Sophie's Debt Free Adventure

sophie27

Mum_of_3 wrote: »

Hi Sophie

If your partner uses more Elec than you due to his business should he not contribute more than half towards the bills??

Also is £160 half of the food bill? If so £80 a week is a lot to spend for just 2 adults, I'm sure if you look around on the old-style board you'll pick up some tips on how to save money there.

Also does your oh have a car? If you can get to work & back using your travelcard, could you just share his car at weekends? Then you could sell your car & pay off some (if not all) of your outstanding loan.

Good luck with becoming debt free

M_o_3

I have mentioned that but he won't. Just starts a fight for some odd reason. :rolleyes:

He eats a ridicuous amount so food bills are down to him. Do you see a pattern here?! I am going to do proper meal plans and when the snacks run out, they run out. I'm not doing a mid week run for crisps and kit kats.

He has a really really expensive BMW and there is no way he would let me drive. I would be too scared anyway! I have spent a lot of money on mine with repairs and stuff that if I sold, I would lose money. I only bought in the summer and I do really need as travel for work. I get 40p a mile which is a bonus.

Thank you for your post!

Keeping_Motivated

I assume he uses the electric bill towards his tax bill if he works from home but yet you pay for the electric?

I think you need to write everything down that you pay for and what you earn and then ask him to do the same and compare and then ask him if he things that is fair.

Good luck

sophie27

Yes, I do the tax return as well! I'm going to, he just doesn't see the whole money thing from my point of view. He thinks well I've got it, I'm going to spend it. I do everything moneywise at home, insurance, phone etc and do find it a bit much at times. It would be nice for him to be interested but he just dumps on me!! The tax return is just about making me move out!!! :rolleyes:

You would never think he was the older one in this relationship.

sophie27

OK, I have set up a very impressive excel workbook. One tab has my SOA, Extra Income, Competitions, Student Loan, Credit Card & April 10 a day challenge. I thought I would join the competitions challenge and perhaps sell off anything (lol) I win? See the positivity there. I feel that if I quidco absolutely any purchase and AQA my socks off then I could do it. This could go towards my Barclaycard which I would love gone by the end of the year.

I have drawn up a April budget and I can afford to pay 300 towards the card but it will mean I'm still in my overdraft. I'm thinking whatever I make from the challenge, I will move into my extra income savings account and on April payday, I will move over to see the benefit rather than just having it swallowed up as I go through the month.

I am feeling a bit more positive now. I was rather overwhelmed the other night and thought I have read loads of dfw diaries and got tips but feel any effort has been halfhearted. So I thought if I log my progress and maybe just maybe next summer I could be debt free.

I don't mind rambling away to myself, just as long as it gets me onto a happier debt free wannabe path!!

Right off to check my online banking. Might need a strong drink.

Keeping_Motivated

sophie27 wrote: »

Yes, I do the tax return as well! I'm going to, he just doesn't see the whole money thing from my point of view. He thinks well I've got it, I'm going to spend it. I do everything moneywise at home, insurance, phone etc and do find it a bit much at times. It would be nice for him to be interested but he just dumps on me!! The tax return is just about making me move out!!! :rolleyes:

You would never think he was the older one in this relationship.

You have to take some responsibility for this... If you do everything for him he will let you, he doesn't know any different... I think I would make it clear that you are struggling not only financially but with the whole household organising of the finances and ask what he feels he can do to take some of this pressure of you. Don't tell him what you want him to do leave him to make some suggestions and see what he comes up with.

Good luck x

sophie27

sophie27 wrote: »

OK here is my SOA, think I have done right:

Mortgage - 548
Elec & Gas - 53 *
Water - 20
Council Tax - 61
TV Licence - 11
Mobile - 20 (Paying for insurance, don't need so reduced to 20)
Food - 140 (OH is going to learn what normal eating is!)
Road Tax - 11
MOT & Maintenance - 20
Private Health Care - 25
Gym - 38 (April is last payment then free)
Petrol - 20 **
Broadband - 35 (expensive but usb modem for work, reimbursed)
Lovefilm - [strike]0 (mum birthday present)[/strike] (She no longer wants)
Management/Factor Co - 20

Car Loan - 355
Barclaycard - 100
[strike]Halifax - 100[/strike] (Balance transferred to 0% Barclaycard)
Student Loan -100

TOTAL = 1677.00

* High as OH works from home and uses loads of energy zapping tools in garage working on scooters, cars etc.

