Second time lucky... debt free diary.

charlies_tribe

Good morning.
I was hoping for a NSD today but DH bought beer on his way home from work.
Just checked and tax credits have updated already, I only filled it in on Friday. Child Ben says it has sent out a decision in the post.
Going to write a list of Bill's and work through them all making sure everything is still on the cheapest rate.

I would also like to tackle our food shopping. Delivery was about £120 yesterday and there was hardly anything there. We're also fed up of the same meals all the time. Need to look into cheap and easy meals (that are also filling for DH and DS!).

DH has gone up to the garage to see about the car so I'm going to get some washing out and start on the cleaning.

Moneyfordreams

I have enjoyed reading your diary over the past week CT. I'm sorry to read this year has been a struggle for you. You have done amazingly well on your dept repayments. Your DD1 sounds just like many teenagers I have met

Be kind to yourself, I look forward to your updates

charlies_tribe

Thank you moneyfordreams.

Ok, I'm back!
New year, fresh start. After going back to work they messed up my wages which cancelled my Carers allowance. That's finally sorted. Then DH hurt his back and has been off work for 2 months. He has gone back but only been doing short hours. He should be doing his first full shift tonight.
So if that goes well we should be back to full money from Jan. We are defiantly ready! With all the missed work and Christmas, the bank accounts are completely empty. We usually have the next months money in the account by the end of the month but for the first time in a few years, we will be lucky to have a 1/4 of it this month.

For the first few months im going to just pay minimums to try and get back on track.

Payments from Jan should be as follows, going to check through each one as i get chance to make sure it's on the cheapest option.

In
wages, wages, child ben, tax cred, DS dla, DD1 board, Carers

Total 3368 every 4 weeks (roughly 3757 monthly)

Out
mortgage 519
council tax 120
food 650
pets 113
elec/gas 150
water 63
tv licence 14
mobiles 45
internet 25
car fuel 100
car 75
MBNA 66
lloyds 98
sofa 90
Barclay 57
dance 100
park hamper 50
amazon music 15
hp ink 2
netflix 12
nowtv 25
freezer/dryer ins 17
amazon prime 10
holiday 100
birth\Christmas 200
emergency 100
entertainment 100
Clothes 100
osteo 37
storage unit 100

Total 3153

EEK! Cant believe how much has been added since i last went through the statements.

Food- hoping to bring this down!

Pets- feeding 4 dogs and a cat and insurance. Looks like the pup has an allergy to something and after a £60 vet bill last month we are trialling a hypo-allergenic food, which isn't cheap.

Gas/elec- I know this is high, just done a comparison and we could save £200 a year, need to look in to it. Having to was DS bedding/clothes all the time and showers due to his accidents probably doesn't help. I've also applied for a boiler grant, our boiler is about 18 years old and the last person we had out to it wouldn't repair it.

Water, think this is over 8 months so is now done until march/april time.

Dance- this is expensive! Covers gym, freestyle, acro and cheer and DD2 cheer comp team fees. She has to stay in so many classes to stay on comp team but it is fantastic for her confidence (and their health).

Now tv- Is now fully paid for the next year using Tesco vouchers. Not bad for just using the free trial a few months ago!

Insurances- was going to cancel these the other month but the dryer has packed up. Need to clean the kitchen so i can get them out to fix it.

Storage unit- This years job is to empty it! That'll be a huge saving.

While doing my list i realise the house/contents cover has not renewed so needs to be sorted ASAP.

There's probably things i've missed and i haven't got exact debt totals so will look at them later.

charlies_tribe

Just seen my last post was about the car. Car needed a new engine so we ended up with a new car, adding to the CC. We have also had to have a new oven on BNPL.

katsu

Good luck in tackling this all.

Could you live without Amazon Prime? Maybe a friend who has it could get the items sent to you? I am trying to use Amazon less and I share it with a family member when I do use it.

I don't know what Amazon music is, but again could you live without it? You'd be £300 a year better off without them both.

Is the park hamper worth £600 a year (assuming you pay all year round? ) when you already set aside £2,400 for birthdays and Christmas?

