Teetering on the brink

ellenvan

Yippee to the first time MOT pass!
This will sound like a criticism so just ignore if you want - do you have a budget for takeaway? Is there any cheaper treat you could all enjoy?

EatingBeans

Not taken as a criticism at all, don’t worry. I do have a small budget for takeaways as I know it’s the one thing we can all easy enjoy together but I’ll be honest it is difficult to stick to that budget. My two girls are like polar opposites in almost every way with the exception of their love for food. If it was just me, I doubt I’d even buy one takeaway a month as I am not even a big fan, but it seems worth it if it means getting us all together. So it’s not really about the food if you know what I mean?

As mad as it sounds, the takeaways are actually the lower cost option! Previously, when I was debt free and had lots of spare cash, we used to also all go out for dinner a couple of times a week and that regularly ended up costing £70+ a meal. 😬

Now that I am in so much debt I cannot even remember the last time we went out for a meal. So, takeaways are the compromise, albeit still stupidly expensive when I am so broke. 😕

LzzyIsGod

Must be the week for mots and the month for new tyres! But I'm pleased for you and well done DD on the digging in this heat.

I've also found eating out these days is becoming prohibitively expensive - it's definitely something we've done less and less in the last 5 years ( unless it's a Spoons and even then I always take my CAMRA been vouchers to get the pint price down!!) And that was before the LBM

Newstartforme

Hope you are well and not suffering too much from the high temps x

ellenvan

Hopefully you are still trying on the debt reduction. How's June looking?

EatingBeans

Thanks for checking in. Hope you are all doing better than I am. 😞

The good news is my health has vastly improved and I am now back at work this week, albeit on a phased return. 🎉

The bad news is a close family member got into a bit of trouble cash wise (through no fault of their own), and to stop things bouncing and to keep everyone fed I stepped in to help in the only way I could - by using my credit cards. I couldn’t bare to keep a track of it as I know it has undone so much hard work, and then July is an expensive one too with dd2’s birthday, so I’m just counting down until 1st August. 

I also decided that since I was prepared to ‘find’ several hundreds of pounds for someone else, I might as well just add a couple of hundred to it, and finally buy myself a dishwasher. I absolutely hate washing up and I know I often give in to takeaways just because I can’t stand doing washing up so I see it as saving me money in the long run. When I used to have a dishwasher we would very rarely get a takeaway, so for the sake of my health and bank balance, I think it will be worth it.🤞 I did at least opt for a tabletop version so I can put it above the washing machine and I should be able to plumb it myself. The alternative, much preferred option, was to put it in place of our spare under counter fridge, but that would have required a lot of time from a plumber to make it work and probably would have required the kitchen units being partially disassembled (aka expensive). 

No matter which way I look at it, the debt situation is bad. So bad in fact, MBNA have offered me another 0% deal (which I desperately need given the amount of interest I am now paying), but I don’t have enough space on the card to take advantage of it. 

I’m not giving up completely. But I am struggling at the moment. 😕

ellenvan

Glad to hear you're feeling a little better.
Keep the faith on money saving.
If a dishwasher will stop you ordering takeaway then it'll pay for it self soon.

1stTimer

How strange, I’ve literally just also got myself a tabletop dishwasher!

I didn’t even know they existed until last month and once I knew about them I haven’t been able to stop looking. Like you I detest doing dishes and unfortunately I rent. I have been living in this place for approx 15 years now and I’m done with washing up.

I'm excited for you! I hope we both reap the benefits:-) 

flamingo22

Sorry to hear that you're struggling, will you be getting the money back that you've loaned any time soon, to maybe help you along with this new 0% deal?

ive just ordered a robot hoover in the sale from £300 to £80, I believe anything that can make your life a little a easier is worth it, hopefully the dishwasher will work out for you. 

redofromstart

I used to have a tabletop DW years ago, and I agree it should help you.  I find the mental lift of not having visible dirty dishes helps me a lot.

I used to be HR at an old school university and have had a lot of involvement with long term sickness so please do message me if I can help.