Skint Dad's Debt Diary

SkintDadUK

AlexLK wrote: »

Seriously, is anything tying you to the Kent area?



That does make things rather difficult.

There's always a bit of money (even pocket money) in buying and selling something you are knowledgeable about (just do not mention liking to collect a Mont Blanc or two to the hardcore MSE'ers ). However, you are right it does take up quite a bit of time.



Childcare is most certainly not cheap. Though I am informed it is another thing that is cheaper up here. Is family an option?

16 hours? I am positive it is 15 hours as my son gets this in January.



Must say you're much more positive than I would be in your situation! Although I know exactly were you are coming from in needing the right frame of mind to actually do something.

Not sure about the whole "you can achieve anything" ... or perhaps, I've just never been determined enough about anything.

We wouldn't think of moving any time soon. My 8yr old is very settled at her school. I also have an older daughter from a previous relationship who lives close by. Also I grew up here and after moving away for a few years a little while ago, once we were back it felt like home.

I checked the situation with the childcare and you are correct. It is 15 hours not 16!

Although we have family who live locally, none of them are in a postion to help with childcare.

My OH parents are separated and her dad lives in America. My parents sadly passed away when I was 18 so that just leaves our brothers and sisters but they all work.

SkintDadUK

AlexLK wrote: »

Hope you don't mind me picking your budget apart.

Council tax................................. 145 - are you entitled to any sort of rebate as you have a very low income?
Electricity.................................... 30 - seems low?
Gas............................................ 30 - ditto.
Mobile phones x 2......................... 71 - can you cut to Tesco £10 per month contract? 750mins, 5,000 texts, 500mb.
Satellite/Cable TV......................... 21.5 - get rid. If it's for the kids, there's more exciting things for them to do than watch TV.
Groceries etc. ............................ 250 - is this realistic, if so, excellent.
Clothing....................................... 20 - per month for a family of four??? Again is this realistic?
Other child related expenses............ 16 - what is this?
Contents insurance......................... 0 - this will be a covenant in your AST.
Halifax overdraft monthly fee........... 30 - swap your bank account if possible.

Council tax................................. 145 - This would normally be £125 but we are over paying to catch up on a missed payment. Income wise, we actually earn to much to qualify for help.

Electricity.................................... 30 - This is what the electricity company have suggested to pay after we submitted readings. We quite careful with lights, appliances etc.

Gas............................................ 30 - same as electricity

Mobile phones x 2......................... 71 - once our current contracts run out these will both be gone

Satellite/Cable TV......................... 21.5 - again, once 12 months is up this will also be gone

Groceries etc. ............................ 250 - I actually think with proper meal planning we can reduce this amount further

Clothing....................................... 20 - again seems low but we hunt around charity shops and OH is a dab hand with a sewing machine

Other child related expenses............ 16 - this is for my daughter's karate club she does every Friday. I don't have the heart to stop her from doing it

Contents insurance......................... 0 - we need to look at this

Halifax overdraft monthly fee........... 30 - this will disappear once we clear OD. atm there is a standing charge of £1 per day.

WantToBeSE

Hi Skint Dad, just catching up on your thread since i last posted

Well done for facing your debt head on. You have ripped the plaster off your wound (so to speak) and can now face it. That's the first bit done.

Have you spoken to the cleaning agency again? I am a self-employed cleaner, have you ever thought of doing some SE work? The majority of my clients are between the hours of 9-2 so fits nicely around school time, so i don't have to pay for childcare. Worth looking into if it's any good for you?

Sky- can you call them to reduce your package down to the cheapest one (presuming you arent on it already)? I have seen various people do this, and sometimes they will give you a few months free/special deal etc (but not always, so don't bank on it).

I am really impressed with your grocery budget! I spent £300-£350 a month on just me and my 2 children (although they are older, and eat like i have been starving them)! If you are looking at reducing it further (seriously, i am in awe here!!), have a look at the grocery challenge

SkintDadUK

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Hi Skint Dad, just catching up on your thread since i last posted

Well done for facing your debt head on. You have ripped the plaster off your wound (so to speak) and can now face it. That's the first bit done.

Have you spoken to the cleaning agency again? I am a self-employed cleaner, have you ever thought of doing some SE work? The majority of my clients are between the hours of 9-2 so fits nicely around school time, so i don't have to pay for childcare. Worth looking into if it's any good for you?

Sky- can you call them to reduce your package down to the cheapest one (presuming you arent on it already)? I have seen various people do this, and sometimes they will give you a few months free/special deal etc (but not always, so don't bank on it).

I am really impressed with your grocery budget! I spent £300-£350 a month on just me and my 2 children (although they are older, and eat like i have been starving them)! If you are looking at reducing it further (seriously, i am in awe here!!), have a look at the grocery challenge

Good afternoon,

They do say the step is the hardest although I know it's still not an easy path ahead!

In regards to the cleaning we need to speak to them on Monday. The cleaning will be in the evening or at the weekend. In the day I look after my one year old whilst my OH works full time.

Sky - We are already on the lowest package

Grocery budget - I really think we could get it down to under £200 per month with some careful planning and careful cooking! We will be looking at this, this evening when we are going to draw up a meal plan until next payday.

AlexLK

SkintDadUK wrote: »

We wouldn't think of moving any time soon. My 8yr old is very settled at her school. I also have an older daughter from a previous relationship who lives close by. Also I grew up here and after moving away for a few years a little while ago, once we were back it felt like home.

