Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

wegle

AlexLK wrote: »

I had to laugh at my apparent "incredible musical talent" ... :rotfl: you would too if you heard me! Those who can't ...

I think you'd be the one laughing if you came round my house when I'm having a ukulele session!! :rotfl:

Mara_uk7

... or if you came along mine while I was singing ... I could record it and sell it to people wanting to keep cats out of their gardens !

AlexLK

LannieDuck wrote: »

But's it's not uncommon to have one person in a family working and one staying at home to look after the children. Not all families will have a double income - many will be supporting a family on that 'average wage'. And even if we ignore that, you and your wife are only £1k below the average. That's still by no means 'very low'. It's almost the definition of 'average'

For comparison, I'm on approx £43k in London. Single-income with one child (OH is a SAHD). I would say my family has an average income (for London).

You could clear the debt by Christmas by selling your pens/watches if you chose to. But it's ok if you choose not to, it just means your slightly frugal lifestyle will have to last for a bit longer.

To see how people spend £250/mth on food, check out the 'Old style boards'.

I realise many people live on one wage. Ashamedly, if any happened between Mrs. K. and I (not that I think it will now), financially I really would be in dire straights unless I took what would amount to £3,000 per month out of the business, which I would not want to do.

London is so very expensive, I can appreciate our money does go much further up here.

I have done once or twice but don't get it?

7roland8 wrote: »

Alex lots of people live on way less than the Average wage - which to us would be luxury.

People manage on very low incomes because they have to.

Surely you can see that the money you have to most of us on here is way beyond our dreams - so no wonder some get annoyed when you are constantly complaining about how little you have.

I know being used to having money t must be hard for you all - but its amazing how you can save money if you et your head around it - it just depends how committed you all are.

I mean - are you looking at the Grabbit toy thread for Amazon bargains - I have picked up things off Amazon as Xmas gifts for family very cheaply With money saving it depends how committed you are - but I cannot get why you don't just want to sell stuff to clear it all.

We are trying our best to be committed. At the moment there seems to be a blip in being able to either have the time or health in my case to sell things. Which only seems to lead on to be becoming miserable.

I'm sorry for inadvertently rubbing people up the wrong way, it really isn't meant that way. I can see how it could be worse.

Not looked on the Amazon thread but will do, thank you.

AlexLK

wegle wrote: »

I think you'd be the one laughing if you came round my house when I'm having a ukulele session!! :rotfl:

Mara_uk7 wrote: »

... or if you came along mine while I was singing ... I could record it and sell it to people wanting to keep cats out of their gardens !

You two have managed to cheer me up a little, as always.

LannieDuck

AlexLK wrote: »

I realise many people live on one wage. Ashamedly, if any happened between Mrs. K. and I (not that I think it will now), financially I really would be in dire straights unless I took what would amount to £3,000 per month out of the business, which I would not want to do.

If that happened, you'd get various benefits, but yes you probably would be struggling. At that point I think you could claim to have a 'very low income' :P

AlexLK wrote: »

I have done once or twice but don't get it?

People meal plan, shop around to buy the cheapest produce, have a (relatively) un-varied diet, eat less meat and almost no alcohol.

I'm starting to have to be much more careful with food bills (planning for maternity leave next year). It's a real luxury to not have to think about what food you buy. It's one that, in retrospect, my OH and I very much appreciated when we were on a double-income, and which we've struggled with a bit being on just a single-income. We'll need to be even more careful next year.

wegle

AlexLK wrote: »

You two have managed to cheer me up a little, as always.

If I ever get brave enough I'll do a youtube video of my efforts and that will really give you a laugh!

Mara_uk7

And Ill accompany you Wegle ....... "oh Im leaning on a lamppost on the corner of the street ........ "

AlexLK

LannieDuck wrote: »

If that happened, you'd get various benefits, but yes you probably would be struggling. At that point I think you could claim to have a 'very low income' :P

People meal plan, shop around to buy the cheapest produce, have a (relatively) un-varied diet, eat less meat and almost no alcohol.

I'm starting to have to be much more careful with food bills (planning for maternity leave next year). It's a real luxury to not have to think about what food you buy. It's one that, in retrospect, my OH and I very much appreciated when we were on a double-income, and which we've struggled with a bit being on just a single-income. We'll need to be even more careful next year.

I must admit it is in the back of my mind she may one day find "someone better". Things have happened in the past (a long while ago) which do make me wonder if my loyalty to her is fully reciprocated.

It is the meal planning that I can't get my head around, when I first started this diary, we had good intentions to do such things but it quickly went by the by.

I believe congratulations must be in order for you, then. However, I never thought buying whatever food one liked was something to be regarded as a "luxury". Perhaps, I have had a "sheltered upbringing".

wegle wrote: »

If I ever get brave enough I'll do a youtube video of my efforts and that will really give you a laugh!

I'm sure you are not that bad.

LannieDuck

AlexLK wrote: »

I believe congratulations must be in order for you, then. However, I never thought buying whatever food one liked was something to be regarded as a "luxury". Perhaps, I have had a "sheltered upbringing".

lol, thank you

And I never did either. But I think not having to worry about the cost of the things you want is a huge luxury. And one you don't realise you have until it's gone.

maddiemay

Alex, you have the full range of support here, from gentle chiding and encouragement to full scale kick up the rear:rotfl:

You have come such a long way, in so many areas, since you started this diary, and you will continue to make progress, but it may seem slower than you would like and much more difficult at times, just hang on in there, baby steps is fine, so is just treading water sometimes.:)

Don't know anything regarding being self-employed, but if the ink and paper is for reports for the music teaching, can you save the receipt /ask for one when back in the shop, and put this down as a business expense?

I hope too, that you can continue to improve/keep the black dog in check, can you build even a tiny bit of exercise and fresh air into your day, it does seem to help a lot of people. Even a bit of jogging on the spot outside while the kettle boils or something would be a plus.

So pleased that little K is enjoying his new horizons too.

Finally, (you will be pleased about this:rotfl:) on one diary I read the lady writer, always finishes with three things that she has been grateful for each day. When I was going through a very bad time a few years ago, while driving to work each day (on my own) I used to say aloud all the things that I found good around me, listing by name my lovely family and friends my dogs, the wild flowers and berries I could see, the lambs in the fields I drove by etc, etc.