Keep calm and carry on....

South_coast · 24 June 2020 at 1:18PM

Thanks sofarbehind 😀! And working out the salary is one thing, but earning it is another!!! Actually, it was quite surprising to see that minimum wage would *almost* be enough if I could find something within 10 miles of home - if it wasn't for this pesky mortgage, it would be (and with money to spare)! So that makes me even more determined to nail the last £25k once normal service resumes and know that the bare minimum earnings would always be enough

sofarbehind · 24 June 2020 at 1:49PM

South_coast said:

Actually, it was quite surprising to see that minimum wage would *almost* be enough if I could find something within 10 miles of home - if it wasn't for this pesky mortgage, it would be (and with money to spare)! So that makes me even more determined to nail the last £25k once normal service resumes and know that the bare minimum earnings would always be enough

Wow, that is good to know and a powerful incentive to get that last 25k done. I KNOW you can earn that salary and you will get rid of this mortgage...

South_coast · 24 June 2020 at 5:34PM

Thank you! Need to channel that positive energy....

South_coast · 25 June 2020 at 12:44PM

Wage slip is in, it's not great but it's OK. After being able to keep last month's petrol money untouched and having a bit more freedom around doing the food shopping, I am finally seeing the benefit of reduced lockdown spending. Budgets for this month are £0 petrol, £25 personal and £100 groceries, so a long way down on the £300/£200/£100 that they used to be!!! This means I can make a BIG payment to the credit card (58% of take-home pay 😮😮😮) and continue driving the payments down. I'm hopeful I'll be able to clear the remainder of balance in full once I get my settlement from work, but waiting on a few figures to get confirmed before I count my chickens on that one.

All transfers are set up ready to go, so actually having the wages in the bank tomorrow will be a complete non-event; but on the other hand it might be quite exciting to wake up to my pots re-filled and a big bill paid and just enough left in the main account to pay the direct debits - rather than seeing the total and then being sad that hardly any of it is mine to spend 😂!

South_coast · 26 June 2020 at 7:36AM

Well, it was quite nice to log on and see just the money I've got left in the pots (except silly me also logged on last night before bed and saw the full amount in the bank 😥). Quite depressing seeing how much needs to be left in the current account to cover the direct debits though 😮 Mortgage, you have to go!!!

Moneyfordreams · 26 June 2020 at 3:55PM

I love that feeling of being paid, all your bills are organised, and you are left with what little bits you allow yourself. Quite often I have to give myself a little more as i can be unrealistic in my budgeting

sofarbehind · 26 June 2020 at 10:50PM

I like that feeling as well - seeing your personal spend allowance and knowing that you have paid off a bit more debt.

My food budget is out of control - I just keep eating

I don't think I have ever managed £100/month. I just can't muster up the cooking energy and have been eating so badly. Everyone else on here seems to manage food budgeting much better, always a weak spot for me.

South_coast · 27 June 2020 at 7:24AM

Moneyfordreams said:

I love that feeling of being paid, all your bills are organised, and you are left with what little bits you allow yourself. Quite often I have to give myself a little more as i can be unrealistic in my budgeting

Yep, I've gone for 95% bills/credit card and 5% for me to spend (including food 😮) All for the greater good though - and hopefully only short-term!!!

South_coast · 27 June 2020 at 7:30AM

sofarbehind said:

Everyone else on here seems to manage food budgeting much better, always a weak spot for me.

I always budget £100/month, but last month is I think the first time I have ever managed it! It turns out alcohol is quite expensive (who knew 😡?), so instead of buying it early in the month and trying to scrape by, I held off until closer to the end and bought some as a reward for scraping by instead 😂! Lidl/Aldi are definitely the key though I think - I nearly faint every time I go into Sainsbury's! I know what you mean though, I often feel like £100 is outrageous for one person when I see how little others manage on 😦

newgirly · 27 June 2020 at 10:32PM

Hi sc, don’t forget that so many things are cheaper in bulk and you can’t do that as much for one with many items. I’d say £100 is still pretty good 🙂