Starting Again

Skint_but_Optimistic

I think it will be tough too. But using lists and meal planning and batch cooking should help.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Going to stick with this diary, its a historical artefact. editing this to include husbands outgoings too, we are in this together....

OK here goes with the budgets.

Food - 250-275 a month
Petrol - 100 a month - can pay onto cards - help reduce interest. short tern
Parking - 138 a month.(If I get a spot this is less, but I need to budget this, if not spent can go directly to debts.)
Rent - 375 a month
Electric - 50 a month
Coal - 60 a month
Council taxes - 260 a month (2 houses)
childminding fees - 530
Repaying the tax credits overpayment 104
Electric at other house 14.00
Water rates at other house 30.00
telephone and internet (husband wont change provider) 50.00
car insurance 50.00
contents 20.00
school dinners 60.00
Mortgage = 250
Buildings insurance 22.00
Health insurance 35.00


This shows our limited capacity until we are renting out...

Skint_but_Optimistic

All questionnaires are completed.

Ebay is listed, going to the other house to collect some more ebay stuff. :-)

Have a good feeling about 2012....

debtfreewannabe321

Hi ya hun!

Like the new year's resolutions and glad you're keeping the same diary (i've a habit of losing people when they change threads lol)

I'm sticking to my food budget of £250 a month. I tried the buy big bulk at the beginning of the month and smaller top ups and it worked well, but i'm trying approved foods, rosspa & ald* this month just to see what difference there is in price & quality i'm getting pretty fed up of a$da & Te$co upping the prices willy nilly on essentials and there's nothing we can do about it so will see if this works out instead lol

I hope you get the other house finished & rented out quick i've noticed that the rental market is busier than ever with the recession (perhaps cos people can no longer afford the mortgage!) but i hope the area you're in is the same

Here's to a brill 2012 for us all

Skint_but_Optimistic

I like aldi and Lidl.

I decided to try aldi baby wipes yesterday. They are fantastic value, 76p for 80 and are good and thick. Best I was doing was huggies, a pound for 56.

My shopping is starting today, the first of January, and so far I have not spent anything! haha.

Im going to be much smarter this year! cant wait to see how much I pay off!

Skint_but_Optimistic

And lovely to see you too toots!

Skint_but_Optimistic

I will update my balances monthly. If I have any money left from my grocery budget it will be put to my Christmas fund for next year.If I spend too much in a month I will have to knock it off the month after. Hard lines!!

bonsibabe

Happy new year huni, hope it is a good one for you xxx am back and have had several nsd's over the festivities so am well chuffed with myself! OH is still on the scene and making the right noises ... just need to wait and see if the actions follow suit lol, hope you are well, take care xxx

gargrave50

Hey Kathryn,

Just caught up with the last page or so of the thread. I too am very glad you are keeping this diary, an artefact it is indeed, and a true reminder of just how far you have come. On the days when you feel like all this haggling and scrabbling about for pennies isn't getting you far, go back to page 1 and smile .

Fabulous New Year's resolutions - haven't started with the coupons yet. Been too busy drinking my way through too many bottles of wine and preparing to come back down here to start work AGAIN!

Never mind, all sounding very good and ship shape up your end. Keep at it!

Skint_but_Optimistic

I am at home for a couple of weeks, am tackling a couple of health issues so taking some GP directed time out.

Doing sorting and generating ebay as well.


:-)