Living My Dreams - My New Happy Diary!!

Sea78 · 10 April 2008 at 11:22AM

Hi all

Have decided to start a new diary - with all the things that have happened over the last year I feel the need to move on now and try to actually DO things to change my situation and therefore hopefully my life and outlook etc.

So with regards to the debt situation - got just under £30,000 to clear now. :rolleyes: But it's going down. However, am really beginning to feel the squeeze of the DMP and the fact that we just don't have the money to be spending the way we are still!

So to start, I'm looking up changing supplier for gas and electric. However, something that should be simple is really confusing me!! If I go through quidco I can get better cashback, but am just all confused! Need to spend some time this morning getting my head round that!

This morning I've also blitzed the kitchen, the kids are playing in the garden, nice day so perfect for line drying (after getting my elec bill this morning, I need to be doing more of that!!).

Feeling good, I can do this. OH and I intend to really watch what we spend so that we can save up for more treats, rather than spending the money on alcohol and silly things that don't last! Will type up my SOA shortly - it's fixed by the CCCS BUT I really do think with a bit of belt tightening and sorting ourselves out we can cut back and be able to do more with the money we do have, as it is quite a generous budget.

Enough waffling from me!! Even if it's a little dull, I do find the whole diary writing helpful and will use it as a checker for me to recognise that I can and will do more about our financial situation!

Sea xxxx

loopylu36 · 10 April 2008 at 11:29AM

Hi

I will look forward to seeing you SOA, as we have just started DMP with CCCS and I think we have quite a "generous" budget too, but I also decided this morning that I am still spending money without actually thinking about it enough. For instance I spent £5 yesterday in the paper shop on mags and cakes (but I am off work with depression:rolleyes: ). But that was silly as I didn't need the mags and CERTAINLY didn't need the cake

!

I am kidding myself a bit at the moment that I'm into the money saving and DFW just becasue we have signed up with CCCS, but in reality, I need to be trying MUCH harder to watch the pennies. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going mad with spending, but I'm not being as careful as I could be either, and as I'm off work and could soon be out of a job, I really need to start!

Bunnyinthelights · 10 April 2008 at 11:48AM

Lovely shiny happy diary Sea!

You sound happy and positive,
well done x

Sea78 · 10 April 2008 at 11:54AM

Completely agree loopylu! I could be doing so much more with the allowances we have, and need to learn to properly save and budget, as I can't go back to the way things were!!

My SOA - this is allowed from CCCS, and is for 2 adults and 2 kids. I have added in the areas where I can cut back and how I intend to do it, but need to do this more!!

Incoming:
My income: 1849
OH: 1340
CB: 131
TC: 37

TOTAL: 3357

Outgoings:
Mortgage: 556 (fixed rate til August - scared!!)
Water: 39
Council Tax: 108
Gas: 60- these are both far too high, and I'm ashamed to say we actually
Elec: 60 do use this much!!! This is a target for me - I'm switching today and intend to cut right down on what I use. More jumpers etc.
TV Licence 12
British gas cover 16 (have used this loads, so def worth the money

)
Childcare *(son, dd in school now) 605 - both OH and I get childcare vouchers to the max, so save there but the savings seem to be swallowed up so something I need to keep an eye on.
Life ins 15

Car:(savings per month)
Servicing./spares: 20
Road tax: 10
Ins: 50 (although I think I can cut this back to 40 at least as our ins has gone down this year)
Fuel - 80 - a lot, I use the car to go see family in Leeds, cheaper and easier than the train with kids. Much quicker too.
Food: £315 - very generous, includes baby milk (yes, he is over 2 1/2 but has lactose sensitivity grr) nappies, but potty training at the mo

