Lightbulb moment

yamsteroo

I agree with the cupboard rummage!

Like most people (I think, anyway!) I go out every week and buy a load of food and then forget about half of it. So now and then, I'll put off doing my 'big shop' for a few days and have a rummage around.

Things like pasta, pesto and a bit of parmessan over the top costs virtually nothing but it's filling and tasty and more to the point, it's like a free dinner for us as we'd have those ingredients in the cupboard already to use in other recipes. Even if you have a few odds and sods of fresh or frozen veg you can make a half decent soup with a couple of stock cubes.

Since I started my DMP I've been shamed when I realise what I used to waste money on. Stupid stuff like going to the shop for a can of coke and spending a fiver on all sorts of stuff I didn't need - it wasn't helping my weight either!

Of course this doesn't help your immediate circumstances but certainly the longer you can put off takng out a pay day loan the better chance you might have to raise a few quid elsewhere.

The best bit is, you get into the way of not wasting money after a while so instead of being blind to what you're spending, you think about it every time you put your hand in your pocket.

You've got plenty of support and hints/tips here so good luck and remember it will all get better from now

ALIBOBSY

Another option for immediate cash are places like cash 4 clothes. Basically they will give you 50p per kilo for old clothes, sheets, coats etc and slightly less for old shoes and belts.

Be careful as some have been conned by a company claiming to collect bags with a simular name who take the stuff away and promise you will get a price later and cheating people. So only let any bags go if they are paying you there and then.

We had a big sort out in the loft and garage and found loads of clothes. Some I have kept to go on ebay as they are like new, but the other stuff we bagged up and took to our local store. They have a big scale and you bung your bags on for the weight and they pay you there and then. Ours averaged between £4-£5 per full black bin liner. Not a huge amount, but if the clothes are sat doing nothing as ours were (we have 4 kids so alot of outgrown stuff lol) being able to get cash straight away was great.

Food is getting more and more expensive, but its still possible to live quite cheaply. I can feed us all (2 adults, 4 kids) for between £50 and £70 a week easily. At a push I could cut it down to maybe £35/£40. BUT I look for knock down bargains, and REALLY good offers-not just the usual "double the price the week before then do a 2 for 1) at the big supermarkets, and stock up.

The rest of my shopping is based on buying basic items and mostly cooking and baking from scratch. I am lucky in that I have 2 great local farm shops within a 1 min drive so closer than the big stores.
One supplies brilliant locally produced FR and higher welfare/quality meats at great prices-always cheaper than the supermarket equivelent. Was drooling last week watching the butcher slicing up a beef rib for a customer and it was so well matured it was almost black mmmmmm. The meat is tastier and less fatty so you can get away with using less is stews/pies/sauces and things like that are your friend. The other farm shop is fruit and veg etc. Both are great local supplies (obvioulsy some fruit is from abroad lol, but clearly labelled) and local family run places. It well worth looking around to see what local resources you have as sometimes they can be better quality and value than the big supermarkets.

If it has to be the supermarkets look at Aldi and Lidl, I use Aldi most weeks and Lidl probably around once a month-checking out the pound/bargain type shops next door at the same time. They are so much cheaper than the big boys. Aldi won which supermarket of the year again this year and things like their Magnum washing up liquid at 69p is better than fairy and won a which best buy again.

We were stocking up the other week and filled the best part of 2 trollies in Aldi for £65.

I also stock up at apporved foods, but only when there is good stuff I can use.

You are like us, as a couple you are time rich money poor. So you can use that time to your advantage. Your OH has time to bake and cook from scratch if its not his scene I am sure he can peel and prepare veg/chop up meat ready for you to cook. Most men love lists so give him a prep list and if you have a slow cooker he can bung it in during the morning to bubble away all day ready for you to add some potato/rice/cous cous/pasta later.
He has time to research on here and other sites for best prices and shop around.

A meal plan is a good idea so you only buy what you need. I'll bet at the moment you will be suprised if you do a stock take how much food you have in cupboards/fridges/freezers. Meal plan based on what you have and only buy the bare minimum you need to complete the meals.
Watch waste, on average they reckon one bag in three of food from the big store is thrown away. So make it a habit to check the fridge every day or at least every few days and make sure anything that needs to is used up or frozen.