** Petrol is low as OH fills up quite often

INCOME - 1663


SHORTFALL - 14.00


Worse that I thought! No money for emergencies, clothes or anything. This is what panics me the most. There is no travel as bought annual travelcard on my 0% card. I'm only paying 100 on cards and I took out a Barclaycard for the 0% three months ago and it was for 15 months. Rang them other day to do a balance transfer and they said no it was a special offer? V annoyed.

I do AQA but as its not a steady income I haven't put down. I recently joined Quidco too.

I have managed to do some SOA cutting! Lovefilm is gone as mum isn't that bothered about it, I have insurance I don't need for my mobile, cut food so is looking a tiny bit healthier!

Gym will be gone next month which will knock 38 off too and the OH owes me money for food shopping, bills etc which will make my current account in the black ever so slightly!

Feeling more optimistic today, the nice weather always helps. I have do contents insurance tonight. AIG are offering it for 70 and quidco have 90 cashback offer. Good deal, if it tracks........ Will chuck this at the credit card.

Can update my signature with a running debt total as made payment to Student Loan.

sophie27

I have just transferred mortgage money to OH's account and I am now 200 OD. But he owes me for bills. Will add up in morning at work and it should bring me back to 150 in black. So my plan is to be no more than 800 OD by payday. Hopefully by June, I would be in the black when paid.

Have lots of lunch stuff in so will do sandwiches for tomorrow. Should only spend 45p on paper. Went to makro on sat and got lots of bottles of water, crisps etc. OH paid but means should buy nothing at lunchtime! :rolleyes:

Took OH's ds to park and we played footie and said hello to ducks. Also did a swipe and go at the gym (need so many visits to get it free). Been off on holiday for past week so it will be a struggle getting up at half six tomorrow. :eek:

sophie27

Thought wouldn't be too bad at work today, first day back and all, but oh no. The day from hell!!!!! :mad: Just four days to the weekend! Although I came home and OH and his 6 year old son were painting and tidying the living room. Nice surprise. Just have to get him into bath then bed. He thrashed me at football again. He loves to dive and roll with the ball so he's rather filthy by the end. :rolleyes:

Have loads of surveys in my inbox to do but just so busy with having ds here as bombsite every night when get home. :eek:

sophie27

1st of month so all dds came out today. This means I can knock 355 off my debt as another car loan payment made! So coming up for sub 17k soon..... :j

I added up everything OH owes me for bills and it comes to 500! Woohoo. I am 1000 OD so this will bring me down to 500 OD and hopefully I am successful with the 10 a day challenge to get me down to 400 OD by pay day as will need 200 to last the month, food etc.

Need to get myself over to the comping board to get properly sorted with this and add to my signature. V tired, nearly fell asleep on sofa but took OH's ds out again for run round park and some football, looking for pine cones... Shattered when got in but at least worked off a load of choc I scoffed when got in from work.

We have a little balcony off our bedroom and its a total mess. I will need to go to B&Q on Sunday to buy some paint and plants. Will split with OH so will keep as low as possible. Will be lovely in summer when can work from home outside. We have no garden as its london....... :rolleyes:

Oh and renewed my home insurance today, hopefully should only cost 18 for the year after quidco cashback. Shocks me as I was paying that a month to Barclays before. :eek: :mad:

sophie27

Insurance still not tracked via quidco. Hopefully will soon. At least I can cancel within 14 days and take out another cashback policy. How DFW is that?!

Spent money on lunch today just because I wasn't organised. V annoying. Off to asda now to get enough food til the weekend then I will get into a proper 60 quid a week food shop. The fridge is bare!

I have discovered Stardrops for cleaning. Amazing!!!!! 70p and will last forever. How sad am I..........