm going to cancel the CPA with the payday loan then contact them to see if they can do anything to help to reduce the amount and hopefully freeze interest taking £500 off and close the account.

I don't wish to involve family and ask for a 0%, they will start to question me as to why I didn't go to them in the first place - I don't like asking for money.

 

[bbbbbbb811]

I was reading up on a few of them. Some require credit checking, some prefer equity as back-up (in which only allow double savings amount) and some prefer longterm members. I've applied to be a member as they asked in the letter which cost £5, I'll try throw in some random saving amounts over the next month and grit my teeth, then reapply. If not, then come clean to OH and hope it's something *we* can tackle. I'm going to cancel the CPA with the payday loan then contact them to see if they can do anything to help to reduce the amount and hopefully freeze interest taking £500 off and close the account.

I don't wish to involve family and ask for a 0%, they will start to question me as to why I didn't go to them in the first place - I don't like asking for money.

I don't know if you or your partner claim any benefits but if you claim certain benefits you can apply for a budgeting loan which does specify you can use to repay other debts. May be no use to you, but hope you get things sorted.

 

[JessyG]

Can't wait for the grotto to open. I will have my almost 1 year old to buy for too but since his birthday is in January I just plan on buying everything on my list and splitting it between the two. I don't start Christmas shopping however until after my DDs birthday in August.

Sorry to hear that smartie, these companies should be ashamed. They are robbing people blind.

 

[SmartieMeUp]

bbbb - We don't claim any unemployment benefits, only TC.

I emailed the lenders to cancel the CPA and I will be in touch to discuss then phoned my bank to do the same. I then rang the lender, in which they were honestly fab and understandable. We have agreed on manual monthly payments of £60 with no added interest or fees on remaining balance. I am so relieved. I'm actually glad I saw this post because it's made me not bury myself away from it. Thank you ladies

Bring on the grotto

 

[Bevziibubble]

That's great news hun. It must be a huge weight off your shoulders

 

[Babybump87]

Amazing news Smartie ! I’m so glad you have sorted it out and the stress has been lifted !

I look forward to your bargains as you always post fab ones !

 

[JessyG]

Glad to hear it smartie. It's horrible feeling like you are drowning in debt.

 

[LoraLoo]

Great news Smartie

 

[Phantom]

Did somebody say The Grotto? Had me excited for a minute there!

 

[Babybump87]

Amazon Prime Deals have started ! Anyone get any good deals ?!

Getting the girls those Amazon Fire HD Tablets .. nice little saving on those .

 

[kellyc1987]

Amazon Prime Deals have started ! Anyone get any good deals ?!

Getting the girls those Amazon Fire HD Tablets .. nice little saving on those .

I got my lo one of these too, haven't seen too much else on there at the moment

 

[Babybump87]

Amazon Prime Deals have started ! Anyone get any good deals ?!

Getting the girls those Amazon Fire HD Tablets .. nice little saving on those .

I got my lo one of these too, haven't seen too much else on there at the moment

Yeah I’ve not seen anything else. I was mainly on the lookout for those so I’m happy .

 

[babyv13]

i’m looking forward to the christmas bargains thread

 

[CRWx]

I’ve got one thing for Christmas so far- so disorganised this year

I’m just really bad at saving things for ages... I end up just giving them to people!

 

[Mum21boy1girl]

Funny i came here in May, looking to see if anyone had started a grotto thread lol

So excited for Christmas this year as we will be full time traveling in our RV, and planning to be in California with my husband's parents for Christmas, we haven't been with family for the holidays in 7 years, my youngest has never experienced a Christmas with the extended family. ( not that we always get along, but it will be nice for the kids to be with their grandparents)

Not going mad with the pressies this yr as we will be downgrading our home, so will get the kids one or two things and get them some experience gifts, like tickets to Universal studios or something.

So glad to be back organizing and getting excited with you girls