May benefit challenge - not going to make it

sammy115

LOL - killing two birds with one stone. At least this way you will get your coffe fix!!

Emmzi

Arrgh! Am dying to buy a new interview suit.

No spend day yesterday, ended up eating half the pack of biscuits that arrived with stationary order, bathroom scales say FAT, lol.

Have exceeded job application target (2) - 4 done, and a pack to apply for something else due from postie today.

Resolve somewhat strengthened by pigsback, of all places. Saw the 'free piggypoints for looking at your credit report' and applied. Have a nice, clean, shiny credit report, all green, but when I added up the outstanding balances.. eep!

There is a 6k difference between my savings and what the report says is outstanding. Although I'm fairly sure the M&S loan includes all interest, so will be less if I repaid early.

So, current plan is still to pay off the car by end of this job; then depending on salary of new job (there WILL be a new job) probably pay off M&S which leaves me with egg loan, who accept random overpayments. Can chuck what was paying to M&S at this one. Maybe not the best snowballing in the world, but M&S don't take overpayments, only early settlement.

Today I will make an effort to eat all the healthy veg in fridge instead of rubbish in cupboard - so no making up the ice cream packs I have...

Had a nice text from b/f who is home on Saturday. At least someone out there thinks I'm great, even though he knows I'm skint!

**purpleprincess**

Just because you're skint doesn't mean you're not great Emmzi!

I might try this benefit thing in June. Need to think of some way to free up some more cash.

sammy115

Can i be dead nosey and ask what you do Emmzi? I am intrigued. Wait till you get an interview before buying your interview suit. You may well have lost weight by then (especially on the benfit diet).

Also, did you know that you can claim £100 from the Department of Work and Pensions for an interview suit, if you have been out of work for a while that it. I know your not really on benefits, but if you are following this to the letter you should allow yourself the £100.. (I know I am probably just helping you spend your money).

Just going to go onto the pigsback site now. Thanks for that. I am sure my report will be all reds (especially after the last four months)

Sam

ms_london

jesster wrote:

I reckon you can do it Emmzi. I allow myself £120 a month for food, fun and petrol. I'm lucky that i don't have to use my car much, obviously! But you can do it.

And don't worry about whether it's cheating to empty the piggy bank. If i'm short I shake out the sofa cushions. You'd be surprised

Blimey - it seems that a lot of people manage on this each month. How do you do it? I usually have £50 a week, but this month I only have around £130 for the month (5 weeks left til payday) and am scared :eek: !! Granted, I dont really have any social events to pay for this month, so should be a quiet month, but it's not much money at all is it??

Still, I want to do it as I dont want to have to dip into my savings!! :eek:

Emmzi

sammy115 wrote:

Can i be dead nosey and ask what you do Emmzi? I am intrigued. Wait till you get an interview before buying your interview suit. You may well have lost weight by then (especially on the benfit diet).

Also, did you know that you can claim £100 from the Department of Work and Pensions for an interview suit, if you have been out of work for a while that it. I know your not really on benefits, but if you are following this to the letter you should allow yourself the £100.. (I know I am probably just helping you spend your money).

Just going to go onto the pigsback site now. Thanks for that. I am sure my report will be all reds (especially after the last four months)

Sam

Really? £100?? I'd want 2 suits a blouse and a pair of shoes for that!!!

Ok, will wait.. but will do home manicure tonight. It'll help me feel moreprofessional and prepared.

Emmzi

Just a wee note of todays store cupboard offerings.

Breakfast - slimfast smoothie. Tasted healthy enough but how many preservatives must be in it to keep it tasting like fresh fruit when it can live in a cupboard for months???

Lunch - pasta from freezer

Dinner - veggie chilli and chocolate banana pudding, both home made from freezer.

And now watching a biography of Dr Atkins - not good for veggies like me!

sammy115

Do the slimfast fill you up, or do you still feel hungry on them. I may try them next week.

I am still on track, although I have had to pay the milkman his bill from last month. GRrrrrr!

Checked my credit file, wished I hadn't now! Since January my credit rating has been decimated. I now have two defaults, one not of my own making (long story) so I have written and asked for it to be removed (not corrected or amended), and I am considering ringing the other company up and asking them nicely if I pay it off will they remove the default. It has got to be worth a try. All the rest is late payments and I am sure I can pull that back going forward.

Have a good day

Sam

Emmzi

Slimfast fruit shakes are ok, but I wouldn't pay £1.80 for them, much cheaper to whizz up a banana orange juice and tinned peaches in the blender and take a vitamin pill. I'm sure you get more benefit from fresh fruit anyway... I'm only having them cos they're in the cupboard already!

Sorry about credit rating. I don't know if I'd call 2 defaults 'decimated'... a dozen defaults and a string of CCJs maybe.

Hopefully you can get that one removed. If they won't move the other ne, you can ask credit company to put a note on your file beside it..but it becomes less important to lenders after a year anyway.

Right.. off to work!

elona

Good luck with the challenge that you have set yourself.