Fat, forty and financially f**ked

mothsinmywallet_2

Just worked out DD's bus fare will be £13.25 a week in term time. Seems a huge amount. I know it's not compared to some but can't believe I hadn't factored it in. 

mothsinmywallet_2

Universal credit has gone down by £150 and I don't know why. Will get on the phone in a minute. 
Think we may have found a new car for DH but need mechanic friend to check it this morning. That will cost £20 but I think it's definitely worth it. Things ticking over but not really getting debts down. 

mothsinmywallet_2

I rang and the lines are only open from 10-4 Mon to Fri. Which is not hugely helpful. It looks like a tax credits repayment but I cannot see how I need to repay any tax credits. Very confused.

mothsinmywallet_2

Juggled things around a bit to make another payment of £75.83 to the credit card. This means I have overpaid by nearly £100 this month. I think I will aim to overpay by at least the interest payment each month - currently that is around £75. Hopefully that will give me a bit of focus. 
As we come up to the end of the month I am feeling a lot more positive. I have enough to cover every we need with some already allocated for next month's bills and I haven't even been paid yet. 
Reduced amount of universal credit due on Tuesday and that should cover all the normal bills plus a bit more for OH's car fund. We offered £150 below what they were asking conditional on it passing its MOT and they have accepted. We should be able to pick it up later in the week. It's ugly as anything and a horrible colour but very low insurance group and cheap to run. Also only has 40k miles on it which is incredible! 
Have started to do surveys again, balances slowly going up and discovered there was a few pounds in each of the accounts when I logged on. Better than spending time playing games on my phone... Will save survey earnings for Christmas presents. 
Currently sitting in bed enjoying a rare late start as the kids' rugby is not until later (unusual and due to all the covid precautions - small silver lining).
It feels really weird to be lounging around. Have LOTS to do but DD brought me a cup of tea so I will drink that first before getting on with putting all the clothes away. Terrible floordrobe situation here at the moment. 

 

mothsinmywallet_2

Things ticking over nicely, new car purchased and no extra debt taken on to do so. Also managed insurance and tax. This is so unlike how I used to be. Very proud of us.
Food money was starting to look a bit low so we have spent the last hour going through both our freezers and have meal planned from that. DH has just gone to A!di with a very short list - garden providing green beans, courgettes and onions so very little to buy. Have also made flapjack for packed lunches.
Just waiting until payday now - looking forward to allocating funds! Have got most of next months bills already so hoping to be able to make a F&F offer on my credit card debt that was sold on. Fingers crossed! 

mothsinmywallet_2

How did DH spend £75 at A!di????? How?????

teapot2

mothsinmywallet_2 said:

How did DH spend £75 at A!di????? How?????

Oh dear, hope that doesn't scupper your budget?  Did he visit the middle aisle as that can be pretty spendy 💰💳💲💲

mothsinmywallet_2

No! I don't get it. I think he bought more than we needed. Or gold plated cornflakes or something. 

CreditCardJunkie

I've been spending £65 a week in Lidl for 2 adults and a 1 year old...groceries are definitely more expensive! When it was just the 2 of us this was around £30 a week!

mothsinmywallet_2

Last bit of DD's PE kit arrived yesterday. Had £40 put aside for it but it was £47.50 so had to dip into my fledgling emergency fund. Feels good to have the money there for when they actually charge my card for it (was out of stock and is a few weeks behind the rest).
DS1 will need new school shirts - just done the ironing and noticed holes in 2/3. Think I will go for supermarket ones this time - got these from M&S and they haven't lasted well, they're paper thin now. Also permeated with teenage boy scent...
Taking DD to her rugby match this afternoon. Most clubs have closed their facilities so will take a flask of tea, a picnic, many blankets and a book.  Beautiful day here even if the wind is a bit cold. 40 minute drive so petrol cost high.  I would normally watch her match but I have a stinking cold so don't feel much like chatting to the other parents 🤧

Yesterday I made crumble with apples we were given and blackberries from the garden. Also made plain and seeded flapjack and a banana loaf (bananas were free from work). Have had a chat with DS1 about eating these things rather than cooking himself meals constantly. I know he's growing but can't afford it! 

Cost of food has gone up so much, we used to spend about £90 per week including top up shops but this month has been more like £120, hence the week of freezer meals. I'm going to do the Aldi shop next week so I can see where the money is going. DH usually does it (he's disabled and doesn't work and this is one of the few things he can do) but I think some bad habits have slipped in. We'll see. 

Found some free potatoes that had self sown from compost when I was clearing a raised bed yesterday! 

Feel like September has gone okay, no nasty shocks and have next month's bills ready to go before I've even been paid. Just got to keep on going.