Oh No Not Again! Right. This Time......

Nagme

DH's expenses got paid today £63

So -£31.50 into the savings account as usual for his company car fund (can't receive car allowance unless his car is under 7 years old,)

and £31.50 onto amex which is now £1727.23. We use amex throught the month for food and fuel, then (normally) clear it at the end of the month to take advantage of the cashback. We normally pay about £1,000 into amex per month. I'm sure this could be reduced. Luckily DH gets expenses now almost weekly. It certainly helps with the 500 mile weekly commute.

Amex is slightly higher interest than cap 1, so that is my priority.

Hm chilli con carne for tea last night, chicken pie with potato and carrot mash and veggies for tea tonight.

Subscribed to MrT's delivery subscription yesterday, it worked out very well for us last winter, this year we're paying £1.50 per week for unlimited mid week deliveries for the first 6 months so that'll save me in impulse buys and fuel, plus it includes T-Direct and F+F clothing (not that I buy much of that) so handy for Xmas shopping next month when I slightly lift this months spending freeze.

Need to:
Stick more things up for sale on FB and Ebay, there's outgrown shoes everywhere.
Ring energy supplier to see whats happening with the switch. I'm sure I'm due cashback when that happens too but can't remember.
Feeling very tired today after yesterdays depression crash. Head is just about above water today.

StrugglingYouth

Nagme wrote: »

We now have a 140 mile round trip for DS to go to a 5th birthday party we'd already committed to. DH is staying home with his bad back, and DS and I shall take a packed lunch to eat on the way. I shall be driving economically to preserve diesel by changing up a gear when the revs hit 2,000, and still aim to not refuel till the end of November.

I should probably do a SOA but feeling a bit scared (can open, worms everywhere)

Take all the unnecessary weight out of the car. The lighter the vehicle is the less fuel is required to move it!

The SOA would really help the people here to help you! Do consider it. Heres the link: http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

Nagme wrote: »

Ebay sale of £10 so after fees and postage I sent £5.30 to Cap1. It's only a small amount but it keeps me focussed.

Crossed fingers my 10 year old Fabia gets through his MOT tomorrow without a problem!

Spends today:
Tank of diesel for DH £55ish
DH coffee and toast at work £2.00
posted parcel £2.80
Bread: £1.35

And no coke

Little and often with the payments will help. You are also less likely to spend the odd £20. Where a if you save say £500 for it, something else may crop up and take some/all of that money.

Bread? Im sure I read you had a bread maker?

Nagme wrote: »

Then whilst the car passed it's MOT today, it has an advisory, so that'll be another couple of hundred pounds to sort in the next few months.The mechanic suggested taking it to the woods and lighting a match to it :eek: Feel like we have had so much bad luck recently with vehicles, and then come home to a brown dvla envelope meaning another tax is due (motorbike this time, £80)

Sun's out though, and it's a beautiful autumn day.

Do you not put money aside each month for car related expenses? It sounds like your crossing your fingers and hoping everything will be okay and would be stuck if something does need doing.

So you have the Skoda Fabia, a Renault Megane, a 'small economical car,' and a 'large MPV..and a motorbike?

(I wouldnt call the Megane 'small' nor the Fabia 'big' unless this is what you meant. This many vehicles cannot be necessary? For the two of you. Surely selling one of the unused ones would be a massive help to clearing the debt which is accruing interest? If I were you at the very least the motorbike would go.

Nagme

Hello Struggling Youth, thanks for the lengthly post.

Yes, I have a breadmaker but DH and DS don't like day old bread in their lunches. perhaps I could mess around with the recipe to improve it. I do bake loaves for the weekends, and buy one loaf per week.

Okay, vehicles.

DH owns a 9yr old motorbike and it currently has a sidecar attached.

He also owns another bike, a 21yr old Japanese bike which my father gave to him (on the condition that he doesn't change it). This bike gets used for the occasional commute, we will be SORNing this soon.

His work car is a Superb Estate, he needs a car that qualifies for his car allowance, must be 5 door, under 7 years old.

I have a 10yr old Fabia, which unfortunately munched it's turbo last month, hence £700 garage bill.

I have also owned a little mini for the last 9 years. He lives in the garage to help keep the rust at bay. I have toyed many times with selling it, I really have. If things got really dire I would have to, but he is rather special to me for sentimental reasons as my father has worked on the engine. He has a terminal illness and I don't want to regret selling him at a later day. If that makes sense.

So that's 2 motorbikes and three cars. Yes - we are petrolheads. Just as well we don't smoke, drink or go on expensive holidays.

I will do a SOA, just building up the nerve. I don't keep anything in the car really, and do my best with driving economically without holding up other roadusers.

Totally agree with your point regarding little and often payments making a difference. This is the first time I have done it and I'm surprised at the effect it has had on my mindset.

