Countdown from £28k...

Sarahwithlove

My groceries budget is £200 per month 🙈 I think there probably is some wiggle room but if you're happy with the amount your spending and able to still budget the rest then I it's one area I think it's OK to spend on. 

lantanna

I spend £300 a month on groceries which includes alcohol, cleaning products, toiletries and Takeaways but I don’t live in London so not sure how that would compare in London prices. My advice would to bulk buy and take advantage of special offers when you see them. I’m going to start squirrelling some money away just for socialising for when they open up the gates so I can join in but not feel the pain in a loss to savings or going wild on the credit card. I think no matter our age we all need a bit of motherly advice from time to time lol

alt80

Groceries inc booze when drinking and odd non-expensed Starbucks £650/m here.

@warby68 Ha you're 100% a mum lol but 'been around the block a bit' FML @ryanm8655 with a friend like that... you really don't need an enemy lol. Seriously iswym Warby tbf I'm fairly sure Ryan is actually a bit older than my wife and not sure I'd refer to her as a 'young girl' anymore but probably because that'd be just a bit weird so yeah not as young as your sons but he's 100 still got some life left yet.

27 bottles of gin haha thought you'd be teetotal or something.

@ryanm8655 re mates, haven't got to the stage of not feeling bad, you're giving me hope lol though if I'm honest I've probably fell into the waster mate category myself from time to time, bit embarrassing looking back.

Think you'll possibly grow into not binging on the wine mate only time I drink heavily these days tends to be when I've been on the other stuff but used to drink a lot more generally in my 20s.

Good idea ordering the booze in rather than going to corner shop haha can't even remember last time I even went to one of those places tbh lol didn't think anyone did these days. Not spending too much/bottle on wine imo either, we tend to spend between £15-25/bottle but probably only have 1 a week when we are drinking sensibly.

warby68

Ha I think 'been around the block' must have a negative vibe in some quarters. Its just a bit of life experience to us. Sorry Ryan if you thought I meant you were an ancient codger shuffling around in your slippers

alt80

@warby68 haha missed your post lol, I wouldn't say it on your next trip to these parts - you were basically calling Ryan a sl*t.

ryanm8655

Lol! Yeah, that's what it means here too...

Sorry for the lack of check-in...been pretty busy with work and life so didn't have time to give any kind of meaningful update.

Been keeping a track of the spends, still some way to go in terms of cutting them down but it's definitely helping me to be more conscious of what I'm spending. Things have been a bit more spendy...friends came over and wanted a takeaway so my takeaway no spend until Monday didn't happen ha. Then had a drive thru fish and chips on the Monday (had to head down south for an appointment) and also had a drive thru coffee on the drive. While I was there dropped off a few gifts (treats for kids, flowers etc.) for a recent milestone, which I've added to the grocery spend. Wasn't something planned but decided as I was down and had time I'd say a socially distance hello. Also only learned of the milestone at the weekend (30 years of service) so not one I had on my radar ha.

Still got most of the beers I bought last week left, though all the wine has gone (4 bottles). Actually used half a bottle of red last night while cooking and finished the other half while working late to get an impact assessment done. Had no idea that cooking a bolognese from scratch takes so long and needs so man ingredients ha. But I have 7 portions left so have frozen a load and left a few in the fridge left for lunches.

Shopping wise, I'm probably going to do another Amazon Fresh order as I can't be bothered to go out in this cold. Got a bit of a shopping list but not loads. Food wise I'm pretty sorted, just need some more bread/eggs couple of cupboard things like balsamic vinegar and some rapeseed oil. Toilet rolls need a top up. A couple more frozen pizzas and then restocking the wine. While I'm having friends over I think the wine is always going to be the main expense...Have a few wants for the shopping list e.g. gin but waiting for a decent special offer. Might do a Lidl trip at the weekend, it's just so bloody cold ha.

February variable spend updates:

Groceries: £101.15 (need to do another weekly shop but hopefully cheaper this week, plus includes some unexpected gifts categorised as groceries as they came from the supermarket @£20ish)

Takeaway: £35.38 (A lot higher then I'd have liked but would have felt awkward saying no to takeaway with friends - did offer to cook but they said they don't eat dinner but that changed after a few drinks ha - plus the coffee and drive thru while driving)

Petrol: £75.24 (A tank of fuel, given I don't use the car much it shouldn't need filling again for a while, will sell as soon as lockdown allows - I'd be surprised if I need another tank before the end of March to be honest ha)

Car battery: £150 (Really should be it on the car maintenance front)

Work leaving funds: £10 (2 of my staff leaving so can't really not contribute...)

Total: £371.77

Still need to replace the toilet seat, making do with the broken one at the moment as hoping to hold off until my credit card bill is finalised in 3 days ha. So still have the following to come:

CC balance: £960.45

Toilet seat: £76.72

Tools: £20

Total: £1057.17

Also still have some wants:

- Art @ c.£300

- Spare duvet set @ £40

- Oven Gloves @ ?

- Sonos Beam @ £399

I had to look back at the list for the others so I think I might take them off the wants list haha. Things like a lamp and rug for the bedroom I don't think are needed. Not that fussed about bathroom mats either ha. Will see how things go with those.

Bank balance is sitting at around £2600, so should have close to £1300 left come pay day by my rough estimate but hoping I can tighten the purse strings some more and that groceries will gradually come down. It's going to need me to sell my car if I am to max out my LISA this year but also questioning whether I want to max it given it's then tied up until I buy a house/flat and I actually think buying in London is poor value and better off investing cash and renting...but probably should...

Getting there with the whole managing my finances thing...while I am good with numbers the structure and control element isn't something that comes naturally ha.

Actually supposed to be going on a walking date at the weekend (sounds lame I know but all you can do in lockdown) and getting the impression the girl could be a financial nightmare. Clearly likes the finer things in life, currently life funded by parents as decided they wanted a career switch, do have their own flat but they're drinking £20 wines as a student... Nothing wrong with all that could just see issues down the line when they expect a certain lifestyle ha, fine if their parents want to fund me too

alt80

Your spends don’t look too bad mate. Takeaway spends not horrendous really and spaghetti bolognese think about 1/2 bottle of red goes in ours too haha.

You’ll get a fair bit of advice from the mums on here re girl I’m sure ha but let’s just keep it real.

1. Fit?

2. Age?

3. Net worth of the parents?

4. Been ‘around the block a bit’ ha?

5. Likes a good time?

If you’ve answered: yes, younger, edging 9 figs, not too much of a rep and until the sun comes up; sounds like the !!!!!! dream mate, got her sister’s number? Seriously, I’ll give you the same advice I give staff have a nice time on your ‘distanced walk’, get a look at her face without a mask on, put something on the end of it and don’t do anything I wouldn’t. Absolutely wouldn’t be worrying about the long term financial commitment on a first date though FML just have a good time mate. Oh and it’s valentines Sunday. 

rugbymadfamily

   @alt80 has hit the nail on the head with the advice there! Have fun and enjoy! I'm married now but I do miss the fun that comes with dating pre any commitment lol

ryanm8655

Hahaha! Yeah, very good points...at least the dates will be cheaper right now...last thing I should be thinking about is money

alt80

Can’t believe you are @ryanm8655 ha. Yeah it’s something to think about if things start getting serious further down the road tbf but just have some fun and enjoy not having to bring her back to your family’s house.