Fat, forty and flat broke? No thanks!

sammy115

Welcome, welcome........Your rent is quite high but if it is value for money! Probably illegal but could you not take in a lodger or student...

yeovilmac

Hi Sammy,

I need a two-bed place as the boys stay over every weekend and occasionally in the week too.

£127 a week for a two-bed flat is good. I'm looking for something cheaper but would prefer a house with a garden. I've been to see a couple but considering the moving expenses, it would need to be at least a tenner a week cheaper to make it worthwhile. It's also a huge flat, my bedroom has three double wardrobes and a built-in dressing table plus enough room for a king size bed and two singles if needs be. The front room is 20' x 13', that's good for a flat. The view is fantastic, can see 15 miles in one direction...

yeovilmac

Hello there,

Managed to save myself another few quid whilst driving to London today. I love long journeys, switch the radio off and consider how I can improve my life. I normally give up though and switch Radio 2 back on....:rolleyes: but not today!

I've realised by the replies already that I'm going to have to get some more money in as cutting back greatly probably isn't that realistic. The client I worked for today has had their price fixed for three years now and despite all the fuel rises and congestion charge increase too, I didn't increase their price. From October 1st, the job goes up a tenner, making a rise of £250 on their yearly outlay. As a FTSE-100 company solicitor, they will absorb it easily. Also I am much cheaper than London couriers doing the same thing.

Secondly, I visit my oldest two children fortnightly. I also work as an unpaid proof-reader for Yeovil Town FC checking the programme, this is also once a fortnight. Both venues are 45 miles from home but 25 miles apart ( with me so far? ). By combining the two things on one day, I can save myself 65 miles a fortnight driving. At present I do 45 miles each way for each trip equalling 180 miles but going down in one day would be 45+25+45 = 115 miles. This would also save me around £200 a year.

Both together and I will save a total of £450 a year, or £9 a week.:j

sammy115

Hi Yeovil, sorry to butt in again but have you tried a credit union in your area. They can give you low interest loans and I think they will give you one specifically to pay off your provident loan. I read that they can help people in situations like yours.

http://www.abcul.org/page/index.cfm

Here's a link if it will help. Good luck and well done on the £9 a week saving

Bambywamby

Hiya Yeovil

Welcome on board.

Getting a digital box for a one off payment of £40 (or look on free cycle for a freebie) and ditching sky will give you extra channels for a fraction of the price. You get Cbeebies on a digital box too...perfect for your lil twins.

Ebaying is a great idea for earning extra pounds as is Amazon (for flogging books & CDs).

Keep looking at ways of trimming your fuel bill. Making journeys as economical as possible as using the car for personal use as little as possible.
Do you walk to the shops to get your shopping etc?

If you looking for support to lose weight www.weightwatchers.co.uk have a free community forum. Everybody is very supportive on the site and have lots of great tips to share. Also great if you just want to have a moan about anything. (They chat about all sorts as well as weight loss.)

Just a few tips for now.

Good luck and keep your chin up...it wilL all be hunky dory by the time you hit 40

Tustastic

yeovilmac wrote: »

Hello there,

Managed to save myself another few quid whilst driving to London today. I love long journeys, switch the radio off and consider how I can improve my life. I normally give up though and switch Radio 2 back on....:rolleyes: but not today!

I've realised by the replies already that I'm going to have to get some more money in as cutting back greatly probably isn't that realistic. The client I worked for today has had their price fixed for three years now and despite all the fuel rises and congestion charge increase too, I didn't increase their price. From October 1st, the job goes up a tenner, making a rise of £250 on their yearly outlay. As a FTSE-100 company solicitor, they will absorb it easily. Also I am much cheaper than London couriers doing the same thing.

Secondly, I visit my oldest two children fortnightly. I also work as an unpaid proof-reader for Yeovil Town FC checking the programme, this is also once a fortnight. Both venues are 45 miles from home but 25 miles apart ( with me so far? ). By combining the two things on one day, I can save myself 65 miles a fortnight driving. At present I do 45 miles each way for each trip equalling 180 miles but going down in one day would be 45+25+45 = 115 miles. This would also save me around £200 a year.

Both together and I will save a total of £450 a year, or £9 a week.:j

Hello and good thinking on both updating your prices and combining your trips Yeovilmac.
Couple of other ideas;
- you have proofreading experience, how about asking around locally for more (paid) proofreading work? Surely Yeovil FC would give you a reference.
- I know you're not keen on having a lodger, but how about advertising for someone who only needs a bed Mon-Thurs? This can be a godsend for people prepared to work a long way from home but who hate the commute. Obviously check with the council because this could affect your single person discount (that I hope you're claiming?)
HTH

jo1972

Hello :wave:

I am absolutely no good at giving people advice on their SOA (but love reading them to get tips!), just wanted to say hi and show you that there are people out there that are supporting you and watching your progress.

Good luck hun!

Jo.x

yeovilmac

Hello again,

Just to let you know I'll start updating this tomorrow as promised in the OP. I am starting to sink without trace financially now so I'll need to start straightaway and read through all the DFW threads here. I can't promise that it will be as entertaining as benbenandme's thread but I'll give it a shot.

Martin
xx

vyvyan_2

Nice to see you back and you're front's not too bad either lol sorry I couldn't resist. I've been on my own all day (can you tell?) I'll look forward to your progress report tomorrow. Hope everything's going ok.

chloebelle

Hi there OP :hello:

I am a student so can't offer you a great deal of advice in terms of bills etc... but just wanted to welcome you.

These boards are amazing, the support is brilliant, you can do it if you lead your journey here