The Secret Diary of MrsRainman, aged 31 and 3/4

mrsrainman

Well after a long time lurking and numerous attempts at keeping a diary here I am trying again.

This time I'm going for a different approach. It won't be about busting my debt as quick as possible. I know it's there, I'm chipping away slowly, and that's just the way it is at the moment. Nor will it be about regularly looking for the best deals on energy/insurance/internet, etc. I just don't have the support at home to be swapping things around too often.

This will be about the small ways in which I can save a little bit, earn a little bit, try to make things a little bit easier, and make myself feel a little better about myself.

MrsR xx

mrsrainman

So, I'm a full time mum and a part time shelf stacker. Not my ideal job, but it allows me to be at home with LittleR. I have no idea what my ideal job would be but I would love to be able to work from home, making things, selling things. I'm just yet to find my talent. I'm always looking to save money where possible, and very rarely allow myself luxiuries.

It would be fair to say MrR is the opposite. His money just seems to fall through his hands like sand. I never take him food shopping with me as the bill always seems to double. I'm always turning lights off after him, turning heaters off and telling him to put some clothes on and not walk around in shorts if he is cold.

However, at the end of the day we both want the same thing. To clear our debt and buy (or rent) a house. I'm practical and know that we have to save hard for these things. MrR just seems to think things will happen by magic and keeps muttering about a lottery win (he's old enough to know better but money management has never been his strong point).

MrsR xx

mrsrainman

Income

Me - £440 per month (depending on hours worked)
- £80 every 4 weeks Child Benefit (which is taking out of the bank and I use it to buy food, nappies and stuff for LittleR)
- £100 per month from my parents (this money I put aside for holidays, christmas, emergencies. I don't want to come to rely on it as part of my monthly budget)

MrR - £1250 per month (roughly, depending on overtime)

Total - £1870

[Deleted User]

Hi MrsR,

Happy new diary and good luck with your journey.

Pmo2
x

mrsrainman

Outgoings

Joint Acc - £950
Mobile (me) - £10
Mobile (MrR) - £20
SO for LittleR - £25

Total £1005

mrsrainman

So once I take out the Child Benefit money, and the money from my parents we should be left with around £685 per month for food, petrol, electricity (we pay our electric quarterly. I know it would be cheaper to do DD but 1. It's in MrR's name and getting him to change it would be hard work. 2. It would take our joint acc. outgoings over £1k and as silly as it sounds I don't want that. It's just psychological but it makes me feel better).

MrR pays his credit card from his own acc. Usually pays a minimum of £50. I don't know what the debt on there is, probably around £500.
I buy most of the food and aim for £50 per week.
MrR has an expensive friend called wine. It probably costs us around £200 a month at the moment.

I have 3 credit card debts.

Halifax £6725.99 - I have a payment plan set up for £40 a month and all interest has been frozen.
MBNA £1340.68 - I pay minimum payment
Tesco £582.49 - Minimum payment

The payment for these come out of the £950 joint account. My biggest worry is that we bank with the Halifax (never bank with somewhere you have a debt!!) but with all the DD's and SO's changing banks would be a pain.

MrsR xx

mrsrainman

Things I'm doing.

1.Saving for Christmas!! I work for a major supermarket. This year I will put what I save from my discount of 10% on to a Christmas saving card.

2. Balance transfer. With the arrears on my Halifax card I'm unlikley to get a decent 0% anywhere for the other 2. So next time T*sco offer me a balance transfer I think the MBNA debt will move.

MrsR xx

mrsrainman

And that's about where I am.

Now to think of small ways to make things better...........



MrsR xx

beanielou

Blimey that is an expensive wine habit :eek:
Why do your parent's give you money every month?

mrsrainman

beanielou wrote: »

Blimey that is an expensive wine habit :eek:
Why do your parent's give you money every month?[/QUOTE]

Basically because my parents are amazing!!!

About 18 months ago my dad received a pay rise. At the time I had just had a baby, 1 sister had just bought a house, other sister was struggling with a unemployment and finishing her degree.
Dads words were "You girls could do with the extra bit of help". Now my parents aren't rich, but Dad has always been sensible with money and can afford to help us out. I don't want to come to rely on it though.
I can't say thank you to my Parents often enough. They help me in so many ways. It will be a running theme in this diary about how fab my mum and dad are

xx

mrsrainman

The week has got off to a pretty rubbish start.

The car wouldn't start this morning. Hopefully it is just the battery. A new one is gonna cost me £53.00 and Dad has said he'll pick it up for me this afternoon.
Fortunately we have the Scooter back so MrR could get to work. It has been away for repairs for 2 months. A minor bit of damage but the 3rd parties insurance took ages to authorise the work. BUT, MrR phoned me when he arrived to say it might have to go back as it's not running right :mad:. We're not having much luck with motorised vehicles at the moment.

On a brighter note I have a £40 Sa1nsb*rys voucher for my shopping this week. Dad was given an £80 voucher by work just before Christmas and has split it between me and my littlest sister (what did I say about my parents being fab!!). Other Sis will get cash as she doesn't live near a Sa1nsb*ry.

I hope my week gets better!

MrsR xx