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Struggling along as best I can

Hi everyone,
I have just been catching up on my banking and budgets and I am really fed up of getting to the same point of having very little for the last 6-10 days before I get my pension.
Don't get me wrong my bills are all paid and I have no debt and I only need to buy just a couple of bits of food (coffee!) But I'm getting increasingly frustrated about it. I was fine during the lockdown as none of us could really do anything but I would really like to be able to do more now.
Just a bit of history - I have been in debt, I haven't saved, I bought dds up as a single parent and didn't earn any large salaries so haven't a private pension. I do get a state pension but that's it, and up to now have managed quite well. Oh and I do own my own house, which is where the bulk of money went, but it was worth it!!!!
So the reason for this diary is to be accountable for everything I spend and hopefully able to have some spare cash to have a life!!!
PS I do live quite frugally already - well try anyway.
Nannyg
Starting again saving as much as I can for house repairs, EF and annual bills
House repairs: 400.00/1000
EF: 39.46/1000
AB: 400.00/1300
£1 a day 2025:  59.00/365
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Comments

  • nannygladys
    nannygladys Posts: 3,225 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Ok, I have emptied my purse £2.09 and in the bank I have £26.34, I also have a penny jar and a small emergency cash amount that I definitely won't be touching. So that's plenty really and a lot more than a many people have. So it's a matter of eating out of the cupboards and freezer. Just to be transparent I do have an allotment, that has started to produce veggies, so as long I keep eating the kale, cucumbers, courgettes and peas I will be fine lol. 
    I look after dgc some days of the week, but I don't supply them with food, they bring lunch boxes and the other one I go to their house for the day and I have enough fuel in the car for that.
    Oh dear it shouldn't be a struggle really but it is getting me down a bit, anyway onwards and upwards.
    I think budgets will have to be altered when I get paid.
    Nannyg
    Starting again saving as much as I can for house repairs, EF and annual bills
    House repairs: 400.00/1000
    EF: 39.46/1000
    AB: 400.00/1300
    £1 a day 2025:  59.00/365
  • CRANKY40
    CRANKY40 Posts: 5,824 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Debt-free and Proud! Name Dropper
    Hello and welcome. I write my budget out for the following month usually the last week of the month before and included in it is weekly "spends" - money that covers a pub lunch or a Maccies for my son - that kind of thing. I remember once saying to my aunty that I couldn't go somewhere because I had no money. What I actually meant was that we'd spent that weeks pocket money and there was nothing until next week. My aunty who is further in debt than most people in these diaries was shocked that I wouldn't borrow the money from the next weeks spends but we all know what that leads to don't we? 

    Anyway, what I'm trying to say in my long winded way is maybe that kind of approach would be helpful to you? 
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,465 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Nannyg - your mention of courgettes makes me smile.  They are one thing I love and completely cannot grow.  But I do know that once they start producing they will come on a storm!!!  I saw a great recipe for courgette pasta on the vegetarian website - made me drool!

    https://vegsoc.org/recipes/courgette-linguini-with-bean-and-tomato-sauce/

    Good luck with your budgetting and I hope it doesn't continue to be too much of a struggle.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
  • kazwookie
    kazwookie Posts: 14,119 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Can you get a small part time job to help you out?

    Are you sure you are on the cheapest gas / elect etc


    Breast Cancer Now 100 miles October 2022 100 / 100miles
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  • warby68
    warby68 Posts: 3,111 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Could your children maybe pay/gift you a small amount for childcare? On a very tight budget a small amount can make a big difference yet be only a tiny fraction of what professional childcare would cost. Hopefully the parents have offered at some point.


  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,465 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    warby68 said:
    Could your children maybe pay/gift you a small amount for childcare? On a very tight budget a small amount can make a big difference yet be only a tiny fraction of what professional childcare would cost. Hopefully the parents have offered at some point.


    Or even provide you with lunch on days the kids come to yours?
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
  • nannygladys
    nannygladys Posts: 3,225 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hi everyone, 
    I have joined the August grocery challenge and just realised that the £100 each month has got to include everything bar fuel. So I will have to be careful if I want enough for Xmas treat food - thinking about it there's only me so I only need a couple of bits, but I will treat it as a challenge to see how much I can accumulate.
    Nannyg

    Starting again saving as much as I can for house repairs, EF and annual bills
    House repairs: 400.00/1000
    EF: 39.46/1000
    AB: 400.00/1300
    £1 a day 2025:  59.00/365
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