Escape to the country & living off savings

Skint_yet_Again

Here’s the budget for April

Phone (sim-only) £10

Apple icloud+ 0.99p

Tv licence 14.95

Water 29

Council tax £112.21 (then 9 x £109 paid over 10 months)

Union £2.43   (Up from £2.35)

Gas & Electric £63.63 

Annual bills £120 

Birthdays / Xmas £50

Car pot £50

Petrol £40

Entertainment £100

Food £200.  (£40 x 5 weeks)

Aquafit £32.50

Income £833

Outgoing £825.71

Remaining £7.29

SuzeQStan

Thanks for posting this SYA - I know you have your reasons for paying CT over 10 months instead of 12 - but just to mention there would be a smidge more wiggle room in your budget if you spread the payments over 12 months.

we changed our CT to 12 monthly payments awhile back when we got hit by a unexpected band rise and I suppose it also helps that every months scheduled outgoings are the same planning wise.

We are trying to create a bit more room
in our budget for the water debit rises we are expecting to land any minute now. Smart meter sadly doesn’t protect us from the 25%+ rise we’ve been advised of for this year 🥲

Hope you had a lovely Easter - thanks for sending the lovely weather over as well btw 😉🥰

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks Suze glad you got some warm weather ☀️ I usually have a bit more spare but April is a 5 week food budget so an extra £40. I do budget for the council tax over 12 months but 2 months council tax free are put into visiting family pot.

Washing hung out this morning. Also managed to make space in my shed and brought down dad’s lawnmower. His neighbour is kindly cutting the grass for me so no need for it up there. Just one box left to pick up in the car.

Did a bit more sorting for the tip. Cooked a roast with the £12 leg lamb plus roast carrots, swede, butternut squash and parsnips plus steamed broccoli 😋 Leftovers portioned up & in the freezer. Bit more sadmin then spent the afternoon pottering in the garden. Managed to find w d 40 in stuff from dads shed & sprayed the outside tap which was seized up & it’s now working again.

Tresinia511

Oh sya, sorry if you weren't ready to do this😬 😮‍💨, I suppose i just got into such a zone with your posts, you've been so totally predictable for so long, no one should expect anything, specially with what you've been through. Much love sent ❤️

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks Tresinia ❤️ No problem, it’s good to be pulled into real life when I’ve lost myself again. I’m trying to get back into the swing of things but honestly life isn’t the same. It’s good to have support from you all 😘

badmemory

I too do my CT in 10 months not 12. That is because Feb & march are expensive months for me including TV licence which they reinstated for over 75s the year I cancelled my DD. The nasty letter was well really nasty.

As for WD40 I first used it 60years ago as thankfully I had it in the car & still keep it. I was going to see a boyfriend I should not have been going to see whilst he was away at college. He didn't mind my parents did. Water in the distributor. Have you noticed these things only happen when you are doing something you shouldn't be!

Arrietty

Very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time over Easter, the sunshine is such an added bonus to keeping us going. Your pots are looking good.

I pay my CT over 10 months as well and put February & March into savings. If I had more in my monthly budget I know I'd just spend more so I'm saving me, from myself 😏

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks badmemory and Arrietty. Even if I had the money I wouldn’t pay council tax in full when it can be earning me a bit of interest

Lovely warm day yesterday. Washing hung out. Aquafit was warm enough and enjoyable. Home and quick wash for swimsuit and towel then hung out to dry. Lunch was tuna salad, then walked down to my friends for cuppa and we sat in the garden as the weather was so nice and ate lemon muffins

Popped into dad’s then home again and completed a bit more sadmin. Couldn’t decide what to eat so warmed up one of the roast lamb dinners 😋

Plans for today

Beef stew in slow cooker

Last box from dads shed & tip run

Visit friend

Tomorrow I am meeting up with niece and little lad for lunch 🥰and return a dress to Matt Alan. I have kept one of the dresses and 2 jackets. Haven’t worn a dress for years but my sister agreed it looks nice so that will do for me. More Cindy (Crawford) than Michael 🤭🤣

Skint_yet_Again

Had a lovely time with my niece and little lad 🥰 he’s growing so fast!

Took the dress back to Matt Alan for refund.

Bit of a health issue going on and I haven’t told anyone in real life as I’m more concerned about upsetting family when I don’t have any results yet, but just wanted to put it out there in case I don’t post regularly.

Sadmin forms are all ready for dad. Should hopefully exchange tomorrow 🫣🤞Hope I haven’t just jinxed it. Wish us luck 🍀

SuzeQStan

hoping for the best for you SYA - always here if you need to vent or shoulder to lean on. Post as little or as often as feels good, but sometimes it’s easier to put things out there to folk you don’t know in real life

Wishing you all the luck - exchange seems to have come along fast! Everything 🤞🤞🤞🥰