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

beanielou

Right. I have thought about this long & hard!!
I think you should maybe take an advance that covers two weeks rent.
That way you will only be in two weeks arrears which is way better than 4 weeks and more importantly you dont need to take such a big advance so your repayments will not be so high.
Hope this makes sense. x

WannabeFree

I haven't taken any yet Beanie. They said I can ask for the advance loan anytime in this first month.

I'm considering trying to meal plan etc and seeing how low I can get the monthly cost of the grocery down. But the things like school trips etc always trip me up why things have been tight. The £100 a month is only £20 a week on a 5 week month for everything. So anything I take will make this even less that's why I'm worried I think.

It'll work out somehow. I am in a much better place than ever before. And there's definitely people worse off

Hope you're okay

x

beanielou

WannabeFree wrote: »

I haven't taken any yet Beanie. They said I can ask for the advance loan anytime in this first month.

I'm considering trying to meal plan etc and seeing how low I can get the monthly cost of the grocery down. But the things like school trips etc always trip me up why things have been tight. The £100 a month is only £20 a week on a 5 week month for everything. So anything I take will make this even less that's why I'm worried I think.

It'll work out somehow. I am in a much better place than ever before. And there's definitely people worse off

Hope you're okay

x

I am plodding on thanks x

Verbatim

Can't the cost of school trips be waived given your current circumstances with be transferred to UC? I thought schools have to cover the cost if a parent can't afford it?

please-let-me-be-lucky

I’m in awe of how well you cope on so little money. I’m also angry on your behalf that you have to though :mad: Xx

WannabeFree

Thankfully the current trips are paid for or covered by school. Only certain trips and a certain amount are covered by school.

Fingers crossed there shouldn't be anymore trips to be paid in the waiting period. There is a couple of things on that will have costs but I'm prepared for them. Graduation pictures etc.
Then it will be the school holidays for 6 weeks so none then until September. Thankfully

I think I've literally budgeted everything I can into my budget going forward. There's around £7 a month 'unaccounted' for that will build for an hospital stay etc.

WannabeFree

We are home.

Salad is all washed and freshened up. It should last another couple of days now vegetables inspected and the ones looking really sad are boiling for soup. Have chickpea and lentil curry on the go for dinner tomorrow and to make some 'ready meals' for the freezer. Dinner tonight is jacket potato with salad. Have made sure nothings being missed in the fridge.

Smalls are playing outside so I might get some cleaning done out there.

x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Your meals sound really nice and very frugal, you are amazing at making your grocery budget stretch.

I think if it was me I would take the advance rather than be in arrears with the rent, but I'm not clever with financial calculations .

I hope you enjoyed the country park .

WannabeFree

Thank you

Everyone's in bed.

8 portions of curry in the freezer and enough for tomorrows dinner left out.
6 tubs of soup into the freezer too.

Also made some oat biscuit's and fairy cakes to keep the smalls happy and it made use of the oven being on.

Country park was lovely. Really busy though!

Hope you've all had a lovely day

x

WannabeFree

Have gone through the freezer and wrote my list. Lifted some mince out so I can make some more 'ready meals' it's so much easier on the days we don't have as much time. I like being on schedule
Think I will make Bolognese/lasagne and chilli. I never seem to get much success freezing mash/cottage pie. It's never as nice?!

Still waiting for youngest to fall asleep. The other two are sleeping though and have been for a while.

No plans for tomorrow. The weather is supposed to turn again but if it doesn't I think we will get some of the gardening done. Have set some number/word games up for over breakfast. Hoping it keeps them entertained while I have my cup of tea in the morning!

x