Always on the back foot?

krustylouise

Hi you lovely lot,

I'm sorry for moaning but just feel so fed up at the moment. I feel that financially I'm on the back foot and can't quite catch up. Forever robbing Peter to pay Paul.

My day to day expenses aren't extravagant, I do have sky, but this includes broadband and phone line. I do have a mobile phone, this costs far too much and luckily the contract ends next months and I am going for a payg sim which will save me £40 per month!

We are getting married in October and have kept costs low. DD moved schools in feb due to being unhappy where she was and this new school is 6miles out of town so is costing me more in petrol. My landlord has decided to increase the rent this year. The overpayment from housing benefit is now due (£601).

DF's car completely conked out and wasn't worth repairing so that's more expense and stress.

DD's dad started messing around with his maintenance payments (luckily this is now sorted hopefully!)

I managed to save £400 in an emergency fund but after my childcare bill and school trips and school dinners for the term that was wiped out.

I just wondered do you guys ever feel like you're always on the back foot? Never managing to save as always busy paying for the past?

Sorry for the moan I'm just feeling fed up!

[Deleted User]

It does us all good to have a moan once in a while. Things do improve if you keep plugging away. Regarding the HB overpayment, I was in a similar situation last year and I found the council pretty helpful and once explained how tight money was, were happy to accept £15 per month off the overpayment.

krustylouise

Hi LS,

Thanks for your reply. Yes the council were helpful and have agreed to accept £5pw but with my rent going up (I don't receive HB anymore so pay the full £600 alone) and everything else that's gone up such as petrol etc I feel like my purse strings are none existent!!! I spend £30pw on all groceries now, £30 on petrol a week, £40 on childcare pw, then the usual bills. I have no chance of saving until after we are married and living together and sharing the outgoings.

allybee101

Yes it has happened many times that the month is longer than the payslip but it will start to ease. Well done speaking to the council now rather than leave it until it's crunch time.
In preparation for moving later this year could you do some clearing out and sell any unwanted/unused items using small ads/Ebay etc? It'll make packing easier and give you some spare cash.

going_nowhere_fast

krustylouise wrote: »

i just wondered do you guys ever feel like you're always on the back foot? Never managing to save as always busy paying for the past?

me, me, i do!!!!!!

chevalier

Have you checked that things like car insurance are with the cheapest supplier? Might save a few pounds that way. And how about doing surveys to earn a bit of extra money or vouchers towards things.

good luck
chev

krustylouise

allybee101 wrote: »

Yes it has happened many times that the month is longer than the payslip but it will start to ease. Well done speaking to the council now rather than leave it until it's crunch time.
In preparation for moving later this year could you do some clearing out and sell any unwanted/unused items using small ads/Ebay etc? It'll make packing easier and give you some spare cash.

Hi,

No we're not moving just yet, we've got farrrr too much on this year to even begin to think about moving! But I have already had a mass clear out {5 black bags full} and there is literally nothing we need rid of!

krustylouise

chevalier wrote: »

Have you checked that things like car insurance are with the cheapest supplier? Might save a few pounds that way. And how about doing surveys to earn a bit of extra money or vouchers towards things.

good luck
chev

Hi Chev,

Yes I have used a comparison website for my insurance, I also added DF who is a driver which also decreased my premium! I have tried doing surveys but I was always "not eligible" for approximately 80% of them and given that I work full time I just didn't have the time to keep starting surveys for no reward!

krustylouise

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

me, me, i do!!!!!!

Oh bless you......Glad I'm not alone!

joedenise

krustylouise wrote: »

Hi Chev,

Yes I have used a comparison website for my insurance, I also added DF who is a driver which also decreased my premium! I have tried doing surveys but I was always "not eligible" for approximately 80% of them and given that I work full time I just didn't have the time to keep starting surveys for no reward!

I know that feeling well! I've given up on most surveys now but I do Shop and Scan which is much better and you can get paid in various ways from Amazon vouchers to meals out. Definitely worthy trying to get onto the panel.

Once you've been doing it a while they may invite you to join the Petrol Panel and Out of Home Texting which adds extra points as well.

Denise

krustylouise

aw that's brilliant thank you Denise I'll look into this. There are only 2 shops in my area that do shop and scan and sadly I never shop there, but worth it for future reference!