Updated SOA & OH's LBM

gilly1964

Hello Everyone,

Well it has taken me several months to get the OH on board - but I think I am finally there :j There has been some tears and tantrums but we are now working as a team.

I had my LBM a few months back and realised we were overspending. At the time I was also under the threat of redundancy and this helped bring me to my senses.

I am longer under the threat, but those few weeks taught me some lessons.

The quick trips to Tesco for milk - £10 +
Now go to the local shop

The choccy bar whilst getting petrol - 50p +
Use pay at pump

Can't be bothered to cook - Takeaway once a week or more £15 + each time
Still have one a month as a treat and enjoy it much more

Buying mags to read as they are quicker than reading a book
I have got through 3 books that I got for Christmas 2004, only 2005 and 2006to go and then they go on Amazon

Feeling cold in the house - Turning the stat up
Now wear a jumper instead


Our SOA is

Monthly Incomings:

My salary £2200.00 + OT – depends on number of callouts
Partners salary £2009.37 - no chance of any extra
Total £4209.37


Monthly Outgoings:

Mortgage - £700.00 (we should overpay as endowment not doing well and complaint rejected by FOS)

Endowment 1 - £74.26 ( only9 years left
Endowment 2 - £33.97
Endowment 3 - £36.95

B&C Insurance - £29.00 (includes high value item cover)

Paymentcare Me - £16.65 (need to check what this covers as I cannot remember)
Paymentcare OH - £33.65 (to cover maintenance to ex if not working)

Maintenance to Ex - £433.00

Council Tax - £? (waiting for the new bill)
Gas - £54 (switched in November and still the cheapest)
Electric - £57 (switched in November and still the cheapest)
Water Rates - £? (waiting for the new bill)

TV Licence - £11.37
BT Line Rental - £12.00
Broadband +Calls - £22.00
Cable TV - £4.00 (Compulsory in our area)
Mobile Me - £10.00 PAYG
Mobile OH - £25.00
Mobile DS - 10.00 PAYG

Food - £250 (down from £400 per month)

Car Insurance - £48.02 (renewal in July, but cheapest at the mo)
Car Tax - £15.00
Petrol - £200.00
Maintenance - £30.00

Motor Home Ins - £25.00
Motor Home Tax - £15.00
Diesel - £50.00
Maintenance - £20.00

Pension OH - £65.00
Pension Me - £41.61

Contact Lenses - £12.00 (Suspended payment as have a glut of lenses)
Dentist - £20.00
Prescriptions - £13.70
Acupuncture - £140.00 (to treat my depression, ADs not working)

Savings - £150.00 (to pay off MBNA when 0% finished)

Vet - £100.00 (Medication and prescription diet)

Spends OH - £200.00
Spends Me - £120.00
Pocket Money DS - £40.00 (He does jobs to earn this)
Savings DS - £10.00 (He doesn't know about this, but it is to help buy him a runaround when he is 17 - only 3 years to go)

Things that should go, but we do use them
Gym - £139.00 (for 3 of us, used 5 days a week)
Sky - £37.00
Mag Subscription - £2.33
Badminton Training - £30.00 (this is for DS, who trains with an England player)
Badminton Subs - £15.00 (OH, club and match fees)
RC Cars - £50.00
Subtotal - £2736.25

Debts

Bank Loan - £16980 o/s £292.77 6.9% for another 58 month
MBNA - £2900 o/s £88 min pay @ 0% till February 08
Subtotal - £380.77

Total 2773.20 +380.77 = £3153.97 + CT and Water Rates

Difference = £885.40 (if I allow £170 for the unknown as yet)


So where does the excess go

RC Cars is probably nearer £200 per month for spares and breakages (150)
OH gets lunch out, even when there is pack up in the fridge (60)
I get lunch at work on some days (30)
Odd trips to Costco - not catered for in food budget (50)

That's £290 without even thinking about this too hard.

Since my LBM I have put things on Ebay, joined Quidco and Pigsback, saved £2 and 20p coins.