As you OH is at home he could look on the up the income board, if he will sit through surveys there are loads of sites. I like swagbugs where if you push it you can earnsay £25 amazon vouchers and £25 paypal cash or even more per month. This would cover your chrissie pressies.
You could then use the extra to throw at the PDL.

Regarding the situation as is, you could as orginally intended get the renewed PDL with a view to clearing Wonga first and leaving a little bit to try to last the whole of the month. Then next month you will only have the one PDL and no wonga to pay.

Or stay as you are and contact wonga. Can they "roll over" the total loan for another month, then you can try to pay off any bits you can off the loan and clear the rest next month.

Either way I reckon you have 2 very tight months then you will be free of the PDL. Then you can relax a bit (not too much lol) and enjoy a good (but frugal-see the frugal christmas threads) Christmas.

Then you can start the new year with a fresh budget and start to target the other debts.

I would say get OH onto an inventory and get listing on here and we can come up with plenty of ideas fro "free" meals.

Good Luck and well done on facing the issues head on-can be the hardest part and remeber that chinese saying "every great journey starts with a small step" or near enough lol.

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

BTW wouldn't mind the name of those budgeting apps-handier than filling a notebook.

Ali x

moneywaster55

Yamsteroo and Alibobsy thank You very much for your input. More fabulous information and suggestions t be going on with.

I am feeling brighter by the day, thanks to the support I am being shown. Hope I can learn enough to return some support to others

:A:Apeople

moneywaster55

Visit to cash converter earned me £60:). I will be honest, I was very anxious that I might see someone I know ! They was a lesson learned. There is an option to roll loan over, if I do not have to cash when loan is due.

Credit Union. They told me that, when people are working full time, they must have at least 30% of the loan amount in a bank account with them. They also like to see regular savings going in. But did say no matter how small those savings were. So I opened an account with them, with £5. It is a start. Plan to build on it, as future saving and if I need help in the future.

I went into town, which is a 30 min care ride, parked in a very cheap car park and walk the last 5 mins in. Parking in town center is £1.10 and hour, it was 40p where I parked. That was more out of necessity that good choice but at least it made me think.

With £60 I put £10 in car and £20 in my purse and gave £25 to DH to keep until at least next Friday. So I need to try and feed us both on £20 for a week ? I have had a look in cupboards fridge and freezer and think I can do it. I will report daily on this to keep me focused. Mam has contacted me today and invited us for tea tomorrow, so thats no main meal for tomorrow I need look for. DH had Shepperd's pie, that was left over from tea yesterday for tea today.

DH has been on Swag bucks and started building up bucks. with instructions to look for other sites :T. I have not yet had time to look at extra income boards. But will get DH to do that tonight while I am at work.

In 3 days spent 55p on a newspaper, I think he is well worth that and 80p on my car parking and £5 to credit union, so that a total of £6.35 in 3 days.

Think thats it for the moment.

Thank You :A people

moneywaster55

Alibobsy, I sent you a PM with those app names in, not sure if I could name them on here, hope you recieved it

horsechestnut

As well as doing surveys, look on the Freebies forum. At the moment there are several free offers of toothpaste and Kellogs stuff. Every little helps.

moneywaster55

Thank You horsechestnut for your input, so much fabulous information, I will check out that too. My list is growing, I'll have to start a to-do list.

Thank You :A people

loubie_lou

In a matter of days you seemed to have perked up lots, good for you!

moneywaster55

Loubie-loo Thank You for taking the time to read and reply.

I am so grateful to the people who have contacted me to offer support. Also to all the people here that have threads and diaries, they are such an inspiration to me.

Many have large problems to deal with and they face it, making plans and make do and mend and do whatever it takes to, get them closer to there goal of being debt free.

By reading I have come to realize I do not "need stuff" I just "want it" Fore instance, apple were advertising there mini Ipad "oooo nice" I thought, then thought.......I have a smart phone, a laptop and a pc, what the hell do I want mini Ipad for !!!. Its acting on thoughts like that, that has got me where I am today. That and daily wastes, magazines, coffee shops and one of my big wastes.....toiletries OMG. I must have at least 20 jars and tubes of moisturizer. I have numerous amounts of other toiletries, tried once or twice and left . So NO more of them, until I use up what I have.

I LOVE the old style board, so informative.

I have checked food stocks and think I can get trough next week on £10-15. Probaly less when i get the hang of meal planning etc.

Everyone on this site inspires me so much.