I’m taking control of my life, now.

takingcontrolatlast

:j Fab news! I love the buzz of progress and congrats with the good worker rewards :T

sashybo

:j Yay to the BTs going through and Santander being cleared & closed. :T:j

Well done on refusing the takeaway. :beer::D And also on your good worker points. :T

Re collections at work, we do big birthdays, new babies, weddings, funerals or retirement. Unfortunately on my shift we seem to have quite a few big birthdays this year (just had a 40th, have a 65th coming up & a retirement in the next few months & another 65th later in the year). We generally limit donations to £5 but for retirement it's usually £10. I'm usually in charge of the money collection so just tell people to put in what they want (if they want to ofc) & envelope is in my drawer. Trouble is everyone always asks how much other people are putting in as they don't want to look stingy. It's a tricky one. :cool:

Bobarella

It's interesting to see how many people are finding work collections a drain at the moment. I don't have that issue working alone but remember it well. I think it's so tricky when certain things are ingrained in the office culture.

boxofpaws

I've updated my SOA. This is based on what we have spent so far this month, multiplied up.


A couple of notes
Car maintenance is high because the husband has a car and a motorbike. They are his hobby.
Nothing on clothes. That's not quite true. I don't love clothes shopping but I lost quite a bit of weight over the last 18 months and I have had to replace quite a lot of stuff. I have a decent core wardrobe but in the summer I may need some more things. I will try and make do.
Nothing for holidays. We are not planning to have one this year, unless we cut back somewhere else.
Gym - I used to use it for the classes but my new job is quite stressful and I never get there. So open to cancelling.
Petrol - is quite low because I get some expenses back from work for travel and it covers quite a lot more than we actually spend.
The garden - not mentioned on here but buying plants is my Achilles heel. I am new to gardening and it turns out I love it. I don't need anything new through and have propagated quite a lot last year so have vowed to husband not to buy anything apart from £10 at the spring charity plant sale.
BT- is extortionate. Apparently there are some more hikes coming so I might take that as my opportunity to go elsewhere.


Anyway, what do you think we should cut back on? Any other suggestions?


Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household.........
Number of cars owned.................... 2
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2018
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2050
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 4068
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 1165
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 161
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 169
Electricity............................. 50
Gas..................................... 63
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 30
Telephone (land line)................... 46.39
Mobile phone............................ 22.4
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 35.6
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 273.77
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 23
Road tax................................ 18.75
Car Insurance........................... 59.58
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 83.33
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 6
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 48
Buildings insurance..................... 8.5
Contents insurance...................... 8.5
Life assurance ......................... 21.39
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 83.33
Haircuts................................ 55
Entertainment........................... 150
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Nutracheck.............................. 6
Netflix................................. 6
Apple music............................. 9.99
Gym..................................... 42
Charity................................. 16
Collections at work..................... 10
Window cleaner.......................... 17.5
Pet food ............................... 28
Drinks for home......................... 36
Toiletries.............................. 27
Total monthly expenses.................. 2792.15

Assets
Cash.................................... 1000
House value (Gross)..................... 260000
Shares and bonds........................ 150
Car(s).................................. 10000
Other assets............................ 9000
Total Assets............................ 280150

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 182000...(1165).....5
Secured Debt.................. 4600.....(161)......1.5
Total secured & HP debts...... 186600....-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Barclaycard....................4213......85........0
Lloyds.........................7260......73........0
MBNA...........................7831......79........0
Loan...........................8330......323.......0
Tesco..........................8300......83........0
Total unsecured debts..........35934.....643.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 4,068
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,792.15
Available for debt repayments........... 1,275.85
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 643
Amount left after debt repayments....... 632.85
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 280,150
Total HP & Secured debt................. -186,600
Total Unsecured debt.................... -35,934
Net Assets.............................. 57,616
Created using the SOA calculator at www.stoozing.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

boxofpaws

takingcontrolatlast wrote: »

:j Fab news! I love the buzz of progress and congrats with the good worker rewards :T

Thank you, it feels great

sashybo wrote: »

:j Yay to the BTs going through and Santander being cleared & closed. :T:j

Well done on refusing the takeaway. :beer::D And also on your good worker points. :T

Re collections at work, we do big birthdays, new babies, weddings, funerals or retirement. Unfortunately on my shift we seem to have quite a few big birthdays this year (just had a 40th, have a 65th coming up

Thank you . 65 isn't a big birthday is it? We only do round numbers in my house.

Bobarella wrote: »

It's interesting to see how many people are finding work collections a drain at the moment. I don't have that issue working alone but remember it well. I think it's so tricky when certain things are ingrained in the office culture.

