The Never Ending Story

Toffee261104

Thanks very much Ghost Hunter, you quote on your sig has to be the best quote I've seen on here, fantabuloso!!! I can't belive I didnt know about this site years ago!

Puzzledbubbles

Hi Toffee.

Well done on the SOA - you have a surplus which is great!!!!!!

Some really experienced and clever people will be along in a second to tell you all about how to save money, but since im a relative newbie and a bit rubbish at all that so just wanted to say hi and good luck

Puzzled x

aliette

Well done for getting started!:T Once you have all the figures in front of you, I was impressed how quickly I could get started on cutting out wasted money here and there.

Toffee261104

thanks girly! It 's on peper that I have that much surplus but dont feel like it to me, got to really pull in them purse strings and sort meself out, just polishing the whip for when me hubby gets in, as he's gonna get a lashing as to how much in debt we are (in a very NONE sexual way!)

MrsTinks

I think before I attack the SOA I'll suggest a spending diary
Acording to your SOA you have a surplus... but you don't really do you or you wouldn't be here
Sooooooo.... I want you to dig out a note book from somewhere and every day write down anything you spend, be it a stick of chewing gum or something else trivial because that £262 suplus isn't just walking out of your purse
Right moving on: You spend £70 on landline, broadband and mobile + another £36 on cable/satelite (I'm guessing Sky?)
That is £106 a month... I would suggest looking into getting free broadband with sky or look at some of the packages offered by Virgin and Tiscali (I know it depends on where you live) as at least Tiscali do Phone, BB & TV - I think Virgin does a package with Mobile too... Or even better - get PAYG phones
I guess you don't have a car which is a blessing I think - those employee travel cards come in handy don't they?
Groceries: You're not doing bad but I BET you could cut this back more - why not pop over to the Old Style board for a plethera of great ideas

Toffee261104

Hi thanks for saying it how it is!!!

as for the broadband, we was really silly and have entered into an 18 month contract with the mobile phones tied in so there is no way we can reduce that down.

We was on the full package for sky and have since reduced that down, we not long purchased a Sky+ box so we want to get the usage out of it like.

I think when the internet and everything is up we will look to have amjor shift around with the broadband, tv, phone and mobile thing, but as we are locked into a contract we will have to cough up I'm afraid.

What happens with the surplus is I use to it to pay off the credit card....but then something happens, like the washing machine will pack up...or we get an unexpected bill then all of a sudden its gone again as fast as I paid it off. I'm also a bit of a takeaway queen so must curb that (tried that demotivator thing and cried!)

But thanks for the advice, i am defo gonna start keeping a diary of everything I spend.

Will report to you next month headmistress!!!

MrsTinks

Very good Miss Toffee, I shall expect an improvement to at least a C grade Otherwise it'll be detention and...













The SPOON!


(this being my chosen instrument of punishment on the DFW board... everyone quivers in fear of it!



honest...



no really they do...


ok ok so they only do it to humour me but hey!)

bluejeans

Hiya Toffee, i just wanted to say good luck on your journey and I am sooo with you on the "never finish anything thing" I would say I never finish about 90% of things i start. This site and my thread are the most i have kept up and thats only been about two weeks.

jo x

Toffee261104

Thanks MrsTine, better get cracking...I don't like splinters!

Cheers Jo for that nice thread of encouragment...I do try and stick at things...don't think my husband helps a lot either, he'll never let me start anything cuz he says i'll never finish it...so im kind of shot down before i begin...lucky he's at work now!!!
xxx

rubydoiwannabee

Hi and welcome,
You have done the hard bit now... well the first hard bit that is. A diary will make you see what you are 'actually' spending. I know it is a cliche but I find I have to literally 'watch' every penny. I have become so tight!! But it is the only way and even though we are only one month in we have managed a whole month of living well, with everything paid and no overdraft and it feels great.

I find making a menu at the start of the week for all the meals we are going to eat and then only buying that, really helps. Also when I started I tried to have a week where we only ate meals that could be made up from the food in the cupboard, fridge or freezer, that week we only spent £36 on groceries.

We owe around the same as you 25K and like you I organise all the money and OH goes along, but he has been FANTASTIC I am amazed he has been as disciplined as he has and I am really proud of him. Feel free to ignore all this but it works for us and so I wondered if it might help you. The other thing we do is withdraw a set amount of cash each week, this covers groceries, petrol, parking and we allow ourselves £10 a week cash to spend on what ever we need. I find it goes on essentials or the odd treat for the kids, but it feels ok because it is budgetted for.

Anyway, enough from me, best of luck, keep posting and if you need a buddy feel free to PM me.