making sense of finances so that I stop buying stuff!! SOA

sheba

It could be that when I show hubby the cold hard facts we might decide to trim some of the more frivolous budgets- or alternatively treble eldest sons rent!!! lol

Horace

Jobs is easy - look at agencies such as Reed, register your CV on Monstor Jobs and other similar sites. Not being rude you need to get real and make a concerted effort to find something that you do like doing other than being a shopaholic. Actually, thinking about it, how about applying to one of the department stores and becoming a personal shopper:D

Consider re-training. I spent my life working as a PA and was made redundant in 2007, after one false start with the jobcentre (they put me in a job working for a fraudster:mad: ), I picked myself up again and started a course on Wedding Planning (easy peasy job but it can be stressful), I now have my own business that I run from a small room in my home. Looking back the University did me a favour when they made me redundant because now I am doing what I really want to do - organise weddings and events. Oh and I am 47 and proud of my career change. I am not suggesting you become a wedding planner but you need to look at your strengths and see how they can fit into a proper job.

As for hubby having cash for work - why not make him a packed lunch every day that way he doesnt have to fritter away money on expensive less nutritious lunches.

Change your utilities and insurances and buy through Quidco and get some cash back. You can still have a good standard of living without shopping in Waitrose every day and splashing out unnecessarily. Buy your meat from a butcher, veg from the greengrocer and just use the supermarket for loo rolls and household stuff.

sheba

This site is a funny old place- I simply listed my SOA to show my husband our current financial situation with full intentions to cut down on food and tightens up bills where possible and am shot down as ' blase' and a 'shopaholic'. Had I come on here saying that I spent 2 night last week worrying about it I imagine I would have gotten some sympathy (?) - my family and I have simply overspent over the course of a year and want to get straight without compromising on lifestyle- which we are fully able to do.
Sorry I seem to have aggrieved you all so much, thanks for your helpful suggestions

Pippilongstocking

Hugs sheba - I think its difficult sometimes to understand 'tone' on a forum. Reading it as someone new to the thread - don't think you've aggrieved anyone nor has anyone labelling you. xxxxxx

Well done for making a start and looking at things afresh.

What would you really like to do for a job? A degree shows you are really committed - and at 39 you have a good 20 years worth of a career ahead of you!!

If you can think of something you'd really like to do that would inspire you then, (just a thought) you can attack it and make a an by seeing if you need do some volunteer work or something to get you in touch with the field you are interested in?? Then work on getting to do it paid??

I have always wanted to work with plants, I have an accounting degree - not exactly related. Between the ages of 32-36 I retrained as a gardener - after a bit of voluntary work, got offered some p/t work and then went and got qualified - as I had a degree already they were keen to take me as i had shown committment.

Just a thought - best of luck with it all - - I think folks mean well - honest xxxxx

lilian1977

Sorry Sheba, I wasn't attacking you at all - it just seemed like you were asking for advice on what to cut back on but then saying you didn't want to cut back. And I'm pretty sure what Horace said wasn't implying you were a shopaholic, just repeating what you were saying yourself.

If you're interested in getting a job get yourself registered with all the temping agencies to begin with. Will give you some more recent work experience that you can then follow up more permanent jobs with.

sarahs999

Hi Sheba,

Your basic situation is pretty ok. You have reasonable money coming in and your mortgage, your main repayment each month, is low. However, you only have £88 left over each month, which is not much. If you want to get a job that's fine, but if you want to cut down some of the suggestions above are valid. Your mobile bill is very high; your groceries could be cut down quite easily with a bit of planning (see the OS boards) and well, it's kind of staring you in the face - if you spend £500 on each boy at Christmas it doesn't make sense to say you don't know where to cut down. Right there! Also is the £120 a month your son's rent? THat's a mighty cheap rent!

MrsAnnie

Usually peeps post their SOA on this board looking for advice where they can 'trim the fat' and that (for most people) means including cutting back utilities as well as on high spending lifestyle choices.

Even you called your spending frivolous-

"It could be that when I show hubby the cold hard facts we might decide to trim some of the more frivolous budgets"


I think the replys were not labeling you but offering common sense suggestions.

Flower08

Hi Sheba and welcome,
I dont really think anyone is attacking you, usually people post their SOA as they want people to go through it and look at areas you can cut back on.
Your situation is not a bad one, you are making all your payments etc, but you could make a lot of cut backs and pay the debt off quicker. However you have said so yourself your not really interested in making changes, so i am not too sure of the point of this post?
I am not trying to be mean or harsh and i dont think anyone else is either, people were simply offering advice on where you can make cut backs.
Good luck
x

sheba

Just spent ages typing out a message- then lost it grrr!!!!
Anyway gist of it all was: thanks to you ALL for replys, this SOA has made me realise that what I really need to do is get a job- if I can't then there is plenty I could cut back on before we would get into trouble.

So just for myself and hubby now I will continue this thread- updating clearing the debt and getting a job. also might show son post about how £120 a month is cheapy cheap cheap rent!! lol

Flower08

sheba wrote: »

also might show son post about how £120 a month is cheapy cheap cheap rent!! lol

I am sure that will please him :rotfl: :rotfl: