Can I shave any more off my SOA?

black-saturn · 31 July 2006 at 6:08PM

I'm not in debt but I'm hoping you can help me shave some more off of my SOA as I am saving for a wedding. All useful posts will be thanked :j

Income (monthly)

Earnings - £538.12
Child Benefit - £116.60
Money for being a lone parent on a course - £9.00

Total - £663.62

Outgoings Monthly

Internet - £17.99 - Wanadoo Broadband
BT Phone Bill - £17.00 - Option 2
Sky TV - £20.00 - Basic Package (unable to get Freeview in this area and Terrestrial TV is a really bad reception)
TV Licence - £10.99
Water - £16.26
Gas - £19.00
Electric - £13.00
Council Tax - £38.00
Food, loo rolls, toiletries - £45
Dog Expenses - £2.00
School Money - £8.00
Travel - £52.00 - Sometimes I can get a £10 return ticket
Mobile Phone - £7.00 - averages out at thatish
Correspondence Course - £43.00
Birthdays/Christmas/Others - £10.00
Days out with kids in holidays - £40.00

Total Outgoings - £359.24

spud30 · 31 July 2006 at 6:15PM

Are you not entitled to any Child tax credits or working tax credits?

black-saturn · 31 July 2006 at 6:17PM

spud30 wrote:

Are you not entitled to any Child tax credits or working tax credits?

Thats my income with the Working Tax Credits :eek:

lynzpower · 31 July 2006 at 6:29PM

hun

I never thought youd need to come for advice being so savvy yourself

but your broadband is a bit high, tesco value one is 14.97 I think , so you could save yourself a few quid a month there

You could always do the sky trick where you threaten to leave and they put you on a cheaper tarriff- works for many

Is the Option 2 with BT the package with free evening & weekend calls? ONly that package ( slightly better IMHO) with Primus 2 ( ie you get 1.5 hour talktime instead of only 1 hour with BT) and the package is free. Ive been really chuffed with them so far.

Worth a go

black-saturn · 31 July 2006 at 6:39PM

lynzpower wrote:

You could always do the sky trick where you threaten to leave and they put you on a cheaper tarriff- works for many

I already did that to get it down to the package I'm on. Before that I was paying something like £38 per month :eek: I also find it a cheek that I can't get a decent reception on terrestrial TV yet they still make me pay the licence for it.

lynzpower wrote:

Is the Option 2 with BT the package with free evening & weekend calls? ONly that package ( slightly better IMHO) with Primus 2 ( ie you get 1.5 hour talktime instead of only 1 hour with BT) and the package is free. Ive been really chuffed with them so far.

Thanks, I'll look into that. I need to be able to chat evenings and weekends as I'm in a long distance relationship, hence the high travel bills :rolleyes:

Mike_St_Helens · 31 July 2006 at 7:01PM

Cable do the 3 for £30 tv phone and Broadband, We use telewest, they are fab !

Mobile, We have an online Orange sim card (payg) £10 top up per month that includes 300 text messages...

£45 for food ect ..... wow thats good !

jessicamb · 31 July 2006 at 7:05PM

Never mind asking us - I think we would be queuing up around the block to learn how you live off that already. I'm seriously impressed.

I dont think I can add anything other than is your utility usage as low as possible? Have you been around the house and unplugged things that aren't used/put a hippo thingy in the toilet/turned the thermostat down? It wont make you a millionaire though.

Good luck with saving for the wedding.

chivers1977 · 31 July 2006 at 7:07PM

Hi Blacksaturn,

What about freesat. My parents have just paid £20 for a freesat card from sky and they have loads of channels for free. It seems to be better than freeview! that would save you £220 per yr taking into account the cost of the card.

You could also do the mobile phone deal where you get 100% cashback. I have mine through https://www.coolnewmobile.co.uk and you can do them through quidco. You get a new phone and a 200 mins per month tariff. You pay £30 per month and get 5 lots of £72 cashback. I have just got my first cashback so it does work.... That would be another £84 per yr!.

Congrats on the wedding by the way!

black-saturn · 31 July 2006 at 7:13PM

Thanks, I think my utility useage is as low as I can get it. The only thing that is on standby all the time is the microwave because it's in an awkward place where I can't get to the plug. My kids have been trained to only flush the loo every other time they go or unless they have done a number 2. We shower instead of bath, I measure out water for hot drinks.

I will look into the Freesat thing. Sounds good. Is there a site where I can see what channels you get? I watch UK Gold more than any other channel but I think I'd be willing to give it up if I can save all that money every month.

chivers1977 · 31 July 2006 at 7:16PM

This link worked the other day for my mum for the listings: http://www.silvertv.co.uk/aerial/freesat%20chans01_07_06.doc

chivers1977 · 31 July 2006 at 7:16PM

No UKTV gold though I'm afraid

edited for link to freesat from sky official website: http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk

Can I shave any more off my SOA?

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free