How I live now.

Aaleigha

Thanks Nora

I will do that with Hubby tonight - simply because he is the earner and although does not hide income from me I just dont bother to look at it - so how stupid is that - also I have no idea what the car tax and insurance are either - or a tank of fuel - I just drive it - DH in fact took up the reigns of our finances after I collapsed and due to a clot that went through the heart into the lungs I was very ill for some time and was told afterwards how near to death I was - I thought at the time it was vital that DH knew how to do all the finances and where to find stuff - and just never bothered since - I get a mini statement before withdrawing money and like he says if its there I can have it

so I want to be really frugal

yes diary is here somewhere called it Debit free - or am I
as you know I would be debit free its me that checks before getting money out of the account

and thanks for the cuppa just what I needed

Knitting_Nora

twiggy86 wrote: »

Hi Nora!

Wow - you've made some great savings already! I've been debating cancelling my phone insurance for a couple of months. I don't want to say the phrase you use and jinx myself (I'm a very superstitious type!) but I think I should cancel mine - £10.99 a month! I did try changing it the other day but phones too old!


It is very satisfying this debt busting malarkey!


PS. Mine's a tea, white, one sugar - are there any custard creams left?! :rotfl:

Twiggy! Here you go, Lovely :coffee: and I think I can spare a custard cream *slides pack over*


I know what you mean about the superstition - I'm guaranteed to do something fatal to it now! But then, isn't that fear exactly what insurance is all about? I did some thought-like thinking stuff, and realised that I was paying £72 a year for a policy which was more expensive than the phone is worth, or a replacement would cost (as I won't replace with another smart phone). Once I'd realised I was paying for a policy that wouldn't actually do what I wanted, it was a simple decision.

Aaleigha wrote: »

Thanks Nora

I will do that with Hubby tonight - simply because he is the earner and although does not hide income from me I just dont bother to look at it - so how stupid is that - also I have no idea what the car tax and insurance are either - or a tank of fuel - I just drive it - DH in fact took up the reigns of our finances after I collapsed and due to a clot that went through the heart into the lungs I was very ill for some time and was told afterwards how near to death I was - I thought at the time it was vital that DH knew how to do all the finances and where to find stuff - and just never bothered since - I get a mini statement before withdrawing money and like he says if its there I can have it

so I want to be really frugal

yes diary is here somewhere called it Debit free - or am I
as you know I would be debit free its me that checks before getting money out of the account

and thanks for the cuppa just what I needed

Yikes, you've been through the mill!:eek: Glad you're up and about now.


In your situation, though being frugal is fab, really it's about joint responsibility isn't it? And being informed about the cost of things and your financial status as a family is really the only way to be properly responsible. From what you've said about hubby being the earner, I'm assuming you don't work? So there's also something there about appreciating the effort and time that your hubby puts into earning the money, so not disrespecting him or it by frittering it away. Ooo, that's a bit deep isn't it? Just made myself epiphanies (is too a word) about self-respect and spending...


While we're talking about respect, though - don't forget (or let him forget) that being 'the earner' doesn't mean he shouldn't respect your contribution to the home and your lives. I mention this because I've seen it so often - where one partner works and the other doesn't have a paid position but actually contributes equally or (sometimes) more to the home in other ways.


*steps down from soapbox*


xx

MuffinTops

Wooh to the overspend reducing from triple to double figures. It always surprises me, when I have a proper look, how much money I hand out that I don't need to.

I recently purchased YNAB - you need a budget (as it was on a huge sale of around £7.50 instead of $60) so I'm just getting my head around that. I really like their concept that every pound needs a job! I'm hoping that will reduce my fritter money!

Good luck on the reductions Nora. Not much further to go.

I'll set my new diary up this week. I'm excited about it now, thank you. x

pelirocco

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

Ok, so the following is my SOA. It doesn't include the food/house shop, because I don't have the receipts for it - or any idea of what I've spent.


Big red flag right there, anyone?!


I do, however, have full cupboards, so I'm going to work my way through them before even thinking of buying more food or house stuff for a while!

