I am in a mess and don't know what to do

lambda

Hi There,

I didn't want to read this thread and not offer some sort of advice or support.

I want to say that I sympathise with you. It's not easy to suddenly go into a life where you can't spend anything. In fact, I don't think it's healthy to do that. What I've got an impression of is that you don't budget. You need to do this. Make up a monthly budget using excel or whatever. Budget for every category that you would normally spend in. Groceries, petrol, birthdays, haircuts, whatever. Then put a number next to each one that you will budget for yourself for the whole month. You can't go over the budget, otherwise the whole thing falls down. So, give yourself a tenner a month for coffee and nothing more, for example. But the idea of the budget is for you to start controlling your spending. Every time you spend on anything, keep the receipt, and then record it against that category when you get home. That way you can instantly see exactly how much money you have left, how much you are keeping to repay debts and where you can make further cuts for the next month.

If you are just randomly looking at your bank balance it is not enough to adjust your spending habit.

For example, after all your direct debits come out you might have for example £500 for the whole month. Budget for your groceries and all essentials, you might have £150 left. Then you know exactly how much money you've got. Also, every time you spend record it. So you know exactly how you spend, when you spend and how much you spend. The first step to tackling debt in my opinion is to first work out why you are in debt in the first place.

[Deleted User]

I have been to the supermarket and stocked up on some items plus bread and milk. That should be all I need. Total cost £40.17. Over my budget by 17p. Some items like uht milk may not be all used this week so that can carry over to next week.

Now going to live from cupboard and freezer this week.

asparagus1968

uselessnow wrote: »

I have been to the supermarket and stocked up on some items plus bread and milk. That should be all I need. Total cost £40.17. Over my budget by 17p. Some items like uht milk may not be all used this week so that can carry over to next week.

Now going to live from cupboard and freezer this week.

that's more like it, make a plan and stick to it , bet you could find that 17p in loose coins down the settee or on the pavements within a week, so don't fret about that.


Can you make a meal plan for the next week? it makes it so much easier to see where the food will go, and you will probably realise there is more food than you thought.


Come on over to the "Old style" board too- you can post up a list of your supplies and we all give ideas for recipes and how to make it go further.


Also, over on Old style, is a long running thread called (Oh, think this is right!) " Fiscal fast" will try and put a link here for you .Think you might like it.


Stay positive, little steps and all that, but those steps have to be taken.


I definitely think volunteering, and maybe attending the local support group for your disease ( or joining their online support forum?) may really be a help for you , you need to feel part of something outside the house, that's not spending

asparagus1968

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3832203


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33




Some good reading for you:)

Bobarella

uselessnow wrote: »

I have been to the supermarket and stocked up on some items plus bread and milk. That should be all I need. Total cost £40.17. Over my budget by 17p. Some items like uht milk may not be all used this week so that can carry over to next week.

Now going to live from cupboard and freezer this week.

Good for you! Do you use Shoptize and Checkoutsmart? Both of these will give you cash back for uploading reciepts for anything they have on offer. For example, if you buy a frozen pizza, they could give you anything up to 50p in cashback. That would also make your trip profitable.
I always use them, and of course reward cards to max out the benefits.

satchmo1

Hi, Now (see what I did there), how's it going?


What's for dinner from the cupboards/freezer tonight?


Keep us updated, even when things are feeling bad, you'll get someone posting a kind word on here.

[Deleted User]

asparagus1968 wrote: »

that's more like it, make a plan and stick to it , bet you could find that 17p in loose coins down the settee or on the pavements within a week, so don't fret about that.


Can you make a meal plan for the next week? it makes it so much easier to see where the food will go, and you will probably realise there is more food than you thought.


Come on over to the "Old style" board too- you can post up a list of your supplies and we all give ideas for recipes and how to make it go further.


Also, over on Old style, is a long running thread called (Oh, think this is right!) " Fiscal fast" will try and put a link here for you .Think you might like it.


Stay positive, little steps and all that, but those steps have to be taken.


I definitely think volunteering, and maybe attending the local support group for your disease ( or joining their online support forum?) may really be a help for you , you need to feel part of something outside the house, that's not spending

I found 22p in the car today.


I am looking at menu planning but I never want what meal is planned on a particular day. There will have to be no choice, I either what is planned or go without (I remember my mum telling me that when I was younger)

[Deleted User]

asparagus1968 wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3832203


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33




Some good reading for you:)

Thanks for the links.

[Deleted User]

Bobarella wrote: »

Good for you! Do you use Shoptize and Checkoutsmart? Both of these will give you cash back for uploading reciepts for anything they have on offer. For example, if you buy a frozen pizza, they could give you anything up to 50p in cashback. That would also make your trip profitable.
I always use them, and of course reward cards to max out the benefits.

I usually shop at Aldi. Does those sites offer cashback there?

[Deleted User]

lambda wrote: »

Hi There,

I didn't want to read this thread and not offer some sort of advice or support.

I want to say that I sympathise with you. It's not easy to suddenly go into a life where you can't spend anything. In fact, I don't think it's healthy to do that. What I've got an impression of is that you don't budget. You need to do this. Make up a monthly budget using excel or whatever. Budget for every category that you would normally spend in. Groceries, petrol, birthdays, haircuts, whatever. Then put a number next to each one that you will budget for yourself for the whole month. You can't go over the budget, otherwise the whole thing falls down. So, give yourself a tenner a month for coffee and nothing more, for example. But the idea of the budget is for you to start controlling your spending. Every time you spend on anything, keep the receipt, and then record it against that category when you get home. That way you can instantly see exactly how much money you have left, how much you are keeping to repay debts and where you can make further cuts for the next month.

If you are just randomly looking at your bank balance it is not enough to adjust your spending habit.

For example, after all your direct debits come out you might have for example £500 for the whole month. Budget for your groceries and all essentials, you might have £150 left. Then you know exactly how much money you've got. Also, every time you spend record it. So you know exactly how you spend, when you spend and how much you spend. The first step to tackling debt in my opinion is to first work out why you are in debt in the first place.

Still trying to get my head around budgeting. I am planning on going through the bank statements to find out what DD's go through the account and check to see if there is any that can be cancelled