Reducing my costs - Baby on the way

spookmeister

I didn't really know where to put this and seemed as good a place as any.

Because unfortunately my wife is the main bread winner when she goes on maternity we lose a lot of wedge so I decided to look at all of our Direct Debits to see where my biggest costs are. I'm not going to be very candid with you all but I've made some saving worthy of mentioning.

I used to spend £40 a month on TV/Video rental through boxclever. I did a web search for TV Rentals (and included my current TV model - I like it). The results came up with Boxclever, amongst others. I went to the website. £26 p/m. I phoned them up (that reminds me I've got another website to tell you about) they gave me a price of £23 and I don't have to pay to for the video as it's an older model - Brilliant!

NOTE: Essentially this means - New price - new contract

I also reduced my subscription to SKY. We decided that if we wanted to watch a movie we get them out of the library so we did away with Sky Movies. I'm afraid one of my vices is that I like to watch sport so we've kept them. I now only pay £23 p/m instead of £44. This is only for 3 months but in three months I ring them again.

As the wife is a teacher and she won't be teaching she has cancelled her union subscription thus saving £18 p/m.

I have just received a renewal notice for building and contents insurance from LloydsTSB. This of course meant get a better price. I did! The best bit is that they even gave me £30 (£15 per policy type) M&S vouchers - Thank you LloydsTSB.

My next biggest hurdle is going to be NTL (he says mopping his brow!).

Anyway - you should try the same even if you don't have a baby on the way!!

Cheers.
S.


Oh yeah - the Boxclever phone call. Because my NTL phone package means I don't pay for "normal" calls at all it is infuriating when I have to phone an 0870 number as I'm charged for these types of number. For the most part this does away with that problem. The website is http://www.saynoto0870.com/. I got this from the Radio 2 "website of the day" website. I apologise in advance if this link is in the wrong place (anyone watching my actions will know i've been spoken to recently). S.

Glad

great post spook
thought this was a more obvious place for it ;D

robin7667

Well done on the savings!!!

Just one thought.....

As the wife is a teacher and she won't be teaching she has cancelled her union subscription thus saving £18 p/m.

I would advice against cancelling the union subscription.

My wife works in the NHS and just before she went on maternity leave she joined the union for the first time. Luckily....because we had endless problems getting her back to work and the union sorted everything out after a big fuss.

You might save £18 p/m but personally I wouldn't take the risk if things should go wrong

spookmeister

Hey Glad - are you following me or something?

You'll give me a complex.
S.

[Deleted User]

Well done on the savings!!!

Just one thought.....


I would advice against cancelling the union subscription.

My wife works in the NHS and just before she went on maternity leave she joined the union for the first time. Luckily....because we had endless problems getting her back to work and the union sorted everything out after a big fuss.

You might save £18 p/m but personally I wouldn't take the risk if things should go wrong

and you get the satisfaction of knowing that your union sub contribution might help out other collegues.

Plumpud_3

I always looked upon my union subscriptions as a form of insurance. I was with the PCS. Whist I was on maternity leave I was still a member, even whilst earning nothing. When I went on a career break, I arranged to pay a minimum fee.

Most unions give you some free life insurance, plus discounts on many things. They also send out their union magazine, which will help your wife keep in touch with any changes if she intends to return to teaching at a later date.