FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 2, April - June.

undaunted

Stitching Witch The Inland Revenue are a priority creditor, the others aren't, whether they like it or not. If you are having trouble negotiating try asking someone like the Consumer Credit Counselling Service or CAB to act as a middleman for you.Your mobile phones may be questioned but there are other things were I think you are being optimistic - £5 p/m - £60 per year to get two cars through MOT? I'd be surprised if it didn't cost you more than that. £10 for 3 people to get a haircut doesn't seem unreasonable to me but I'd "lose" the presents & cards and entertainment (but maybe your MOT or your food bill is a bit higher?) All in all your expenditure doesn't seem unreasonable & whilst you can aim to sell the bike, pay a bit more off when you can etc in the meantime I just wouldn't tell them you have 3 cars / bikes unless they ask, nor what your assets are - it just gives them an excuse to say you don't need them all - just give them your income expenditure, debts & what you are offering each creditor - it should be pro rata, but as I say if you contact CAB or Consumer Credit Counselling Service - just google cccs & they will happily help you with it for you for free. Lloyds just annoy me - they are expecting the Government to prop up their business after making a mess of buying Halifax yet refusing to reply to let alone help customers with problems Good luck

JayJay14

Huge Congratulations Rozeepozee, now we know you are OK take as much time as you need.

My two girls weren't twins and weighed less than yours, you are amazing.

stitching_witch

Undaunted - thank you for the reply. It's good to know people are out there thinking of ways to help!

I realise now I shouldn't have included DS car in the equation so the £5 pm is to get one car throught the MOT. We only pay £10 for the actual test as both DD and DS work for a premier car dealership and get 2 cheap MOTs a year each. One is always allocated to our car and this year it only needed 2 bulbs to pass.

The assets are our car and DH bike - which, as I said, should be sold this summer.

The "entertainment" is actually a website hosting package for DH's 3 websites. Again this is something he doesn't use anymore and he only has "holding pages" up. I have questioned that expense too!

As the Inland Revenue debt is a Tax Credit Overpayment I wasn't sure if it was classed as a priority debt. Perhaps someone could put me straight on that one?

I spoke to the advisors at CAB and they sent me all the paperwork to base my letters on. I think I got a bit disheartened when the offers were rejected and just paid the amounts on the bills to keep them quiet. I can't keep doing that as I'm now £600 overdrawn.:eek: It's my task for Tuesday along with making a solicitor's appointment for DH's compromise agreement.:(

grandma247

Congratulations rozeepozee I am glad all went well.

cw18

candygirl wrote: »

Had a nice date last night with Mr Meerkat, and am going on his boat on Monday, so should be a good day:D

Glad to hear you had a good date :T Looking forward to hearing how you get on with the boat on Monday



Still need to get a fortnights groceries into my spreadsheet so I can report for April. Hoping to manage that today/tomorrow (though I'm at work tomorrow afternoon as normal), as yesterday was "written off" as far as budget work was concerned due to spending the day with OH. He's out today/tomorrow, so yesterday was the only day we could get together - and my spreadsheet got pushed to one side Really must make more an effort to get back to updating it daily.....

Yesterday was another very frugal day, apart from the fuel for the car. We went out for a walk again, which was somewhere else I'd never been before and very nice. It wasn't even busy considering it's a bank holiday weekend, so that was an unexpected bonus.

Hadn't made specific plans before I went up, but I'd put my boots in the car 'just in case' which paid off Ate in (whoopsied Pizza - seems even he's not averse to hitting the markdowns :T ) and watched a film he'd recorded off the TV a while back.

cw18

rozeepozee wrote: »

I'm very happy to announce the arrival of our twin girls on 20th April 2010. Eliza and Dolorez at 9.24 and 9.25 weighing the slightly shocking weights of 6lb 4 oz and 6lb 14 oz respectively

Huuuuuge congratulations to all the family

NualaBuala

Morning everyone :hello:

I'm feeling really shattered and worn out so please forgive the lack of individual responses. I've been keeping up with all the posts and sharing your highs and lows so am sending love, hugs, cheers and sympathy ... hopefully the right sentiment to the right people!

But of course I have to say a huge

Congratulations Rozeepozee!!!

Although I'm very worn out, it's not in a bad way I think. I've been questioning my whole diagnosis of depression. After a bit of a hoohaa with the psychiatrist I insisted on trying to do without an antidepressant just to see how I get on - I just didn't feel I was getting any benefit and was having horrid adverse effects. My mood has been fantastic all week and I got my energy back. So much that I spent the last few days being very busy and active (by my standards - not most people's!). Alas, my energy has plummeted now but still feeling happy and motivated so it's all good. :j I'm quite achey but a warm bath has helped a bit and I'm going to rest lots today.

The only spending I've done is on groceries and bills - all within budget. I won't need to spend much more this week as I'm using up what I've got before I go away for a week. I've already paid for my coach and ferry for going away. And have enough money already set aside in a separate wallet for going away, so trip is fully funded.:)

I can hardly believe we are one third of the way through our 2010 challenge! I will post some figures soon but after a quick check, I have spent less than one third of my yearly budget. And there is enough put by for big yearly spends like insurance, TV licence, dentist and optician. So this challenge is really helping keep me on track - thank you Frugaldom and all of you! :T:T:T

It's been lashing rain here so no plans to do gardening today. The birds seem delighted with it though and it will do the soil good as we'd had a long dry spell.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend - it's a long weekend in Ireland, not sure if you have a BH Monday in the UK? Hugs to anyone who'd like one!

candygirl

Yea NUALA it is a BH here tomoz too, and glad you are feeling better hun:D:D

Kerry_Woman

Congratulations Rozeepozee and family on the new arrivals.

pagangirl

Frugaldom_-_I_am_a_complete_and_utter_numbercruncher_with_numerical_OCD,_so_I_account_for_every_penny_and_hate_loose_ends. wrote:

and stitching witch too - hooray - thought it was just me


Rozeepozee - :j:j:j CONGRATS ON YOUR TWIN GIRLS :j:j:j - glad all ok


stitchingwitch - good luck for Tuesday


Candygirl hope weather holds out for your boat trip

Have done numbercrunching, and updated sig, ,have come in just under budget over 4 months, so well pleased. Freezer is full and cupboards ok for now, so won't need much this week.

Enjoy rest of weekend

Hugs to all