I Left You and Now I'm In A Mess

nkkingston

I'd start looking around at bank accounts now, because that can be part of your solution. If you close an account with an overdraft, that becomes an unsecured debt that you can pay back at a rate you can afford (negotiated with the bank, or through a DMP). Look for basic accounts - they have no credit facility, so you can't go into overdraft with them, and they don't run credit checks.

Does your other half already have a bicycle, or is that something you'd have to buy? If it's something you'd need to buy, I'd probably hang on to the two cars for now until the evenings start lightening up, and put money aside to save up for one. If you've got one, and all the lights and helmets and kit, I'd put it to DH now, and see how he feels about cycling. An hour's walk is really a very quick cycle, and depending on traffic in your area might even be quicker than the car!

Also another vote for getting DS to make himself a packed lunch on Sunday nights as a starting point. If you have a roast, he could have leftovers in his sandwiches. And you're not limited to sandwiches - I used to take soup to school in winter in a thermos flask. In the trading economy of the school lunch table, soup was so exotic I could swap one cup for half a packet of crisps and a whole kitkat, and still have a enough soup left for me too. If DS is involved in making lunch, he'll have a sense of ownership over it and be more likely to eat it.

If you try and ditch the Sky now, be aware they're going to use Christmas to try and get you to keep it, and if they succeed you're tied into a new contract. In fact, the guarantee at this time of year is good telly on freeview, with plenty of recent kids films and TV specials. Also, how often are you watching netflix on more than one screen at a time? Because that's what the £7.99 is for - if you're only watching it on one have a hunt around the website and you can reduce it to the old monthly price.

Naomim

nkkingston wrote: »

Does your other half already have a bicycle, or is that something you'd have to buy? If it's something you'd need to buy, I'd probably hang on to the two cars for now until the evenings start lightening up, and put money aside to save up for one. If you've got one, and all the lights and helmets and kit, I'd put it to DH now, and see how he feels about cycling. An hour's walk is really a very quick cycle, and depending on traffic in your area might even be quicker than the car!

We do have DS's bike which is an adults (he's a tall 11yo) so could use that.

nkkingston wrote: »

Also another vote for getting DS to make himself a packed lunch on Sunday nights as a starting point. If you have a roast, he could have leftovers in his sandwiches. And you're not limited to sandwiches - I used to take soup to school in winter in a thermos flask. In the trading economy of the school lunch table, soup was so exotic I could swap one cup for half a packet of crisps and a whole kitkat, and still have a enough soup left for me too. If DS is involved in making lunch, he'll have a sense of ownership over it and be more likely to eat it.

I usually try and get another dinner out of a roast; pasta bake, stir frys etc.. I've mentioned to DS about packed lunches. I've told him we need to cut back. We've agreed for now for 3 packed lunches a week and two paid for lunches. I mentioned the soup in a flask idea and he was very keen on that idea :j

nkkingston wrote: »

If you try and ditch the Sky now, be aware they're going to use Christmas to try and get you to keep it, and if they succeed you're tied into a new contract. In fact, the guarantee at this time of year is good telly on freeview, with plenty of recent kids films and TV specials. Also, how often are you watching netflix on more than one screen at a time? Because that's what the £7.99 is for - if you're only watching it on one have a hunt around the website and you can reduce it to the old monthly price.

I can't see MrM letting me ditch the SKY to be honest. He watches loads of sports and films. I just looked at our package and it's not like the old days where you could bump off a load of channels. They've obviously got wise.

With Netflix, do you mean how many screens do we watch? DD has it on her tablet and it's on our TV downstairs and the TV in the bedroom but I doubt if two of us are using it at the same time. I think Netflix is going to have to go though.


I've just done the snowball calculator on my credit card debts.. it's going to take 8 years! Which is quite depressing. I remember before though how satisfying it was when the balances were on their way down and you could see the months/years being knocked off.

I'm going to have to revisit my SOA as I know I missed some things off and my wages were wrong. Work were re-paying me for a childcare voucher deduction I'd cancelled.

I've also been looking at the possibility of changing jobs to one that doesn't involve spending so much on travel and pays better. I've been at my current job for 16 years so it's a difficult decision for me.

So whilst it's all gung-ho, it's also a slow start..

Firstly I need to get the house finished and moved back home, then I can see how much money we really have (or not as the case may be).

NaomiM

enthusiasticsaver

I do think you need to make your OH aware of your situation as otherwise he will continue with the spending as before which is not a good idea. It makes it much harder on you too to shoulder this alone. You say he won't ditch sky and you are wary of cutting down his spending money.

Admittedly once you are back at home though the rent you pay your in laws will go. It sounds as if the building work at your house made your situation worse after it already being dire after his redundancy. Continuing to spend money to ease depression though never works as you have found out. I hope you get to grips with this soon and good on your DS for being willing to forego some school dinners. Teaching kids you need to spend within a budget is an excellent life lesson.

Naomim

As is the case with money saving, it's a slow process.

I have an M&S credit card with 0 balance. I didn't have the physical card so I couldn't use it. They offered me a balance transfer rate of 0% until Jan 2018 but I needed the card to do it. That arrived this week so today I have transferred the Tesco Credit Card balance of £3980 to 0% and part of my Barclaycard balance £3000 which was on a 0% deal and about to expire today onto that too. So at present that leaves me with 1 card of £2222 with interest rates. I'm sure Barclaycard will soon offer me a deal and I can transfer this over then all will be 0%.

The council have been in touch asking if the house is furbished (it isn't). Although hopefully we will be able to at least get the bedrooms back in this weekend even though the kitchen etc isn't finished. I've not heard from the water board yet.

I've been diligently using the app on my phone to register how and where my money is going. It really does help as I certainly have more in there than I usually would have by now. At the end of the month, my plan is to put this back into the bank account to reduce the overdraft like an overpayment.

NaomiM

MrsTinks

:j well done you Yes some parts are slow and tedious, but Rome wasn't built in a day either.

As we always say on here, it's a marathon, not a sprint

You're clearly seeing the difference already with tracking your spending which is great

Naomim

Hi All,

The council have come back and said I can have one month's rebate. Although I can appeal to see if I can get more. I have nothing to lose having already paid out so I may as well start the appeal and see where I can get.

We are hoping to be back in our house by next weekend at the latest. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

EssexHebridean

If they're offering you a month then it sounds like they know you may be entitled to more. As you say nothing to lose by going through the appeal process.

Great news about getting back home too - you must be so excited! :T

MrsTinks

Don't ask, don't get! For the sake of a little time and maybe a stamp then it's definitely worth asking!

I wonder what the waterboard will say when they eventually respond... I'd give them a friendly reminder poke if it was me

Naomim

Yes was thinking today I need to get in touch.

Unfortunately pooch has an mri at the vets tomorrow. Our insurance is covering the bulk but I've still got to pay another £400 on top.

zippygeorgeandben

Hope pooch gets better. Just read your thread. That head is no longer in the sand now!
The sky does seem high doesn't it. If you really feel the need to keep it, ring and say you're going to cancel. My cousin has just done that and got a 40% reduction on her package.
So many good things on Netflix I'd ditch the SKY if it was me.
I'm fortunate as my cat only likes what I call good old common grub. I tried him on organic, 100% fish etc but he just turns his nose up at it. He wants his Felix...