Can someone kick me into gear please?!

penguin83

Thanks ISOM - I do have a horse but she is very old (35+) so cant be ridden anymore (bless her!) I pay someone to look after her in the afternoons for me who I trust and unfortunately she doesnt have much longer left - sob! x

A lot of the car running costs are tax deductable - we basically keep receipts and mileages for everything car related and give it all to the accountant to look after - we really should get morw involved in that.

Having a nightmare with the sky - have just reduced it - used to have the full lot and they have messed it up and cut off the wrong channels - this is now the 3rd month of it not being sorted but they have agreed to give us 3 free months to make up for what we have already paid for but not got but weve still not got the right channels grrr!

Thanks for the comments - much appreciated (I hate SOA's!) x x x

mum2one

Youve done really well doing the SOA, and putting it up, your opening your personal finances to strangers, (I think of everyone one on here not as strangers, just as friends we havent met yet), finances are things which we dont even discuss with friends, so thats a big pat on the back, well done.
Thrust me your SOA, def looks a lot better than mine would, and a lot of people who post are.

re your SOA, theres nothing more I can add, I knwo its still Aug, but consider starting a spreadsheet for xmas, my motto for presents is (1)recycle (but dont send it to the same person!!),(2) reduce - do you really need to buy do many prezzies, any people u buy for out of habit, has someone got children, could you suggest just buying for children, and (3) (last but least) bargain hunt..... Argos have 2 big clearouts, when the catalogues are due to change, but they also have monthly offers. Look at cashack sites, eg if I buy from woolworths, go through Quidco, buy online, but tick collect at store option, no queueing, items paid for plus cashback.

your doing really well xx

have you thought of looking at your local college as most do 10 week (2hrs a weekday evening) a basic book keeping course, its not enough to do your own accounts, but it may put some logic into the account system, even if you go simpler as documenting all the expenses in a A4 ring binder and have a look while you get 5 mins.

boredofbeingathome

penguin83 wrote: »

Thanks Bob - Mortgage is repayment. Will definately look into utilities - have turnips at the ready, they may need to be rotten! Car insurance is actually pretty cheap for hire and reward but will still look in case we can find better. Nursery fees will stop in Sept 09 but we may need to pay for DS to go private if he doesnt get the state school that he needs but that is a last option so hopefully we wont need to go down that road. The food is a definate contender to reduce we have to buy 3 big packs of nappies a week for DS though and that is about 27.00 but that technically would come from his DLA money anyway. Cigs is another definate reduction - I used to have about 3 a day but this has risen to about 10 -OH also smokes but he doesnt want to quit at the mo unfortunately. x x x

Just a thought re nappies. Contact your local incontinant advisory service, my DD2 had free nappies and then pads through these, if it is a medical need then i am pretty sure they provide ..

Understandable about fags ..i think sometimes it is the stress factor. The only thing i would say is get hubby to use his contacts on airport run..nowt like a bit of cheek. My gran, has a right old stash...as she says at 94 she is only on a pension and is one of lifes little pleasures:rotfl:

Also re DS school, i was wondering that as there are facilities in place for grants off private charities for unis and the like whether there maybe something you could tap into for DS?

SingleSue

Took the words out my mouth (well keyboard) Bob

You should be able to get free nappies if you child has a disability/medical need. I got free nappies for both my youngest sons, middle one's stopped about 2 years ago but I still get them for youngest (even though I have told them to stop!).

I'm not sure if we are that close in area (I am Suffolk) but I have loads going spare....

boredofbeingathome

I had loads left as well Sue, and then i donated them to the local health centre..as well as mini pads..they were very greatful..i think she is in Liverpool.

ixwood

How did you end up with such a huge debt with such a healthy income? 5k a month is loads. I guess horses! lol.

That's a lot of outgoings. I'd try and reduce everything and get on top of the debt. As the interest goes down, you'll then be able to pay the rest of the debt down quicker.

I think there's probably other non monthly costs that aren't listed. Holidays, xmas, birthdays, dentist, days/nights out/concerts/sports, clothes, house maintenance, boiler servicing, new appliance fund, Decorating, house bits etc etc.

"unexpected" stuff like that seems to be what catches people out and means budgets are misleading and leads to overspending.

You have to count all these extra costs and then work it all out per month for it to be a realistic guide to your spending.

I was shocked when I started doing it this way (putting money aside each month for house maintenance, Car costs, appliance replacements, boiler servicing, xmas etc). It made it clear just how much/little disposable income I really had.

Though it does mean I'm not misleadng myself and overspending without realising. And these things don't keep surprising me. If the car needs servicing, tyres, repairs and a MOT (why do these costs synchronise?) or the boiler breaks down, the money's there for it and doesn't cause a problem.

Good luck!

penguin83

Thanks everyone for your input - I will look into the incontinence service and see whats available.

Ixwood - our income has only been at this level for about 2 years previous to that I had just finished my A Levels when I discovered I was pregnant with my daughter, I then got a minimum wage job and changed to my current job but right at the bottom of the ladder when she was 14 months. I then had my son when I was 20 and as I hadnt been with my company for 12 months when he was born I went onto SMP and lost about 900.00 a month for 6 months so took out a 5k loan to cover this (stupid I know) we also bought a house
at this time but needed a 10% deposit because OH was self employed so borrowed the 14k we needed. So basically 20k of the debt is from the last 6 years and OH had about the same amount of debt when I met him.

Thanks everyone for your input - it has certainly given us a lot to think about.

Checked my online banking and money is still as it was nothing unexpected gone out. Will be buying lunch at work because I have nothing in until shopping on Thursday but will only get a cheapo one instead of my usual - that should be the only unbudgetted spend today. OH is off to pay the car out of his weekend earnings and the nursery fees from the money in the house. Any left over towards the gas bill.

I am going to weigh myself tonight to start phase 2 of changing things - I'll be scared to look! x x x

OliveOyl_2

Hi Penguin,
I worked for an large accountancy firm in my last job and saw the chaps "backstage" doing the work that the accountant would eventually deliver to the client. (A thoroughly honourable firm I should make clear)
The clients who gave shoe boxes of receipts and had to be asked many questions regarding their books over the year had far bigger bills than those who returned the paperwork promptly and tidily.

The sum you have to work out is: Is your time sorting out paperwork cheaper or more expensive than your accountants?

The guys in that firm encouraged me to do evening classes so that I could do my current job, looking after the books for a friends firm. I gather that his accountants were astounded at the tidiness of the books, they were expecting far more work preparing the accounts :rotfl: I've learnt so much in the last two years (Payroll, VAT returns etc etc) so if I can do it, you can too.

In_Search_Of_Me

aww sorry to hear that horse an old one - you alway love em like children dont you eh...my puss cats are my babies! I would be seriously stroppy with sky and investigate hanging to freeview chanels or min package...you can make huge savings and you soon realise what you need and what you dont. ie I got rid of cable and then got it back as missed it too much...

taxi73

Hi Penguin well done on doing your SOA..as that really lays it out.I wouldn't be without my accountant as he's a real help even more so at the moment after the accident.
You could do with a fund for car repairs though as well as christmas etc.It's good that he puts tax away as well that is my downfall.
I'm glad it all looks better than expected and that you have someting to work from.