Just starting out .... please help

top_drawer_2

hi everyone!!

First post so please be gentle....

I am finally sorting out my money after having stuck my head in the sand for a looooong time. I am hoping others in the know could have a look at my outgoings/incomings and work out if there are any better ways.

I currently earn £105.00 working p/t as still working on exams ;(

My outgoings are -

Rent £235 per month
Mobile phone £22.50
Dongle £17

I cancelled my mobile phone insurance yesterday when it dawned that I was paying £4.99 for a policy on a phone not worth much and it has a £25 excess on it anyway!!

The things I currently do in order to save money include-

- Making my own bread
- Using washer balls with essential oils (rather than detergent)
- Having porridge/noodles for lunch often
- Reusing stamps
- Doing surveys for Global and Valued opinions
- Freezing grated cheese
- I recently went through my cupboard and made notes on any meals I could make out of what I already have in stock.

Is there anything else I can do?

I'm quite upset that it looks like I am going to be unable to return to my sewing classes in September - its £120 for 10 weeks though and I can seem to find that amount of money at the moment......

Jenny

fairydiamond

top_drawer wrote: »

- Reusing stamps

I thought this was illegal?

top_drawer_2

Thanks for your support FairyDiamond (not!). I have a 15,000 overdraft which ups and downs as and when I get some money in. I am actually considering selling my body (not illegal) but yeh defrauding the post office in order to apply for better work is much more serious (although illegal ironically!).

fairydiamond

top_drawer wrote: »

Thanks for your support FairyDiamond (not!). I have a 15,000 overdraft which ups and downs as and when I get some money in. I am actually considering selling my body (not illegal) but yeh defrauding the post office in order to apply for better work is much more serious (although illegal ironically!).

There is no need to be rude. Our debt is [normally] our fault, so resulting in illegal activity(however small) is not something I will condone. Its an offence against the crown and if caught you could probably end up with a large fine to add to your overdraft. Just because its 39p doesn't make it right.

Sorry for the comment but I thought you might not actually know it was illegal. I was only trying to help...

Burlesque_Babe

hop over to the Up Your Income board for ideas. Things include mystery shopping or slice the pie etc. Have you anything you can car boot or ebay for the cash for the sewing classes? Are you a member of quidco? I know that is not a quick fix for a few quid but there is a list of sites on MSE where you can sign up for cashback on some of the quidco partners without having to buy anything.

top_drawer_2

Burlesque_Babe wrote: »

hop over to the Up Your Income board for ideas. Things include mystery shopping or slice the pie etc. Have you anything you can car boot or ebay for the cash for the sewing classes? Are you a member of quidco? I know that is not a quick fix for a few quid but there is a list of sites on MSE where you can sign up for cashback on some of the quidco partners without having to buy anything.

Thanks! I often do mystery shops but they seem to be few and far between at the moment ..... I just couldnt get the hang of slice the pie when I gave it a go awhile ago. I have already ebayed everything I possibly can and am in the process of putting books on Amazon in the hope of raising a few quid here and there... I will give quidco a go.

Any more ideas would be greatly appreiciated.

Thanks

top_drawer_2

fairydiamond wrote: »

There is no need to be rude. Our debt is [normally] our fault, so resulting in illegal activity(however small) is not something I will condone. Its an offence against the crown and if caught you could probably end up with a large fine to add to your overdraft. Just because its 39p doesn't make it right.

Sorry for the comment but I thought you might not actually know it was illegal. I was only trying to help...

Its not something I am proud of but I simply cant afford to buy stamps to send off applications for jobs there is a fair chance which I will never hear back from. I already walk if I possibly can but sometimes they want them to go to HQ or its not practical.

Jen