Get over it, get happy, get healthy, get a life...

Snaggles

Right, been working on my budget to try and get everything to fit - it seems okay for now, although I still need to find areas I can cut back a little more in April (by about another £50).

I've reduced my mortgage payment to £250 (from £280) - that would pay the mortgage off over a 20 year term from now (including the amount I borrowed for the car, although in reality that bit will be repaid from my sharesave in August). I've come to the conclusion that now isn't the time to be trying to pay it off more quickly.

These figures are just my budget for each item - the ones in blue I still need to do some work in reducing, ie ring the companies, cut down, etc. I've also reduced the food budget to £250 and petrol to £50 (shouldn't need as much now I'm not trying to maintain a relationship with someone 3 hours away lol).

I've now included car savings (towards tax/MOT/insurance) and a social/sundries budget that will have to cover absolutely everything from going out, to clothes and shoes, to haircuts, to school trips, to birthday presents etc.

Just need to put the plan into action now! :eek:



Income

• Salary - 350.00
• Maintenance - 150.00
• Child Benefit - 125.00
• Working tax credit - 224.00
• Child tax credit - 470.00

Total income = 1319.00 (will reduce to 1194.00 from April)

Outgoings

• Mortgage - 250.00
• Council tax - 65.00
• Electricity - 45.00
• Gas - 45.00
• Water - 30.00
• Telephone/Internet/TV - 50.00
• Mobile - 35.00
• TV Licence - 12.00
• Food - 250.00
• Petrol - 50.00
• House Insurance - 18.00
• Life Insurance - 21.00
• Contact lenses - 13.00
• Lottery - 5.00 (work syndicate - can't leave mid-year)
• MRP - 12.00
• Charity donation - 5.00
• Childrens savings - 20.00
• Gym - 22.00
• Childcare - 39.00
• Car savings - 50.00
• Socialising/clothes/presents/school trips/haircuts etc 200.00

Total outgoings - 1237.00

beanielou

Looking good Snaggles

benbenandme

Good luck with everything Snaggles, have you joined any of the scratchcards? If not have a look on the gambling board, its an easy way to get about a tenner a month that could maybe be put away towards xmas?

notenoughcash

Hi Snaggles, just been reading your diary and wanted to offer you my support. I was lucky enough to repay all of my debts last september but have kind of fallen off the wagon with my sensible spending lately so I am back to try and spend as sensibly as I was before and hopefully save up the money this time for our first proper holiday in six years (other than a weekend in a caravan)

I found the challenges worked really well for me last time (grocery spends, make extra, win prizes etc) so I am back on with some of those again.

You really should spend some time going through the old style board, I bet you could nearly halve your grocery spends. Every time I cook something like spag bol, lasagne, shepherds pie, fish pie I always cook extra and freeze one or two for those days when I just can't be bothered. My slow cooker is a god-send too!

Good luck with it all any way x x

Snaggles

I really need to learn to cook don't I... :rotfl:

I have all sorts of things in the freezer - chicken breasts, fish, loads of quorn.....I am just lacking in inspiration, and also need to find things I can make quickly, so the kids don't demolish the house whilst I am slaving over a hot (ish....it's a bit broken) cooker.

My task for tomorrow will be to make a meal plan for the week.

I called briefly into Debenhams today, but I was very well behaved and wasn't remotely tempted by the red silk reger negliges... :whistle:

I did have to pay £16 _pale_ to get 2 pairs of boots re-heeled though. :eek: It was just about cheaper than buying new boots but OH MY GOD!

boredofbeingathome

There you go snaggs

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=750489

Should give you lots of ideas. Are you vegetarian?

Snaggles

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

There you go snaggs

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=750489

Should give you lots of ideas. Are you vegetarian?

Evening Bob - I'm not vegetarian but I do tend to only eat white meat and fish. Not for any reason other than I just don't really like red meat.

Thanks for the link, I will go and browse.

boredofbeingathome

Snaggles wrote: »

Evening Bob - I'm not vegetarian but I do tend to only eat white meat and fish. Not for any reason other than I just don't really like red meat.

Thanks for the link, I will go and browse.

That's usually me as well. Although seem to have had a lot of red meat lately..:o

nearlyrich

Hi Snaggles, sorry to hear about the split but good to know you are on the up again, it's not easy being a single working mum but I am sure you are doing a great job. Hope the financials get a bit easier and you know the lovely people on here are all on your side x

GreyhoundAngel

Hello Snaggles,

Just wanted to wish you all the best, I'm another who read some of your last diary (still havent managed to finish doing so yet ,, sorry)

Breakups are tough at the best of times, but you have alot else on your plate at the moment too.

Well done for being so focused on what you want to achieve, just remember to do baby steps again to start with - I know what it's like to try and do everything you want to do, all at once. It gets very overwhelming and for some (like me), can bring you to the point of not even trying.

Angel x