Newbie - first post, scarey!

dudleyboy

anh1904 wrote:

I only posted a full and honest account of actuals, didn't mean to offend, honest.

Hi, I don't think anyone was offended - just trying to give helpful advice as requested.

It sounds as though you're determined to do this so I think you'll do just fine. There's plenty of good advice and suggestions above. Forgot to say welcome - so welcome!! - and good luck.

dudleyboy

Dolly_Smith wrote:

this woman fills me with rage! you don't have to eat mung beans all day to be healthy - personally I think she looks terrible considering she's preaching to everyone else what they should eat.

I dunno, I think she looks pretty good for a 78 year old...

Truth be told, I too would love to eat organic food and when i'm debt free I might just but until then fresh fruit and veg - u know, the kind fit and healthy people have been eating for decades before the recent organic fad - will do me fine.

Organic food really is a luxury and you'll be surprised to learn that Sainsbury's "Basics" vegetables taste exactly the same as there premium range. Sure, some of them can look like boobies and willies but that just adds to the meal time fun.

oops_a_daisy

Quote 'I only posted a full and honest account of actuals, didn't mean to offend, honest.'
Quote 'I will publish an amended budget within the next month when we have reviewed exactly what we're spending on what in the new house, and will be up there to be shot at again by the looks of things.'

I think only one person 'shot' at you and they were well and truly shot back down, most people on here will offer help and advice but you have to decide whether or not to take it.
It depends on how much you and your family want to be debt free. How committed are you ?, you could still do a lot more ie. NTL supreme package - they do a cheaper basic package or eating mostly organic - I feed 2 for £125 per month on mostly veggie & organic. I know it is difficult seeing the replies in black and white when it is your personal finances and some of the posts are telling you to cut back - but that is what you have to do to pay off your debts.
Please keep posting and stick with it and ignore the 'bad' posts

Dolly_Smith

dudleyboy wrote:

Sure, some of them can look like boobies and willies but that just adds to the meal time fun.

I'm now thinking of a turnip shaped just like a thingy! (know your Blackadder...)

CoD_2

Dolly_Smith wrote:

this woman fills me with rage! you don't have to eat mung beans all day to be healthy - personally I think she looks terrible considering she's preaching to everyone else what they should eat.

It's easy to eat healthily and cheaply without buying organic. Why do you need to buy organic? If it's for ethical reasons you might want to look at your petrol and car usage which has far more impact on the environment that non-organic food

the gym membership is huge! - why not take the kids out for long walks? completely free, good exercise and a learning experience aswell if you go to woods or out to the seaside

I don't think you've had your lightbulb moment yet but hope these ideas help you out anyway

totally agree. not having a go but can you look into local fruit and veg box schemes? you can get these for a family for about £20 a week for everything, then just buy meat from a farm shop (I do this for 2 adults and spend £20 a month max on free range meat, then just add pasta, or make it! and bread, can be made again. buy rice etc

dudleyboy

Dolly_Smith wrote:

I'm now thinking of a turnip shaped just like a thingy! (know your Blackadder...)

I do indeed...

Snaggles

Also - re the gardening thing - all that digging will negate the need for the gym lol (and those 'Oooh, I've just dug up a turnip' kind of muscles are sexier than the 'Look how many hours I've spent in the gym' ripped look (I think!) heehee!!).

david_hellier

Welcome to the site. According to my calculations you have £43.97 per week to spend on anything else including food, clothes, baby. This is an emergency situation and you must not spend more than this per week to avoid further overspend. I suggest you seek advice from CCCS and consider bankruptcy/DMP. You must stop spending on any items not in the list below and stop using credit cards for any further purchases. It would be more helpful to us all if you could supply more detail rather than bunching into groups. However, I've assumed a 5% payoff to the CCs.

First things first; stop spending, seek advice, cut costs in that order.

The figures are as follows. Stay on the site and good luck:

income weekly monthly
self 2790.00
partner 1200.00







total 0.00 3990.00 divided by 4.33
920.78

920.78 total weekly income

spend weekly monthly
rent/mortgage 987.00
council tax 288.33
elec
gas
water
secured loans
TV licence
fines
life 35.00
car 394.17
mobile 36.99
student loan 60.00
maintenance 570.00
abbey 220.00
bos 114.00
cap one 64.00
sainsburys 355.00
morgan 440.00
egg 235.00











total 0.00 3799.49 divided by 4.33
876.81

£876.81 total weekly spend

Start= income - spend = £43.97 per week

anh1904

Thanks for the rational response. I have it all in a spreadsheet (which I can post as it has every line item), and will monitor closely. I will not consider bankrupcy, I have not got this far down the road since the divorce to lose the battle now.
Will make minor economies on a gradual and continual basis, while trying to find additional income at the same time (love the bit on the side thread) so I anticipate things will improve soon.

EDIT: Minimum payments on a lot of the cards are "interest + £5" for the MBNA ones, so currently nowhere near the level you estimate

all_hours

david

Won't most the cards be 2 or 3%?