Huge debts + Huge belly = NOT HAPPY...

Northern_Lassy

Hello, just wanted to say well done for facing up to your situation, I'm sure you will be able to turn it around with time and determination x

fizzy702

Well I just wanted to say Thank you to you all, I have been reading other peoples stories and I am totally amazed at how quickly most people seam to clear there debts or at least clear a huge chunk of it.

Today I am going to try and do some menus for the 4 of us over a 4 week period and then I shall do my shopping on line at least that way I will then be able to see how much I will need to budget per month for groceries ... Have also started on our budget today and day 1 week 1 going well so far, I have also sold a few bits on ebay this morning...

walby1993

Hi Fizzy,

Do you drink a lot of drinks other than squash or water? I find fizzy drinks expensive and really bump up the cost of shopping, as well as being bad for your waistline (I find they can really bloat me). Also wanted to say well done for making a start to what must feel like a daunting journey. Please keep us updated on your progress.

Walby

mrsJef

Hi Fizzy!

I'm more of a lurker than a poster but just wanted to share something that really helped me when we started on our journey. Meal planning and shopping etc for a whole month seemed so daunting so i wrote a list numbered 1-30 for each day of the next month, then decided on a few staple cheap meals and duplicated them once a week each, this reduces the amount of meals you have to think of and also allows you to take advantage of any deals so:

1. Pasta bake
2. Sausage & mash & veg
3. Chicken & rice
4. Omellettes
5. Spagetti Carbonara
6.
7. Burger & Chips
8. Pasta Bake
9. Omellettes & Beans
10. Lasagne
11. Toad in the hole, mash & veg

Then my shopping list s formed of 4x sausages, 2 x minced beed (split into 4 portions), 3 x chicken portions (whatevers cheapest) 10 x tins beans, 2 x bags pasta shapes etc etc

Then work my way through the house-bathroom:toilet roll, shampoo, razors, etc. Kitchen-washing up liq, laundry stuff, foil, food bags (to freeze any leftovers).

Once you have a staple list, its not so daunting to repeat & you can see where you can save by checking on line whats on offer. From doing this we have gone from spending in excess of £450 a month to under £300, most months under £250 for all household & groceries to feed, 2 x adults, 1 x teen & 1 child.

I hope this helps & you dont think its too obvious but it really helped me tackle the spending and reduce how much food we were wasting.

mrsJef.X

SwipernoSwiping

what an inspiration you are, to tackle this head on. I have to say that menu planning - for my own slimming reasons has resulted in a massive difference in spare money. I don't shop with the kids, I voucher up, plan out and home make loads. I didn't realise how much I was tempted by marketing twaddle in supermarkets, pies , pizzas and frozen chips soon add up, in £ as well as lbs!!
Good luck. When ever you feel like the mountain is too high come andtalk to this lot, its an excellent place for staying focused.

fizzy702

Thank Walby

I do drink a lot of pepsi max so I will be cutting down a lot on that I also smoke so will have to cut down on that as well.

I have just done some menus for the next 4 weeks and also have done my shopping online which will cover 80% of what we need for the next 4 weeks the total of my shopping is.....£195 + delivery so with the £25 cash each week it will cost £295 every 4 weeks so over the year that would work out at £319 a month... Here's hoping that I've not forgotten any thing!!!

I am now finding that I am beginning to feel a bit more like myself again, as Ive have feel rubbish since last week......

fizzy702

Ok well feeling a lot better tonight, I haven't drunk very much Pepsi Max today I have only spent £5.61 which was on groceries, I have done a 4 week menu plan and I have my shopping in basket ready on line to order tomorrow to come on the 16th which cost £198.18 + delivery this is pretty much 80% of groceries we will need as a family of 4 for 4 weeks....

I will be going round my friends on Friday so we can go through more stuff but today is the first day in a couple of weeks that I feel like I am starting to go in the right direction.... finally !!!

walby1993

Just another tip I thought of Fizzy - I am a recently converted online shopper but didn't like the idea of paying a delivery charge (was doing it online for time-saving purposes as I am pretty disciplined and do stick to my shopping list) so I had a little look around and Sainsburys (which is where I shop) give you free delivery if you spend over £100 and have the shopping delivered Tuesday-Thursday. I don't know if the other supermarkets have any similar offers? I know its only a few quid but it all helps.

fizzy702

Afternoon all....
Well I am very pleased with myself this morning so far I went round to the garage this morning as I needed to get some cigarettes (may be one day I will give up) well went for a cheaper brand than normal so saved nearly £1 which is good I also told my 2 kids before we went out that I would NOT be buying any sweets at the garage and if they wanted any thing then they would have to use there pocket money which they were both ok with, well when at the garage they really enjoyed looking for what they wanted and working out if they had enough money so buy not buying any sweets/crisps etc I have probably saved my-self a tenner !!!! When I got home my youngest who is 5 said 'mummy, mummy here you are I got you a chocolate bar' which was so sweet she had brought me a Lion bar which was sooooo sweet and she got really embarrassed when I thanked her very much and told her how thoughtful that was....:)

Must now sort out housework and ironing etc, ive been feeling so awful that have let it slip a bit so cracking on with that today and then I will be able to get listing some more stuff on ebay if not tonight then tomorrow night

fizzy702

Ok well I decided that I would re-do our SOA in line with the buget I have drawn up over the last few days....


Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 68
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1326
Benefits................................ 506.93
Other income............................ 65.95
Total monthly income.................... 1966.88

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 453
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 110
Electricity............................. 33
Gas..................................... 45
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 20
Telephone (land line)................... 39.79
Mobile phone............................ 64.92
TV Licence.............................. 12.67
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 305
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 259.99
Road tax................................ 25
Car Insurance........................... 38.08
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 18.25
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 100.25 Inc dancing & swimming + pocket money
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 29.82
Buildings insurance..................... 14.33
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 34.17
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 63.46 This is other pet expenses
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1686.73


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 200000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 3000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 203000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 122000...(453)......0
Total secured & HP debts...... 122000....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
CC1............................4370......131.......0
CC2............................2005......40........0
CC3............................8220......190.......0
O/D 2 .........................1100......50........0
O/D 1..........................1300......50........0
CC6............................6780......230.......0
CC5............................7839......181.......15.72
CC4............................11350.....195.......0
Total unsecured debts..........42964.....1067......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,966.88
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,686.73
Available for debt repayments........... 280.15
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 1,067
Amount short for making debt repayments. -786.85

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 203,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -122,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -42,964
Net Assets.............................. 38,036

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.