Can you help with my budget?

RAS

Hi

Bear in mind that whilst you are on maternity leave your annual leave allowance continues to accrue.

If you "go back to work" after 11 months, you should be able to take the first month off as paid leave to clear the annual leave.

david_hellier

CLAPTON wrote: »

is this your current budget?
if so then it says you are spending more that your income but you say you have no debt
how can that be so?

Carry on like this and you will be in debt. Your train fares and tithe are the biggest outgoings after the mortgage. They need to be reduced. Charity begins at home when you're in debt.

I suggest you re-write the figures assuming you were already on m leave. Showing no train fare?

sueeve

Tithing is normally 10%, or whatever you choose, of money after essentials, i.e. roof over head, food, power, taxes and insurance, also car and essential fuel, although not leisure use, and so on. I speak as a minister of religion, and of course it's important to you, but not if it leads you into debt, or unable to spend a little on nurturing yourselves as a family. Have a rethink about it, and see the child as a gift which is given to you; perhaps you might regard the money you spend on him/her as a part of your faith commitment.

HappyMJ

You say you are not in debt but you have a mortgage???

Your mortgage is 45% of your net pay which is very high is it possible to ask for a reduction in payments for a period of time.

In regards to tithing. Does someone who claims benefits pay a tithing? A benefit claimant would get a living allowance, housing and council tax paid for them. If I tithed my housing benefit I'd be short by 10% when it came time to pay the rent.

alwaysamum

I notice that you've already had a reply from one Minister, so perhaps you would allow another to offer a few thoughts.

Being able to give to others and to support the things we are passionate about is one of the joys and privileges of life. One of the real binds of poverty is to be unable to offer generosity - and in church/faith terms, to be able to respond to the generosity of God. For that is truly the basis of tithing.

Perhaps you could take a longer view? When my children were young my husband left us and although I worked fulltime there was precious little money over. I worked hard in support of my local church but had little to give in terms of cash offering.

Times have changed for me. The children are grown up and have been independent for many years. I can now give generously - far in excess of a straight tithe. It is my joy to do so. Hopefuly one day that time of life will come for you too.

Do talk to your Minister/Pastor. There are ways of giving other than money. And as I say, take the long view.

J.

Trinny

Engelbert wrote: »

Hi

1878.6 Income
860 Mortgage
187.86 tithe
30 life insurance
15 home & contents insurance
110 food
50 gas
20 electric
10 Breakdown cover
40 car insurance
10 car tax
30 car service/MOT
25 water
50 phones
119 council tax
315 train travel
130 petrol costs
2001.86 total

123.26 Defecit per month

Thank-you for your help

Hi THere

I totally get the titheing bit too. -

My question is can you reduce petrol/train travel bill? ( in other words do you need the car if you take the train?)

Also - i suggest you head over to OldStyle with your shopping list for the month - the experts on there can help you eat well and within budget.

There seems to be no money for clothes, toiletries, tv, holidays etc. Is this ok?

Otherwise - obvious things - like can you save by switching utilities providers, and have you got the best mortgage deal?

Trin