Every debt this debt will go down

jwil

Once you see what you are overspending on, you can cut back accordingly.  Conversely you might just find that you need to up your budget as it's not realistic when everything's going up so much.

NeverendingDMP

Thanks jwill. I think its a bit of both. Historically my budget was 100 a week not inc school dinners. I upped it for Dec by an extra 50 for the month.
Prices are shooting up though so a tight budget gets even tighter. Some of it was also xmas food  buffet type food and treats etc which made it far costlier than a standard meal plan. And some wine!
This month's challenge will shock me into action and I will knuckle down in Feb and March hopefully and get back on track. I am going to have to look at other things though as an extra 50 quid for food and prob the same for gas/electric will have to be found elsewhere. Not sure where yet but I'll find it!

NeverendingDMP

I'm off today so am going to do the sensible things and route through the cupboards to concoct a proper meal plan for now until payday. Kids and dh are faddy eaters but tough, we are eating whats in and by the end of today it will be listed on the fridge. I'm 
going to upload my meter readings again too. Our supplier went bust so we were swapped to octopus. No complaints with them other than price. I've been putting readings in once a week to see how much more it will be. I've asked for a smart meter but no news on that yet.

NeverendingDMP

Meal planner done apart from 3 days. This should take me to the 26th. Hopefully minimal expenditure on food and fresh stuff. Soup prepped for tomorrow's dinner so just need something to go with it to take to work. Feeling like I may not totally go over...ha ha famous last words

NeverendingDMP

Meal planner is ticking along. Ish - i currently have about 85pounds of food budget left for 12 days so I am being strict. Its gonna be close. And I've been stricter on taking something for dinner and using leftovers from home.
Not much by the way of debt payments but as long as they don't increase I'm happy.
Also finally cashed out with viewsbank. Threshold is 12 pounds. I've not had a payment for ages. Unsure whether to put in Lisa, mortgage or savings pot. Not much but it's all a help

jwil

One benefit of the LISA is that you'll get the bonus on top.

NeverendingDMP

I might pop it in there then. My LISA is more of a meal out fund when I come of age at the moment as it only has about sixty quid in. But whose to say I won't get rich and put the whole 4k in the year before my 50th. 2 years ago I would have relied on that 12 quid for essentials, it's nice now to just ponder what shall i do with it. Shows how things are improving 

NeverendingDMP

Also I appear to have made a boo boo on my budget. Oh gives me money each week for the bills pot and either I have completely missed off something major or I have miscalculated how many weeks there were till my next pay day. I need to check I've not messed up but it looks like I have more than I thought this month. If so I can add 200 to the kitchen fund. Fingers crossed that is what I've done eh!

jwil

Mine's not going to see me through much retirement either but it's still free money so it's worth having.

It's such a nice feeling having choices isn't it, and not having to spend extras on essentials.  It's still a luxury for me too.

Hope you've got the extra money for the kitchen fund.

NeverendingDMP

So it looks as though I do have the money to put to the kitchen fund, less a bit I'm gonna have to use for groceries and any emergencies that crop up. Heres hoping 150 will go in the kitchen fund at the end of my pay month. We have a kitchen quoted but not finally agreed and signed for, need to go back in and trim down the costs a bit.