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Hi everyone. Sorry for not writing for a bit. I still haven't thought about a budget. The roof company doesn't make my roof tiles any more so the roofers are trying to source them from a reclamation yard. Our back garden has been cleared, but our rear fence/gate is totally rotten, so needs replacing.
But all of that suddenly seems insignificant, because I've just been totally rocked by the XL Bully ban news. That means my dog is going to be a banned breed, despite never doing anything wrong. He's going to have to be muzzled in public, which automatically is going to make him look like a mean scary dog, when he's the absolute opposite. I've got a trainer coming out tomorrow evening to get my dog used to the muzzle. I'm going to have to walk him before 7am in the morning to avoid meeting other people. And I just know that my ex will report us having the dog as soon as the ban goes through.
I don't think the ban will work. I think people who bought these dogs as status symbols, and didn't train them, or walk them, or get them from reputable breeders... I think those people will just move on to bigger dogs, and do the same thing. Cane Corso's will be next on the ban list.
In the meantime, my heart just absolutely breaks for my fur baby. If we can't make progress with the trainer by the end of the month with the muzzle, I think we will have to think about putting him down, as there is no quality of life for a dog that cannot leave the house. I'm heartbroken.
❀ total
debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76 ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14❀
£1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜ we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner. ❧ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don’t make any knee jerk decisions about your pup just now. They have a fair way to go before they can impose a ban. You’ve got lots of time to make progress with the muzzle (it’s likely that will have to wear one in public). There will have to be very clear guidance and timelines for managing this situation.
Sadly, the XL bully has been in the news a lot recently, and some dogs have been badly let down by their owners. A ban won’t have the desired effect - as you quite rightly say 🐶
Hi F&F, I'm devastated for you. As usual it's the minority that ruin it for the majority. I couldn't imagine life where my boy (lab) was muzzled all the time, and on the grand scheme of things, he's no less dangerous than an XL bully whose owner has been irresponsible.
I really hope you manage to crack the muzzle training soon. I would say from reading the lab forums I'm on that there are lots of different types of muzzle so it's definitely worth trying them all before you consider the alternative. I really feel for you though, it's a dreadful situation to be in and I agree that Cane Corsos and Presa Canarios will be next.
Total unsecured debts..........39033.....180.......
Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,753.29
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,774.17
Available for debt repayments........... -20.88
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 180
Amount short for making debt repayments. -200.88
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 257,460
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -39,033
Net Assets.............................. 218,427
Some balancing of the books is needed. I've added in things that I would like to be putting money into a pot for each month, but I think some of it will need amending. Any thoughts? x
❀ total
debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76 ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14❀
£1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜ we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner. ❧ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't often comment on debt free forums but there look to be some quick wins here.
Mobile phone needs to go to SIM only. Satellite and cable TV needs to go. Reduce groceries by 50. Dog food is really high. We used to feed 2 Labradors for no more than 50 a month. That included one tin per dog per day plus mixer, a daily bonio and gum/teeth cleaning stick. Dogs lived to age 14.
That's 227 off the budget, which clears your deficit.
You need to balance that budget as the savings you have after moving will disappear.
Water is also too high. Do you have a meter? I have a large 4 bedroomed detached house. Showers used daily, dishwasher and washing machine plus normal usage. Monthly DD is about 27 a month.
Agree with the above - I remember you saying your internet services were understandably high due to living rurally prior to the move. Are there better deals available to you now that you have relocated?
water rates do sound high - if you are already metered pls check that it’s not something as straightforward to identify / fix as a leaky loo which can haemorrhage many litres.
If I were you I’d ditch the satellite/cable and instead go for a streaming service - we got N@w TV for £1 a month for 6 months and that included movies. We regularly flit between N@w, D!sney, Pr!me & N@tfl!x - just have one at a time and when the options you want are exhausted then move on to another.
Don’t pay for things you aren’t using. Even if it is a savings of £1 a month it is better being back in your pocket.
