Financial mess!!

scaredy_cat_2

you are right floridadreamin as i typed it out i thought i was going to be told that had been silly to spend on take away that we could have cooked for less!! I have to say its so nice when people give encouragement cos the worst thing is seeing it all and feeling so stupid for letting it happen. I'm not a stupid person but clearly an ostrich when it comes to paper work and finances.

black-saturn

Here's my four penneth for what it's worth:


These are bills that are paid by direct debit and are regular each month

£10 Natwest – mortgage – they refunded our final payment in error
£541.19 Mortgage (Halifax fixed til march 2008 4.59%)

£70.50 Water (on meter) - This is really high. Save on water by showering instead of bathing, measuring out water for drinks, only wash up when the sink is full and only use the washing machine when it is full

£104 Council tax

11.37 tv licence

10.84 life insurance and mortgage protection Could you cash this in and put it towards the debt?

109.02 first direct loan

90 grad loan and o/d

50 tsb credit card

25 phone one tel

23 elec This is high again. Don't leave anything on standby, measure out water for drinks and only put washing machine on when washer is full

2.50 charity Sorry but in this case charity begins at home

17.99 internet (changed this month to 1-tel £8 not free)

18 (min) first direct visa

30 house insurance

22.83 british gas service contract Cancel this and put it on your contents insurance, will work out much cheaper

30 gas - This is high too. Put a jumper on instead of the heating, cook several meals at once and freeze a portion for another day

In addition in july we had general spending

Car tax - £96.25 Mot 44 fuel £70 (inc holiday to Derbyshire from devon)

Mum’s 50th birthday - £100 – present and meal Does she know what your financial situation is? Wouldnt she settle for a lesser present?

Cash?? £140 some for holiday

Children’s swimming lessons £44 (£110 per term)

Takeaway £29.05 (wedding ann)

Plus £100 general spending

and £886 in supermarket (inc cashback food and all cleaning and toiletries - horrendous i know and i will not be doing this again) Have a look at my meal planners at the end of this thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=2340412&posted=1#post2340412

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=157526&highlight=black-saturns+menu

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=237050&highlight=shopping+list

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=236481&highlight=shave+soa

scaredy_cat_2

i understand about mums present - of course my mum would settle for a lesser present she would settle for nothing - she is a very lovely mum who went without for years for us and does so much for us all the time but that is done now so i can't change it. just think for nexd time. I have already got my sisters present for end of august in next sale. Half price and i'm not going to buy extra just because it was half price!



our british gas service has already enabled us to have thousands of punds worth of repairs to boiler - i'm not sure this could have been claimed on insurance as not fully broken? Have decided am not savvy but really dense about these things!

re water - do shower not bath - 2 babies (1 and 3) bath but only small amount mostly unless i forget it during supper.

I do have to keep charity going its my membership and i am doing a diploma course with them and i will have part time paid work from this - in evenings to fit around family.

thanks for meal plans am off to make fruit cobbler now!

scaredy_cat_2

hi, have been reading back through responses yesterday and realise my post, particularly last, sounded a bit 'off'. Apologies for this it wasn't intended was trying to reply in between playing with children etc. I am really grateful for the pointers. I realise my spending is awful and that can't loan money to 'friend' anymore whilst i am in this situation. And am already trying to reduce food bills. But i had decided i didn't really need to shop this week just a few bits and it was £45! i hardly bought anything

I have just realised today that my elec is going up to £59! I have no idea why it is this high and really need to cut it back - how!!!!

I felt great that i had 'a light bulb moment' but seems a bit like will take forever and the cost of living is just high.

overbudget

scaredy_cat wrote:

we do need to be on a meter - it was put in when the house was built. But i will definitely check this out. The trouble is is my irresponsibilty stems to this too and i never check stuff just pay what they say.

Check for leaks. Make sure everything is off and check to see if meter is still going round.

This is a huge amount for two people* to be paying on a meter. We're just applying for one and even if we used a hose pipe, dishwasher, washing machine and bath every day (which we don't!) the most the water metered price estimate would be is around £35 a month!

I think water companies are responsible for leaks outside the home.

*Oops just noticed you have two babies - sorry I missed that! That would up it a bit but not double it. Still check for leaks!

CLAPTON

have you checked the actual meter readings (water and electricity) against the bills to ensure you are not overpaying?

scaredy_cat_2

no - i will do that, thanks. seems so silly to not have checked and jsut accepting thanks