Lets hope this was an exceptional month, eh?

boxofpaws

Happy Sunday afternoon all,

Had my sisters and BILs over last night, which was lovely Out of my family, I tend to host. This is partly because I have the most spare rooms, and I can put people up. I love them coming but I have to say its a little bit of a drain financially. I dropped some pretty heavy hints about being poor. Its fine at the minute for us to stump up for the food and wine because I got some Christmas money but I might have to decline when they ask us to put them up in future.:( How does everyone else deal with this kind of thing?

The husband is at work this weekend on days so I have spent a bit of time catching up on my work work. I am not really enjoying my new job but I feel a little better and more in control. I am going to do a bit more today.

This morning I have put My Plan into action. I have ordered some groupon vouchers to go go-karting with the husband. He will love it and it was only £10.90 each. Little treats to make budgeting and debt-busting feel easy. I'm going to keep scouring Groupon and the MSE weekly email and give us 1 or 2 activities per month.


Meal planning
Just checked the fridge and we have LOTs of meat. I am going to run out of veg before meat. I normally onine shop at Morrisons but I don't need enough to justify another delivery so might have to nip to Asda for a top-up veg shop. Bad planning boxofpaws.
Tonight - roast chicken
Tomorrow - something veggi for meat-free Monday. Any ideas? So far I have done chickpea and cauli curry, bean tagine and frittata.
Tuesday - chicken (with some of the So-Tender sauces which have been in the cupboard for about 18 month. They are out of date so need using)
Wednesday - mince - chili or Bolognese or shepherd pie
Thursday duck leg slow roasted.
Friday - sausage quinoa casserole.
Saturday - at a party where food will be provided
Sunday - haggis.


So I reckon £10 on veg mid-week will see us through to Monday 6th

sashybo

boxofpaws wrote: »

Thank you . 65 isn't a big birthday is it? We only do round numbers in my house.

We do the 65th in my work because it's retirement age. Usually it's a smaller gift & a helium balloon as they generally retire shortly afterwards and get a better gift then as we collect money from all 3 shifts rather than just the one.

boxofpaws wrote: »

Happy Sunday afternoon all,

Had my sisters and BILs over last night, which was lovely Out of my family, I tend to host. This is partly because I have the most spare rooms, and I can put people up. I love them coming but I have to say its a little bit of a drain financially. I dropped some pretty heavy hints about being poor. Its fine at the minute for us to stump up for the food and wine because I got some Christmas money but I might have to decline when they ask us to put them up in future.:( How does everyone else deal with this kind of thing?

I know so many people who find this tricky. We always ask everyone that's coming over to bring something food-wise (& now they usually ask what to bring) i.e. my sister brings dessert, my mum brings the starter if we're having dinner etc etc. I think you do always spend more when you're hosting though as you don't want to run out of anything. I usually tell people to bring their own drinks as well if it's something we won't have in the house normally or they want something in particular. Always also ask them to bring their own mixer if they are drinking spirits.

boxofpaws

sashybo wrote: »

I think you do always spend more when you're hosting though as you don't want to run out of anything. I usually tell people to bring their own drinks as well if it's something we won't have in the house normally or they want something in particular. Always also ask them to bring their own mixer if they are drinking spirits.

Thank you Sashybo, I think its the norm to contribute something to the evening, I need to be blunter . Or next time they ask, I will just say no, sorry, I cant afford it.

boxofpaws

I have just done a big cupboard clean out. Happily, there isn't that much random stuff. Here is what I have to find a use for


Horrible value muesli
2 tins of chocolate topping. (I have combined the muesli and one of the tins with an egg and some flour and baked to make muesli bars. No idea what itll be like.)
20 packets of chicken flavouring! What was I thinking? Need to use 1 per week until they are gone, they are out of date.
Some complicated dried peas. They have a steeping tablet and a net which all sounds a bit unnecessary to me. I think I have been overwhelmed by how complicated it is to use them every time I have tried.
Out of date raspberry sugar free jelly sachet. I have made this up with some frozen raspberries in little fancy bowls and I am hoping it will be set for tonight.
Bulgar wheat and coucous. Not really a fan of either, I suppose they can just stay there for salads and things.
Polenta. Not really sure what it is so I have no idea why I have bought it.


All the rest is just stuff I use regularly anyway, coconut milk, beans and chickpeas and olives.

Drawingaline

Hi boxofpaws been reading through your diary.

Split peas, if you really won't use them can you use them for blind baking at all? I know I have in the past with similar items, as I don't own any ceramic blind beans.

Bulgar wheat. Well years ago my mum used to add it to bolognase to bulk out the meat. I don't remember it tasting any different, think she just used to toss a handful in when adding the sauce to the meat. Just a thought.

Will keep following.