“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

WannabeFree

Good morning

I didn't get my earlier night :rotfl: I was up looking where I could cut back and get expenses down till nearly 3am! I currently use Mr T and L!dl, it looks like A1di is slightly cheaper but I'm not sure it's on a bus route as it's in the middle of an industrial estate so probably not cost effective. Although I'm going to go through our meal plan today and see if I can cut it back slightly to nearer £20 than £30.

No other news. Smalls are all playing and I'm having my coffee

Have a lovely Sunday

x

WannabeFree

Weekly Out - When Debt Free - 26 weeks to go.

£95.04 Rent
£9.70 Council Tax
£15 Gas
£15 Electric
£9.23 Water
£0 TV License (going to cancel)
£2.50 for phone credit
£24 Bus Pass/Travel (won't be this much when the weather is better)

£2 Snack

£72 for everything else (Food/Bus passes/Travel/Toiletries etc) Amazing what the difference will be in 6 months time. Will be enough for the 'fun' stuff along with the emergency fund etc too.

I promise that's the last update about it now I'm driving myself mad

earthgirl

Thats amazing - you've put so much work into cutting it back. The 26 weeks will incude a lot of spring summer and autumn which are easier on heating etc and so many more fun outside activites are free.

The 26 weeks will fly by and you'll be free - because of your amazing hard work and determination!

WannabeFree

Thank you EG.

We are looking forward to the warmer weather. When we can enjoy the park and even just the garden!

I think switching to DD for gas and electric will be very similar to what I budget now. But it won't go off at the worst time possible and I won't constantly be using the emergency credit and 'owing' it on the meter the following week.

Thank you
x

greenbee

I've been lurking but not commenting and am amazed by what you achieve and how positive you are in the face of all your challenges.

You probably know this already, but when you switch to DD on the gas & electricity, make sure that you submit regular meter readings so that they are billing you accurately (most let you do this through an app now). And once you have built up a good credit record with them you'll be able to shop around more. Some providers offer incentives for regular readings (BG used to do nectar points). Others pay interest on any credit on your account, so you earn money during the summer as you build up credit which then means you have more money in your account when the expensive winter months arrive.

Summer hopefully means eating more cold food too (less energy used for cooking!) and lights on for less time, so should give you a chance to get ahead and make next winter less stressful.

WannabeFree

Thank you Greenbee

I will see what they say on Monday I hope they will change the meters as it will definitely be less worry of it going off. She did say on the live chat I was eligible to have them fitted.

Thank you again

x

WannabeFree

Onto what I enjoy doing - food

Meal plan looks like

Sunday - Roast dinner & trimming.
Monday - Chicken pasta bake (late school night)
Tuesday - Chicken Curry, rice and maybe flatbreads if I get time to make them.
Wednesday - Cottage pie & veg.
Thursday - Spag bol, garlic bread (I have to make this for youngest )
Friday - Lasagne with left overs and probably more garlic bread.

I need to make the snacks - probably flapjack and muffins of some variety today while the oven is on for the chicken. I will make the flatbreads Tuesday and the garlic bread thursday.

There is toast/porridge for breakfast and sandwiches etc for lunches. I've started putting slightly less in their pack lunches for school and they still seem happier and full enough and now there is no waste.

Also fruit and salad will go with the meals with no veg and snacks. I'll not plan which go where but use them up before they go sad looking in the fridge. Will probably make soup for me!

x

DrSpendLittle

Do you use lentils and beans to pad out mince dishes to make the meat go further? Just thought I'd mention it since its something we're trying to do (the dried ones which are much cheaper than canned). Also, I wonder if the smalls would like Tadka Dahl? Really cheap to make using lentils and could eat with rice or flatbreads. You don't necessarily need to burn the garlic as it is an acquired taste! I was inspired by you to made pancakes this morning to use up some brown bananas

teafor2

Meal plan looks great WB and with the extra home baking, fruit, veg and salad I'd say it's probably more healthy than what most eat - TF2 family, I am definitely looking at you lot :rotfl: Do you really think you can do it for £20 ish?

Hopefully, as Greenbee has said with the better weather coming up you'll be able to make some more savings as well and if there's the odd week where you don't need the bus passes that will make a hefty difference to you.

You also seem 'positively' on top of everything rather than worrying about it all which is really good xx

WannabeFree

I do Dr and oats in mince based thing too. 1 small chicken and 1 500gram mince does the 6 days meals and the 7th (which is usually a Friday night) is something out the freezer/leftovers or we make pizza basically just use what needs using.

I'm not sure if £20 every week is possible as it's things like washing powder/toiletries etc that pushes it up some weeks and the nappies etc. But I am going to try my best!

x