Can I shave any more off my SOA?

Imelda

hi Black Saturn,

I think you are doing so well (have looked at your recipe threads). Am I right that you have £300 left over each month? What does this get spent on? So you would need to save £70 to reach your target, could you not save it from this? Or could you save less until you have finished paying for your course? I wish you well for your wedding.

beanielou

Hi Black Saturn

Im in awe bacause of your SOA of course.I think its truly awesome.
Good luck with the forthcoming nuptials by the way.
Lou

Prudent

I have just managed to get the aol basic 'silver' broadband for £9.99 per month. I know not everyone likes aol, but it is a cheaper option than what you are on.

You are doing fantastically well to manage on that. I am a single parent too, but haven't got my spending down so far. I was especially impressed with the dog, my two picky cats cost me around £30 per month with food and jabs.

Rallya

NTL do a 1mb broadband, telephone and digital TV package for £30 per month, might want to look into this?

black-saturn wrote:

I'm not in debt but I'm hoping you can help me shave some more off of my SOA as I am saving for a wedding. All useful posts will be thanked :j

Income (monthly)

Earnings - £538.12
Child Benefit - £116.60
Money for being a lone parent on a course - £9.00

Total - £663.62

Outgoings Monthly

Internet - £17.99 - Wanadoo Broadband
BT Phone Bill - £17.00 - Option 2
Sky TV - £20.00 - Basic Package (unable to get Freeview in this area and Terrestrial TV is a really bad reception)
TV Licence - £10.99
Water - £16.26
Gas - £19.00
Electric - £13.00
Council Tax - £38.00
Food, loo rolls, toiletries - £45
Dog Expenses - £2.00
School Money - £8.00
Travel - £52.00 - Sometimes I can get a £10 return ticket
Mobile Phone - £7.00 - averages out at thatish
Correspondence Course - £43.00
Birthdays/Christmas/Others - £10.00
Days out with kids in holidays - £40.00

Total Outgoings - £359.24

wigginsmum

Does Tesco still do a 10% staff discount card? Could your fiance let you have his one, as you're shopping for 3 and he's shoping for presumably one or two? When I worked for Tesco, Mum had my card as she spent more there each month than I did, and Tesco made sure it was valid for a further year after I was made redundant.

lynzpower

I know youve probably already looked into this, but are there any grants from charitable organisations that you could look into for paying even a little bit towards your correspondence course?

A quick google brought this up, I dont know if any of them will be any use, but worth a phone Id say http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/mod.php?mod=userpage&page_id=34

black-saturn

Rallya wrote:

NTL do a 1mb broadband, telephone and digital TV package for £30 per month, might want to look into this?

Thanks but I'd rather do without the internet than have NTL

black-saturn

wigginsmum wrote:

Does Tesco still do a 10% staff discount card? Could your fiance let you have his one, as you're shopping for 3 and he's shoping for presumably one or two? When I worked for Tesco, Mum had my card as she spent more there each month than I did, and Tesco made sure it was valid for a further year after I was made redundant.

Yes they do but he doesn't work for Tesco, he just works in Tesco. And he lives 120 miles away so theres no point him doing my shopping for me. But thanks for the suggestions.

black-saturn

lynzpower wrote:

I know youve probably already looked into this, but are there any grants from charitable organisations that you could look into for paying even a little bit towards your correspondence course?

A quick google brought this up, I dont know if any of them will be any use, but worth a phone Id say http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/mod.php?mod=userpage&page_id=34

Thanks, thats what I'm on and where the £9 per month comes from

WestieFan

I am in similar position, income not much more than yours. I am single parent with 2 teenagers, one at school one unemployed but desperately looking for work, so always looking for ways to cut back on expenses.

Outgoings are quite similar too, but nearly fell off my chair when I read your gas & electricity amounts! If I am not being cheeky, can I ask who your supplier is as I am £80 per month electricity and £30 for gas. As you can imagine, this is crippling me

Your recipe thread is fabulous, thanks for the ideas :A