We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

Alice_in_Poorland

Right have made a start on some money saving.......

1/ Have placed an advert in local paper this week selling some furniture we don't need.

2/ I am going to have my first NSD. (one of many more!!)

3/ Have sorted out some stuff for ebay, all new with tags which will make ideal presents.

4/ and I've got homemade soup for lunch at work.

Feeling a lot more positive today, still haven't sorted bank account out but will get onto that sooner than later.xx

JayJay14

Ring the council, they may be able to change the date your payment comes out. My OH changed his job and the DD date was the 14th - he got paid on 15th. I called the CT dept and they changed it to 21st, they said I could have had 1st, 14th, 21st or 28th.

Worth a try.

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi Alice, welcome to MSE and congratulations on your LBM.

Well done for doing the SOA, it's really hard and horrendous when you first see it all in black & white but it makes it real and you know what you've to deal with ....

I had huge debts and am finally (recently) DF after many many long years of struggling and robbing Peter to pay Paul. I did it myself - I wasn't aware of the debt charities (and they certainly weren't as well known about) and so wish I'd known about them to help deal with horrible creditors. Good luck with calling.

I hope you don't mind but I've a couple of suggestions on your SOA - although if you go down the debt charity route, they will be certain amounts you're allowed to put down - in case you don't they might help / if you do as it may help save a bit off the amounts you're allowed to help with other things a bit. (Sorry if you've already posted the SOA and received comments)

Sky - not an essential (sorry) but it needs to go. You can get a FreeSat card for a one off payment of £25 and a good range of channels

Mobiles - when do the contracts end? Switch to PAYG & use for emergencies only

Groceries - you should be able to cut at least £100 off this. Pop over to the Old Style board and try the grocery challenge. Load of friendly people, great advice & support and fantastic recipes:D. As an starting point, there are families of 4 who get by on £220/month (incl household products, nappies etc & toilettries)

Car: Fuel - are these all essential journeys? Shop around when insurance renewal is due.

Join in some of the challenges - they're great for providing support and picking up loads of tips. I mentioned the grocery one above but there's load of others (incl a NSD one!) so have a hunt around and see what you fancy!:)

Wishing you all the best - I'll pop back and see how you're getting on if you don't mind!:D

yummymummy2012

Alice welcome, I hvae started my journey this month as well, not quite in the situation you are but want to let you know there is loads of support on here and things can only move forward now you have had your LBM. I am subscribing to see how you get on and give some positive support when you need it

Alice_in_Poorland

Thank you rising from the ashes and syl484, suddenly I don't feel quite so alone.:)

Your are totally right Sky has got to go.

Our petrol costs are not as easy to reduce, but on a good note the work mate my OH gives a lift to is going to give him £10 per week which will help.

Mobile contract - we are all tied in the next 12months plus, but we have found a few old mobiles to cash in.

I've taken a closer look at the Old Style Board and got some great tips/suggestions, the one thing I struggle with is packed lunches, we have 5 to do everyday and my oldest sons are very sporty and can eat you out of house and home at the best of times!!

Let's see if I can have another NSD tomorrow.xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Well that went well with the bank....................not. As I expected no increase on overdraft (which in a way is a good thing).

The gas/elec won't be paid today. :mad:
I have cancelled the DD for the B/Card loan and car loan that were due to come out tomorrow so we won't be charged £35 fee by the bank for being unable to pay them. I can pay them over the phone, one tomorrow (which will still be on time) and one on Monday, that will leave enough money out of my OH wages tomorrow for petrol, childminder, mobile phone bill and bread, milk and cat food.

Don't want to wish the next few weeks away but can't wait for the end of the month when I am paid so we can put our new budget into place properly and really start sorting our finances out.:)

and I've had another NSD!!!

GreenSaints

Hi Alice,

Welcome to diary world!

Well done for having your LBM and focusing on your debt free journey. May be daunting to start with, but it does get easier and slightly obsessive! You'll soon have a spreadsheet and will snowballing in no time

On the note about food, take a look at theresourcefulcook.co.uk There are meal plans on there and then you can print off the shopping list for that meal planner! I think it's amazing!

Once you've got a staple list of meals it'll be a lot easier.

Good luck with everything. Don't forget, we've all been there..... I still am!

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi i phoned sky and asked to leave and got 6 mths free then rang up after that period and got reduced rate?x

Alice_in_Poorland

Thank you GreenSaints for your suggestions, I'll certainly have a look at that website. I think the food bill is one thing we can certainly make savings on.

and yes I can see it can become obsessive, day 4 of my diary and I'm hooked!!

Beat the Dept how spooky is this, my husband came home tonight a told me a guy he works with has just done the same thing with Sky, so will certainly give it a try tomorrow. Thank you.

Oh well better go and have my steamy hot date with the ironing board.x

charlyze2

Hi Alice
well done for having your LBM.

one thing to check though is f you are entitled to tax credits.

our income is only slightly higher than yours (2425) and even though are childcare costs are higher (754) we still get some money back from tax credits(330 - 4 weekly)

might be worth a look