Every debt this debt will go down

NeverendingDMP

On a completely different note octopus energy has a new thing on its app that forecasts your bills..it says it's worked out based on local bills, weather etc which is good as I've not long been with them. It's a funky graph which I think Is v optimistic but it tells me if I pay my current d debit that by next may I will have clawed my way through winter and beginning to be in credit again. I'm pretty sure we all heard the rumour bills are up again in Oct but aside from that it seems to think I'm doing okay with my current payment. I'm calling that a temporary win 🙂

NeverendingDMP

Tomorrow is my reset and new weekly budget. This week we failed miserably other than petrol. I put twenty quid in and am just the right side of red with not much mileage to do before tomorrow. Weather is good so plenty of washing can go out to dry. And no plans on Friday night. Yippee!

jwil

Sorry about all the emergencies.  Have a good weekend otherwise

NeverendingDMP

Budget still dive bombing. I think it will for a few weeks yet as we have 2 Mots due this month and my cars dashboard has this week decided it's Xmas and display lots of flashing lights on it.
A few big bills are due and I need to pay wrap around care till end of term. My child care costs are less over summer so hopefully that will give me an opportunity to get back on track. Normally I ear mark that money for the next set of uniforms and schools shoes but we need to get straight first. Our budget was always tight but do able. It seems to have been way out since April ish, whether that's a sign of the times or something I've been doing differently I'm not sure. I am aware if it I suppose which is the main thing.

We have swapped and entered our claim for u credit. We will hear if we are entitled at the end of June and if so we get payment on 1st July. It won't be a massive amount if any but every little helps.  for anyone who has this as a good proportion of there income u can see the difficulty it would present in them budget planning effectively. Once we hear we also need to work out how to repay dwp. They said our tax credits were overpaid by 880 last year but then more recently said we owe 550. That's not in my debt total. No point including it till I've been asked for it back and the letter says the same amount twice in a row! 
Long post there whoops. Off to check the meters to see how gas/electricity went this week

NeverendingDMP

Gas and electric 27 pounds this week. Yay sub 30 and still on track to be in credit by a bit at end of the month

jwil

Well done on getting under £30!

I think it's so hard to budget realistically at the moment, everything is all just on an upwards spiral.  It would be good to see a bit of stability again, so we know what we are doing.

NeverendingDMP

Yes I agree. If we knew the end game it would be easier to plan. I'm worried as  we have used overdraft for living costs for first time in years. Didn't think we would be at that stage till winter. The positive side is that Mots are only once a year so we can reverse budget and no big b days now so next mega cost is Xmas. (not ideal to reverse budget I know but needs must).am hoping they only fail by things that cost less than 200 a car 🚗
 Also we have food in the cupboards and a house that is safe and no priority debts so not at panic stations. ((Ignoring dwp till amount is confirmed)
Sun has come out so last bit of washing on the line. 

Sarahwithlove

Everything is definitely costing more these days and wages aren't going up to reflect it. Hope you hear back from UC soon as anything is better than nothing. 

NeverendingDMP

Should hear back early next week. Hopefully something as every penny counts. One mot down, it failed but not mega expensive and one more mot to go. 
Got paid yesterday and already worked out we are minus budget this month but that's due to mot and some new unavoidable costs that I have add on due to family things. 
In the long term my budget allows for 100 a week to be set aside for annual bills, swim lessons clothing and Mots. After these Mots we have TV license due in sept then no house bills till Jan. I'm not sure a reverse budget is even a thing but I'm doing it.
All accounts are in the plus, in hindsight with everything increasing we bit of more than we could chew with the house repairs and works but as long as I keep that in mind and knuckle down I should be debt free by the time I'm mortgage free (about 15 years ....
Seems as good a time.as any to aim for..

NeverendingDMP

And the positive news is I'm just scraping by on my twenty pounds a week petrol. Its not allowing me to build up any surplus but if it stays at this price, or hopefully goes down I'll be okay. I'm off with the kids in summer as I work term time (ish )so I should be able to have a few low mileage days so I'm not hovering in the red. 
I had a look at fixing my gas and electricity as per advice from Martin Lewis but my fix price was about 45 percent over what I'm paying now. Might end up slightly cheaper than what we get offered in Oct but I'm not fixing as I'd have to pay the new rates until then so I'd loose out. The fancy graph thing from octopus estimates me spending upwards 100 a week in the height of winter. God help anyone on a prepaid meter. At least I can alternate my direct debit to suit and spread it out