Another 1st timer!!!

auntie_brenda

Thanks medman for all your advice. Have got a timer, had 'lost' it - funny how once you decide to look for something it turns up! So is now installed - but on washing machine, not tumble drier. That way the washing is done when I get up in the morning and I can then put in tumble drier - still on Ec7. Then I can leave it on and go to work... and not spend all day worying about how much energy the 'on' switch on the washing machine uses .

Had thought of asking DD - but she will be off to uni (and probably in the summer also), don't want to end up without cleaner :eek: when she goes. I know I sound pathetic, but this is my equivalent of Sky.... my 1 luxury. It will go though if I can't cut back.... so that's a great incentive!

I use energy saving bulbs, and have spare ones also. So, should I wait till the ordinary ones blow (they seem to realise I'm watching them and refuse to go!!!!), or replace them now, which is a waste????? But, I suppose I'm wasting energy in the meantime... ok, will replace them now!

All in all I'm feeling much more in control. I don't really waste money, and keep a good control of my monthly spending, but wasn't organised for 1/4 and annual spends. That's now taken care of, and with a bit of effort I should be able to pay off quicker than the monthly minimum.

So, New Years Resolutions....
Menu Plan!!!!!! Cut alcohol consumption!!!!!! Maximise income!!!!! Spending diary!!!! Lunches to work!!!!!! Or the cleaner gets it!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

krisskross

Have only skim read this thread but has Dad applied for Attendance allowance?

gallygirl

And can you get carer's allowance?

auntie_brenda

Thanks all. Dad gets lower rate of attendance allowance, have just been on line and reapplied to see if can get him higher rate.

I cannot get carers allowance as I do not give 35 hours help a week.

Ho hum, back to ironing for now......

nearlyrich

Just on the cleaner thing, I have had a cleaner since I went back to work in 1988 when my children were small, they are now about the same age as your 2 and one away at uni other living here whilst studying.

I recently let my cleaner go as we really don't have enough to keep her busy, she used to iron 15 to 20 shirts and blouses for school/ work for the 4 of us, now we don't really wear many clothes that need ironing, a quick shake from the TD sorts out the creases. We had quite a lot of furniture that needed polishing, we have gone minimalist (ish) and now a quick flick with a microfibre cloth and a vacuum sort out the house. DD looks after her room and the family bathroom, we have an ensuite and we clean as we go in there and in the kitchen.

It is possible to do minimum effort and keep the place clean and tidy, you might have to start with a concerted effort to declutter and remember not to let stuff accumulate.

As for food, if you plan you can still do good food without spending a fortune, we try to think of what we are going to eat for at least a week and buy accordingly, saves throwing food away. We buy some things in Aldi, extra choice and some of it is much nicer than the other supermarkets (Cheese ham etc) especially good for packed lunches.

Good luck with sorting out your debt.

auntie_brenda

OK, I will be closely monitoring the cleaner situation. as soon as I have to invent work for her that's it.

I intend to meal plan from now on - I know I have enough to get through the next week without buying anything except milk & veg (Indian mini snacks anyone? Or party quiches? Or any other stuff I bought 'just in case':rolleyes: ?). So that will be a good start. I also have quite a few individual portions of stuff frozen (some of them even have labels on so I know what they are ). Plan is to work through those till freezer empty of them, them sort it out (seems to be full of food, but with nothing to eat IYSWIM), and restock sensibly, with BOGOF's & hopefully Tesco R&R's.

Don't have time to go to all the cheap supermarkest every week, so will rotate, 1 a week plus Morrisons (take dad there - we're the articulated wheelchair / trolley combo who bring the store to a halt every time we change aisles ). Will only buy BOGOF's etc there, ven milk is 2p cheaper elsewhere. (Dd will still buy all from Morrisons, he likes to feel picking his shopping is 1 thing he can still do. Plus he can pick the best bargain whisky for that week's treat :rolleyes: ) Nearlyrich, I have bought Aldi's cheese etc before, it ios v good, just need to get off my fat a** to get motivated... speaking of which....

Money saving won't be helped by the fact I am going on the New York Diet (basically Atkins but a low fat version), not the cheapest but worked before. So lots of rubber chicken coming up I feel.... and lots of lovely spicy soups to take to work in my newly rediscovered wide necked flask.

