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chris761

Thanks pollycat. I spent an hour going through the sc buying guide on the oldstyle board (mainly due to ancient computer). I think I'll buy the morphy richard on but not sure on size. The large one in ASDA for £25 is 4.5/6.5l which will be good in the winter but I've just bought raspberry canes/ strawberry plants etc for making my own jam so would I be better with a small one or can you do small amount in the large pot or must you fill it to a particular level
Thanks

Pollycat

chris761 wrote: »

Thanks pollycat. I spent an hour going through the sc buying guide on the oldstyle board (mainly due to ancient computer). I think I'll buy the morphy richard on but not sure on size. The large one in ASDA for £25 is 4.5/6.5l which will be good in the winter but I've just bought raspberry canes/ strawberry plants etc for making my own jam so would I be better with a small one or can you do small amount in the large pot or must you fill it to a particular level
Thanks

Hi Chris
to be honest, I've got two!

One that does 4 portions at a push (my old one), the other is the 6.5L one which is HUGE - you could bath a baby in it.

The big one is a Morphy Richards, the instruction leaflet says the 6.5L has a MAXIMUM working capacity of 4.5L/8 pints, the 3.5L has working capacity of 2.5L/4.5 pints.

It also says that "the slow cooker should be at least half full for best results".

I've never cooked jam in my slow cooker, but I hope the above info is useful.

kathrynrobson1011

Thank you every1 for your ideas. Just found out today that my job is at risk, as well as my husbands so will be on this site every spare minute finding ways to make cut backs. The meal planning sounds good. I have a huge 6.5litre slow cooker that I have used 3 times, so must get that back out and start cooking properly again.

Thanks Kat x

Pollycat

Hi Kathryn
sorry to hear that you've had some potentially bad news about both your jobs. Fingers crossed for good news.

Maybe now is a good time to post your SOA and see if anyone can make suggestions on cutting down your expenditure:

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Regards

PS
sorry for highjacking your thread with the dicsussion with Chris about slow cookers.

kathrynrobson1011

Hello, please find attached my statement of affairs. It is even more important that I have all the help I can get as both mine and hubby's jobs are at risk.

HELP, HELP, HELP PLLLLEEEEAAAASSSEE!!!!!!!

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1605
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1000
Benefits................................ 200
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2805

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 596
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Hire Purchase (HP) repayments........... 105
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity............................. 50
Gas..................................... 44
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 30
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 105
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 21.5
Internet Services....................... 16.99
Groceries etc. ......................... 450
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 200
Road tax................................ 20
Car Insurance........................... 40
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 20
Contents insurance...................... 20
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 100
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 60
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 2007.49


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 100000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 5000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 105000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 77000....(596)......7.09
Hire Purchase (HP) debt ...... 3000.....(105)......12
Total secured & HP debts...... 80000.....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Lloyds TSB C C.................6500......150.......20.9
Lloyds TSB C C.................1500......35........14.9
D Perkins Store C..............1800......75........29.9
Lloyds TSB Loan................17000.....316.......0
Catalogue......................3000......150.......19.9
Total unsecured debts..........29800.....726.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,805
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,007.49
Available for debt repayments........... 797.51
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 726
Amount left after debt repayments....... 71.51

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 105,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -80,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -29,800
Net Assets.............................. -1,800

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission.

thevinternet

Ok - a few things I can see to start with...

Council Tax - are you paying this over 10 months at the moment? You can sometimes swap to paying it over 12 months, which will lower your monthly outgoings.

Broadband - 16.99 a month is high. Sign up to Martin's weekly email - I believe he has a broadband deal in there this month which is 5.99 a month. So swap asap if you're not tied into a contract.

Mobile phone - again way too high - if this is for kids, can they get a paper round to help contribute to their bills? I'm on an 02 contract which is £15 a month, even if you all went on this that would only be £60 a month for the 4 of you.

Groceries - I know you're already tackling this, but just to let you know that there are families on here managing £250 per month for a family of four. Are you taking packed lunches to work? It's a good way to save a heck of a lot of cash.

Presents - sorry, but you can't afford this. Try making cakes etc as presents instead, or cut back to immediate family only. Sometimes a lovely homemade card is nicer than a present.

