Staring it in the eye

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

I'm now thinking about the song "...helps the medicine go down!"

Just so long as you don't have a cockney accent like !!!!!! Van Dyke...

C.W wrote: »

I liked the idea of some of the immersion programmes. Whilst you're teaching English over there, you have sessions in which you learn Spanish.

If you're focussed on Spanish, then Brazil is out. Avoid Argentina as well. It's a basket-case, has been a basket-case for years, and it looks like it will remain a basket-case for years...

C.W wrote: »

There's various work and projects that are involved in their communities, such as the volunteer and internships through Maximo Nivel. It was just an idea I'm playing with though as I'm intrigued by it but, as with most programmes like that, you need to pay around a £1,000 for it and it's not until you're TEFL qualified that you can find paid work.

And there's living expenses on top.

C.W wrote: »

There's the option of doing TEFL over here for around £100 but then it's looking at how much those companies are involved in sourcing work... and there'll still need to be a safety net of spare cash, just in case.

Yes - living expenses again I would expect.

C.W wrote: »

Event driven seems more realistic. Time frames can most definitely change, and are harder to adhere to in some respects because the goal posts seem so far away.

If you go to that model, just be aware that you're not actually driving any change, you're just waiting for it. That suits me as I'm in good employment, but may not suit you as well.

C.W

FIXED INCOME: £840 (22 sept - 20 oct)

Monthly spend
Home £284.00
*£250 board
*£34 phone - waiting for bill, so should be lower
Insurance £0.00
Eats, Drinks & Smokes £26.94
*My food bill: Provisionally £52.46 - need to review what quantities I need
*Cat food & litter: £21.94
*Vet: £Paid (2nd vaccination and micro-chipping package)
Transport & Travel £48
*£48 (bus pass up to 20/10)
Debt Repayments £276.34
*PP £176.34 (Paid £4,135.92/£9,000)
*£100 to Mum (£400 outstanding)

ESSENTIALS TOTAL £682.74


Savings & Investments £50.00
*Emergency fund/savings ISA £50
Fun & Frolics £88
*Socialising budget £40
>Day in Tatton park with A.
>Dinner with J?
>Theatre with A?
>Day out with P?
*6-week fitness class £40 (due 13th October)
*Health & Beauty £5.00
*Clothes £0.00
*Big One Offs £0
*Odds & Sods £11.00
NON-ESSENTIALS TOTAL £146

OVERALL TOTAL £828.74 (Left of wages £11.26 for non-essentials)

Wanted:
weighted hoop for fitness at home (may purchase before payday if I make money£9 at 13th Sept party) - £9

Current shopping list (including basics listed on current menu plan and top up of pantry staples)
To allocate £10 month to spend in local veg shop after main shop
To allocate £10 month on milk
To allocate £6 month on eggs

Current total: £

Cat budget is £21.94
>48 pouches for £10 (56 required for the month) - There'll be 10 pouches left from last month by the time delivery arrives
>30L antibac litter £11.94 (20L purchased last month and just running out now)

Should be more specific once I've set meal plan & quantities needed

Going to go over the meal plan to see which days I can turn into NSD or £1 days:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22263706

Essentially going to use this and other daily recommendation guides and work from that http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Pages/Portionsizes.aspx

C.W

ZTD wrote: »

If you're focussed on Spanish, then Brazil is out. Avoid Argentina as well. It's a basket-case, has been a basket-case for years, and it looks like it will remain a basket-case for years...

I'll keep that in mind if it's a plan a revisit nearer the time.

ZTD wrote: »

And there's living expenses on top.

Not really. That's what you're paying for. The cheaper ones are you living with a family who provide you with meals (you, in effect, give the family an income that supports them whilst you and they learn from each other outside of your internship project). Others you pay for basic living accommodation, similar to a dorm or studio set up, and main meals are included.

After TEFL qualification, if you find work a newly qualified TEFL teacher will usually be offered accommodation (which may be a small apartment or dorm set up) with a small wage to cover expenses and food. The more experience, the better the opportunities and wage.

ZTD wrote: »

If you go to that model, just be aware that you're not actually driving any change, you're just waiting for it. That suits me as I'm in good employment, but may not suit you as well.

I think I prefer a little of both - ie/ create or work for events that I want or will find useful. Like workshops, classes, accredited courses, learning opportunities, social events... and so forth.

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

Not really. That's what you're paying for. The cheaper ones are you living with a family who provide you with meals (you, in effect, give the family an income that supports them whilst you and they learn from each other outside of your internship project). Others you pay for basic living accommodation, similar to a dorm or studio set up, and main meals are included.

You'll still need money for things like clothes, socialising outside the home, "touristy stuff", books, travel etc.

C.W wrote: »

I think I prefer a little of both - ie/ create or work for events that I want or will find useful. Like workshops, classes, accredited courses, learning opportunities, social events... and so forth.

They're not mutually exclusive.

