Rising to the top of the ocean - and staying afloat!

rising_from_the_ashes

Just a quick visit to say I'm still here! (sort of IYKWIM)

I'm not posting a lot but have started to think about planning for next year and will be working on some figures shortly

Really need to get my butt kicked back into action on this money thing as have really let things slide this year (just hadn't had the energy TBH) but I'm officially skint - and - for the first time in ...... absolutely ages - & I'm meaning probably a couple of years :eek: - I had to carry forward a balance on my c/card this month

Everything has fallen at once and a few unexpected expenses - and with the pots not being there .... it's all gone a bit t*ts up I'm afraid!:(


So ...... loads of things to sort - esp my b/band as the deal ran out ages ago & I'm now paying loads more and just haven't got around to phoning them (harder to get a good deal as I am stuck with either the provider I'm with or B*T because of where I live but still worth a try)

See you soon x

slowlyfading

Keep that chin up x

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks Slowly - hope things are going well with you (sorry I've not read any diaries for yonks will pop in for a catch up soon - promise!)

Today - well I've cancelled my window cleaner - I know it's a total luxury BUT my windows don't turn inside (IYKWIM) & all have small multiple panes on so impossible to clean with a pole

They'd put their prices up a couple of months ago (only £2 extra but still) - and they've also started coming more frequently (supposed to be every 4 weeks but often come every 3) which I guess is them hoping people won't notice & pay the extra

Even more important - Maisie absolutely hates them coming (as obviously they come in the back gate & clean the patio doors & she can see them) so ...... gone!

Will worry about how to clean them - they're dirty again next day at this time of year anyway so hopefully no-one will notice!


Dilemma - help!

*sigh* I hate even thinking about this but .....

I have 3 charity things that I donate £1 / week to ..... works out at £4.34 / month which isn't a lot BUT when you add it up for the 3 of them - it's obviously still not a huge amount - but I could really do with it now

Hate the thought of cancelling as I know they really need the money

Thought I might keep one - but how to decide :eek: (have had them for years so really hard decision)

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhhhh think I've got a name for the new diary ......

(now - no-one better pinch it!;))


Drifting along ..... stop - all hands to the pump, no sinking allowed!

OR

Drifting for 365 days ..... land ahoy!

Or some variation along those lines (will probably change it a million times before I settle on something )

amber03

I don't tend to give to charity as such, but any items I want to get rid of I tend to give them to the local charity shops. We have Oxfam, cancer and save the children nearby. I also buy any cards I need from these shops, usually they are cheaper than some of the shops around here.

Loved the second title for your new thread. This time of year most people put a hold on paying off debts, just so they can get over xmas and start planning for the new year.x

rising_from_the_ashes

Just had a quick go at this just to put it down in black & white - and so I have a starting point from which to (fingers crossed) make cutbacks from:

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1360
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1360

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 276
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge - estate maintenance charge.. 12
Council tax............................. 96
Electricity............................. 35
Gas..................................... 40
New boiler fund ..................................... 25 saved - will be at £600 by the end of the year but need to continue this as boilers are way more than that!
Massage ............................. 25 not essential but really, really helps my back (several medical issues unfortunately) - actually doesn't work out anywhere near this as my lovely massage lady often gives me a discount
Telephone (land line)................... 12 Line rental only - pay in advance for the year to get discount - due May (and nothing in the pot so will need to put £20 away)
Mobile phone............................ 21 Cashback claims bring this down to £8.50 / month :T Claim due to go in & one more which will cover payments to end of contract (Feb) - will have a hunt before then as my phone is on it's last legs
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 25 I know! Had a new box recently so in a new 12 month contract BUT this really is my entertainment as I rarely go out (and you will see entertainment is low!)
Internet Services....................... 17 Need to look at this
Groceries etc. ......................... 140 Struggle with this
Clothing................................ 25 And this
Petrol/diesel........................... 130
Road tax................................ 10
Car Insurance........................... 20
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 35
Income insurance ............................. 30 Would love to cancel but been loads of redundancies where I am (and no doubt more to come) so I couldn't get a new policy - the price is creeping up BUT I'd be totally up the creek if the worst happens & I don't have it so really stuck with it
Bank account fee............................ 6.5
Mobile insurance ....................... 6 Will be cancelling soon
Tablet insurance............................. 2.5
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 20
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 38 Approx £25 dog & £13 cats - all just renewed
Buildings insurance..................... 10
Contents insurance...................... 10
Bike insurance ......................... 2.5 Just renewed - will be the last year it's covered (contract expires Nov 14)
Boiler insurance......................... 13
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 5
Entertainment........................... 25
Holiday................................. 10
Emergency fund.......................... 25
Charity x 3............................. 12
Dog..................................... 40
Cats.................................... 50
Total monthly expenses.................. 1281.62


