An introduction to me - hopefully in the right place!

Kataratarina

Mobile... I only need to text really as have a landline, so could make savings there. Am locked into contract until January. Will look into that.

Hey,

If you phone your network provider you may be able to reduce your monthy tariff, i done this with 02 and they reduced it by a fiver.... a fivers a fiver!! u could maybe haggle for more?

rumred

Just spoke to O2 and decreased tariff by £5. Will phone up next month to reduce it further.

RAS

One step in the right direction.

rumred

Joint account details... like I say, a lot of it is guesstimate as we are new to this house and are not sure how much everything is going to cost yet (ask again in 3 months when the bills have started coming!). Not forgetting partner's income may go drastically down..

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 606.87
Partners monthly income after tax....... 682.72
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1289.59
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 750
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 119
Electricity............................. 10
Gas..................................... 10
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 11.25
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 7.34
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
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..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 150
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1269.59

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

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,289.59
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,269.59
Available for debt repayments........... 20
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 20
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. 0
Created using the SOA calculator at ...
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

beverleyhills

What do you spend your entertainment budget on?

rumred

Going out for dinner mainly. Maybe to the pub.

beverleyhills

Eating out has become more expensive and becoming a bit of a luxury.
Can you reduce the number of times you eat out and look for 2for1 offers.
You spend at least £1800 a year on entertainment.

tallyhoh

Is your income correct? It doesnt seem a lot for full time work, especially with cars & horses.
Can you get work at night in bar/supermarket?

rumred

Beverleyhills... to be honest, it is money for us to go out together but with his job situation, we're not really spending it. If there's any left over, it gets put into a savings account for us, lest we are hit with any scary bills in the future. This system has only been in place since Easter 09 (how long we've lived together!)

Tallyhoh... no, it's not a very high income. The joys of the NHS! Some months will be better than others, depending on my shifts - for that reason, I can't have a second formal job. I am joining an agency (and have been for about two months - long story!) but that will enable me to up my income when I can/there's work available.

homeaway

Hi and welcome . Just wanted to tell you that you could go over the old style board for ideas about saving money on shopping and cooking on a tight budget. You can try shopping in places like Lidl and Aldi to reduce your bill or just try trading down a brand in your supermarket. Try a cheap version of a product and then if you dont like it dont buy it again or go up to the next cheapest one. I have managed to trade down on lots of things but cheap ketchup is a no go in my house!!!