Unsure whether to consolidate - please advise

zippygeorgeandben

Hi Verbatim - wow you have been with me for a long time haven't you!  Thanks for the kind words - I have actually put the room on spareroom to see if anyone is interested.  I was paying the majority of the rent/bills anyway, so it's not such a massive change for me to pay it all.  If I can get someone in splitting 50/50 that would be great. 

I have ordered a Peloton - love all the marketing/community and I went and tried one in store and enjoyed it.  I think it's just what I need.  Cycling around London doesn't appeal to me but working out in my own home does.

I have done a budget anyway and even though my outgoings are higher, it is precisely for unexpected events like this to happen as to why I have been so good with my money for so long.  If this had had happened two years ago, I would have been left in a really tricky position as to what to do.  However, because I have sacrificed many things to clear my debt, I am now not forced into a decision that I would not have wanted to make.

Family rallying around etc.

zippygeorgeandben

Hello everyone,

I thought I would give my monthly update one day early (I know, scandulous etc) but I am stuck on a train, not moving anytime soon so thought I might as well.  How are you?  How's your day going?

Financially this month, not too bad.  Did not get a pay increase in my annual performance appraisal but that was not a surprise, no shock there.  I have managed to put away some more money this month in preparation for the bills/rent I will now be paying on my own.  Let's see what November brings.  Rent and Bills will now account for 66% of my salary.  That's an awful lot isn't it?  However, that is everything - travel/insurance/DDs, you name it.  Leaving me with 34% to spend on food and anything else I want (and to save).  And I do want to save.  Obviously, I want to put money away each month, it won't be as much as previously but as long as I'm not spending more than I earn, then that's good for me.

I do need to sell some things though; my nintendo switch I have hardly played since buying it in December so that really ought to go.  I also have candles (joke alert) that are burning a hole in my pocket.  They would get around £500.

However, let's see what November brings and how this looks on the 30th November.

Thanks for reading and hit me with any questions if you have any!

zippygeorgeandben

Hello everyone (if anyone still reads!)

A month now gone and money took a little bit of a dive last month.  It's really far too much rent to be paying here, and now living on my own.  I'm really conscious of the electric use and this has reduced by around £40 per month so that's good, towards the bills I will now be paying.  THe Nintendo switch is on eBay so that's good (and I managed to put the Christmas tree up) and I can sell that.  Not that I need to, but it's just collecting dust really.

Really looking forward to seeing the family at Christmas.  I hope that you all have a lovely Christmas, put this year behind us and let's all hope for a brighter 2021.

Thanks for reading.

Dobbibill

there are a few of us still following your journey (chapter 2)

so sorry to hear things took a dive last month.

hopefully 2021 will bring you less dives

keep on keeping on zippy and have a wonderful time with your family

zippygeorgeandben

Hello everyone,

First of all thanks to Dobbibill for the kind words.  I appreciate it.

Time for my monthly update! 

Well... First month paying for everything, Christmas gone and done and I didn't overspend this month.  Great with all things which have happened, plus I still contribute to my HTB so that's not bad, just no savings really. Just feels a bit galling really paying so much so... have some news.

There's a small possibility of me moving someone in the near future but until that gets some traction I won't bore you with it.  I do need/want to save some money though but need to make the right decisions.

I've changed the broadband as SKY deal ran out end of the year and also cancelled the multiroom too.  I don't use it, I don't need it.  It's the rent though which is the killer.  I do think though of short/medium/long term goals with finances.  It's not for the year, and who knows where I will be this time next year but I know that I will keep coming on here giving my updates to you.

Thanks for reading.

 

Verbatim

Hi there,
Still reading too. I agree your rent is a very heavy burden! Especially if it means you're using up your savings to stay there.
I hope you can find a long term solution.

zippygeorgeandben

Hi Verbatim, good to hear you are still reading.  I do feel though that my diary has that feeling of when a successful series on TV goes on for just too long.  That's why everyone liked Fawlty Towers, only lasted for 12 episodes!

So I sold the Nintendo Switch and also managed to shift 10 candles (£330) last week which should help.

I actually cancelled the broadband change with a couple of days to go because moving flats at the end of February mean I do not want to be locked into a 12 month contract when I will not be using it.  SKY rang me today and set my account to all be cancelled by the end of February.  Don't really want any loose ends.

The rent is 50% off my income currently.  It was 31% of my income when living with my partner. Obviously I have the council tax and all bills to pay on my own now too.  I am hopeful that if I move, then my rent comes down to 23% of my income, and of course all the bills would be being halved too. 

There are lots of steps to take to get to that stage, but as each month goes on, and I manage to put £200 in my HTB it all goes towards a deposit (hopefully).

What I should do though is pay some professional people to move all my stuff upstairs but I'm just recitant to spend money because my mindset has totally changed since my first post in this thread 4 years ago.  However, I would feel completely less anxious if I arranged that and just paid the money.

Also, I have asked a couple of people whether I can store some boxes in their garage if I need to and they kindly agreed.

I'll keep you updated, all a bit worrying being on my own now!

Thanks for reading

Humdinger1

@zippygeorgeandben just popping in to say that your diary is never boring! Since the move to the new format, with diaries that are updated less often, I find I have to scroll back to the beginning to remind myself of the journey  as it's no longer  at the top of each page.  Then life intervenes; if there are others like me, that might explain the slow responses.   I'm always pleased to see your updates though.  Glad to hear that things are looking up.  We will get through this; I for one am so grateful that I managed to change my mindset before this happened as I would probably have had a complete collapse on this last year otherwise.   Congrats on all your steps forward and your new shiny way of thinking which is so much more sustainable.  Love Humdinger x 

zippygeorgeandben

Hello Humdinger - I forgot I didn't respond to this but thank you thank you thank you!

Send me your diary link and I'll keep supporting you too. 

zippygeorgeandben

Hello everyone,
Time for my monthly update and I know that Humdinger1 is definitely reading!
I actually saved around £500 this month and that's paying the rent myself this month.  I sold some stuff and I'm back into healthy eating.  It's amazing the amount of money you save when you ditch the takeaways and stopping at M&S every day buying, well, rubbish. I did one online shop and batch cooked so plenty of food in the freezer.
Well, I have one month left in my flat.  I move out at the end of February.  The electricity reading is definitely wrong in this flat.  A cost of £116 for one person living in a small 2 bedroom flat who is out during the day is ridiculous yes? I mean SO bad... but anyway, let's see what happens.  I am trying to keep the finances down really for the moving; getting people in to help and well, I'm so glad I have paid my last whack of rent for my current flat.  Far too much money.  I'm telling you now though, there is very little hope that this LL will give me back my full deposit.  Not because I have trashed the place! I just know from experience with him that he is unscrupulous and believe me the Deposit Tenancy Scheme will be involved!  I laid out £1730 for the deposit (and actually paid this myself, not split 50/50 with partner) so I'm hopeful I'll get something back!  
Anyway, I'll update you at the very start of March where hopefully, everything will have gone ok and I'm settled in AND paying a lot less money as that's what this site is about yes? Saving money!
Thanks for reading!