Everything is possible if you try!

EssexHebridean

Hey Tea & Kittens - thought I'd pay you a return visit! *waves*

Looks like you're starting to get everything together - that must have been a great surprise when you found out how much your energy account was in credit by! Brilliant stuff! I agree with you that sorting out an emergency fund is probably a good plan for the balance of that refunded money - make sure it's not TOO accessible though!

Batch cooking can take many forms - some people do a purposeful day when they cook loads of stuff - others find that it works better to cook extra portions of favourite meals and freeze those. There's no wrong or right way, it's about finding what works best for you. I tend to mix and match between the two - we have a massive slow cooker so during the winter I'll use that for stews, curries, bolognese etc in particular. I also do mutliples of things like layered veg bakes, and if I'm cooking a cheese sauce for example I'll always cook double or treble what I need and portion/freeze the balance. Having stuff i the freezer that can just be pinged to defrost/heat is such a bonus though and can definitely keep food spends down!

Remember you need to start budgeting now for things like car expenses too - I see you have your car tax on your SOA as paid monthly - is it or have you just written it this way for ease? At 3250 a year that's quite a lump to potentially take you by surprise though - and it's also one of those things where paying monthly is a false economy if you have a choice about it as they charge extra to do so I think? (In fact I've just looked - there is an extra charge on the 6 monthly payment option as well now so you really need to set aside the money to be able to make a single annual payment . We use a savings account specifically for car expenses and put a set amount in there each month to cover tax, insurance, maintenance, MoT and a degree of depreciation for things like tyres too.

One notable thing I did pick up from the SOA - no contents insurance?

I'm going to be the dissenter to pour the bucket of cold water over YNAB I'm afraid. It's not that it's not good, or that it doesn't work - but learn to budget using pen, paper and bank accounts first before using an app - you'll have a much better understanding of the "ground rules" that way. As and when you do move on to using an App look for a free one - at least while you're in debt!

Tea&Kittens

Hi EssexHebridean!

I have an existing Cash ISA (which was languishing with about 63p in it) which I've used to deposit the emergency funds into. There's no card with that account, so I can't spend it willy nilly, but I can transfer if needed for an emergency. So, yes accessible, but away from the main account is good.

I have indeed been paying car tax monthly, though it is on my list of things to save for so that I can pay off all at once. I have now set up a separate account so that bills and things like car maintenance will be separate from what I have for day to day use for groceries etc.

I've had a good sort of the cupboards, so once I've done the same with the freezer (I've got the feeling that there are some tubs of stuff which are overdue to be liberated from their icy sojourn) I'll have more room and be able to identify what I have more clearly.

Contents insurance - I did have, not sure what happened to that, will have to look into it.

I understand what you're saying about YNAB. I have a little book to write everything down in. I'll be entering everything both manually and in YNAB while I get more of a feel for what I'm doing.
It's a little overwhelming realising how easily I've just frittered away money on random things for so long! I've deleted the kickstarter app from my phone to take away the temptation from backing interesting projects, so that should help a little too!

EssexHebridean

Haha - deleting tempting apps from phones or tablets can really help to keep spendiness under control - I don't have the eBay app on mine for that very reason!

Tea&Kittens

Somehow (quite fortunately!) I've never succumbed to being much of an ebay spender! This is probably for the best. It's boardgames which are my big weakness for spending.

missmental123

Nonnadiluca wrote: »

For easy budgeting I use a free app called Spending Tracker. I have several different 'accounts' on there, joint account, personal account, shopping account, other spends account etc, but it's really easy to use. For example, for my shopping account - I put my monthly budget of £300 in as income and every time I buy anything I enter it as an expense, which means that I always know exactly what is left in the budget for the month: because it's on my phone and I always have my phone with me, I can update immediately, not have to wait until I get home and forget what I've bought. Maybe worth trying, especially as it's free.
I agree that starting an emergency fund is a good idea, something unexpected always crops up and ends up on the credit card so you feel as if you're going backwards.
It's been said many times before, but realising you have a problem and making a start is the most important step. Good luck!

Hi ,
I saw your recommendation this spending app, I immediately downloaded it and have not looked back since! It's so easy to use and it's really helping me see how much I actually spend on the different categories.
Many thanks !.

missmental123

Hello Tea & Kittens,
I have been reading your lovely diary, I'm a newbie too with similar amount of debt as you. Hopefully we will both be debt free very soon!
Good luck, I have subscribed and will pop by to say hi when I can.

Willowtree222

Hi,

Thought I would come and read. Seems we are in a similar position, and have spent the past few years burying our heads.

Here with you!

Tea&Kittens

I've downloaded the Spending tracker app to have a play with. I figure if I try enough things something might work!
Lovely to have this supportive community!

(Nearly caved this evening, got home and felt rubbish. Nearly succumbed to buying an "easy tea". Made a chickeny pasta thing, there enough of it to be lunch on Thursday too).

blue_eyed_girl123

Hello Tea & Kittens ,

I would definitely recommend separating out accounts, I find it really helpful and I know how much needs to go in each one and how much is leftover.

That way bank balance isn't just one figure and bills are paid with actual money.

Also, clear your overdraft and remove it, if you don't have it, you can't use it.

Good luck on your journey .

Tea&Kittens

This week has seen a no spend day, I've taken lunch into work 3 times and once had it bought for me. I've set up journal pages for saving, card payments, tracking no spend days and days I've not spent extras on lunch. Changed the cats to cheaper food. This makes me feel like things which are positive for changing spending habits.
This weekend will be challenging. It's my birthday weekend, and Kitty and I are going to London. Train to London, accommodation and a play has been paid for by my parents as a birthday treat, so it's just feeding myself and kitty and travel around London I have to consider. i think most of what we have planned is walkable, and we're not in any great hurry so hopefully that side of things will not be too bad.
Any food suggestions welcomed! (I'm thinking supermarket meal deal is probably a cheap convenient option during the day!)