New Year - New MSE!!

beanynharrison

Ok I have been lurking here for about the last 4 months. I had a baby in June and have just returned to work so I am now in a position to hammer my debts a bit better than in recent months!!

Our income in approx £2100 combined. I am quite happy with our outgoings at the minute. We do have sky but this is our only real luxury as we rarely get to go out!! I have changed our utility suppliers, shopped around for insurances and joined quidco and pigsback to make abit extra. We have ebayed loads (am waiting to sell some baby bits after xmas). I am a regular lurker of the os board and have picked up loads of tips.

I thought that I would use this as a kind of diary so I can keep tracks on my debts going down. I have managed to pay off about £5000 this year despite being on maternity leave for six months so I am quite chuffed.

Any offers of advice are more than welcome.
Beany

beanynharrison

I know I am going to be asked for an SOA so here goes
Me - 1050
OH - £1400
Child benefit - 69

Total - 2519

Outgoings
mortgage - £503 (interest only until remortage in may)
alpf loan 165.22
electricity - £27 - just changed
gas £38
Gas service for boiler £13.41
BT - 15.50
Council tax £106
life ins £52.09 (high because I am classed as a risk cos overweight)
NUT subs £15.60
contents/building ins 31.54
sky - 43.50 (only real luxury i have as social life is non existent due to 6 month old baby)
mobile £17
tv license £10.99
water rates £27.61
OH season ticket £45 - committed for year and would cause divorce if
cancelled lol
Broad band - £15
OH mobile £15
shopping - 200 (incuding nappies, wipes etc and any b day pressies)
oh train to work £110
petrol/car tax/service £150
childcare £300 (when i return to work)
haircuts are free (cousin is hairdresser)
clothes £20 (mainly baby)
going out £25
don't go to dentist (am trying to fing NHS fat chance !)
CC repayment 150

total - £2106.46 (i think!!)

Other money gets frittered ( am starting a spending diary and grocery challenge to find out where!!)



Have approx £250 in savings to compensate for any shortfall in Jan after returning to work.
Think that is everything - bring on the ideas!

Emmzi

Nice SOA

I just have a naughty question =- if OH gets £45 a month for footie.. what do you get for 'you' time??? I bet your Sky includes sports for him :-)

On a serious note have you checked with employer if they do childcare vouchers - then you get a tax saving.

Personally I wouldn't oay £13 a month for gas service etc... it's an insurance policy on which the numbers generally don't add up, they tend to be overpriced. I'd put cash into your emergency fund instead (having said that boiler will break now lol)

Have you called sky and threatened to cancel recently to see if they'll do a discount/ have you seen if cable is abvailable in your area instead?

beanynharrison

Hubby is in process of sorting out the childcare vouchers from his work but with it being xmas it is all a bit slow and they are closed now til 2nd jan.

Have bought subject of evening up the season ticket with something for me but can't think of anything at mo. Actually I prob treat myself to mags and chocs (now that is where the money being frittered to is going!!) and that can add up!!

Tryster

Just glancing at the thread and I notice you make no mention of
Child Tax Credits... Have you claimed them? With the 'baby component' (or whatever it's called now) we get around £22 pw, but this will halve when DD reaches her 1st birthday.