Since Oh's LBM, he has started saving all his loose change in a pot.

He has sorted all the old RC parts and cars and they have either been sold to other club members or on Ebay.
Instead of buying things for RC from the local shop, he is searching the net for the cheapest suppliers.

He has sorted a drawer full of old mobiles, They have sold on Ebay.

Asked his boss for a payrise, even though annual review not due till April. He expected to get told to "go away", but got £2000 pa instead.

He has helped do meal plans to save on the household budget and helped with the cooking and clearing away after.

When he has seen a bargain, he has telephoned me at work to check it is okay to buy.

Swapped credit card debt to 0%. Opened through Quidco

He's even started turning lights off when he leaves a room, just need this habit to rub off on DS

I am due a payrise from 1st March, just not been notified what it is yet.
Also due a bonus payment, I hope the rumours of 15% are true.


I finally feel that I am no longer in this on my own. I love my OH and DS and know that we can get there and now there won't be any more tears before bedtime.

Best Wishes to all on theit way to DFD.

Gilly

beanielou

Hi Gilly
Could you maybe add up your totals? Thanks.
You have not shown the figures for your & other half's spends or DS pocket money.
Catch you later.

joughtib

Well done for your cutbacks already....it's sooo true about the milk at Tescos, you go in for 4 pints, and spend 30 quid!

Just taking a quick look at your spends......

Gym seems a little pricey. Which chain of gyms is it for?
Sky - Try bartering with them, otherwise, drop to lowest package, or get rid altogether.
RC Cars - I think i know what this is, but can you explain please.
Cable - Why are you paying cable and sky?
Motorhome Insurance/Maintenance - Motorhome and a BMW, I know it's lovely to have these, but can one be sacrificed for now, until things have settled down.
Gas/Electric, have a look around for cheaper prices, once Martin has said it's cool to do it!
Prescriptions - Might be worth looking into pre paying, before the prices go up on 1/4/2007. Increasing to 6.85 per item.

HTH

gilly1964

beanielou wrote:

Hi Gilly
Could you maybe add up your totals? Thanks.
You have not shown the figures for your & other half's spends or DS pocket money.
Catch you later.

NOw all updated, I pressed send too soon
:rolleyes:

gilly1964

joughtib wrote:

Well done for your cutbacks already....it's sooo true about the milk at Tescos, you go in for 4 pints, and spend 30 quid!

Just taking a quick look at your spends......

Gym seems a little pricey. Which chain of gyms is it for?
Sky - Try bartering with them, otherwise, drop to lowest package, or get rid altogether.
RC Cars - I think i know what this is, but can you explain please.
Cable - Why are you paying cable and sky?
Motorhome Insurance/Maintenance - Motorhome and a BMW, I know it's lovely to have these, but can one be sacrificed for now, until things have settled down.
Gas/Electric, have a look around for cheaper prices, once Martin has said it's cool to do it!
Prescriptions - Might be worth looking into pre paying, before the prices go up on 1/4/2007. Increasing to 6.85 per item.

HTH

Thank you for your comments.:beer:

The gym is David Lloyd, yes it is expensive but it is easily accessible with own parking and we can cycle there. We use the gym, play badminton, tennis, do classes, swim

RC Cars - This is Radio Controlled Touring Cars and is a hobby we all enjoy. I am the Club Secretary and we travel all over England to race.

Cable - Where we live you have to have cable just to receive the 5 main terrestrial channels - We are not allowed aerials on the roof (it's aconvenant on the deeds), but can have a sky dish, so no logic there

BMW - we have discussed changing this but the other cars the OH would consider are just as expensive to run. It is his pride and joy and we did save for it.

Motorhome this is used for the RC cars and our holidays so would not want to get rid

Gas/electric - I check here everyday for the message from :money:

Prescriptions - for 2 different people so not worth pre-paying. We have looked into this.

Thanks again
Gilly

joughtib

Ok, thanks for looking in on my advice. I'm just concerned that you're near to your break even point.