Lancashire PV 5.04kWp 🐙 Intelligent Go
Mortgage freedom January 2024 - paid off 7 years early by making overpayments where we could.
I don't often comment on debt free forums but there look to be some quick wins here.
Mobile phone needs to go to SIM only. Satellite and cable TV needs to go. Reduce groceries by 50. Dog food is really high. We used to feed 2 Labradors for no more than 50 a month. That included one tin per dog per day plus mixer, a daily bonio and gum/teeth cleaning stick. Dogs lived to age 14.
That's 227 off the budget, which clears your deficit.
You need to balance that budget as the savings you have after moving will disappear.
Water is also too high. Do you have a meter? I have a large 4 bedroomed detached house. Showers used daily, dishwasher and washing machine plus normal usage. Monthly DD is about 27 a month.
Hiya, thanks for that. Phones are on contract - it's 2x contracts making it £70. Dog is fed raw, and it's as cheap as I can go while maintaining his bone density/growth rate. I didn't know about the water bill - is it worth me ringing Welsh Water? I don't have a water meter. I didn't have one in my last property, and my bill was £18 a month... My bill says
Your charges are from 31 Aug 23 to 31 Mar 24
As you don't have a meter, your water services
charges are based on something called 'rateable
value'. It's not based on how much water you've
used.
The rateable value was set by your local council. It's
based on things like your property value and the fact
that it was built before 1990.
Your water charges
This is the cost for the water you drink and use.
31 Aug 23 - 31 Mar 24 (214 days) £173.04
Your sewerage charges
This is the cost for taking away and cleaning the
water you've used.
31 Aug 23 - 31 Mar 24 (214 days) £269.98
❀ total
debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76 ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14❀
£1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜ we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner. ❧ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree with the above - I remember you saying your internet services were understandably high due to living rurally prior to the move. Are there better deals available to you now that you have relocated?
water rates do sound high - if you are already metered pls check that it’s not something as straightforward to identify / fix as a leaky loo which can haemorrhage many litres.
If I were you I’d ditch the satellite/cable and instead go for a streaming service - we got N@w TV for £1 a month for 6 months and that included movies. We regularly flit between N@w, D!sney, Pr!me & N@tfl!x - just have one at a time and when the options you want are exhausted then move on to another.
Don’t pay for things you aren’t using. Even if it is a savings of £1 a month it is better being back in your pocket.
Hi Suze -
In contract regarding the internet and the tv package until February, but it is on my list of things to bring down ASAP. I can definitely bring the entertainment budget down along with the haircuts, and actually the child related expenses thing can be cut down too, because I don't even know what I would use that for. Think that was more wishful thinking than anything else.
❀ total
debt at LBM 01/2023: £47,178.76 ❀ debt at highest point: £51,062.14❀
£1600+ made on vinted since 2023 ⚜ we could get better, because we're not dead yet - frank turner. ❧ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start as you mean to go on in the new home Fox and insist your husband gets a job or applies for job seeker's allowance (or whatever it is called now). Give him a month. The household budget is not just your job to cover and him (and his adult children at weekends) living off you and your generous nature has gone on too long now. That will more than balance the books. Is he still vaping and on a specific diet? If so, has that been included in your SOA as it will be things like that that screw your budget if they're not accounted for. This is said with only wanting the best for you and your daughter, but no budget is going to be realistic moving forward if this continues and those savings will be gone sooner than you think. xx
Hi Fox, felt I should comment because your income/assets are not far off mine and I live alone. I struggle to keep within my budget as a single person so I really worry for you when you have dependents to look after. There is little room for enjoying life with your current income, what a difference it would be if you had a second income! I know all to well how easy it is to pop into a shop and buy a few items when in need or in a hurry and those small £10 spends can really add up across a month. If your partner was working you'd have that wiggle room. Fingers crossed he is going to look for work. Watch out on the house renovations too. I set aside 10k for my renovations but already I have spent 5k on windows and decorating, not even tackled the carpets yet. Anyway congratulations on being moved! x