I do allow for car maintenance in my outgoings spreadsheet, but it hasn't got siphoned off up till recently so tended to disappear to other things. I have a separate account for this now, and is starting to build up. It's mainly for coping with buying/depreciation of DH's car at the moment. Once the debt is in control I will increase payments to the savings account to cover all vehicular costs. It's been a bit of a disaster the last few months.

Nagme

1st draft...

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 3

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 250
Partners monthly income after tax....... 3271
Benefits................................ 81
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3602

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 1272
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 452
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 143
Electricity............................. 87
Gas..................................... 56
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 37
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 40
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 400
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 85
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 186
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 25
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 20
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 5
Buildings insurance..................... 7
Contents insurance...................... 7
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 70
Haircuts................................ 10
Entertainment........................... 10
Holiday................................. 80
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 3204.12


Assets
Cash.................................... 5300
House value (Gross)..................... 310000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 30000
Other assets............................ 5000
Total Assets............................ 350300


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 0........(1272).....3.9
Secured Debt.................. 16000....(327)......0<
mum & dad loan.................6925.....(125)......0
Total secured & HP debts...... 22925.....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
amex...........................1728......0.........27.9
cap1...........................2400......0.........23.9
n'wide.........................1600......25........0
lloyds.........................3927......75........0
Total unsecured debts..........9655......100.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,602
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 3,204.12
Available for debt repayments........... 397.88
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 100
Amount left after debt repayments....... 297.88

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 350,300
Total HP & Secured debt................. -22,925
Total Unsecured debt.................... -9,655
Net Assets.............................. 317,720

The amount in the savings account was taken from the mortgage for refurbing the kitchen so its "house" money.
Gas and electric is currently being switched to new supplier, and we've just taken a new phone/broadband contract out with a cheaper supplier. We're out in the sticks a bit so there are no cheap as chip deals to be had for us. Mobile phones both on contract. Mortgage is repayment and fixed for 5 years, took it out this summer. Fuel is mainly for DH. I have tended to use 1 tank per month at £50, this has recently reduced. Water is on a meter, we're in a relatively expensive area (Anglian)

Created using the SOA calculator at www.stoozing.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using Firefox browser.

Nagme

£45 interest charge on amex today which otherwise was another NSD.
Used nectar points in Argos on few Xmas things for DS
Drove 50 miles taking parents to train station and collecting them again (hospital appt, they couldn't find a parking space)
Grouped up a load of stuff to sell, stuck a few bits on FB, researched value of other things on ebay and set aside for "processing".
Did 1poll and started a £4 survey on VO which will enable me to redeem.
Did SOA. looks awful. Me and the cat are off to bed.

chelseachris

Hi Nags.

I'm a newbie to DFDs too.

Saw that your mortgage is 3.9% Is it possible to lower this - there seem to be some great deals out there at the moment.

Nagme

chelseachris wrote: »

Hi Nags.

I'm a newbie to DFDs too.

Saw that your mortgage is 3.9% Is it possible to lower this - there seem to be some great deals out there at the moment.

No, not without a fee; it's at the beginning of its 5 yr fixed term. When we realised we needed to replace DH's car we changed the mortgage onto a fixed repayment - I thought the rates wouldn't go any lower.

Welcome to mse !

chelseachris

3.9% over 5 years will work out to be a sound investment. Recently met with a mortgage advisor who said rates will rocket in a couple of years. Good luck with your debt-busting :-)

Nagme

Full of cold and very busy at work yesterday. Hence falling head first off wagon and drinking 2 cans of coke

Spent a few pounds in Mr T on fruit and garlic bread for pizza Friday (value pizza customised at home).

DH home after being away this week, need to buy him another 2 smart casual shirts to get him through next week, plus a watch as he doesn't own one! Today will not be a NSD perhaps an SW day though (spend wisely). I really hope this job promotion of his doesn't mean we're living in the wrong part of the country.

Nagme

Bought DH's watch, used some leftover vouchers/giftcards and then used the 0% storecard for the remaining £55. It's a Rotary with a lifetime guarantee, and had an RRP of £155 so a good purchase.
Then onto Sainsburys for 2 shirts and pack of socks for DH, milk, a value lasagne and box of doughnuts , total spend about £42 after making use of the £5 voucher I had. Managed to not even walk through the womenswear, and I only looked at the coke.

And then we stopped off for fuel for DH's car (phew, glad to see that's dropped a bit in price)

And then I bought a laptop off my sister.

Hang on, when did that become part of Saturdays plan? Actually it's a Toshiba and less than a year old, so £130 was a good price, and considering my Acer has needed to be repaired three (yes, three) times in the last few months, a sensible move.

Do I sound like I am justifying spending money? Good. That means I'm really thinking about every penny. So long as we have better balances than last month it will be an improvement.

It would be good to think about Christmas as there are some good deals around but I dont want to spend the money at the moment. I'm sure there will still be deals next month but experience has shown me that some things do go up in price in December. Not that we're buying much this year.

Still feeling poorly but not complaining - my friend has glandular fever and she's much more poorlier than me.