Fair enough.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

I checked the situation with the childcare and you are correct. It is 15 hours not 16!

You may be able to get funding for a 2 year old if you are in receipt of certain benefits.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Although we have family who live locally, none of them are in a postion to help with childcare.

My OH parents are separated and her dad lives in America. My parents sadly passed away when I was 18 so that just leaves our brothers and sisters but they all work.

Sorry to hear that.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Council tax................................. 145 - This would normally be £125 but we are over paying to catch up on a missed payment. Income wise, we actually earn to much to qualify for help.

OK. Fortunately, you'll be back down to £125 per month once caught up.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Electricity.................................... 30 - This is what the electricity company have suggested to pay after we submitted readings. We quite careful with lights, appliances etc.

Gas............................................ 30 - same as electricity

That is brilliant. We are trying to get ours down to £65 per month each but doubt that will happen.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Mobile phones x 2......................... 71 - once our current contracts run out these will both be gone

Satellite/Cable TV......................... 21.5 - again, once 12 months is up this will also be gone

Glad to hear it.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Groceries etc. ............................ 250 - I actually think with proper meal planning we can reduce this amount further

Wow! We are struggling to manage on £275 for a family of 3 and our son eats at nursery two days per week.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Clothing....................................... 20 - again seems low but we hunt around charity shops and OH is a dab hand with a sewing machine

Well, you must have better charity shops that we do. :rotfl:

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Other child related expenses............ 16 - this is for my daughter's karate club she does every Friday. I don't have the heart to stop her from doing it

Fair enough.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Contents insurance......................... 0 - we need to look at this

Please look into this as I would be astounded if you aren't in breach of your contract.

SkintDadUK wrote: »

Halifax overdraft monthly fee........... 30 - this will disappear once we clear OD. atm there is a standing charge of £1 per day.

It's worth going into the bank and explaining your situation.

To be honest I feel rather bad pulling your budget apart as I know I couldn't manage to be as budget conscious as you are in the first place.

SkintDadUK

It's been quite a productive couple of days so far.

Yesterday I walked to Argos to buy two presents for my middle daughters birthday tomorrow. The total was £15 which is a huge reduction on previous years and I still think she be just as happy.

On the way back I popped to Asda and picked up a few essentials, total cost was £7.40 which included me buy a few spices for some upcoming meals.

Whilst I was there I grabbed a few receipts which were blowing around the car park. I would check later to see if they were worth anything.

Once home I was shattered. It was a 3 mile round trip and I am not the fittest of people - free exercise I suppose. :-)

I checked the receipts on the asda price guarantee site to find out they were worth 35p! I will be definitely looking for more when I go down next.

Yesterday evening OH and I set about creating a debt spreadsheet. The result is a really useful tool in tracking our debts! On the first sheet there is a list of complete debts and amounts (total and remaining). Each debt then has its own individual sheet showing contact/account details, payment plan start date, any addtional payments and balance. It really is going to help keep track of everything.

All we have to do now is contact each debt and set things up!

So that was yesterday. This morning I have been putting a meal plan for the next few weeks. It has actually been easier than I though it would be. I have really enjoyed finding cheap meals to make. One of my favourites so far has to be the Proper Vegetable Masala Curry which I found on a blog called 'AGirlCalledJack' this recipe costs only 90p to make and that is for a family of 4!!

With planning meals ahead we will hopefully be able to cut our budget a lot more!

One last thing. My OH and I were speaking yesterday for a real need to start building an emergency fund. We have decided that everyday we will check our bank balances and what the odd pence amount is, we will transfer that to savings and call it our emergency fund. We aim hopefully to build it up to £500.

Still feeling positive and determined.

AlexLK

You are doing really well, a million times better than I at any rate.

The spreadsheet will likely prove itself useful. We have one to track our spending and income though I must admit we have not been particularly good at keeping it up to date over this past week or so.

However, I fail to see how you can make a meal for a family of four for 90p!

SkintDadUK

AlexLK wrote: »

You are doing really well, a million times better than I at any rate.

The spreadsheet will likely prove itself useful. We have one to track our spending and income though I must admit we have not been particularly good at keeping it up to date over this past week or so.

However, I fail to see how you can make a meal for a family of four for 90p!

I'm slightly dubious as well but we will certainly give it a go. Here is the link to the recipe: http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/03/04/vegetable-masala-curry-30p/

It looks delicious :-)

AlexLK

SkintDadUK wrote: »

I'm slightly dubious as well but we will certainly give it a go. Here is the link to the recipe: http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/03/04/vegetable-masala-curry-30p/

It looks delicious :-)

I really think that sounds rather nice, is it cheating if we put some lamb in? Seriously, that's got to be worth a go. I am very dubious as to her vegetable costings, well not for me as I can get them for that kind of price (if not free) from our farmer next door but for anybody who has to use "real shops", I think she is hoping.

emmaglet

Hi SD,

Didn't want to read and run - I've only made it halfway through page 2, so pardon me if I've missed something.

Do you have affiliate advertising on your blog? I use Skimlinks on mine and it works really well. I can't divulge how much I've made, but the minimum payment is £7. Plus you can sign up to some advertising networks and consider doing sponsored blog posts.

Let me know if I can be of any help