How to live on 65 per week?

PasturesNew

sh1305 wrote: »

Do you have nectar and boots card? if you need to buy things from Boots and places that accept Nectar card, you can buy things using the points you've got, instead of money.

I don't mean to be rude, but generally, people living on £65/week aren't out buying things in Boots. As for Nectar points, they too wouldn't even add up for most people on this level of income either. I think I spend £3/month in shops that take Nectar.

katiesmummy

grumpyoldwoman41 wrote: »

With the dog I have I can not afford not to have pet insurance I am afraid.... 38kg of a dog ... Cats I have cancelled now.

Dogs meds are so called supplementary, herbal really and not really prescribed by the vet - but they do help her a lot for her joints, doubt I could get those via charity vets...

BT is a big problem....Need to find out exactly how much do I owe them really and possibly spread it over longer period of time (and bring the price down)...

My mum used to give our dog cod a cod liver oil tablet in her food because she had dodgy joints. A garlic capsule as well but it escapes me what it was for!

Why is it so important for you to have pet insurance? Am just wondering.

Call BT asap- as with everyone else, they would rather reduce your payments to a more manageable level than risk you not being able to pay.

Penny-Pincher!!

Would it be worth going on a water meter?

Do you really NEED the pet insurance? Is there a local PDSA near you that you can join? Sky could be cut to basic £20pm and the BT NEEDS to come down. I think you seriosuly need to consider the animals as according to your sums, you really cant afford them.

What food do you have in atm and maybe we can stretch some meals for you?

PP
xx

Penny-Pincher!!

Can I ask where abouts in the UK you are? IT training positions are available in a lot of the bigger towns and areas. Have you thought about starting your own business?

PP
xx

grumpyoldwoman41

Sorry but I really do need insurance for my dog, can not cut here.

I am on the outskirts of London, yes there seems to be a lot of "IT Training" positions but unfortunately I have spent most of my working life in Public Sector which puts me at disadvantage as private companies do not want to employ ex public sector trainers... for reasons known only to them.

I have applied for about 170 jobs (last time I counted) only since 1st December... not even a reply

But as I said before, I am really looking to move into a different kind of job, perhaps with less money than I was on before but within a more healthy working environment....

katiesmummy

grumpyoldwoman41 wrote: »

Sorry but I really do need insurance for my dog, can not cut here.

I am on the outskirts of London, yes there seems to be a lot of "IT Training" positions but unfortunately I have spent most of my working life in Public Sector which puts me at disadvantage as private companies do not want to employ ex public sector trainers... for reasons known only to them.

I have applied for about 170 jobs (last time I counted) only since 1st December... not even a reply

But as I said before, I am really looking to move into a different kind of job, perhaps with less money than I was on before but within a more healthy working environment....

No need to apologise, I just don't think its an essential at the moment- you will get free treatment and reduced priced (essential) meds for your pets so I don't really understand why you have to have the insurance at this moment in time?

If you are really insistent that it is a must have, are you able to switch providers?

grumpyoldwoman41

Thanks already done that - the previous one quoted me £67 just for the dog on reneval so moved to the cheapest one I could find for the cover I need....

starnight_2

As I understand it you have friends and family abroad which is part of why your phone bills were quite high?

If this is the case you really need to be upfront with them and reduce those calls as well as getting in touch with BT again. Also with Sky HD (I'm not sure) do you have to take the HD packages? If not they could go for the meantime.

You've done a lot today and worked hard to already cut down your outgoings. Take one step at a time, and keep checking out the forums as there is so much help.

christabell

May I just say congratulations for not allowing yourself to wollow in misery.....the shock of loosing a job is dreadful. I have been on JSA so I know what it is like, and not to have family to relay on is not fun.
IMHO......
1. sell the Blackberry, and put the blackberry sim into the spare phone...use that sim card that you spend the £25 on for all your calls....that way you will not be paying BT for calls.

2. EDF....are you eligable for the Social Tariff? It's called Energy assist, I am on that tariff. If you are not elibable for that I would change energy supplier to the cheapest online tariff. I would not want to cap my tariff...I would rather just pay for what I use.

3. Keep your BT land line for line rental only, use PRIMUS for weekends and evenings remembering what time the cheap rate starts and don't go over the hour/or whatever the package is.....use 18866 or 18185 for your overseas calls. Remember if you use SKYPE/VONAGE you will need to purchase a voip handset to use with the Internet. For that you will need to shop arround.

4. I changed my phone package last year from BT land line/ Primus weekend/evening and 18866 and I am so sorry I changed. I know the all in one phone package I have now is more than I was paying BT etc. etc. I have family in the USA/Australia/Europe and am paying more now.

5. Internet.....go with the cheapest provider.....once again use a comparison website.

6. I used to use Quidco....then I changed to topcashback site. I don't use Quidco now, as they want to deduct money for a yearly fee, this that and the other.

7. The slow cooker is similar to a lightbulb...I do not know how moneysaving the steamer is, and with bread being so inexpensive, it may work out to be cheaper to buy a ready made loaf.

8. I use a notebook to write down every cash transaction, and I bank with co-operative bank....which is free. Do you pay for your banking?

9. This time of year, I don't even open my curtains.....keeps the flat so much warmer. I shop weekly via tesco website using the cheapest delivery day...£3.50 on a Tuesday....a taxi there and back would be so much more.

10. Keep browsing and posting on this site...you will meet some great people, and some you will not want to pass the time of day with...but there some great ideas on this site.

Good luck.........

Indie_Kid

PasturesNew wrote: »

I don't mean to be rude, but generally, people living on £65/week aren't out buying things in Boots. As for Nectar points, they too wouldn't even add up for most people on this level of income either. I think I spend £3/month in shops that take Nectar.

Do people living on £65 a week not buy food, then?