Feeling very upbeat and chipper about the future - Happy New Year everyone!

Edit: Forgot to add got 2 mini haircare products for 41p in Boots (another voucher for 1 free, 2 for £2 so only got charged difference between £1.59 and £2. So updating sig for Xmas 2007 pressies!

david_hellier

Hi, according to my figures you have £184.56 per week to spend on anything else including food, clothes, glasses, etc, etc. I suggest you write this amount in a little book on a Monday and keep a note of what you spend by subtraction. You are not in a position to save or give to charity, so I've pulled the regular savings and the charity donation. If you have any over use this to payoff your cc over your normal amount. Not too bad. Good luck, the figures are as follows:

Weekly Monthly
Income 0.00 2203.47
rent/mortgage 809.67
council tax 100.00
secured loans 0.00
fines 0.00
electricity 37.50
gas 37.50
water 30.00
tv licence 11.37
life 1 11.70
life 2 11.39
c illness 12.46
health 5.85
contents 10.84
bt 17.50
internet 17.99
10 year plan 25.00
car tax 9.17
car ins 20.83
diesel 80.92
cc 154.00








Start £184.56

auntie_brenda

david_hellier wrote:

You are not in a position to save or give to charity, so I've pulled the regular savings and the charity donation.

Oooohh, you're so masterful...... do you wear a uniform??????

OK, have cancelled the charity and will 'repay' when I am debt free (note, I now saw WHEN, not IF!!!!:T :T :T ).

Am continuing regular savings in case of demutualisation - but will make my annual withdrawal before 0% card expires (unless I manage to get another, in which case I will get a higher interest account). Have written to reg savings plan to ask for options - suspect will make paid up though as market adjustment thingy will be too high.

I have less income left than you suggested as I have set up a DD of £450 to take account of annual bills - will reconcile our figures & report back.

Thanks for advice. You're right, it is 'not too bad' and I am very lucky to have nipped things in the bud.

auntie_brenda

Got a bit confused somewhere along the way...... Only have £320 a month to put away for bills. But 1st expense coming up tomorrow as car needs service, and new headlight bulb :eek: .

But at least the money is in the bank to pay for it (ok, it's only been in there 3 weeks, but even so ).

Have also been doing start of year 'where do I want to go from here' conversation with myself. Surprised myself by coming up with the answer 'about 4 miles' . I used to love gardening but current garden is small so have ignored it. I want a new garden FOR ME!!!!!! that's bigger, so that means moving. I narrowed it down to 1 of 2 villages (also want a cottage). Problem is I found the perfect property within 2 minutes of searching on internet, and outside recce confirms it. I could afford IF I HAD PAID ALL MY DEBTS OFF!!!!!!!!!!
Extra monthly payments would be £10 less than I'm saving/paying directly off credit cards (although likely to be slightly more now rates going up :mad: ).

So, I have 2 options:
1. Remortgage to buy dream home, paying off all debts, or
2. Carry on with original plan. Wear sackcloth and ashes. Pin up dream home on board and go 'woe is me' everytime I go past it. Pay off all debts. Save for moving costs. find dream home no. 2.

So have decided to go for.........

OPTION 2!!!!!!!!! This is a fundamental change in my thinking. I don't want to buy it now and pay later. I want to have money in the bank to pay off all debts, pay removal & purchase costs (and buy some seeds ). And, TBH, I like the fact it hurts that I can't have my cottage (can you believe it actually had roses round the door....... ). Boy, this is some lesson I've learnt :rolleyes: .....

And it seems like MONTHS till I get paid again!!!!!!

auntie_brenda

A quick update to keep me on track......

Somehow managed to not overspend over Xmas so CC bill less than expected, plus had a bit left over from Dec pay, plus no CTax, plus have eaten out of freezer and cupboard .... so have managed to get below 7k!!!!!!!!!!!!:T :T :T :T

Go me!!!!!:j :j :j

(as soon as I can work out how to update signature.......)

Re freezer eating..... frozen Yorkshires and rhubarb crumble anyone, that's my best option for tomorrow...... obviously with toast as still lots of bread..... oooohh, and Yorkshires will have breadcrumb topping - am sure they are breeding...... think I need to go on old style board for ideas, but will probably be told to combine them with Stardrops

Thank goodness Jan nearly over, what a pants month it is......