Really Dreading Next Month... Any Suggestions?

Bog-Pony

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Aldi and Lidl are on small industrial estates impossible to access without a car. The nearest bus stop is about 20 minutes walk away and with my back I dont even think I'd make it out of the store before collapsing!

I'm really not trying to be difficult (or thick as it may come across ) but do you not spend any time with your OH? Can you not fit in 1 trip to one of the ultra-cheap supermarkets once a week or even once a fortnight? I'm harping on about it because the savings are amazing apparently. I don't shop there myself but I know so many who do and the prices they pay are phenomenal.

Are you still working as a nurses aide or is your profile out of date? I never update my profiles on anything. I'm pretty sure I'm still 21 on a few

Mrs_Ryan

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household.........
Number of cars owned....................
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1037
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1037
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 0
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 16
Mobile phone............................ 20
TV Licence.............................. 0
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 17
Groceries etc. ......................... 30
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 40
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......................... 23
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 25
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 50
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 241

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 200
Total Assets............................ 200

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Capital One....................134.......5.........34.9
Debt Management Plan...........4000......200.......0
Money Shop.....................100.......12........0
Lowell Financial...............85........85........0
Total unsecured debts..........4319......302.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,037
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 241
Available for debt repayments........... 796
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 302
Amount left after debt repayments....... 494
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 200
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -4,319
Net Assets.............................. -4,119
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

This is my SOA alone. Just to explain re the Lowell and Money Shop - these have been long-term payment arrangements and finish this month. My DMP payments will go up then as I have been waiting for them to finish - probably to somewhere in the region of about 400 a month.
And like I say, my wages arent always the same. Sometimes they are way less than that - I also have union subs (unfortunately essential in my line of work) and student loan payments but they come directly from my wages so unsure how to add those?
I have added onto other travel the cost of trips home every few months. Unfortunately these are also essential, both parents are very seriously ill at the moment and have had a few hair-raising moments recently!

rugbymum

Hi hun :hello:
Had a quick peek at your revised SOA! Is the figure for groceries 30 a month or a week? Is that your contribution & OH pays the rest?
I think the advice from earlier holds true..... a spending diary.
Have you got some bank statements, so you can check absolutely EVERYTHING that has gone out & write down what it went on?
I have to go but there will be plenty of helpful folks as the evening progresses!
Sorry If I came across as harsh earlier. Dodgy hugs :grouphug:

Mrs_Ryan

Bog-pony - yes, Im still an HCA.

OH tells me we're going to Aldi when I finish work tomorrow.... I'm very worried! But its definitely a step in the right direction

Rugbymum - you werent harsh at all - just realistic.

And by the way, JA1000, check your facts before accusing anyone of benefit fraud. The 146 per month benefits is lower rate care and lower rate mobility Disability Living Allowance that OH legitimately claims for his psychosis and Delusional Disorder, it is not means tested and they are perfectly aware exactly how much money he earns and how many hours he works, employed people are quite entitled to claim it.

savingwannabe

Crumbs, you are going to Aldi - well done. I don't drive either and it seems to cost lots of money to get there from where i live so i have never been so i do envy you. I have heard that they have lovely vegetables and fruit. You are going to save a fortune. Excellent news|!

Do let me know about the fruit and veg. I am going to go in my Easter holiday, i will find a way!!!!

I am sticking with Mr A***, but am no longer buying premium brands.

How sad do i sound????? I did waste 3.50 on chocolate and tea at work today but know i need to try to save it next week.

I love this, it feels like a club!!!!!

Big hugs,

:j

happyhaddock_2

Hi Mrs Ryan, have read all your thread and can't really add anything just wanted to send hugs and say good luck :T:A

mum2one

Ur new SOA looks a lot better and makes more sense, at the end of the day your in green, ok your SOA says you have £494 left, but you say ur wages are variable, your union subs, student loan, have you taken them from your income before you put them on the SOA.

Again the 1st step is the spending diary, that really be an eye opener.

Also you say your DMP may go upto £400 make sure it doesn't leave you short, even if the money paid for Lowell and The Money Shop went to the dmp.

Use rest of this month, and April as a trial and error months, ie try aldi, change things around, prepare more homecooked meals, have trial nights where u cook only from what you have in the freezers and cupboards.

Good luck with it xx

JA1000

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

And by the way, JA1000, check your facts before accusing anyone of benefit fraud. The 146 per month benefits is lower rate care and lower rate mobility Disability Living Allowance that OH legitimately claims for his psychosis and Delusional Disorder, it is not means tested and they are perfectly aware exactly how much money he earns and how many hours he works, employed people are quite entitled to claim it.

Check your reading skills I did not accuse you of any fraud. I made it clear that while you have presented TWO SOAs showing you have more than enough to cover the debt but instead had your interest frozen which means you are being covered by full paying interest people like myself, it is the same as you paying your tax which then funds those who are abusing the benefit system.

Wouldn't you like to pay less tax? Well I would like to pay less interest!!!

Bog-Pony

closed wrote: »

Freesat will work, it comes from the same satellite, pull the sky card out and see.

You say there is no analogue or digital TV at all, where are you, do none of your neighbours have a tv aerial on the roof?

I just did a search in the freeview website for coverage in Markfield and there was no combination of random poostcodes that did not have freeview available. It might be worth investigating again.