Been here before many times 4 November 2019 at 6:00PM in Debt free diaries 74 replies 5.4K views

Drawingaline

I totally get the milk bill thing! I pay £14.15 a week to get milk and bread delivered, not the cheapest way, but like you, I was going to get milk every other day and spending £15-20 a time! So I see it as saving money, the glass bottles are environmentally friendly, and they are on my doorstep three times a week early. Totally worth it.

jbkmum

jwil wrote: »

Why not try and sell as a bundle instead of individual items? Some money back, but not as much hassle?

That is a good idea, I have a lot of plus size clothes. I'm currently a size 14/16 but was a 26 once upon a time. I might look into that! Good idea. I think its just the enormity of the task that faces me!

Need to see if the disney stuffed toys will wash on a handwash setting. I think one of them was £40 maybe could get £10 for it who knows.

jbkmum

Drawingaline wrote: »

I totally get the milk bill thing! I pay £14.15 a week to get milk and bread delivered, not the cheapest way, but like you, I was going to get milk every other day and spending £15-20 a time! So I see it as saving money, the glass bottles are environmentally friendly, and they are on my doorstep three times a week early. Totally worth it.

Oh my goodness I love opening my door and seeing the milk. But it really has reduced how many times I go to the shop AND I actually get too much milk. Now, you'd think I'd just reduce it but.....

Having too much milk forces me to use up the food I have. For instance, I had a loaf of stale bread in the freezer - I made bread and butter pudding and lived off that for 3 days (guilty pleasure). I make a big batch of rice pudding once a week and we eat that for pudding for a year days. The benefit of that is that I'm using all the arborio rice I have, and its super filling so I don't have to give DS snacks after dinner, just shove a huge bowl of rice pudding in front of him! I';ll admit my SO keeps "helpfully" drinking it by the pint, he doesn't live with me so it's not really that helpful if he isn't contributing..... I need to speak to him about that actually. Ie, its lovely that you spend so much time here but maybe you could buy the food rather than me? For instance, we went shopping for potatoes and carrots so we could have a roast dinner - I bought them, yet I was also providing the meat from the freezer. AND he'll take leftovers for his lunch. However there are other occasions where he does buy things. He's just used to living a bachelor life one thinks.

I don't have any flexibility to over pay debt until I make some money now. I need to pay my childcare bill by the end of this week and then we're down to the wire. I have £33 left in the food and fuel budget, still have my £60 amazon voucher and deciding what to do with it.

I'm desperate to get rid of this £268 asda card. Realised I have possibly some uni books I could sell and some Xbox games. In fact I've got loads of crap in my house!

jbkmum

OH and finally, Simply Be's statement arrived this morning. My APR was 58.7%!!!!!!

No residual interest so clearly caught that just in time. Have emailed them to request the account is closed because 1) I'm not restricted to plus size clothes at an extortionate rate anymore and 2) I DON'T WANT THE CREDIT

EDIT: Just used Simply Be's live chat to close the account....yippeeeeee

jwil

Great news on Simply Be :T

jbkmum

jwil wrote: »

Great news on Simply Be :T

I've had that account for maybe 10 years? At one point my credit limit was £2000 and I was at the limit. I got it down to £0, reduced it to £500 because at the time I was a size 26/28 and plus size clothes were so expensive.

One of the reasons I have debt on credit cards is when I was suffering depression I spent thousands on clothes that were smaller telling myself, I'll lose weight. I never did. But I also refused to get rid of the clothes. I'm sat right now in a shirt I bought 6 years ago that is a size 16. I'm glad I didn't throw them out but then again, if I hadn't bought them I wouldn't have some of the debt. I'd say its swings and roundabouts but that's not really true!!



So. we're down to 2.5 bottles of milk to last til Friday. I used two last night to make a big batch of rice pudding. Might have been a bit silly as partner has coffee on a morning. Although, actually no that milk only has to last til the end of Thursday as 4 bottles will turn up on Friday. And 4 more on Monday. If he decides to move in I think I might have to up it to 6 bottles on a Monday and 6 bottles on a Friday which is about £9. Not particularly money saving but I like not using plastic so I'm not changing that.

Last night was a quick and easy dinner, I made paella in the instant pot.

I used up the lardons DP had left in the fridge, a bit of chorizo (I always have that in), frozen onion, 500g paella rice, DIY paella seasoning (I have a huge jar, when we run out I'm going to have to find a new recipe as I lost the old one), peas, leftover roast chicken, 3 stock cubes (in reality it only needed 2). Oh and the prawns from Lidl. I don't add peppers as DS picks around them :mad:
That particular recipe makes a huge amount, I'd forgotten I was only cooking for me and DS. However when DP arrived he had a huge bowl and I have portioned some out for him to have for lunch today and tomorrow. DS has some for dinner tonight and Thursda, he's away for the weekend at his grandmas from Friday so don't need to feed him then.

My food budget is now very low and I know I will have a milk bill on Friday. I have £15 on a Love2Shop voucher which I can use at Iceland on Sunday to get bread, burger buns, potatoes, frozen broccoli, peppers, petit pois, cauliflower cheese, wotsits and coco pops as a weekend treat for DS (I don't like him haviung sugary cereal but I've just realised I'm being a killjoy so I'll let him have coco pops at the weekend).

I spent £14 of my amazon voucher on mudguards so now I have £46 left.

I intend to buy the below as I mow my way through them and buying herbs on amazon works out cheaper than teeny tiny jars.
Coriander Seeds
Chickpeas
Cumin Seeds
Italian Herbs
Paprika
Oregano
Basil
Stock Pots
Rosemary
Parsley

jbkmum

A friend paid me back £40 from absolutely ages ago that I had forgotten about.

I then realised I had allocated a £60 payment to my ex to the groceries budget which is not accurate. So actually I've only spend £240 of the £300 food and fuel budget. Realistically I actually don't even need to spend £300 on food and fuel for me and DS but as I said before, I've been paying for my partners food a lot of the time and not really thinking about it. February we're doing a freezer and cupboards challenge so if he wants something different he's going to have to buy it.

By reallocating that £60 payment it does mean I have a shortfall again but with my friends payment coming in and the £30 refund from amazon for bike lights, actually I'll be £12.77 up. Which of course....is going on debt!

jbkmum

Oh f**k.

1200 miles over my 30k car lease mileage allowance

They charge 66pence per sodding mile.

That is extortionate. I'm going to have to stop driving it. At all.

jwil

Ouch to the excess mileage

jbkmum

Spent yesterday reading about bankruptcy and decided against it. I'd struggle to pay my family loan back and I think the consequences of that would outweigh those of remaining on a DMP.

I have noticed today that HSBC never defaulted me, I need to speak to them as AP markers are damaging as it will just stay on my credit file for ever. Eek!