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Get a grip !
Comments
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I loved watching Alvin Hall's tv programme. I still have the book somewhere
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I'm going to watch it on 'Catch Up'.Aiming for a minimal spend 20220
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payday tomorrow :j
Took porridge to work for breakfast & have just had some leftover slices of roast beef from the freezer with quick curry sauce (1 tablespoon gravy granules & 1 tablespoon curry powder) & half pack micro rice. Have a chicken in the fridge to roast later with potatoes and veg & then that's it - fridge and freezer looking very empty. Will go shopping tomorrow.
Good things for Feb -
saved £100 into long term savings
saved £50 in xmas account
saved £128 into holiday account (council tax free month)
saved just under £50 from grocery budget (into bills account)
saved £10 from petrol budget - carried forward
met up with a new lovely friend


have done some de-cluttering
bank rewards - £3.72
Plans for march -
-lose 3lb (weighed myself and am 3lb up on pre operation weight)
-save £100 into long term savings
-save £50 into xmas account
-save £128 into holidays account (council tax free month)
- another £3.72 bank rewards
-save £100 into bills account - line rental saver due for renewal, house insurance due may & 2 fence panels being replaced Easter
-more de-cluttering and put spare wardrobe on gum tree
-get out more - do more socialising now the weather is getting warmer but within budget of course
❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p10 -
Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household.........
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1076.75
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 280
Total monthly income.................... 1356.75
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 208
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 128 (2 free mth holiday fund)
Electricity............................. 65 dual fuel
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 44
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 7
TV Licence.............................. 12.12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 38 TV bband phone TiVo/HD
Groceries etc. ......................... 300
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 40
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 28.28
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 50
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 50
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
union fees ............................. 7.76
savings for bills....................... 100 (car/house ins line rent house maintenance
long term savings ...................... 100
Total monthly expenses.................. 1178.16
Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 500 emergency fund
Total Assets............................ 0
Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 29738....(208)......2.25
Total secured & HP debts...... 29738.....-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
parents car loan...............5420......160.......0
Total unsecured debts..........5420......160.......-
Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,356.75
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,178.16
Available for debt repayments........... 178.59
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 160
Amount left after debt repayments....... 18.59
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -29,738
Total Unsecured debt.................... -5,420
Net Assets.............................. -35,158
Created using the SOA calculator at www.stoozing.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.
I have updated my SOA with the new gas/electric and increased bills/food money from DS. I am planning to have as much fun as possible on that £50 entertainment budget ! I must look at tv phone & b/b deals too or try and barter down with VM this month❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p10 -
Good. If they don't agree to a big reduction threaten to leave. Well done on having a plan. I have got to get one. I just spent my entire Christmas fund! lol.Aiming for a minimal spend 20220
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Well you know the old saying about "best laid plans ..." hopefully nothing will crop up but if I see a bargain you never know

I have spoken to my dad about the tile stickers as I got no replies to my post on the In your home board and I am not going to buy them. He thinks they will be too close to my gas hob - naked flame and all that - its a shame as they did look good but don't want to risk it.❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p10 -
Wow, you did well with your savings this month skintyetagain!
Shame about the tile stickers, they sounded like sucha good idea!0 -
Ive seen them used on tv shows where they decorate houses and I am surprised they are not fire retardant (how do you spell it?) seeing as they are likely to be used in a kitchen or bathroom. Still at least you know before you find out.
Someone suggested to me that we can paint on the tiles but I don't know which paint. Mine need doing too.Aiming for a minimal spend 20220 -
I know they were a bargain too MM - perhaps I should buy some and flog them on ebay
... I found the same ones on amazon and they are much more expensive !
SW - They are heat resistant up to 60-80 degree C (140 - 176 degree F) but warning keep away from fire source at least 30 cm from flame - they would not be far enough away from my gas hob❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p10 -
Payday :j
We have food again ! Shopping budget March £55.30 / £300
I have been fancying pizza for days since being inundated with voucher codes by email & text & through the letterbox so I treated myself to a sweet chilli chicken pizza from aldee £1.39 for lunch... I am stuffed
Online banking done & council tax-free month money £128 moved into holiday account. That's £256 and should be enough for petrol & visit to family in the summer :T❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p10
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