Zig's new start (again!) on a budget!

zigmeister

I've got a couple more Christmas presents sorted. I got a load of crime books for £1.49 each on Amazon so that is some little extras for my Mum and sister who like that sort of thing! I also got a Weapons of World War 2 book for £3 for my brother. I just need to get some more toiletries for my Mum and sister, and a game for my brother then that's them sorted. I actually might get my brother some toiletries instead.

I'm just about to order the Rachel Allen 'Bake' book for my grandparents as they thought it looked good when they saw mine and it is only £6 on Amazon instead of £20. Teaching books are on offer too so I might order some of them. I feel guilty buying so many books but I guess I'm being organised for Christmas.

I'm only gonna spend £20 on my brother, that will be enough to get his toiletries and put them in a little bag. So far I have spent £10 on my sister, I will spend another £20 getting her toiletries. All these toiletries - what original presents! :rolleyes: I have spent £18 on my Mum, I will spend another £20 on her too but then that's it! Me and the OH have agreed not to get each other anything because we need to get some spending money together for the holiday.

Me and the OH figured out today that he can save £10k towards a deposit over the next two years. This is exciting news for us but it still isn't enough for a deposit! We're not sure though how much of a deposit is needed. 10%? 20%?

zigmeister

I feel sick. _pale_

My Dad pays £200 a month into my account for my uni fees, which I am meant to move into my ISA. I thought I would check how many payments he's made to check it it is the same as the amount in the ISA. It's £800 out. Going through my statements I think it was where in the beginning I was moving all my money around, and borrowing some, and forgetting to pay it back etc.
But I never would have imagined it to be that much. I feel awful. Just as I thought I was getting on top of everything. I'm such a moron to let this happen.

The excess from my student loan payment will now be going on this instead of going off my overdraft/savings for house deposit. I can pay £500 from the first payment in Sept, then the remainder from my payment in Jan.

zigmeister

I have created a spreadsheet. It is the most simple spreadsheet known to man, but nevertheless, it is a spreadsheet that will hopefully help me!

I have put the dates up until 31st Dec, and all my ins and outs and done it so it updates the totals as it goes along. It is payday tomorrow so I have put in my wages and the amounts that I know are coming out within the month, plus food. If I don't spend anything other than what is on the spreadsheet then I will have £10 left the day before payday. It's good being able to see what I can do with my money by adjusting different amounts.

Petrol is ridiculous at the mo. It has just gone up to 107.9p at the Tesco by me. Hopefully I'll get a 5p off voucher from my Mum's shopping, then I'll fill the tank before it gets any higher.

I really really want the new Jamie's America book, but I can't afford it! I haven't felt like this for months. I'll just have to wait for it

zigmeister

My spreadsheet is really helping! I'm doing ok so far. It says I have £59.04 the day before payday!

I was trying to figure out how I'd pay off my overdraft and Dad's money, and then I realised that £310 of my overdraft is my Mum's, so I have added it onto her part of the overdraft! I know that technically it makes no difference, because at the end of the day, there is a £1000 overdraft that isn't mine but it makes me feel a bit better knowing that I only have £240 to pay off, even though I'm responsible for the whole lot.

I was really chuffed with the quality of the £1.49 books that I got from Amazon for xmas pressies. I also received my Hummingbird Bakery book and can't wait to make some green tea cupcakes!

In 2 weeks I get my student loans through so that will be £600 off Dad's money which will be great! :T

wendz86

You are doing well on your overdraft.

I saw the HummingBird book in the book peoples books they brought into work this week. Was good though and didn't buy any. Sounds like you are doing well on the xmas pressies so far.

zigmeister

Thanks Wendz! I'd love to be able to say that I've managed to pay a couple of hundred off my overdraft but it's only gone down cuz I've been shifting my money around! You're doing well with your overdraft though, only a little bit to go for your next installment. :beer:

It's a good feeling to be getting organised for xmas, I love buying buying people presents anyway! It's just trying not to spend loads that's the problem. :rolleyes:

I've just been doing a few sums. Firstly, I owe OH £535, which consists of £275 holiday, £100 borrowed, and £60 insurance.
Secondly, I figured out that if I live with my Nan during my third of uni then I will be able to save £4000! That is a good chunk of our house deposit so I'm chuffed!


1st Loan Payment: £600 - Dad's money
2nd Loan Payment: £540 - OH
3rd Loan Payment: £240 - Overdraft
£300 - House Fund

zigmeister

I am SO excited! :j

I have been figuring stuff out and it really will be possible for me and the OH to buy a house when I finish uni! I know its nearly 2 years away but I can't wait! The only problem is that OH isn't as 'into it' as I am. I keep ringing him and explaining 'if we save £x per month, we'll have £x' etc and he's getting sick of it. But he earns £300 a month and he could save so much if he tried. I'll just have to nag him! :rolleyes:

I have just done my (small) change pot thinking I might get a couple of quid and there is £32! So I'll take that down the bank tomorrow to go off my overdraft.

It's finally hit me how much more satisfying saving can be rather than buying!

zigmeister

Not much news...

My overdraft was briefly at £200 but due to having to buy some shoes it's now at £240.

I have been moved to a different department in work and now have to stand up all day. I usually wear those fashionable-but-useless black pumps but cuz I have a bad foot anyway it really hurt to stand up in them all day. So off to Clarks it was. :rolleyes:

I get my uni payments in a week so that will be nice to pay some stuff off! I don't get my wages paid til October though.

I have a cold which is fun. I'm meant to be tidying up/organising stuff/doing uni work but I just wanna go to sleep! I also have a bag of books to sell so I'd better crack on with those at some point too.

I've been trying to look into mortgages but they confuse me so much! I don't know what is the best options to go for. I'll get my Dad to help me when the time comes, he knows about these things.

zigmeister

I am so bored of listing books on ebay. I hope it's worth it! I've decided though that if they don't sell, then I'll renew the listing, and if they don't sell again then I'm just going to take them to a charity shop because I don't have the room for them. At least I'll know I tried!

I spent quite a bit yesterday:

Petrol - £14.08
Lunch - £4.75
Tesco - £3.25
ASDA - £12.16
Christmas Presents - £5.50

My OH owes me £37.50 for the Christmas presents I have bought so that will be handy when I get it. The 3 for 2 gift deal in Boots is so good. Only problem is deciding which gifts to choose! Annoying when you know how much they are reduced by after Christmas though. :rolleyes:

Cannot wait for Monday so I can pay £600 off the £800 debt.

I also need to decide whether to drive to uni or get the train and bus. We figure out that per journey, the train would cost about £5. Driving is probably less than that. But the train would be easier. I might see how much a season ticket for the train would work out. Hmm. :think:

zigmeister

I'm going to Bruges! So excited! We are going in December, just for one night. It is costing £117 + spending money to go by the eurostar.

It means though that I have had to fiddle the spreadsheets a bit. I am now paying £500 off my Dad's money, and then either making up the £300 between now and January (unlikely) or paying the £300 off when I get my loans in January.

Worst case scenario is that I pay the £300 in January, and that leaves me £250 to give to the money I owe my OH.

I need to try and save as much as I can from my wages but it never seems to happen. Probably shouldn't be going to Bruges to be honest but I gave in to temptation

I have decided to add another £100 to my overdraft in order to pay £100 off Dad's money. It makes me feel better knowing that Dad's money is being put back!

ETA - Here is my latest plan.

Monday - Pay £500 to Dad's money.
Every payday until 2010 - Pay £25 (£100 total)
When possible - Pay £100 using overdraft

Then it will be paid!

So I can pay off OH in full in January. Then if I need to, use April loans to pay off overdraft.