Here Goes - Kindofagilr's Debt Free Diary

kindofagilr

Ok this isnt a valid post anymore lol, new SOA is on post 29

katch22

Welcome kindofagirl? I have alsostarted my diary today, but I'm an old fart in comparison to you. A Nanna to two lovely grandsons who light up my life.

A baby on the way makes you re evaluate everything and is the very best incentive you can have. I don't have any useful advice. But I wish you all the bery best on your DF journey.

kindofagilr

Thank you very much, its funny cos I just clocked your diary too

Yes its meant to be kindofagirl lol but I spelt it wrong when I joined (and I know it sounds like a funny username lol but its a song title)

Yeah I have been wanting to sort debt for ages, but now babybean is on his/her way then I need it sorting lol

earthgirl

Hi Kind of a girl, I followed you from twinklies thread on MFW. Just to wish you good luck, and continued will power for when things get tough!

You are right about the takeaways - we used to have loads,now I bulk up and freeze portions of HM things for when I get a takeaway itch! I save money everytime I do Martin 'overhaul your finances' article, (on the homepage normally) as it goes through how you could save step by step.

BEST OF LUCK x

twinklie

Yey! :j

Well done in writing it all down! How scary is that? Right here come the money based questions on where your up to now....

1) Why don't you pay for a tv license?
2) Mobile phones - is that combined? Can you look to reduce these costs when the contract is up for renewal?
3) Don't you have contents insurance?
4) When baby is born you've said groceries are £150 per month! Is this really realistic for you?

Just playing devils advocate. I'm well impressed you're this organised already. I promise you people with better suggestions/comments than I will be along shortly!

kindofagilr

Thank you very much earth girl

Yeah I need to do that, problem is our freezer is tiny lol, so we need a new fridge/freezer first, but we need to save for that first lol

kindofagilr

twinklie wrote: »

Yey! :j

Well done in writing it all down! How scary is that? Right here come the money based questions on where your up to now....

1) Why don't you pay for a tv license? I paid for it over a year.
2) Mobile phones - is that combined? Can you look to reduce these costs when the contract is up for renewal? Yes this is mine and OH and unfortunatly we are on a 24 month contract, I think mine runs out Dec 2010
3) Don't you have contents insurance? Its building and contents combined
4) When baby is born you've said groceries are £150 per month! Is this really realistic for you? I'm not sure yet lol we currently spend £300 and are trying to get it to £150 or less for now, so am hoping £150 is enough for when baby comes?

Just playing devils advocate. I'm well impressed you're this organised already. I promise you people with better suggestions/comments than I will be along shortly!

Thanks for replying

I have edited my post a bit lol I should edit the tv license as well

twinklie

Gas and electricity do you submit meter readings regularly? I do it online and can see my bill in real time. If you wait for them to do it you'll be charged WAY over the odds.

kindofagilr

No I dont actually, I need to put that on my to do list, I gave them my readings in April when we moved in but not since then, I dont know if they have been out cos our meters are outside so they can get in them?

I am not 100% sure on my electric meter and how to read it so I am scared I give the wrong reading

twinklie

Well I'd make that a top priority. Otherwise you face 2 scenarios.

1) You have been underpaying and are going to get slapped with a BIG bill - quite possible if you have the heating on more when bubs arrives.

2) More likely is that they have been using estimates to calculate your bill and you could be overpaying. There is no need to line their pockets with extra money when you could be earning interest on it in the bank. When I switched to an online deal my energy consumption went down. I submit my own readings online at the end of the month and can see in real terms what I'm using. It also shows a comparison year on year so you can see if you are using more or less.

It's helped us no end in managing our energy usage better - although it's been rubbish this year due to illness, holes in the wall and diy tools sucking up the juice! Just a thought for you to consider.

kindofagilr

Oh thanks for that Twinkle I will do that this month. I will see if I can submit my own readings first, I will have a look on Npower's website, and if so I will do it from the end of August every month after that.

Do you have to stay with a certain energy provider for so long before you can leave?