My diary to get back on track

Mumooms

please delete?

splishsplash

Hi and well done for posting your SOA!

A quick question - what interest rates will take effect on the CC and Bed loan in Oct/Nov?

I'd be inclined to severely cut back on groceries, purchases and entertainment for a couple or three months to get these cleared asap, then review. By then, you'll be back at Uni and will have a better feel for how you're coping on a budget.

There are a couple of really good threads about how to cut down on groceries on the MoneySaving Old Style boards... it might be worth checking them out.

It might be a good idea to include your nursery fees and student loan now - I imagine your DH's next pay period will run into September? I'm not sure what you mean by having the fees/loan calculated though, do you mean the loan will cover childcare? (Sorry, it's getting late and my brain is mush!)

~Beanie~

The only thing that obviously jumps out at me is the groceries :eek: that is HUGE for 2 adults and a toddler!

Also, don't you have any contents insurance?

masterkay

Groceries is over double what you'd expect. That's around £20 a day. You could eat your meals out for that (not suggesting but that's how high).

£22 for internet seems a bit high

£70 for entertainment should go. No need for takeaways (as already said your grocery budget looks like you have a takeaway a night) and it is healthier which will keep the weight coming off.

Sell old "fat" clothes on ebay.

Good luck

slummymummyof3

Have you applied for the 25% reduction in council tax as you will be a student?

amyandjon

Hiya mumoons well done on starting the journey you look like if you take some of teh advice on here you will be well on your way to dbet free ... congrats to your hubby for loosing weight, my oh lost 10 stone years ago b4 i met him with slimming magazine.... hes managed to keep 8 stone off but now we joing slimming world just to get him back down... he had a tummy tuck last year courtsey of the nhs becuse he couldnt shift the loose skin by going to the gym etc etc and now hes pretty happy hed like to have his man boobs done :P hehe it bothers him so we are saving up for that aswell as teh wedding and aswell as paying debt :P hehe all the best for hubby x

isgman

Hi Mumoons, you sound as if your getting on top of things, well done for posting your SoA, and for your positive outlook, it will all come together in the end, Good Luck

amyandjon

thats ok, id deffo recommend a tummy tuck... oh still self concious so thats why im saving for him to have this done.... i thought since he achieved the weight loss i want him to love his body and at the min the excess man boobs is bothering him :P oooo right best get back to cross trainer i want my half stone award this month :P x

poppy_f1

Mumooms wrote: »

I agree. No more Nando's as it's bloomin expensive! When we have a curry from our local take away we make our own white cabbage to go with it instead of rice, so we literally just order two main dishes eg, 2x Lamb Rogon Josh, no starters. So this works out at about £4 each. Is this ok do you think, once a fortnight? It's usually when we're both knackered and can't be bothered to cook, so maybe I should think up a stand-by to keep in the freezer for those days.

some of the supermarkets (asda deffo does) offers chinese and indian meals fresh but easily frozen so you can have them instead of takeaways, i freeze the chinese ones and they are great when the mood takes you, also normally have boiled rice in the freezer so it works out way lots cheaper than a takeaway and sometimes quicker than getting one delivered
also morrisons stuffed crust pizza are great, just add my own toppings on and its just as good and about a tenner cheaper than pizza hut

pink_princess

hi on the grocery part we are a family of 5 and only spend 375 a month
i used to spend 650 but thanks to a thread called grocery challenge we ve reduced it right down
you should search it out and have a read it can really help and the diet is no excuse theirs people their on wheat free diets which i believe is alot more expensive good luck and i hth

Bunnyinthelights

Check out your local Freecycle for clothes for all of you and look at selling all your clothes on eBay as suggested. as a mom of 2 small children, I know how quickly they grow out of things as well so look at selling her things!

Well done on getting to grips with it all, you're doing well.