Last Log In 27/4/12 - Time to take back my life!

kindofagilr

Aww hugs Hun, you will get there (wth has happened to our signature?) xx

clearmydebts

Hope you're okay CAFC x

CAFCGirl

Really I only have myself to blame in all honesty.

We're just not doing what we need to do. I keep saying 'next month we'll get on top of it' but its always next month

Maybe Im trying to run before I can walk, and then getting upset when I trip. Baby steps might be what I need.

kindofagilr

Hey hun, you all pumped for 2015 xx

CAFCGirl

Good god, 6 months and not a post from me....
I've been awful, well not so much awful as just not done a darn thing!

KOAG has kicked my behind though and so today is a fresh start.

DS has just turned 5, and suffered a broken collarbone so things have been a bit fraught for a fortnight as we deal with that. The dog is still as crazed but I think we're reaching a point where routine is getting easier. DH is still at his job and scoring some overtime and this has turned into the ideal opportunity for me to get my head together.

I know I shouldn't ignore the debts but right now they're getting something, not a lot, but something. The more pressing matter, however, is regaining control. I feel like I have none. We're not increasing our debts but we're also not managing our money effectively.

Having just logged onto the main banking account after just blindly doing whatever, I've added up some numbers... £400+ in Sainsburys this month and over £150 on takeaways and eating out.
I had a mild moment of panic and shock, had a little angry cry at myself for just being so ignorant, shook it off and decided to try again, and I will try and try again and again until we get it right.

So I've got a current budget and a budget that I'd like us to achieve within the next 3 months....
Do you wanna see it?

kindofagilr

I wanna see it

Your gonna rock it hun, if at first you don't succeed try again xx

too_much_debt

Hi, glad you are back. Wow is little one 5 already, sorry to hear he broke his collarbone, sounds nasty!


I'd like to see your budget, we need to do something we spend too much on food, kids seem to be bottomless pits and they are only 11, 9 and 7, hate to think how much they will eat when they are older.

CAFCGirl

And so here it is....

Now I appreciate there are a great many areas for improvement but I'd be quite happy if we could get a couple of months of spending literally just this and have money spare at the end of the month.

Rent £650
Council Tax 109 + 20 (O/S from last year)
Gas 20
Electric 25
Water 20
Pet Insurance 22
Gym 45
TV License 12
Home Ed Activities 70
Netflix 6
Virgin (phone, tv, broadband) 53
Phone C 36
Phone J 34
Food 280
Petrol 75
Dog Food 25
Car Ins 35
Payplan 31
MOT and Car Tax 30 (into savings account)
Savings pot 10
Takeaways 30 (we cant manage cold turkey 0 just yet)

Total : 1638

Income 1660 monthly
CB 82 every 4 weeks

So in theory we should have £104 spare a month.....:rotfl:

CAFCGirl

So here's an update on some positives.

I've switched dog over to a cheaper food which still has what he needs (certain ingredients impact his behaviour) which is £15.74 delivered for 15 kg. Which actually lasts him closer to 7 weeks, so that will mean I can shave some extra £'s off that area of the budget.

We have also, just today, taken on an allotment! I am so excited about it as it already has a cheery, plum and pear tree established as well as raspberries, tayberries and blackberries! I'm hoping to use it as a source of family entertainment so we can spend time together (for free (well after the allotment fee)), a home education learning opportunity for DS, and if we can grow a bit of food - AWESOME!

kindofagilr

Awesome hun, thats fab news on the allotment and yay for it having established tree's in it

When are your's and OH's phone contracts finished? xx