It does include everything else though - big, small, downright scary:

Monthly Income
Income from Employment (after tax) . . . . . . . . . . . . 807.98
Income from Self Employment (before tax).. . . . . . . . . 0.00
Benefits (WTC and HB). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158.46

Monthly Expenses

Home
Mobile phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.20
TV licence. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.75
Home phone & broadband . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.36
Gas & Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85.00
Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.49
Council tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83.00
Overdraft cost (interest) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.09
Mortgage/Rent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .560.00
Home Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.75


Motoring & Public Transport
Petrol/Diesel . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76.50
Car tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.38
Car insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.33
Car maintenance (MOT & Service plan). . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.49
Breakdown cover .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.88


Debt repayments

Credit Card Repayments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87.86


Other
NHS PPP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.40


Results:
Monthly income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .966.44
Monthly outgoings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1080.48


Monthly overspend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114.04

Have I missed something ? How /when will you factor in food , clothes and other incidentals

RosaBernicia

:beer::j:T wooohoo well done you, killed the triple digits already

I completely agree about onward travel, though I think AutoA1d do that too. And I can sympathise with wanting an 'emergency' card, though I think I'm only just getting to the point where I could be trusted with one.

And epiphanies... I had a minor LBM this week after realising that having ordered my favourite takeaway in order to have time to do some studying wiped out 2/3 of my Ebay profits at that point in the month. On the one hand, better than if I'd spent it without the profits and at least the stuff is building my Ebay rep. On the other hand... I will be going down to the lovely-frozen-meals shop on the weekend, because they work out at £4 a pop instead of £13.


Rosa xx

rising_from_the_ashes

Nora! :hello:

I'm another that's back ..... I dip in and out but being totally honest I overspend (always have done and probably always will) so I need to be here to try to control myself!

Anyway lovely to see you *subscribes* looking forward to catching up

Knitting_Nora

pelirocco wrote: »

Have I missed something ? How /when will you factor in food , clothes and other incidentals

Hi Pelirocco!


You haven't missed it (you eagle-eyed personage, you), it's just not in there yet. I appear to be working in stages (bear with me!). I didn't have a clear picture of food etc yesterday when I had my 'just get it done' moment - so I posted what I knew, and I'll add in the food and incidentals as soon as I can. I appreciate that it's a bit of a half-SOA without those things though!.

Knitting_Nora

RosaBernicia wrote: »

:beer::j:T wooohoo well done you, killed the triple digits already

I completely agree about onward travel, though I think AutoA1d do that too. And I can sympathise with wanting an 'emergency' card, though I think I'm only just getting to the point where I could be trusted with one.

And epiphanies... I had a minor LBM this week after realising that having ordered my favourite takeaway in order to have time to do some studying wiped out 2/3 of my Ebay profits at that point in the month. On the one hand, better than if I'd spent it without the profits and at least the stuff is building my Ebay rep. On the other hand... I will be going down to the lovely-frozen-meals shop on the weekend, because they work out at £4 a pop instead of £13.


Rosa xx

Why thankingyoukindly m'dear. *blushes*


I know exactly what you mean about that food epiphany, and I think it's a great example of what we need to be learning more generally about how we look at money (well, I need to learn it!). Put simply, think about the long game.


When I was at my worst, I'd sit there kicking myself for the unnecessary things I bought on impulse. I don't kick myself now (what's the point?), but I've sold a lot on and I'm now very good at returning things to the shop the next day. I am at one with buyer's remorse! :rotfl:


I still buy on impulse - but I do it a lot less, and I'm conscious I need to keep working on it. One of the key areas is around food purchasing (which is why your observation and Pelirocco's are so good). Right now, I have plenty to eat in the house - even chocolate (shhh, don't tell). But I'll still buy more or get a takeaway if I can - because I like to spend money, and because I've lacked the discipline to eat what I already have first.


So I'm on a food-buying veto while I work my way through what I've in the house - least of all because there's fresh stuff here that I'll just waste if I'm not more disciplined.


Nora.xx

Knitting_Nora

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Nora! :hello:

I'm another that's back ..... I dip in and out but being totally honest I overspend (always have done and probably always will) so I need to be here to try to control myself!

Anyway lovely to see you *subscribes* looking forward to catching up

Hey Gorgeous! Good to have you back with us. Room on the sofa for all. xx

Aaleigha

Looking back (catching the post about utilities ) I notice you have reduced your monthly over spend by nearly £30 that is amazing