I thought I had it so right....

C32AMG

zcrat41 wrote: »

Hello people. I've been lurking about on here a while and am amazed at some of the stuff people are doing and the support you guys give each other. I was hoping to tap into a bit of that really!! I've been picking up lots and lots of tips which is great, which resulted in me doing my first ever budget!!! (Wish I'd learnt this so much younger!) Just wondered if you guys could have a look and see if I'm on the right track. I do have one question - I've based this on a 4wk month, how do you suggest I go about doing it incorporating a 5 wk month??

I've been following this for a month or so and it seemed to be worked really really well. however, yesterday, in a fit of wild supermarket shopping with a housemate who's a VERY bad influnce. I emerged having spent £75 on nothing more than, wine, crisps, more wine, chocolate, even more wine, scrummy pudding things, rum, vodka, gin... you get the picture. The house is a mess this morning. I'd done so well and I thought if I posted on here, I might be shamed into not doing it again!!

So, SOA

Income, 1350 pcm.

debts - CC1. £130. Don't know apr. Find out, it'll be on the paperwork
loan 1 - £499. Repaying £100 pcm, 50 overpayment every month. Don't know apr. v low as a graduate loan though. again, find the paperwork
Student loan left - about £4000.

Rent340.00
bills120.00
phone35.00 Seems very high, o2/orange do PAYG deals with 300 free texts for 10 p/m
cleaning10.00 If this is for a cleaner stop being so lazy!!!
Food152.00 how many people is this for? if it is just for you you can (easily) half this.
Eat out44.00 cut down!!!
coffee22.00 cut down!
home drinks5.00 what do you mean by this??
drinking44.00 cut down!
smokes30.00 give up smoking, use some will power.
flights8.40
car cleaning3.00 don't be so lazy and do this yourself!!!!
parking 5.00
loan100.00
credit card50.00
savings100.00 would concentrate on paying debts before you start saving
dry cleaning2.00
film3.50
cinema/bks20.00 cineworld do an unlimited pass for 11.99 p/m. books are free at the library!!
w/e away34.00 every month?
xmas9.00
skiing17.00 seems cheap! only 200 for a ski package?
b-days4.17
clothes50.00 expensive! half this for a while.
mag's9.00 stop these, read them online
dentist3.00
hair5.00
Total1225.07


PS on rereading, I don't have a drink problem!! House party last night.

My comments are in blue above!

tigtag02

zcrat41 wrote: »

TigTag - already a library member and get through about 5 or 6 books a week. i used to think I'm saving so much there i can treat myself to a nice hardback once a month. However, being on here I'm learning that I don't really need that - especially if I want a flat. I cannot have everything. You think that would be simple to learn wouuldn't you!! And 10p dinner portions of soup - how???!!!! Thats incredible!

:wave:
Shopping at 8pm is the answer - soup pack (and an organic one notheless ) reduced from £1.68 to 10p I also got alreday chopped onions for 5p, a meal for one (veggie enchiladas) for 10p and a steak pie (family size) for 50p

A note to C32AMG, whilst I (and I'm sure also the OP) appreciate your comments you are very harsh!! Please remember be nice to ALL moneysavers. We are here to help not judge.

bathgatebuyer

Would definitely agree with the library! I've rejoined the Edinburgh Council libraries after a while away and it's been brilliant to get back amongst the free reads. I also enjoy the audiobooks which I play in the car sometimes, and have also got one of their CD Rom language packs too.

Another place to get decent books is through readitswapit.com where you swap your old books for someone elses. Pretty much most books are available, and at the moment they have nearly 150,000 books listed.

Books and reading are my big weakness too as it spending an hour or so wandering through the walls of books in the library - and it's free too!

consultant31

zcrat, I don't think you really need to panic or change dramatically. All these small changes you are beginning to implement will put you straight in no time

Good luck and well done on stopping smoking and losing so much weight :T

poppy_f1

zcrat41 wrote: »

Thanks for all your advice.

Poppy - I now know this seems a lot on socialising. I do find this hard though. i'm single and live a long way from family and life can get really lonely (and I'll never meet a man!!) unless I go out. i'm not out clubbing every weekend, just to the pub/cinema/pizza once a week. I'm getting better though and want to get even more so!

i know where your coming from, but even if you cut it down to once a fortnight then it will make a difference

i was close to being a hermit when i was at my worst with debt where as now i can afford to go out more often since i've got a handle on things