Two thirds of the way there, final hurdle

MERFE

can they, oh that might be worth a try. I want to see the doctor about my joints anyway and I am sure they will blame my weight for that even though I get pain in all my joints including my knuckles. I would really prefer slimming world, I know I need low gi diet and I know this can be done on slimming world, not sure about weight watchers but beggers cant be choosers. I did lose a good stone and a bit with a group on facebook of friends when we all just weighed in each week, so those weekly weigh ins do help keep you motivated.

MERFE

Morning, so last night I had a good look through the joint account. Did a little maths for next month and worked out after everything is paid we have £70 left for food and petrol without going into the overdraft. Well that doesn't work does it. We have 3/4 of a tank at the moment so should be able to get away without petrol if we only make essential journeys. That is with nothing going into the emergency fund as well. I haven't got my ebay money yet, have requested all but some, left some to cover the fees and will ebay again next month. So that takes me to £120. I'm going to budget £260 for food next month, which is super tight I think but possibly doable with meal planning and using the stock cupboard. That works to £65 per week. I've made the shopping lists for the first 3 weeks and done meal plans. I think where I have been overspending on food shops is the top ups, so I have allocated £45-50 for the main weekly shop and I will have to be strict to only get what we need (probably bread, milk and fruit) on the top ups. We had the car serviced in January which we hadn't saved for and this is when going into the overdraft started but it really needs to stop because the fees for it we cant afford. We are going to have to get oil in April so really need to be planning for that, we haven't been saving for it either. I really need to sort out those savings pots for different things cos if its left in the joint account it gets spent.
Right exercise dvd on this morning to help give me a boost and some energy.

MERFE

So I've got a letter from MBNA with 0% offer for 14 months or low life of balance 6.9%. The MBNA on my signature has been moved to my husbands Halifax card because the 0% had run out and I was paying £25 a month in interest. So I am thinking transfer my Halifax to it as I am sure this 0% is due to run out soon and 14 months is almost enough to repay that, then I can go back to my original plan to pay off the Barclaycard asap. I really hope this is going to be my last ever 0% transfer I have to do.

MERFE

Done updated signature because it was getting confusing.
SO Just over £6000 in 2 years

Plan is - get out the overdraft and stay out, close it fully this time (it was £1500 and we constantly lived it in, I was scared to get rid of the safety net altogether but it needs to go)
Pay all extra moneys to Barclaycard so I can cross that off my list and minimums to the other 2.

Golightly72

Good luck Merfe, obviously things are tight, but you seem to have a really good handle on where the money is going, and well done on the amount you've paid so far - that's a massive achievement! :T

I had some time at home when the kids were young, and it did take ages to find something that worked around everyone else - in the end I got some evening and weekend work in the local supermarket. I know you said that wouldn't work for you, but something else will come up - I found my local council website had a good list of jobs available in schools with school hours, like admin, dinner lady, lollipop lady, maybe an idea?

I find top up shops were a huge temptation, so now I just buy enough to last the week with no top ups. Extra bread goes in the freezer so it's nice and fresh every couple of days, milk lasts the week fine with just a couple of long life cartons in the cupboards in an emergency, and hard fruits like apples, oranges, grapes for the fridge, dried fruit, etc. are fine. If we've run out of one type of fruit that's it, the kids have to eat something different!

Good luck, I've subscribed and am cheering you on.

MERFE

Thanks Go lightly, I know we have done well so far but I don't feel it, I feel like we are back to square one and we should have had it all paid off when we were both working, instead we were having holidays and making decent savings whilst slowly paying it back and generally living.

I was at asda doing evenings then days when my husband changed to evenings, he starts at 7pm so no chance. I do keep checking though incase any day shifts come up. I will look on the councils site, I hadn't tried there so one more place, thank you.

Our tax credits dropped £250 a month in Novemeber, I think because OH is getting more this year, last year he was on agency and it was a bit hit and miss and guess work for their renewal. I am still getting used to this drop, so glad we moved because we would have been screwed if we hadn't.

It is those top up shops, I completely agree. I am wondering if it is worth adding an extra 4pts milk and something like the make your own bread packets to the order so we make it the whole week without a top up.

Kitten868

Hello merfe!
I am pants with this site - don't know how to subscribe etc. Couldn't find you! Sorry for being absent.
It's really tough when there's no slack to use.
I'm really seriously impressed with your ebaying/etsying and your free half term. You really are a seasoned pro at money saving. You can tell you've been doing this years - you're so resourceful and don't give in when backed in a corner. When the budgets all gone you don't give up
I'm so sorry about the work stuff. It really is such a bloody bind. I hate my job but I'm too scared to move as part time work is rubbish. I don't know why they don't put more into it. And I'm sorry that your family don't help out with the kids, it's the only way I can work too. I don't mean to be annoying, I'm trying to be sympathetic.
It's not even like you want an amazing job that stimulates you or suits you. Or gives an amazing salary, just something that gets you out the house and pays money.
You have stayed strong all this time and you are amazing!
What's the plan going forward for accommodation? Xxx

MERFE

Thread tools in the green bit at the top, I didn't know either x

The work thing sucks, its so depressing but it is what it is, I can only keep looking. They are only looking for on call firefighters on my council site and we don't live close enough and I am not fit enough. I don't think 2 days of doing my exercise dvd are quite enough. Going to keep going with the exercise too, I will not give up on getting a job, losing the weight or getting rid of these debts.
Accommodation we are really hoping the landlady doesn't increase the rent here, at least not without hubbys wages increasing and once the debts gone save for deposit. If we have something like before the plan is to down size to a 2 bed, it'll be tough and a squeeze, we would go for the cheapest property possible then save like crazy for that house deposit. If we were debt free and had a reasonable deposit we could get enough mortgage on hubby wage. Then I will be joining the mortgage free wannabe board and paying that off asap - I have it all planned, just need no huge unexpected nonsense. I reckon by the time we have saved to buy the kids will be grown and moved out and we can get a smaller place, we'll see.

Kitten868

I know what you mean - by the time we can give them the life we want to it'll be too late. Desperate for a garden but by the time we have one they'll be too busy with make up.
And well done on your little girls birthday x

MERFE

Oh she had a great day, they are actually so easily pleased it makes things much easier.
They both had a great time on their school trip as well, it was well worth it. Just need to get paying for the next one now.
Outside space is nice, even if you don't have just to have some nearby you can go to. I spend lots of time outdoors, especially in the summer. I cant wait for summer, I wont mind not having a job when I can go to the beach everyday x