Cleggie's frugaltastic journey to financial freedom!!

cleggie

Had a nice phonecall this morning.

I had a lovely phonecall this morning, from a lady at the Uni finance office. The bursary i have been expecting is on its way!
Thay have received all the evidence they needed from myself and from the LA, so it'll only take a few more weeks and i will have it into my bank account!:j

I am not sure, as of yet, if its going to be for £1000 or £2000. I think it'll be £1000 though. Apparently i should have been receiving it every year for the past 3 years of my degree, but i only realised i was able to get it this year!

So, that'll go straight towards passports and a holiday for me and the kids, somewhere hot for a week. I have never been able to afford it before, so it'll be a huge treat!

The only reason i can use it for a holiday, is because is will be clearing off my biggest debt (£1300 nursery debt, currently paid at £100 a month)on student loans day, which is 23rd April.
After that, the only debt i will have left is the Social fund loan from DWP. I am going to call them today to see what payments they want.

Piquant_2

Oh Cleggie what good news about the bursary! I am so pleased for you. You really deserve a break too, where were you thinking of going?

I'm not around for dinner tonight, so won't be cooking, I will post you another recipe tomorrow - promise...

Piq

cleggie

Thanks Piq.
Not sure where really, thinking about doing a package thing to Mallorca, as it'll be the 1st time i would have been abroad since i was 16, so 16 years ago. I have NO clue what to do at the airport, or where to go etc, so i am thinking that a package thing will be easier for the 1st time. No worries about the recipe tonight, have a nice night off from cooking!

Am just on hold with the DWP in regards to paying back the social fund loan. This is the 4th number i have tried, as i have been given different numbers by every department i have called so far!!

Piquant_2

A package deal is a great idea, you don't need to get all stressed out about going on holiday, rather defeats the purpose!

So you're playing the round the houses game on the phone, always fun...you could be on there for a while! Poor Cleggie....

Piq

cleggie

So, finally managed to get hold of someone to talk to about repaying the social fund loan!
I have agreed to pay it back at £15 a week. This work out at £60 a month, which isnt too bad.
I worked out that i wil start paying it off on 23rd April, which is the same day that i will finish paying off my current nursery bill of £100 a month. So i'll still be £40 a month better off.

cleggie

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 500
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 489
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 989
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 40
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 55
Telephone (land line)................... 33
Mobile phone............................ 10
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 15
Groceries etc. ......................... 250
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 80
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 33
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 10
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 15
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
DWP..................................... 60
Counselling............................. 80
Total monthly expenses.................. 773

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 1000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 1000

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 989
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 773
Available for debt repayments........... 216
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 216
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 1,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. 1,000
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

cleggie

Ahhh, THAT will be my finances for the next few months! Hopefully i will be able to find childcare and a job, so will be able to earn a bit more after that!

Woo-Hoo!!

Dinner this evening is:
HM Pizza (peppers, mozerella, tomatoes, ham, pineapple)
Nachos- HM

Its a bit of a 'grab and go' dinner, but thats OK, the kids are more than happy with that

cleggie

Morning!

Have already checked my OLB, which is as it should be
Woke up at stupid o'clock this morning, so have pottered around doing a few bits and bobs, although dont want to do too much or i'll wake the kids!

Not sure what we will be doing today, certainly wont be going out for the day as its frosty cold outside. Might go for a good o' stomp around the woods, but we'll see.

Piquant_2

Morning Cleggie!

Not much beats a stomp around in the woods on a sunny frosty morning, of course I cheat and do it on horseback, it is the best feeling in the world cantering through the woods with the sun dappling in the trees.

Today I'm waiting in for a courier to come and collect a box of books I've sold, anytime between 8am and 6pm My cupboards are bare so I'm going to make a meal out of what's left! I've got a loaf in the bread-maker to have with soup for lunch, that'll be pea and mint soup made from tinned peas. I appreciate it's an acquired taste, but I love it and it costs about 50p for five servings:T

This evening I'm having sweet potato, mushroom and spinach curry. It's lovely without the spinach but I've got half a bag left and want to use it up.

....and here's the recipe again this will make two generous portions....

• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• half a tub of button mushrooms
• half a packet of spinach - optional
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbspn medium curry powder [less or more depending on taste]
• 1 tspn powdered vegetable stock in about 100mls of boiling water

Cook the onion in a little oil until softened, add the sweet potato and cook for a couple of minutes to seal the flavour in.

Add everything else with the exception of the spinach. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and cook for about half an hour, stirring once or twice to stop it sticking. Add the spinach five minutes before serving. If the sauce is too thin add a little cornflour in water to thicken it.

Serve with rice or naan bread.

cleggie

Morning Piq.

Yum yum, that sounds very yummy! Think i'll chuck a bendy carrot and some courgettes in there instead of the mushrooms. Thanks so much, thats dinner sorted!!

Its pouring with rain, so maybe we wont be going to the woods until it dries up later.
Getting fed up of staying at home now! All during the hot weather, the kids were ill, and now they are fine, its raining!!

Catching up with washing today, as i seem to have loads and loads to do!
Have already had a war of words with the 12 yr old. Have banned him from the laptop as he has spent too much time on it recently, and apparently i am the worst mother in the world. Again. God, this parenting malarky can be tough at times, especially on your own!

Browsing travel websites as we speak, dreaming on sunnier climates and trying to see if i can get the holiday to come in as cheap as possible so that i can use some of the money to do the kids bedroom out.

Have priced up the kids beds, looks like £230 for 2 single beds and 2 single matresses. Thats at Arg0s, with £15 off both matresses and £50 off the total as its £50 off if you spend over £250 at the moment. So, it should have been £310, not a bad saving i dont think!
I will go through Quidco too and i think there is CB of approx 5% on there.

I kind of feel like i am waiting around in limbo for 23rd and i get paid. I cant do anything until then, so i just have to wait.