You need to tackle your CC with the highest APR first. Make minimum payments on the rest, then chuck all the spare cash you have at that Dorothy Perkins store card. Oh - and cut up all your credit cards and store cards if you haven't already xx

thevinternet

Also just to say that you have a really good income coming in each month - with a little careful planning you could get those debts down really quickly.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

kathrynrobson1011 wrote: »

Me and hubby, plus 2 children who are 4 and 9. Both of us work full time so mainly ready meals!!!!! I know throwing money down the drain.

Any tips you have around your grocery bills would be fab! I've seen people who budget at 200 a month and don't even spend all that. That would be a great start to clearing our nasty debts.

£200 a month is achievable to feed two adults and two children of that age. It's amazing how much can be saved just by scanning bottom shelves and switching to cheaper brands. Supermarkets often drastically reduce last day bread prices in the evening. Eggs can be got for £1.50 (occasionally £1) for 15. If you require free range like I do, there are fairly regular offers in some supermarkets at 15 for £2 (mixed sizes) (egg deals at ASDA). I often get milk at 97p for 2 litres (ASDA) and even got a load at 50p for 2 litres a while back (Wiseman's milk in Tesco). Cereals. Bend that back and scan lower shelf. Sainsbury's cornflakes 46p. The same size Kelloggs box is £2+. Supermarket own brand Jaffa cakes can be a lot cheaper than McVities.

I acknowledge that because I live in a bit of urban sprawl, I am blessed with supermarket choices here. I take full advantage. I needed eardrops recently. ASDA was £2.50. Sainsbury's was £3.01 - for exactly the same product.
To save your money, a freezer is highly desirable. You can usually obtain a second hand freebie on your local freecycle website (I did). I have not paid normal full price for the basics of bread and milk in months. I have only paid full price once for eggs in that time.
It may sound like a lot of hassle but it's better than eating the kids . It's legal too.
EDITED TO SAY that the milk is smei skimmed.

Pollycat

Hi Kathryn
Thevinternet has given you some ideas on where you can start to cut costs from your SOA in addition to the advice you were given earlier re your grocery bills (OldStyle board).

According to your SOA you have £71.51 left over each month, but I bet that's not the case.

Try keeping a spending diary where you record EVERY penny you all spend.
I was amazed at how the odd pennies and pounds added up:
birthday cards, TV mags, stamps, odd bottle of milk, lottery, bar of chocolate from the vending machine/canteen at work etc.
If you can get a handle on your true spends, you can start doing something about it.

RAS

kathrynrobson1011 wrote: »

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1605
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1000
Benefits................................ 200
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2805

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 596
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Hire Purchase (HP) repayments........... 105 - what is this for?
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity............................. 50
Gas..................................... 44
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 30
Telephone (land line)................... 20 - you can cut this back if needs be
Mobile phone............................ 105 - this is huge - cut the tariffs now, go PAYG ASAPand aim for £10
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 21.5 - get rid in these circumstances. Go freeview
Internet Services....................... 16.99 bundle with the phone
Groceries etc. ......................... 450 - - you can get this down to £200, but start at £300
Clothing................................ 0 - you need something here but join freecycle
Petrol/diesel........................... 200 - how far do you have to drive?
Road tax................................ 20
Car Insurance........................... 40
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0 - you need something here
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 20 - you might get both of these for £20-30 - use the comparison sites.
Contents insurance...................... 20
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 100 - this is huge. Cut it to £10-20
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 60 - cut this right back - say £10 per month.
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 2007.49


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 100000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 5000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 105000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 77000....(596)......7.09
Hire Purchase (HP) debt ...... 3000.....(105)......12
Total secured & HP debts...... 80000.....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Lloyds TSB C C.................6500......150.......20.9
Lloyds TSB C C.................1500......35........14.9
D Perkins Store C..............1800......75........29.9 - this is the card you need to hit first
Lloyds TSB Loan................17000.....316.......0
Catalogue......................3000......150.......19.9
Total unsecured debts..........29800.....726.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,805
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,007.49
Available for debt repayments........... 797.51
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 726
Amount left after debt repayments....... 71.51

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 105,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -80,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -29,800
Net Assets.............................. -1,800

Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission.

You can find several hundreds if you economise.

Also check for late payment charges and reclaim.

See if ytou have any PPI then consider whether it will pay out. Unless it is a single premium PPI, you may need to keep it but if things go belly up, claim or reclaim.

Think e-bay, amazon and car boot sale as well.