Get a grip !

atrixa

Just gotten up to date on your thread, Skinty

It makes all the difference when you can dry outside, doesn't it? I can't wait for some dry weather. Still quite damp up here so clothes aren't drying very well.

It's been so interesting reading people's retirement plans on here. I have some ideas of what I want to do, but so much can change in 20/30 years.

MovingForwards

Hope you managed to get everything done and work wasn't too tasking, it's the weekend and time to relax.

Skint_yet_Again

I agree atrixa I’m yearning for spring now & some warmth on my aching bones. It’s not as cold this morning but damp and windy outside. The dog didn’t stay out long in the garden this morning. She’s been fed and I will be walking her later. Hope it’s not raining by then. 

Thanks MF I am hoping for a relaxing weekend. Hope you stay safe in the gales. 

Yesterday I put petrol in the car and set off to mat Alan not far away. Arrived at mat Alan and realised I had left the jumper at home. What an idiot 😆 

Decided to try again next week & drive to aldee. Stocked up with enough for 2 weeks or more with some items such as Clothes washing liquid, toilet rolls, pack dishcloths, tea bags, 2 boxes of cereal & block of butter. 

I got a pack of gammon steaks which will do 4 meals, a large pack of cubed beef which will make a slow cooker stew and a slow cooker beef madras. Chicken fillets will make various meals. Plus garlic chicken kievs and fish fingers. I got a tub of their belgian light hot chocolate to try and it’s not bad and only 99p. Also got a 1kg tub of smooth peanut butter for the dog 😆 it’s salt & sugar free plus no palm oil £3.99. She loves it but only has less than a tablespoon a day 🐶

Total spend £67.26. Left in shopping budget £43.38 so from February food budget £23.88. Petrol will also be from February budget £10.01. Never can get it exactly to the £ 🙄

MovingForwards

Just means you've a better chance of finding something to swap rather than a refund.
Food looks good and come it at a good price. I'm sure the pumps are set to take an extra 1p 🤭

ForestBluebells

What’s your monthly food budget can I ask? I always feel I over spend on food 🙊 

Skint_yet_Again

[font=courier new][b]Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet[/b][b]

Monthly Income Details[/b]

Monthly income after tax................ 1191.46

Partners monthly income after tax....... 0

Benefits................................ 0

Other income............................ 217[b] share of bills from DS & his gf

Total monthly income.................... 1408.46[/b][b]

Monthly Expense Details[/b]

Mortgage................................ 221.3

Gas & Electric.................. 95

Water rates................... 41.73

Mobile phone.................. 8.45

TV Licence.................... 13.37

TV/phone/ broadband ........ 64

Groceries ……………. 130

Petrol/diesel........................... 20

Car maintenance ........ 50

Presents (birthday, xmas etc)...50

Entertainment...................... 100

Union fees.......................... 8.82

Dog food ............................... 15

Annual bills ........................... 100

Savings.............................300[b]

Total monthly expenses... 1207.67[/b]

[b]

Secured & HP Debts[/b]

Description...................Monthly.

Mortgage... ..(221.3)....0[b]

Total secured & HP debts...... 0.........-.........-   [/b]

[b]

Monthly Budget Summary[/b]

Total monthly income........... 1,408.46

Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,207.67

Available for debt repayments........... 200.79

Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0[b]

Amount left after debt repayments......200.79[/b]

[i]Created using the SOA calculator at www.LemonFool.co.uk.

Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.[/i][/font]

Free prescriptions. Feb is council tax free as paid over 10 months. Annual bills account & car savings covers all insurances car/house & car tax/ breakdown cover/mot/service, clothes, glasses (free eye tests), dental & hair cuts. 

DS “owns” puppy dog so he pays for pet insurance and pet monthly plan for flea/worming and annual vaccinations.

Dog food is included in the bills money he pays me & I buy in bulk 15kg bags direct from manufacturer when I visit DF up north. £25 a bag Turkey and rice with omega 3 and 6. 

Emergency fund already saved £1000

Skint_yet_Again

@ForestBluebells I usually budget £30 a week for groceries and work out the number of weeks in the month. February is 4 x £30 but March is a 5 week month so will be £150. I’ve just realised I did a typo on my soa and put £130 for groceries 😆 it was meant to be £120. Never mind I have enough leeway in the budget. This includes everything, food, toiletries & cleaning products. 

I try to get everything in one visit to aldee usually weekly or fortnightly. It doesn’t matter if I go over budget one week if I can reduce the bill the following week. I try to use my slow cooker for batch cooking chilli, stew, curry & soup & freeze extra portions for easy meals when I don’t feel like cooking. I don’t always cook from scratch and have a couple of things in the freezer that I can just put in the oven such as chicken kievs, oven chips, fishfingers, pizza and try to avoid takeaways. 

I think food budget is very personal and depends on what you can cook or like to eat or can afford. I sometimes splash out on steak, other times I buy liver as a cheap meal or have a meat free meal. I allow myself takeaway or meals out with friends and use my entertainment budget. 

I will put the remaining £200 into holiday savings to cover petrol up north to visit family. There will only be this large extra money in Feb and some in March as they are council tax free months. 

Skint_yet_Again

Just about to walk the dog. 

In my slow cooker today I am making a stew with beef, onions, carrots, swede & potatoes. I will cook the remaining swede and a whole cauliflower and broccoli (cut into florets) in my steamer and then freeze it. 

Tomorrow I will make a slow cooker curry with beef, peppers, onions and chickpeas & add some of the cooked cauliflower and broccoli at the end. Leftovers will be portioned up and frozen. Leftover cauli and broccoli will stay in the freezer for quick dinners or in stir fry’s. 

MovingForwards

Budget looks good.
Is your water over 9 or 12 months?

With retirement planning I would switch the CT and water to 12 months to keep the monthly costs down. I know it's nice having 'free' months, but those few quid could make a huge difference to your plans. Obviously the union fees will go and your monthly savings reduce too.

Meals sound scrumptious!

Skint_yet_Again

Will have to look at bills MF. They will all change if I downsize. 

Went for a walk with my non-dog owning friend yesterday afternoon. Her ex-partner has passed away suddenly & she wanted someone to talk to. DS & his gf were out walking the dog so I walked with her to McD, we both had a cup of tea (99p) and I bought her a burger as she hadn’t eaten & I had an ice cream as I had already had some slow cooker stew. Total spend £4.86 will use February entertainment fund.