Up sh*t creak without a paddle. Advice needed.

melissa'smoney

Little_Mama wrote: »

Hi Melissa,

Have you looked into the possibility of transferring your gym membership to someone else? My OH was able to do this for a cost of about £20 for the 'admin' (he was working away at the time and was then coming home so belonging to a gym £100 miles away was going to be daft).

Also, if you've no dependants, do you really need the life cover? I know it's only £5 but it all helps.

Good luck
LM

Hi, thanks for this info, i'm going to ring them today and do some begging...

x

melissa'smoney

Things i've done since i posted my SOA yesterday.

1.applied for a water meter from uswitch (calculated saving of £194)

2. Swapped to Southern electric for gas+elec...still £55pm but they have promised to reduce this for me + are giving me an electricity device that monitors how much electricity i'm using + helps me cut back!? (gimmick maybe but ill give it a try!) There also 4p cheeper per kwph that British Gas

3.Cancelled dog walker...you're right, the dog's ok for the other 4 days so i'm sure she'll be fine for that one! :rolleyes:

4.Cancelled window cleaner

5.Looking into changing my home insurance...look slike a saving of £10pm :T

I've worked out how much i can spend per week to keep within budget and it's £73. I'm going to take that out each week and that's it, when its gone its gone. I'm only going to carry cash and not take any cards out with me

It's a start!! xx

Soubrette

melissa'smoney wrote: »

Things i've done since i posted my SOA yesterday.

1.applied for a water meter from uswitch (calculated saving of £194)

2. Swapped to Southern electric for gas+elec...still £55pm but they have promised to reduce this for me + are giving me an electricity device that monitors how much electricity i'm using + helps me cut back!? (gimmick maybe but ill give it a try!) There also 4p cheeper per kwph that British Gas

3.Cancelled dog walker...you're right, the dog's ok for the other 4 days so i'm sure she'll be fine for that one! :rolleyes:

4.Cancelled window cleaner

5.Looking into changing my home insurance...look slike a saving of £10pm :T

I've worked out how much i can spend per week to keep within budget and it's £73. I'm going to take that out each week and that's it, when its gone its gone. I'm only going to carry cash and not take any cards out with me

It's a start!! xx

What a good start - well done you

Sou

melissa'smoney

Well i've not posted no ere for a while but i have been making changes and for the first time in years i have had money left at the end of the last 2 months!! (even put £100 from last month into saving account!) :j I haven't been overdrawn and i've been spending cash instead of taking my card everywhere.
My biggest saving has to be on food shopping.....i'm doing one BIG shop ONLINE and this is lasting me for 2/3 weeks and then i only need to top up on bits, it's made a huge differene and it's where i've seen the biggest saving! :T :T
Feel so much happier and in control, also Quidco has been a big eye opener to me and i do most things via this and check to see if i can get cashback first before purchasing anything!

Also sold old ipod for £112 on ebay!

Thanks to everyone no here!! :beer: :T :T

melissa'smoney wrote: »

I really appreciate this guys...SOA...this is per month

I've just turned 30 and this is the worst off iv'e even been!!!

Mortgage: £388 interest only (3.99 fixed until 02/09 (£600 repayment) (£70 of tthe £388 is a lan repayment i consolidated onto my mortgage to pay off CC and i've done it again!)
Council Tax: £69 (inc single 25% discount)
Water: £26 Applied for a water meter and got water saving device in toilet
TV licence £11.61
Gym membership: £22.99 Cancelled
Virgin Media: (phone, tv, braodband, V+) £40 Complained and got credit back as goodwill (known fault on audio that wasnt mentioned to me when took out)
Car insurance: £31.82
O2 mobile: £35 (tied in until March 08) Got a good retention deal reduced monthly payment to £20 for same package and £180 cashback for keeping phone which gives me 9 months free line rental! :T
Home Insurance: £35 Switched = saving £5 per month and did through Quidco giving me £120 cashback :T
Gas+Electric: £55 (£30 gas £25 elec) dual fual British Gas Swapped to Southern Electric who are cheaper per unit so should see some savings
Life Insurance: £5 Cancelled
Current CC min payments: £200 (£100 on each)

Total = £919.60
Earn = £1200
Leaves me =£280.40 for the whole month!!

Spends per week:
Petrol: £20 filling up tank to max and saving me money
Dog walker: £8 Cancelled
Cat food:£5 Buying in bulk on on offer
Food shopping £60 (yes this is far too high and i think i have a problem in this area) Online and big shop, working out at £60-80 per month NOT per week!! :T
Going out/coffees/magazines £20 Took out magazine subscription via quidco saving me £2 per copy and got £5 cashback:T
Clothes/Assessories £20 (this isn't regular weekly spending)
Window cleaner: £2.50 (alternate weeks) Cancelled

(will add more when i think of them)

Annual Payements:
Dog Insurance: £180
MOT:
Car tax:
Leashold: £1.50


Credit Cards:

Tesco £1360 min payment £80
MBNA £5000 Min payment £95pm



xx

neverdespairgirl

Fantastic, well done!

Do you work holidays, if you are a school nurse? Could you do some temping for some of the holidays, get some extra cash for treats, but still have some time off?

belfastgirl23

Well done you! It's a great feeling isn't it

melissa'smoney

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Fantastic, well done!

Do you work holidays, if you are a school nurse? Could you do some temping for some of the holidays, get some extra cash for treats, but still have some time off?

I'm on a 52 week contract so i get 39 weeks holiday (increased from term time only as i didnt get paid for school holidays and was only pro rata)

I decided i didn't want a lodger so i'm working agency at weekends (1 or 2 weekends) which gives me extra cash)

Quidco has saved and given me loads of money....

In the last 4 months i've earnt £135 :T just from cashback! :T :T

neverdespairgirl

Fantastic, nice one!

Do you work some of the holidays for extra £?

melissa'smoney

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Fantastic, nice one!

Do you work some of the holidays for extra £?

I work odd days if i have a week off

Keeping_Positive

Just found this thread and really happy to see the results so far :j