So fed up with myself!

SJ_Jones

On a more positive note, I got a response yesterday from my local shared ownership stating that I am eligible and am now on the waiting list. I have my estate agent sister (who's fully aware of financial situation) looking into the details for me. (and to those people out there who slated the OP on the Moral dilemma the other week, I do marketing work for her in return!)

ms_london

SJ_Jones wrote: »

Is this what you mean by SOA?

Monthly income- £1,599.24 (This has had Tax, NI, student loan and pension taken off already)

Monthly costs:

Rent - £590
Loan - £214.78
Oyster - £112.20
Council Tax - £40.80
Mobile - £37.50*
Gym - £32
Hair - £30**
Electric - £26
Contact Lenses - £20.75***
National Lottery - £9
TV Licence - £4.85
Landline rental - £3.12
RSPB Charity payment - £3
Internet - £2.50

Groceries - £173.33 (based on £40 a week)
Cleaner - £13.87
Spending £173.33 (based on £40 a week)

Total - £1,487.03

Which (in theory) leaves £112.20.

My issue is being able to stick to this, and preferably improving on it!

* When my contract is up in August, I plan to keep the same phone and haggle this down
** I know I could get this cheaper, but I love the guy who does it - been with him for 4 years, so £60 (at most I often get discounts) for a good haircut in London seems ok!
*** Seems a lot, but I need toric lenses. I can't find anywhere that works out cheaper, once you take into account eye checks. I have a different subscription for each eye which makes it harder online as well!

Hello & welcome to MSE!

I was in a similiar situation to you, owed £19,000 at the highest while living in London, but with being strict and having two jobs I paid it off, then saved £10,000 to go travelling. Fast forward a few years and I have just bought my first flat (outside of London), and I am 31.... and was earning a similiar wage to you, although recently is has gone up.

My message is, don't despair - sounds like you have done really well with repaying your debt so far, I guess it is about priorities and what your goals are at the moment.

I used to live off £50 a week including groceries, so I think allowing yourself £80 a week should be manageable - I guess its just about picking and choosing what is important and what you would rather spend your money on. £40 a week does seem a lot for a single person, I spend half that - and as another poster mentioned, I do a lot of batch cooking, but by no means living on value items.

I totally understand it where you say you are sick of house sharing, I had been doing it all the while in London (too expensive not too!), but the last year or so has really just been enough which spurred me on to save harder for the deposit on my flat - it is so worth it!

I believe the average age of the first time buyer in London is 38, so you've got a bit of time yet...

SJ_Jones

ms_london wrote: »

Hello & welcome to MSE!

I was in a similiar situation to you, owed £19,000 at the highest while living in London, but with being strict and having two jobs I paid it off, then saved £10,000 to go travelling. Fast forward a few years and I have just bought my first flat (outside of London), and I am 31.... and was earning a similiar wage to you, although recently is has gone up.

My message is, don't despair - sounds like you have done really well with repaying your debt so far, I guess it is about priorities and what your goals are at the moment.

I used to live off £50 a week including groceries, so I think allowing yourself £80 a week should be manageable - I guess its just about picking and choosing what is important and what you would rather spend your money on. £40 a week does seem a lot for a single person, I spend half that - and as another poster mentioned, I do a lot of batch cooking, but by no means living on value items.

I totally understand it where you say you are sick of house sharing, I had been doing it all the while in London (too expensive not too!), but the last year or so has really just been enough which spurred me on to save harder for the deposit on my flat - it is so worth it!

I believe the average age of the first time buyer in London is 38, so you've got a bit of time yet...

Thanks for this - definitely going to try to cut down on the groceries and general spending. Luckily the course keeps me so busy I don't have much time for a social life! Which is another nice thing about the charity work I do - CV experience AND human contact!

Getting on waiting list for shared ownership is quite an incentive, and decided to start job hunting again...

yasmin2

SJ_Jones wrote: »

I'm a girl!

I am a girl as well and whilst I am trying to pay off my debts, I cut my own hair. I lean forward, smooth all my hair down as if in a ponytail (I have long hair) and then snip away. I never have a problem with it and it looks straight ie wearable..

Not everyone's cup of tea but I can't justify spending money on this when I am in debt.

As a facial cleanser - I use a mixture of olive oil and castor oil. No more shop-bought cleansers for me lol..

yas

vasseur

SJ_Jones wrote: »

I used to do this, but now I have dry and split ends by the end of the 2 months. Would be hideous if I waited longer

You could always try your local college and get a student to cut your hair. I had a really good cut and blowdry for £7.50. They are supervised so they won't muck it up, only thing is it does take longer (allow 1 1/2 hours). I was really pleased with mine.

frances23_2

Vidal Sasson training school is good. There are normally adverts in the metro and it is £5 for a cut (well it was when i last went). One time the trainer ended up doing my hair to show the students how to cut fringes, so got a really good cut for £5.

*emmaaa*

Obviously the best MSE thing to do would be to ditch the expensive haircut guy completely, but if you baulk at that, could you get away with alternating going to him every 4 months, and somewhere cheaper for a trim and tidy up in the interim? Would shave a big chunk off your hairdressing bill!