Immoral Angel's Grand 6 Month Plan Diary

immoral_angeluk

aaaaaaand so IA steps back into diary world...

Here I am again! Starting another new diary. The past 6 months have been very rough (and still are) for various reasons.... and because of this I have come up with a new 6 month plan to get me out of the rut I'm in and to be happy again.

As of thurs 19th March I have finished my generalist Advisor training with CAB. Soon as my certificate comes through I'll be a qualified CAB advisor. As it stands I'm voluntary but I want to have this as my career now so am looking to becoming employed in the industry, preferrably with CAB considering everything they've done for me as a volunteer.

A little while ago I had a realisation. In 6 months Ashli (my eldest daughter) will be starting school. When this happens I should be able to afford to send my youngest Kaitlyn to nursery while I work. This is based on example CAB wages I've seen for generalist advisors and on my doing 25 hours a week while Ash is at school.

If this came to fruition I would be able to get off income support (which is getting me down, I don't want to be on benefits, I want to pay my own way and support my family myself, not rely on the benefits system, but currently there's no way I'd be able to afford the childcare for 2 children )

So Ash starts school in 6 months.... and here is my grand 6 month plan...

• Save up every spare penny, while still having a social life, as being a single mum is the loneliest job you could ever imagine...
• Start my debt advisor training with CAB.
• Buy a car, which I will need to be able to get a job.
• Start looking for a job for when Ash starts school in September to fit in around school hours
• Get a job
• come off income support/housing benefit/council tax benefit and start supporting my family myself.
• KK to increase hours at nursery to enable me to go to work.
• Claim working tax credit once I start work.

Since I discovered I could afford to go back to work based on my estimations, I have saved £277.97, or at least will have by end of March. This gives me approximately 5-5 1/2 months left. (I have no idea when school starts round here other than september lol). If I can save £200 a month until then I should be able to get a cheap run around for about £900-£1000 and then have some left over for tax/mot any repairs etc.

My one and only debt is a credit card which is currently sitting at about £880, which will be paid off once I start work as it's completely manageable now and not causing any issues whatsoever.

In between now and september I've got 2 big expenses. One being me going to Download festival on June 12/13/14.. and then the week after I'm doing the Leeds Run for All 10k with other MSErs so will need to stop over the night in Leeds. I have already bought my download ticket, so it's just spending money I will need, as a friend is taking me down there who's also going. If it comes down to it I may put the hotel room for Leeds and train tickets on the credit card to minimise the 'loss of car savings'.

I need to do a proper 5-6 month budget I think. But at least this is the first rung of the ladder.

Get a car.. get back to work.. get off benefits.

So here's to the next 6 months :beer:

Sar x

immoral_angeluk

April Budget/savings

Income -
£256 - IS
£132.80 - CB
£173.14 - 2 x TC 2008 rate
£181.64 - 2 x TC 2009 rate (tax credit amount changing due to new tax year)
= £743.58

Bills -
£180 bills
£40 petrol (to use Ex's car)
£24 band practice
£200 food
£100 social
= £544

= £199.58 leftover
+ £48.96 CAB expenses for March
= £248.54 saved in April

+ £277.97 March savings

= £526.51 by end of April all being well.

immoral_angeluk

May Budget/savings

Income -
£256 - IS
£132.80 - CB
£454.10 - TC
= £842.90

Bills -
£180 bills
£40 petrol (to use Ex's car)
£24 band practice
£200 food
£100 social
= £544

= £298.90 leftover
+ £48.96 CAB expenses for April
= £347.86 saved in May
+ £526.51 March/April savings

= £874.37 by end of May all being well.

immoral_angeluk

June Budget/savings

Income -
£320 - IS
£166 - CB
£363.28 - TC
= £849.28

Bills -
£180 bills
£50 petrol (to use Ex's car)
£18 band practice
£200 food
£50 -My birthday night out
£100 - Download? (guesstimates)
£50 - Leeds?
= £603

= £246.28 leftover
+ £48.96 CAB expenses for May
= £295.24 saved in June

+ £874.37 March/april/may savings

= £1169.61 by end of June all being well.


I think I'll leave it at 3 months ahead for the time being as I have no idea how expensive June is going to be because of my birthday on the 4th, download on the 12/13/14 and then the Leeds run... but for the time being it's looking good to be on track for September

Sar x

pepe2008

You never cease to amaze me with your organisation Sar! Good Luck with all your Plans, it all sounds good.
Glad to see I'm not the only one planning in advance for important 'mad' weekend. Mine is the Bug Jam in July 9 at Santa Pod.
Happy Mothers Day, Pepe xxx

benbenandme

Yay, welcome back to diaryland IA Forgive me for sticking my beak in, but knowing how good you are with budgeting, could you reduce your food bill slightly? This seems relatively high for 1 adult, 2 kids (and a cat I think??). Also, have you anything in your budget for presents / new shoes for the kids etc ... or does this come out of bills or something else already accounted for?

Happy Mothers Day too, yours would be very proud of you and the progress you've made

buddiebabe

Hi IA

Good luck with your 6 month plan... it always amazes me how motivated and positive you are and your budgeting skills are amazing.

Buddiebabe x

Burlesque_Babe

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

In between now and september I've got 2 big expenses. I'm doing the Leeds Run for All 10k with other MSErs so will need to stop over the night in Leeds.

immoral_angeluk

I've tried reducing the food budget before but we end up eating like paupers. lol

found_a_bargin

Just wanted to say good luck and hope it all goes well for you.

I read most of your diary before i joined and know what a inspiration you are to others.

Spendless

Good luck IA.

Re-when Ash starts. Do you know any mums with older children already at the school she will attend that you can ask? It varies school to school here when exactly they do start. Some don't start till late September, others f-time straight away. Mine went 1/2 days for the first week or two.