Help me my life sucks

VickyA_2

Is there any way of getting off your electric key meter? It's the most expensive energy possible. We had that when we first moved into our current rented house, but our landlord agreed for us to change it - we've noticed a considerable drop in our outgoings for electricity.

brisck1

really? I never realised they would be more expensive! i'll have to have a talk with my Landlord and see if they are willing to do it. thanks!

Can you remember how much you saved per month when you switched?

VickyA_2

We were on British Gas key meter and they switched it over to a "normal" meter, but we had to pay them £90 deposit, which we get back after 12 months OR when we change supplier. We have only just had it changed, so no chance of getting it back yet. In our case, it wasn't the landlord who got involved just us (being the bill payer) and the electric supplier (ie BG). There is a note in our contract saying that we must run everything past the landlord/his agents before we do it. It seems that the landlord had had some non-paying bill tenants before, hence the key meter.

We've saved about a third since switching. We were getting through about £10 of credit per week on our house. Also, I'm now into switching everything off at the plug when it's not in use.................

Spendless

I've just been back and looked at your out-goings.

The car - i see you've not included any MOT/insurance/ in your figures?
Do you definately need it? Or Could you car share reducing your petrol bill.

Contact lenses - i think there's an article somewhere on site about cheapest way. I wear glassess and when i knew i was going to need some new ones i joined a healthcare plan (westfield in my case) so that i got money towards them after a qualifying period. You have to do the sums to make sure you're going to be better off though (so far i am).

Could you get an evening job to fetch in some extra cash?

loafer_2

Spendless wrote:

Your electricity seems high. How big is your place and what electrical appliances are you using?



(We are paying slightly more than you per month for a 3bed semi with me and 1 child at home all day and the other at school, also we have arrears from a previous year which is included in amount.)

I've got a much bigger house than Spendless still and mine is £33 or less a month.
If yo can get off the meter to a normal DD plan then you will probably save some dough there.

£15 on cleaners may be a bit excessive too - might want to look into that.

Also your household contents insurance - does that include a let'ers insurance? If not it might be worth re-shopping for it, with 0% apr if poss.

Also if you live alone are you claiming your councel tax discount?

System

brisck1 wrote:

Ok here a quick, budget of my outgoings:

Income P.C.M

Work: £1037

Outgoings

Rent: £385

Car loan: £155

Mobile Phone: £30

Land line: £30 (includes internet broadband)

Food: £80

Petrol: £56

Car tax: £10

Council Tax £80

Electric £45

Gas £10

Social money £80 (drinks, cinema, etc)

Household(cleaners etc) £15

Contact lenses £10

TV Licence £10

Home insurance £15


TOTAL Left £61

For a start you could knock off the household cleaners bill. We are a family of 5 and i dont spend that - that doesnt mean to say we stink or the place is filthy either. You could have a browse through here and see what you can save on cleaning and everyday expenses. Some of the posters on there are an expert at the art of being frugal. I trust you shop around for your household utilities as that is another way you can save more on your household costs. You could invest in a copy of Martins book - The Money Diet, its full of hints and tips and is useful as a source of reference.

Good luck in your quest.

empfun

brisck1, when you share a place not only will you save on rent but also bills and cleaning too. Definitely a fair chunk of your rent of £385pcm. All the best!

brisck1

lSpendless wrote:

I've just been back and looked at your out-goings.

The car - i see you've not included any MOT/insurance/Car tax in your figures?
Do you definately need it? Or Could you car share reducing your petrol bill.

Contact lenses - i think there's an article somewhere on site about cheapest way. I wear glassess and when i knew i was going to need some new ones i joined a healthcare plan (westfield in my case) so that i got money towards them after a qualifying period. You have to do the sums to make sure you're going to be better off though (so far i am).

Could you get an evening job to fetch in some extra cash?

Car Tax is in there but you are right, I left out Insurance and MOT I definately need my car as my work is 10 miles away from where I live (Thought about moving closer but its even more expensive to live in that area) Its possible I could get the train to work instead but im not sure if it would work out cheaper in the end, it something I may look into later. As for the contacts, at the time it seems like a good deal as I get free eye tests and checkups with the package im on with specsavers, do you think im gettin a good deal?

As for getting a evening job, I have thought about it, but I just dont know if I could keep up with it as im always shattered by the time I get home from work and go to bed early to get up at 7am

I've actually been wondering if there are any part time jobs you can do from home that I could do after work, but I dont know where to start looking.

Thanks for your suggestions

loafer wrote:

I've got a much bigger house than Spendless still and mine is £33 or less a month.
If yo can get off the meter to a normal DD plan then you will probably save some dough there.

£15 on cleaners may be a bit excessive too - might want to look into that.

Also your household contents insurance - does that include a let'ers insurance? If not it might be worth re-shopping for it, with 0% apr if poss.

Also if you live alone are you claiming your councel tax discount?

Hi loafer, the £15 also includes other household necessaties like washing powder, washing liquid, bath and kitchen cleaners, hooverbags -the lot. Still I guess it may be a little excessive, I have to look into this a bit i think.

What is a let'ers insurance? can you explain abit more on the 0%apr thing?

how much council tax discount do you get for living on your own? - my flat is band A tax.

Cheers guys

brisck1

Judi wrote:

For a start you could knock off the household cleaners bill. We are a family of 5 and i dont spend that - that doesnt mean to say we stink or the place is filthy either. You could have a browse through here and see what you can save on cleaning and everyday expenses. Some of the posters on there are an expert at the art of being frugal. I trust you shop around for your household utilities as that is another way you can save more on your household costs. You could invest in a copy of Martins book - The Money Diet, its full of hints and tips and is useful as a source of reference.

Good luck in your quest.

Thanks Judi there is some great info in that thread and I intend on using it straight away!!

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brisck1, when you share a place not only will you save on rent but also bills and cleaning too. Definitely a fair chunk of your rent of £385pcm. All the best!

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Believe me I would love to share a flat but I just dont want to share with a stranger. I tried that a few years ago and it was awful, then my brother bought a house and I lived with him for a while but his girlfreind moved in and shortly after I moved out (three's a crowd)

What I cant understand is my freinds are thinking of buying houses or HAVE bought them at current prices (cheapest around here is £90-95,000 for a small 1 bed flat) and are still living a good life.

I wish I could be as easy as them about credit cards and loans etc, but considering im already in a state of debt from my student loan and also my car loan the thought of borrowing more money terrifies me!

Spendless

Hi - yes saw you included car tax -whoops sorry - i amended but too late.

Re ; the council tax bill you should get 25% off for being only adult living in house. If you're not claiming this - get onto the council Monday morning. Not sure if they'll backdate or adjust any overpayments you've made though.