May benefit challenge - not going to make it

sammy115

Hi Emmzie

Just wondered how you were doodling. I don't think its cheating to go to your store cupboard, and as you know I raided the piggy bank. It was a necessity!! However, I have learned valuable lessons over the last four months and that is the more organised you are the 'easier' it is, and I do say that with tongue in cheek.

I have had to stop watching tv at night so that I can prepare for the next day with military precision. Who is in, who isn't, who needs what etc etc. I am knackered with all the thinking, but the upside is, it stops me from being bored and therefore spending money.

Have you looked at cutting your leccy and gas down (now that its summer) and I am sure if you are an old hat on this site you have looked at getting your insurance down. I thought i couldn't get my car insurance down as i had an annual policy but I paid monthly and they allowed me to cancel and go somewhere cheaper. Just didn't have a full year no claims.

good luck

Sam

Emmzi

Hmm. well, no kids, so just me and occasionally b/f to organise. He's pretty good at helping if you show him what food needs to be turned into what other kind of food, very helpful indeed.

Good point on insurance. Using site did lots of house quotes earlier this year, and saved £80. I think I just need less stuff in the house.. might be time to ebay some of the dvds.

I also upped my car insurance to cover 20k miles, because of my job. I need to wait a couple of weeks to see where I'll be working next (trying not to think 'if'...) so can probably get at least £20 a month off it if I'm working more locally (I'm a terrible terrible driver... never gonna have a sub-£500 premium I suspect!)

I do also need to put leccy readings into the pc.. good prompt. I'm sure they set my estimate too high over the winter, and they can't argue with giving me a refund right before summer. Will go and do that now.

I've largely stopped watching tv at night because it is pants! Me and OH are happier with radio or board games etc unless there is something amazing on to watch. (not very often).

I suspect we'd be better with monthly cinema pass instead of tv licence.

K.. back to work for me. Will do my budget over the weekend and post it to see if people can help! Also going to have a good nosy round old style.

black-saturn

Have a look at this thread to find out how I used to do it:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=157526&highlight=black-saturns+menu

Emmzi

black-saturn wrote:

Have a look at this thread to find out how I used to do it:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=157526&highlight=black-saturns+menu

Used to? Are you all prepacked from M&S now?

xx

black-saturn

No I have a little more money than I did then but I still try to keep in a budget. I'd never use pre packed food.

rubytuesday

This is an excellent idea. I seemed to manage much better when I was on benefits and also when I was a student years ago I didn't have any debts then.
Working hard to pay them off now!!!
Will definately give this ago.

black-saturn

I wonder why that is? I know loads of people on benefits and can afford holidays and arnt in debt. Yet no one I know who works (except me) can afford a holiday and all of them are deep in debt. Even though they are earning far more than people on benefit. Does money sense go as soon as you get a job or something?

Emmzi

Ok.. today (pre-challenge) I am...

- taking coin to bank to change
- finishing all the odds and ends of fruit and veg and turning them into soup and puddings (fruit purees for desert toppings)
- having last long car trip to see b/f in next city across (can't have more than half a tank of petrol next month I reckon) - coach trips after thet, can do it for £2 return if I go at the right times of day.

b/f is on hols for a week then onto job hunting, so he can probably come here and help with cooking

I'm also having a real mad panic day. What if I don't get another contract? What if he doesn't get another contract? What if I have to sell the house?

All of which I realise won't kill me (although it'll stress my parents out no end); but I can't seem to focus on the work I *am* getting paid to do at the moment, I'm so busy worrying about the future.

Will do some blessing counting later. Including, there's at least enough money in the house to get me out of debt and pay deposit and a few month on a rented place.

Emmzi

Shopping from piggy bank

Piggy bank had £14 in it, so I have bought the following in prep for next week... I have never had so big a shopping trolley for so little cash, let's hope I managed to get stuff that will make meals!! Planning to buy fruit and veg off 'real' money on Monday and force myself to walk to the shops for a little exercise.

1 x soya mince
1 x own brand weetabix cereal
3 x long life milk
2 x orange juice
1 x tofu
1 x big lump mature cheddar
12 free range eggs
2 x bread mix for h/made bread (get confused by using yeast so a minor luxury!)
3 x baked beans
4 x tomatoes
2 x spag sauce (only 29p each)
2 x custard
4 x 'angel delight' type packets
2 x tin carrots
2 x tin kidney beans
2 x tin potatoes
1 big pack egg noodles
1 fajita kit (on special for £1)
lemon and orange squash

So can make lentil spag bol, chilli, veggie fajitas, omlettes, tofu stir fry, potato bake, pasta bake... and a few puds.

I think I need to give myself a tenner a week for fruit and veg and see how I go. Storecupboard is however stuffed, so might not need another big shop like that for rest of month!!

Emmzi

Payday today. Feeling a bit ill, but transferred all but allowance (and bills money obv) into savings account.

so i really do have to do it now.

Have avoided expensive night out by suggesting to mate I go round with dvd and home made food; she to get beer :-).