Good luck emptying your storage unit. Nice for you to get £1200 a year back from that. Might even sell some things on eBay or Facebook out of it maybe and make some extra cash.

Good luck in getting on top of everything.

charlies_tribe

Thank you for your reply Katsu.
Due to the anxiety and panic attacks I've still not left the house other than for work so the Amazon account has been used for pretty much all the Christmas presents. The music was only added a few months ago but the teens all use it daily. They have had Christmas music playing on it all day today. I think now eldest isn't here most of the time it could be dropped to one device.
I could go without all the tv/music and just sit in peace and quiet but they'd go mad without it (so would DH, putting the tv on is the first thing he does).

I keep saying I'm cancelling park, we only have vouchers/gift card. The gift card this year bought a couple of Christmas presents and DS2 a new mattress (wont make the mistake of a foam mattress again for an incontinent child, it was only a year old but stank vile). The actual vouchers are sat in the drawer along with most of last years as I don't go out to spend them. Going to have to do some food shopping in Iceland.

The Christmas/birthday money pot doesn't really go that far. With almost 5 teens, 16 nieces/nephews, 3 sets of parents and my grandparents. We only buy a gift set/flowers and we haven't bought for siblings for quite a few years now. I need to get more strict with what I buy though.
DH usually takes the children to the cinema as a Christmas treat while I get some wrapping done, that's getting so expensive too. About £70 for them all to go tomorrow.

Storage unit is definitely a lot of things to sell. A lot left from DH stopped being self employed, the reason for the unit in the first place.

Getting up at 5 in the morning to get the last bits of shopping before it gets too busy. Have a £50 stamp card from my grandparents to use so hoping it's not too expensive.

Better get some sleep, going to be a long day (really need to start wrapping).

Cherryfudge

Lovely to hear from you again, Charlie's tribe: you are amazing for getting back into work. I remember you struggled tremendously.

I'm sorry to hear about your DH's injury. I hope his shift goes well tonight.

I think I've said before that my DD was a cheerleader and it's been a fantastic experience for her - but oh dear, the cost of the clothes! The skills have stood her in good stead, funnily enough, as she's taken further sporting interests and now uses it as a side line in her job.

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas.

charlies_tribe

Thank you Cherryfudge. I still hate every single second of work, I constantly feel sick. I came out in tears again on Saturday, luckily I'm off till Friday now but it has to be done for the pennies.

DH did all but an hour of his shift but it was because they had finished early. He came home for a cup of tea and we went shopping for 6. Spent a bit more than I planned as I wasn't queuing at 6.30 to use my £50 voucher, went through self serve instead, even that was busy. I'll use it next week instead.
Spent the afternoon wrapping family and the older 2 presents while the younger ones were watching Christmas films, they haven't mentioned their cinema trip so saved a bit of money there. Trying to get them in bed so I can start on theres but they're way too excited to sleep.

Cost of clothes (£130 for her dress, luckily half covered by fundraising) and her first comp last weekend has definitely been a shock! But after 2 years shes finally spoke to the teacher and is now an 'assistant in training ' in some of the younger classes.

If I don't get back on tomorrow I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas x

charlies_tribe

Had a lovely day yesterday although was some arguing over the Christmas dinner.
Today I've been ill! I feel sick everytime I move and keep dropping asleep. I'd blame DH's cooking but I'm the only one feeling ill. We should have been at a relative's for tea but I don't dare move.
So today has been spend free and I'm hoping tomorrow will be too unless I see anything in the sales while at work.
Of all the things, I need to buy a dog jumper! I always said I'd never put them on the dogs but DD bought a Christmas jumper for the pup at the beginning of the month and he absolutely loves it! He fetches it back if we take it off. I think after next week it might be unacceptable to take him out dressed as Santa
Well, I better go feed the kids and get an early night, got to be up for work at 4.30.

Cherryfudge

I love the story of the dog jumper! Perhaps he could model them for the manufacturer and make your fortune?

I'm sorry work is still so difficult... do they give you some support? And I hope you feel better soon: it does sound a bit like a bug.

P.S. Unless the dog is just keen on the colour? I had a toddler once who would only wear red, or denim.