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 5000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 5000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 68000....(276)......3.49
Total secured & HP debts...... 68000.....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,360
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,281.62
Available for debt repayments........... 78.38
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 78.38

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 5,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -68,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. -63,000

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

mmmmmm

Glad I've put it down!

rising_from_the_ashes

amber03 wrote: »

I don't tend to give to charity as such, but any items I want to get rid of I tend to give them to the local charity shops. We have Oxfam, cancer and save the children nearby. I also buy any cards I need from these shops, usually they are cheaper than some of the shops around here.

Loved the second title for your new thread. This time of year most people put a hold on paying off debts, just so they can get over xmas and start planning for the new year.x

Thanks Amber - I give loads of stuff to a local cat / dog rescue (bits they won't eat, stuff no longer used etc) - just have supported these ones for ages so wrenching at the heart strings to let go

I think I will keep one .....

New diary - yup, liking the 2nd one too - it came to me as I was typing the 1st one as I really have done nothing moneywise this year

beanielou

Looking on the bright side rising~you are in credit every month, your mortgage is quite low & so is your council tax & you have no debt which is good.

RosaBernicia

Hi Rising

I gave up my charity direct debits ages ago for exactly the same reasons - I really needed the money to sort myself out. I haven't felt bad about it because it was part of the decision to make changes and also, once the charity shops started sending through Gift Aid letters for the amount they'd made on stuff I donated, I realised they were getting more out of a couple of carrier bags of stuff that was otherwise in my way than they were from three months of cash. I've left things that way as I get really antsy about committing money to things just in case I have a really bad month, and the other bonus is that it took away the guilt factor about whether I should be trying to sell stuff on Ebay - I just consider my donations as being given in stuff rather than money. (That said, I still have a huge bag of branded stuff in the garage which I really ought to Ebay - I've kept saying that when I get the permanent job I'll give it to charity instead, in gratitude for the higher salary - but the job keeps being delayed!)

The way I see it, there are times when you need all your resources to keep yourself going and enable a future where you can then afford to give to others. Like the put your own oxygen mask on first thing. And you have had a heck of a time recently. I don't think you need to feel any guilt about dropping your donations while you get things sorted.

(Hugs)


Rosa xx

rising_from_the_ashes

beanielou wrote: »

Looking on the bright side rising~you are in credit every month, your mortgage is quite low & so is your council tax & you have no debt which is good.

mmmmm but I'm now a month behind in the c/card and into my OD so not all rosy

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I realised they were getting more out of a couple of carrier bags of stuff that was otherwise in my way than they were from three months of cash

Thank you Rosa - I feel a lot better now (well YKWIM not happy about doing it but .....)

I really need to cut as much as poss as stuff's still going up & up and wages aren't - and there's literally no perm jobs around here to even try for, let alone get!

I might keep one just now (the longest one) but the other 2 will be going I'm afraid

I have no idea how to find my membership numbers of anything like that - can I just email them and ask them to stop the d/debits (and I don't want mail from them as that'll make me feel bad)

I took a load of stuff to the rescue last weekend - I must prefer doing things like that so that will be my way forward now

By cancelling the window cleaner & 2 of the charity things, that's nearly £15 / month saved - not a lot I know, but it does all add up