and alcohol and cigs - attempting to cut down/quit respectively on those.
School meals/meals at work: £74- not sure where this figure came from! Both OH and I intend to do packed lunches and DD has school lunches for £8 a week. Will not be taking her off those, but it's covered in the budget so that's good. Savings can be made in this category - but we tend to then use the money for entertainment.
School trips/activities - £5 - Sophia's school is a bit of a nightmare with lots of requests for different things!
Hairdressing - £8 - OH gets his hair cut quite regularly, I don't. The children and I get our hair cut when my mum can no longer bare our shaggy locks and pays for us all!!
Pre-payment cert & medication - £11.
Dentists - 5 a month saving (OH and I don't go. We will need this saving for when we do!!)
Sundries/emergencies £40 - this is for presents, christmas, anything extra like postage etc. Soon goes of course.
Clothing and footwear - £60 a month, which I know is good and gives us quite a bit. Both children need new shoes - £30 a pop - grrrrr. They have beautiful long feet but grow so quickly lol!

So:

Total expenses: 2,263
Income: 3,357
Payment to CCCS: 1,094

I do clicks, surveys etc to try to get 'free' presents. It all helps. I will also be doing extra exam marking come may/june to raise a bit of extra cash - hopefully we will be able to buy some carpet with it as we don't have any upstairs, which doesn't help the cold!!!

thanks for reading

Sea xxxxx

Jelly_Babies · 10 April 2008 at 12:57PM

Hi Sea

Like your new diary

Not got the head for sensible suggestions today but if it helps my gas and electricity is similar to yours and I need to change suppliers, but not got the energy right now, will see what you do and copy :rolleyes:

Good luck with money saving,

Sea78 · 10 April 2008 at 1:03PM

Thanks JB

Am still staring at the figures on energyhelpline.com blankly!! Think I'll go get some milk now and come back after a cuppa - hopefully the tea will switch my brain on!!

vandanfc · 10 April 2008 at 1:12PM

http://www.cashbackguide.org

When you have identified your new potential energy supplier, have a look at the site above to see who offers most cashback. Usually better than the £15 or £30 that Martin's articles mention.

vandanfc · 10 April 2008 at 1:15PM

How are you entering your figures ? Are you using your current payments, or have you worked out your actual useage ? I tend to find that useage gives a better comparison. If you want to pm me what you pay now and what you are being offered via a comparison site, I will happily cast an eye over it for you.

vandanfc · 10 April 2008 at 1:17PM

Another thought, can you move the money you identify as savings to another account, so they become invisible and the temptation to spend them is not as great.

A regular saver for a child pays great rates. Have a look at Martin's savings articles.

Also how about planning a specific treat every month so that you all have something to look forward to, but can budget for better. Instead of on an ad hoc basis.

Snaggles · 10 April 2008 at 1:20PM

Hi Sea! It's lovely to hear you sounding so positive about things, and it's not dull!!!

We wouldn't be here reading if it was hun.

Don't forget - small changes....if you go all hell for leather at cutting back, you might find it's not sustainable and then you will feel down whenever you slip a bit. Finding little, painless ways you can save, like swapping suppliers etc will soon add up. And it's perfect line-drying weather at the moment, finally, after all the snow!! :T

Sea78 · 10 April 2008 at 2:15PM

Hi

All savings I get taken out by direct debit on the 1st and they all go into online savings acc. Thank goodness!!

vandanfc- thanks so much - have just dug out old statements and will add up useage to get a more accurate reading. If I get stuck I'll be calling on you for help!!

Embarrassing - jsut went and dropped things off at the charity shop and then went into Somerfield for bread and milk. William tantrumed all the way round town, so not feeling wonderful, but was carrying him so at least he wasn't screaming. Got to checkout, all stuff scanned and packed, when I realised I DIDN'T HAVE MY PURSE!!! Forgotten it - dozy mare that I am!! Quite good in long run though - means I can't have a cuppa, but does also mean I didn't buy the BOGOF jaffa cakes that had ended up in my basket too

Right, off to do more things.....

Sea xxx

Living My Dreams - My New Happy Diary!!

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