C.W

Frozen
Peppered trout strips
2x seabass fillets
Stirfry mix
Small bag of mixed peppers
Approx 2 portions of French beans
Half bag of green beans
7 x quinoa and lentil packs
Approx 2 portions of parsnips
Half bag of squash
1 and half boxes of forest berries
De-pitted cherries
Blueberries
1 x corned beef hash
2 x veg curry
Half bag of broccoli
Half bag of sprouts
Small bag of red onion

Pantry
Approx 150g red lentils
Fusilli pasta
Bulgur wheat
Approx 100g couscous
Rice
Lasagne sheets
Various stirfry sauces
Large bag of oats
Half small bag of oatmeal
Sesame seeds
Spaghetti shapes in sauce
Honey
Spices
Molasses
Oil
Balsamic vinegar

Stepdad buys and doesn't mind me using if I don't stock my own
UHT skimmed milk
Marg & butter
Breads
Crackers
Various cereals
Bananas
Satsumas
Sweet potatoes
Rice
Jam
Rice pudding
Chicken
Sausage
Corned beef
Tuna
Mayo

C.W

ZTD wrote: »

You'll still need money for things like clothes, socialising outside the home, "touristy stuff", books, travel etc.

I will be factoring that in also, should that be a route I go down. Whenever I've done trek type holidays (accommodation inc in price as camping), it usually works out that you need the value of the holiday as spends. For example, you spend around £1,000 on the trip (inc flights) you'll probably need that again for spending. Obviously it's best to work out what's on the inventory that you're interested in, how much the food kitty is and to look at how long you're away for, etc...

C.W

In looking at what I already have and what my stepdad normally purchases this is what my current shopping list looks if I keep things varied but relatively simple:

Week One Shopping List
1 x 5 dried fruit mix £1.18 for 170g (30g serving)
Milk £1
1 x chopped mixed nuts 150g 0.90p (30g serving)
Frozen mixed peppers £1
Spinach £1
Grapefruit 0.50p
Avocado £1
Scones 50p

Total £7.08

Week Two Shopping List
Milk £1
Pot of Greek yoghurt £1
Avocado £1

Total £3.00

Week Three Shopping List
1 x 5 dried fruit mix £1.18 for 170g (30g serving)
Milk £1
1 x chopped mixed nuts 150g 0.90p (30g serving)
Grapefruit 0.50p
Kale £1
Avocado £1
Frozen mixed peppers £1
Frozen onions £1

Total £7.58

Week Four Shopping List
Milk £1
Pot of Greek yoghurt £1
Avocado £1

Total £3.00

Overall total: £20.66

Possible other purchases: Sour cream (stroganoff), soup, curry powder, tofu, strawberries, jelly

With this I have a degree of flexibility with the budget for picking up fruit/veg on offer as and when needed. At least this way I can see what I don't use and cut it out of the next week's budget.


FIXED INCOME: £840 (22 sept - 20 oct)

Monthly spend
Home £284.00
*£250 board
*£34 phone - waiting for bill, so should be lower
Insurance £0.00
Eats, Drinks & Smokes £51.94
*My food bill: £30
*Cat food & litter: £21.94
*Vet: £Paid (2nd vaccination and micro-chipping package)
Transport & Travel £48
*£48 (bus pass up to 20/10)
Debt Repayments £276.34
*PP £176.34 (Paid £4,135.92/£9,000)
*£100 to Mum (£400 outstanding)

ESSENTIALS TOTAL £660.28


Savings & Investments £50.00
*Emergency fund/savings ISA £50
Fun & Frolics £88
*Socialising budget £40
>Day in Tatton park with A.
>Dinner with J?
>Theatre with A?
>Day out with P?
*6-week fitness class £40 (due 13th October)
*Health & Beauty £5.00
*Clothes £0.00
*Big One Offs £0
*Odds & Sods £11.00

NON-ESSENTIALS TOTAL £146

OVERALL TOTAL £806.28 (Left of wages £33.72 for non-essentials)

Wanted:
weighted hoop for fitness at home (may purchase before payday if I make money at 13th Sept party) - £9

Cat budget is £21.94
>48 pouches for £10 (56 required for the month) - There'll be 10 pouches left from last month by the time delivery arrives
>30L antibac litter £11.94 (20L purchased last month and just running out now)

ZTD

Weeks 3 & 4 don't add up...

C.W

Breakfasts
Overnight oats, dried fruit, milk (cinnamon or honey for sweetness)
Grapefruit; greek yoghurt and mixed berries
Oat granola and nuts, milk, dried fruit
Fruit salad with yogurt, honey and mint
Grapefruit; Eggs on toast
Banana pancakes with syrup

Lunches/Dinners
Corned beef hash
Fajita-style with spinach wrap
Spinach and lentil curry
Sweet potato with tuna and avocado
Sweet potato with beans
Sweet potato gratin
Spaghetti on toast
Tomato and basil soup with bread
Skillet chicken and veg
Veg and tomato pasta
Chicken stroganoff and rice
Baked egg and avocado wraps
Various stirfries
Bean spag bol
Stirfry and chicken wrap
Garlic chicken, roasted sweet potato and veg

Snacks
Mixed nuts
Satsuma
Apple and peanut butter
Natural yoghurt and grapes/berries
Baked tortilla crisps and houmous
Carrots and houmous
Extra fruit jelly

C.W

ZTD wrote: »

Weeks 3 & 4 don't add up...

Thanks for the catch. I kept chopping and changing.