Keeping up appearances.......

Hopelessly_Hopeful

HappyNow wrote: »

Thanks Hopeful1 and Fluffies .

Well, this morning I have done my full budget from today (payday) to 14th April. It takes AGES - no wonder I didn't used to bother :D!

The upshot is that we can just about afford to live and meet all our commitments this coming month, but yet again there is nothing leftover to put into our small savings accounts. I have now set up SIX on-line accounts to accomodate various little pots (animal costs, coal, car costs, household emergencies, xmas/birthdays, and holidays). Barclays must think I've lost the plot, especially as each account is sat there with just £1 in it .

Still, I have managed to cover the day to day costs of each of those categories, such as animal food, monthly coal etc. And winter is the most expensive time for us, I hope that over the next few months I can scrimp a bit more together. But if I can't start saving for future events, I will end up borrowing when they happen and I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT!!




So, this month I must:

• Not spend the entire grocery budget - eat from freezer as much as possible, at least until kids come home at Easter
• Meal plan, bulk cook, and shop at discount stores
• Use as little petrol as possible - leftovers towards car insurance
• No treats for any of us (except small amounts of wine and chocolate for me - got to be realistic )
• Start to Ebay and investigate other ways of bringing more money in
• No toiletries to be bought until we've used all our stocks, and then bought via Boots points from products on offer

Another lean month. At least I'm used to it now, it's become normal !

Morning Happy

Sorry to hear about the horse, is all better now?

You are sounding VERY organised.

I like to tackle the food stuff as I think it's one area of the budget you can flex tremendously by being organised. I plan and freeze lots. Saturday I got three chickens drastically reduced so only paid £5.50 for the three of them. I had the large and slow cooker going by 0900 hours and at 1800 hours I had made up 17 chicken dinners for the freezers. I'd put in a few trays of stuffing whilst slow baking jackets in the oven at the same time. Veg on for last 15 mins steaming. By 1800 hours I had 17 chicken dinners complete with chicken, gravy, stuffing, sprouts, carrots, green beans for 50p a serving. Perfect for after a busy day at work. Whilst am in the bath it defrosts in the microwave, healthy and MSE!

Have also taking to clearing out toiletries and regifting.

I love the treats comments, really made me smile. Always nice to have the next one to look forward to me thinks!

Have a great day.

HHx

HappyNow

NewLeaf wrote: »

Unsecured about £45k
mortgage $280,753.04 (called Santander this am so amended mortgage owed)
car £16k
(just got rid of the luxury car that was £40k for this one)

2 income family, partner had super good job but has now been made redundant so combined income £165k

3 dogs

Aim: to pay off credit cards this year

xx

Hi NewLeaf, welcome back

Wow, that's a good income! When I looked at your figures, my first thoughts were that our circumstances aren't very similar at all. But then I saw that your total debt is just over double your annual income, and so is ours (very roughly). So yes, we are in a similar position, but you've got the souped-up version !

Good luck with those credit cards. Do they account for the 45k unsecured? To clear them by the end of the year means paying off approx 5k per month :eek:. That's a bit of a challenge - over the last three months I've reduced mine by the princely sum of £842 ! I hope you can manage it, and you will get loads of support and advice on this site if you need it. Keep us updated on progress x

Congratulations on your lovely edit too - it's nice when that happens .

HappyNow

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the horse, is all better now?

I like to tackle the food stuff as I think it's one area of the budget you can flex tremendously by being organised. I plan and freeze lots. Saturday I got three chickens drastically reduced so only paid £5.50 for the three of them. I had the large and slow cooker going by 0900 hours and at 1800 hours I had made up 17 chicken dinners for the freezers. I'd put in a few trays of stuffing whilst slow baking jackets in the oven at the same time. Veg on for last 15 mins steaming. By 1800 hours I had 17 chicken dinners complete with chicken, gravy, stuffing, sprouts, carrots, green beans for 50p a serving. Perfect for after a busy day at work. Whilst am in the bath it defrosts in the microwave, healthy and MSE!

HHx

Wow HH, that sounds like something off Masterchef! Go you!

You've shamed me because I have a huge bag of carrots going all bendy in the fridge, just crying out to be made into soup for work lunches. They won't keep much longer before they turn into shrivelly wrinkly things. . I should really get that slow cooker running overnight on the cheap leccy. Ok, I'll go and do it now. You're such a good influence on me . Back in half an hour........

Hopelessly_Hopeful

HappyNow wrote: »

Wow HH, that sounds like something off Masterchef! Go you!

You've shamed me because I have a huge bag of carrots going all bendy in the fridge, just crying out to be made into soup for work lunches. They won't keep much longer before they turn into shrivelly wrinkly things. . I should really get that slow cooker running overnight on the cheap leccy. Ok, I'll go and do it now. You're such a good influence on me . Back in half an hour........

Carrot and coriander soup, yum yum. Slow cookers are desperately cheap to buy and run, less washing up and more taste. I have DMP to thank for increase in my organisation and getting upskilled in the kithen. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that.

Enjoy.

HHx

brizzledfw

HH..that's amazing. How do you portion it all it all out though? One dinner portion per pot so everything for a meal is frozen together?

Happy Now...hope it's going well. carrot and coriander is a favourite here!

Hopeful1

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

I like to tackle the food stuff as I think it's one area of the budget you can flex tremendously by being organised. I plan and freeze lots. Saturday I got three chickens drastically reduced so only paid £5.50 for the three of them. I had the large and slow cooker going by 0900 hours and at 1800 hours I had made up 17 chicken dinners for the freezers. I'd put in a few trays of stuffing whilst slow baking jackets in the oven at the same time. Veg on for last 15 mins steaming. By 1800 hours I had 17 chicken dinners complete with chicken, gravy, stuffing, sprouts, carrots, green beans for 50p a serving. Perfect for after a busy day at work. Whilst am in the bath it defrosts in the microwave, healthy and MSE!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd never even thought of cooking the whole meal and freezing it like that. I'm very impressed :A

Hopelessly_Hopeful

brizzledfw wrote: »

HH..that's amazing. How do you portion it all it all out though? One dinner portion per pot so everything for a meal is frozen together?

Happy Now...hope it's going well. carrot and coriander is a favourite here!

Easiest way is to get plastic take away type containers. I buy mine from asda, 6 for 99p. They can be reused again and again and again. I put everything in one. I reguarily use them to freeze cheap veg or mash or for freezing left overs. Best thing is you know the lids match the bottom, I used to spend hour finding a lid to match the right size!!!!!

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Hopeful1 wrote: »

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd never even thought of cooking the whole meal and freezing it like that. I'm very impressed :A

It suits me, saves loads of time and money.

HHx

brizzledfw

That's useful. We use the takeaway containers a lot to freeze stuff but we have done it all separately..thanks..you have given me a whole new plan that may be even quicker!!

chevalier

Nice to see that you are getting to grips with budgets. It takes a little while to remember EVERYTHING though. But at least next year you will have your pots of money to pay for the yearly things.

Nice to hear your horse is getting better too
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