📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Budget Planner Discussion Area

1171820222327

Comments

  • Just an idea but why not use MS Money?
    According to ABBA apparently it's a rich mans' world . . .:p
  • Scully38
    Scully38 Posts: 291 Forumite
    Hi,

    I'm trying to budget based on JSA which is £67.50. I transfered over from ESA, so far i've received nothing for the last month because apparantly it takes that long to swap over. Even with me ringing everyday desperate as I've been living on dry pasta once a day for the last 4 weeks. Been told they can't give me a crisis loan as i'm not on the computor yet because I was receiving ESA. AND because I own my own home (which i'm trying desperately to sell) I don't qualify for any assistance. I've spoken with the councils, social service, crisis loan people... I just don't know how much longer I can survive to be honest. AND to top it all off my toilet has broken down and i'm having to go to the toilet in a bucket for the last 10 days and i've no money to have it fixed, again rang the council, environmental health, united utilities and crisis loan people. AND can't get any help, i've no family apart from cousins to turn to, they're also on JSA. I'm completely and utterly !!!!!!ed. I honestly don't know how to cope anymore. My doctor has been great, but can't help. Anyone got any advice?

    When I receive JSA, my budget allows my have £6 per month to live on after paying utilities, (no mobile phones) tv license, house insurance (doesn't cover drains).

    Gas - £80
    Elec - £35
    Water - £30
    House Ins. £33
    TV Lisc. £12
    Phone/BB - £40
    Bus/Train - £25

    Mobile phone £1 - agreed amount
    Credit card £1 - agreed amount
    Bank o/d £5

    Total = £262
    Total JSA = £268

    I'd be grateful for any advice. I've spoken to the Gas company and they can't go any lower because of the bills accumulated over the winter.

    I'm stuck, even the CCCS said they couldn't advise anything else. There must be single people like me who are on JSA, how do you manage?

    Thanks
    Everything I know, I've learned from Judge Judy. :p

    "I have no life, that's why i'm interfering in yours." :p
  • pqrdef
    pqrdef Posts: 4,552 Forumite
    Scully38 wrote: »
    When I receive JSA, my budget allows my have £6 per month to live on
    Ah, but now you're being helped back into work. I think the job-seeking is supposed to take your mind off food. And the less you eat, the less you'll need the bucket.

    :mad:
    "It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis
  • Scully38
    Scully38 Posts: 291 Forumite
    pqrdef wrote: »
    Ah, but now you're being helped back into work. I think the job-seeking is supposed to take your mind off food. And the less you eat, the less you'll need the bucket.

    :mad:

    :rotfl:This is true, the government made me redundant, now they're helping me to lose weight, it's working, 3 stone down in two months another 2 to go. They're sneaky like that, at this rate i'll be dead in a few months from starvation or anorexia, so they'll have saved even more on not giving me a pension in 25 years, and to top it all off I won't be on their statistics anymore...sneaky little beggars.

    On the upside i've got free fertilizer for the garden. :D
    Everything I know, I've learned from Judge Judy. :p

    "I have no life, that's why i'm interfering in yours." :p
  • I'm interested int the food planner where can I download it?
  • I've experienced that problem before, that I spend more than what I've earned, (but now it's a lesson learned), and i'm paying my past debts and now recovering and started to save more money.
  • beautifylife
    beautifylife Posts: 83 Forumite
    edited 21 September 2011 at 10:37PM
    Hi Sculley38 - my heart goes out to you, it sounds pretty tough, but I do understand. Up side is that you haven't lost your sense of humour, vital to keep your sanity.

    Ok practically, I no longer have TV if you have computer you can use Iplayer to watch recorded prog's for FREE, this also includes films. That would free up £12, not much but a start. Took me a while to adjust but it's a good habit to kick!

    Phone and BB - try Plusnet - should be able to halve this figure if you are on their lowest package, swap asap. More savings.

    I don't have house insurance - it depends on what you have, nothing really worth stealing! That would be a big saving £33 per month, but understand this may not be viable. Can you get it cheaper elsewhere and get cashback at the same time worth checking.

    Bus/Train - is this weekly? You could get a weekly ticket which is cheaper and with JSA you get half price bus fares - ask at JC for the form and send onto bus company. More possible savings.

    Phone the utility companies explain your position if you haven't already and try to re-negotiate lower amounts for now. Even consider swapping to quarterly bill so it buys you sometime to really get some head space. You can concentrate on getting work rather than worrying about the bills.

    Contact Turn2us (google) they know of charities which help with bills, it may take a while but you could get some help from previous employer charity.

    You need to eat no: 1 priority. Look here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3486361 about savings for winter and keeping warm etc.

    See preparing for winter thread also - some good ideas.
    Also check out a thread I did for eating for £10 a week - just search and the thread will be available.

    Hope that helps, it is possible but you will need to really keep a daily eye on your budget. My best tip for food is buy as late a possible, get reduced food and plan your meals around yellow stickers. Freeze for later and batch cook so you don't wonder how to survive.

    You can also get a grant for insulation for walls and loft this will make a big difference in heating bills.

    with support

    warmest wishes
  • maon
    maon Posts: 1 Newbie
    Hi all.
    I'm up and running with my 'standard budget' but what I'd like is to complete a monthly 'did I keep to it?' spreadsheet using the same format. Any tips out there?
  • For those looking for places to do spreadsheets for budgets etc.

    I created my own budget spreadsheet in google docs, that way I can update at work/home/wherever I am!

    Basically like Excel, but free and online ;)
    :exclamatiTo the internet.. I need to complain about something!
  • kiwichick
    kiwichick Posts: 1,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hi All,

    I've filled in the Budget Planner on MSE, not the Excel version though as couldnt get that working.

    I have a meeting with the bank next week in order to discuss my account as they want to withdraw my overdraft facility. Is it possible to save my Budget Planner to a memory stick and print it out so that I am able to take it along to the bank?

    Thanks,
    Allison.
    WW Start Weight 18/04/12 = 19st 11lbs
    Weight today = 17st 6.5lbs
    Loss to date 32.5lbs!!!
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.1K Life & Family
  • 257.7K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.