Oh boy, where do I begin...

Chrisabian

Also I think this should have gone under 'debt-free diaries' and not the main section - apologies! Not sure if I can move it though?

kimwp

You can ask an admin to move it, but do you have a plan yet?

Your SOA needs to reflect reality rather than estimates so it's worth spending time going through your statements. Also your statement about buying clothes as required - yes, but it still needs to be budgeted for and in the SOA - if you add up your total clothing spend for the year and divide it by 12, that's a good start.

satchmo1

Sorry you have battled bad depression, and I'm glad you appear to be on the rise. 

In terms of your OH moving out at some point, you'd then be able to get a lodger who pays a set amount for rent/utilities, so don't immediately think you couldn't afford the mortgage "on your own".

Food budgeting is essential, and a meal plan will make this so much easier. I have a two week meal plan which means I don't have to keep trying to reinvent it. It also means I can batch cook and freeze, which then stops me impulsively getting takeaways. Aldi's frozen pizza is my lazy meal, and at £1.99 doesn't cost a fortune.

If you can find the room for a chest freezer, it's worthwhile. Mine's full of cottage pie, curry, frozen veg and bread. I freeze the bread on the day of purchase and just take out two slices at a time for a lunch-time sandwich. I also freeze fruit loaf and take out one slice at a time as my "afters" - otherwise I'd eat several slices at a time, non-mindfully, and way too many calories.

Well done on your SOA. If you are budgeting £100 a month for birthdays etc, it'd be worth putting that money into a separate account so that you actually have the money when it is needed.