We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

Eager_Elephant

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

The car bill was £400, we still need to tax both cars today £217 for both cars for 6months.

Yesterday we had to get petrol, we went to charity event in the town, spent £7 on raffle tickets, tombola and an ice cream.

I've looked at the budget this morning, in laws have offered to lend us the money for the car, which is great in one way as we wouldn't have to reduce the payment to stepchange but on the other hand we would have to find the money to pay it back. I can't believe I'm actually 'frightened' of reducing the payment to Bcard. . What's that all about???

You do not need to be frightened of Barclaycard - the problem is the Barclaycard system is set up so as soon as a non/reduced payment goes past the deadline it sends a letter out. Even if Stepchange have sent a letter and they have it, the letter goes in the post queue like everyone else's and is dealt with in date order - in an ideal world a letter waiting to be looked at would stop letters being sent but the system is not that clever. Or maybe Barclaycard should have a dedicated team to deal with DMC letters??

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

Also in laws are the most discreet of folk, I'm know my mother in law will be telling everyone how they had to help us out.....oh the shame.:o:)

:mad: My own mother is the same!! When DH and I went to Relate a few years ago she looked after the kids and obviously I told her where we were going. She told all my brothers and sisters and I did not know this til a few years later during a heated discussion with my brother who threw it back in my face.


On the other hand when I told her about our yearly BBQ and to let all my brothers/sisters know she did not tell them for weeks:rotfl:

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

Have done meter reading this morning, we are £55 in credit. We have used £24 gas/elec in 2 weeks. The electic bill should come down when DS2 goes back to school on Tuesday so his tv and games console won't be on all day.:eek:

I know, we have been using our immersion as we could not afford our oil delivery until a few weeks ago but this has meant more electricity usage and they have just put my DD up from £84pm to £119pm:eek:. It should come down again by the end of the year but even £84pm is high when we have oil for heating - need to look at cutting this down.

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

Have got bus money and milk money ready. Just got tomorrow to get through and then back to normal.;)

Still as organised as ever though

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

Will have a chat with OH today about in laws lending us the money or reduce the payment to stepchange. Should be interesting as your know he doesn't want anything to do with the money side of things!!

Xx

If you want to know what I think I think you should reduce the payment to Stepchange - this then means you don't have the shame of everyone knowing you have borrowed from MIL but means in the future if you need to borrow from her you can.
I know it will mean your DF day is further away but hopefully you can catch up in the future.


Of course you could just ignore me as I have been to spendy this weekend and need to get a grip of my own finances:rotfl:


Good luck with having a chat with DH

grannyx2

Good luck honey, hope you get some help & support from OH x

debtfreewannabe321

OMG what a nightmare with the car, I thought I was the only one with bad luck concerning cars!!! When we were struggling to get the car fixed someone recommended going to a breakers yard, buying the parts ourselves second hand and getting a mechanic to fit them that way it was just labour costs, it did actually work out a hellavu lot cheaper than what the garage has quoted us?!

SC are great aren't they, I cried almost every time I rang them because they were all so nice and understanding I sobbed like a baby the first time though I think that memory will stay with me forever ! (((big hugs))) sounds like you need some.....I reckon if you do some ironing and pegging out it will cheer you up xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Thanks for your post EE

I think the problem is if Bcard start phoning me again (even though ive written to them requesting contact by letter only). Or if they dont accept the reduced payment and stop the payment plan.:o

Oh dear, sounds like my MIL.;)

I set a challenge of keeping the heating off until 1st November.....extra layers all round.:)

Before Id really had chance to speak to OH and go through the budget with him he asked his parents if we could borrow £200. They have transferred the money already.:eek:

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

grannyx2 wrote: »

Good luck honey, hope you get some help & support from OH x

Thanks granny, OH has gone full steam ahead and borrowed some money off his parents. I know he thought he was helping but........:o

I know we will be tarred with the brush as his siblings now.:(

Xx

grannyx2

Always remember those that care don't judge and matter most, those that judge don't care and matter least X

Alice_in_Poorland

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

OMG what a nightmare with the car, I thought I was the only one with bad luck concerning cars!!! When we were struggling to get the car fixed someone recommended going to a breakers yard, buying the parts ourselves second hand and getting a mechanic to fit them that way it was just labour costs, it did actually work out a hellavu lot cheaper than what the garage has quoted us?!

SC are great aren't they, I cried almost every time I rang them because they were all so nice and understanding I sobbed like a baby the first time though I think that memory will stay with me forever ! (((big hugs))) sounds like you need some.....I reckon if you do some ironing and pegging out it will cheer you up xx

To be fair we haven't done too bad over the years. It just all seems to have come at once. The other car mot, tax and insurance are all due within 3 weeks of each other......bad planning there!! OHs mate mentioned he could get the parts cheaper......after we'd paid for the work to be done.:eek:

I remember my first call to stepchange, OMG how they understood what I was saying I will never know. It was an oscar winning performance, Fridays call to them wasnt quite as bad.:rotfl:

Your note about ironing and pegging out to cheer me up did make me laugh.....how sad am I?? No don't answer that.;)

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Have just taxed my car. Will wait a few days before taxing the other one as we don't need to use it til Friday.

The start of another month tomorrow, kids back to school on Tuesday, then back to normal so I'm going to crack on with the NSDs in September and get back on track with the budget. Still need to decide what to do about the stepchange payment, have until Friday to make a decision.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Today was NSD2 . I have been a work 2 days, kids back as school 1 day and chaos reigns :rotfl:

Have worked out that we can pay half of this months payment to stepchange, not ideal but........:o

I'm trying to keep being really organised, sandwiches all done, 2 loads of washing ready to peg out in the morning.:)

Onwards and upwards.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Yesterday was NSD 3.:)

Today have paid childcare, lottery, spent £41 in s'market (including toilet roll, kitchen roll, deodorant (on offer) & cat food), and petrol.

Have arranged with stepchange to only pay half of this months payment which mean we will be able to tax the other car. Good job as OH is on a course next week so will need to use it.

Kids football subs payments start this week/next week and DSs swimming due next week.

Will need to get some more toiletries this weekend although picked up deo on offer at sburys, desperately need some stuff for my hair.:D

Xx