chocolatecake's diary

chocolatecake_2

Hello guys,

I've been lurking on DFW for a while and just wanted to say hello :T

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better - you seem like a friendly bunch!

I'm well on board with my own debt repayment plan, a drastically reduced SOA and earning money through quidco, Pigsback, eBay, Amazon, car boots.

I'm really looking forward to joining you guys on the debt free journey and I reckoned I would might get even more inspiration if I started posting - I'm going to try and post on the daily spend and weekly goals threads in particular and maybe join one or two of the challenges.

Hello!

chocolatecake :heartpuls

lynzpower

Big welcome!

Im sure you feel confident, but dont forget you can always stick up your SOA for us to nose at :rolleyes:

:wave:

Mrs_A.

welcome
regards mrs a

chocolatecake_2

Hi Lynzpower and MrsA - thanks for your lovely welcomes.

Here is my current SOA:-

Income from full time job:- £1194 per month
Other income from odd jobs/eBay/Amazon etc - £50 a month (approx - sometimes more)

= £1244 (approx)

Outgoings:

Joint Account £767 - £784 a month (changes slightly every month depending what's coming out) See below for breakdown of this
Commute to work £105 a month I live in a rural area and have to commute on the train
Petrol £40 a month The train station is a few miles away
Mobile £15 a month Was £35 approx - I was going to go £10 a month PAYG but got offered £15 a month with lots of free minutes and texts instead
Post office stamps £10 a month Saving for yearly car tax
Birthdays £10 a month
Savings for car yearly costs £30 a month
Savings for contacts/prescriptions/dentist etc £20 a month
Savings for clothes/shoes £30 a month I'm currently losing a lot of weight and I know I shouldn't need new clothes but I can't help it!
Weekly spends £80 - £100 a month Some people may disagree with this but I allow myself £20 a week in cash for me. This allows me to buy stamps, go for the odd drink after work etc - the rest of my SOA is so tight that it makes sure that I don't overspend elsewhere
Debt repayment £100 I'm currently trying to pay off my personal debts (see signature), then we will focus on joint debts

£1244

I am saving for Christmas via Pigsback and ipoints and I am hoping to pay for Christmas completly out of these vouchers.

My contribution to the Joint Account breakdown (OH pays £50 more to mortgage as he earns a bit more than me):-

Northern Rock mortgage £379 (full amount £807.17)
OH life insurance £14.50 (full amount £28.99)
Me life insurance £15.00 (full amount £30.00)
Buildings and contents insurance £11.61 (full amount £23.22)
Disability insurance £10.10 (full amount £20.20)
BT phone and broadband £20.75 (full amount £41.50)
Electric £20.25 (full amount £40.50 paying off a debit)
Gas £28.50 (full amount £57.00 paying off a debit)
Council Tax (water rates included as in Scotland) £60.50 (full amount £121.00)
Joint loan £126.59 (full amount £253.19)
Food £80.00 (full amount £160.00)
TV License £17.00 (full amount £34.00- only once every 3 months)

Total £766-£784

We bought our house last year and we are tied into a fixed interest rate until September 2007.

I'm looking into cancelling my disability insurance - this is just for me as my OH works for a Local Authority but I work for a charity and illness cover isn't covered in my contract. We were convinced to sign up for this by our mortgage broker. I would welcome comments on this...

We found it difficult to get cheaper life insurance as I am really morbidly obese and have had a lump in my breast (not serious) in the last couple of years. We are looking into changing this once I have lost some more weight.

We have tried to cut down on food, but I am doing a really successful healthy eating plan just now and I like to eat a lot of fresh fruit, veg, yoghurts etc which aren't cheap and to cook from scratch and (to be honest) its a struggle to keep it to £40 a week and I'm really trying!

Please don't be too harsh! I hope I'm doing okay.

chocolatecake :heartpuls

elantan

hi chocolate cake just wanted to join everybody in welcoming you to this forum you've done the right thing in here ..you'll get plenty of support and advice and the occasional kick up the bum (i'm getting mine just now) can't comment on your soa not very good or confident enough to do so ..but lynz is a great help and will manage to squeeze it if it's poosible to squeeze ...again just wanted to say hi and wish youall the best in your debt free journey

Luckystepho

Welcome! Sounds as though you are doing really well with your weight so far, so well done! Check out the Debt Free and Fat Free Wannabee thread too for even more inspiration, everybody is really friendly and supportive on there.

poorbutrich

Just to say that you have done a great job already - well done! I actually think the money you have budgeted for "spends" is a good idea and means you're less likely to spend over this amount. It's like when you're on a diet and allow yourself an occasional biscuit!

elantan

i thought that as well poor but rich there is just so much to learn from everyone here even the newbies

anniestar

A very warm welcome and just to say you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

Gemmzie

Welcome to the forum

Just one ickle thing - do the PO stamps gain you any interest? I stick my £10 per month in an IF Savings Jar (4.4%) and that gets me my extra 50p over the six months for the £60.50 tax, actually it's a little more than that.
If a regular saver account would take that money - you could save for a year and probably get about 7% (Halifax) plus it's cheaper over the year.

Congrats on a fabby SOA though

in*the*red_6

chocolatecake wrote:

We have tried to cut down on food, but I am doing a really successful healthy eating plan just now and I like to eat a lot of fresh fruit, veg, yoghurts etc which aren't cheap and to cook from scratch and (to be honest) its a struggle to keep it to £40 a week and I'm really trying!

chocolatecake :heartpuls

I am also trying to diet/healthy eat but your avatar is giving me major cravings!! :rotfl: