HELP! We're in the poo!

brokeinwales

Ames wrote: »

With the writing group, what do you actually pay for? Could you set up your own which is for people to air their work, and meet monthly in the library? If it's paying for a teacher then fair enough.

It is basically just a local group where people air their work - £1.50 a week - the main reason I go is because it puts pressure on me to keep writing and not procrastinate too much! I think having one in the library would probably cost more because of room hire costs.

asp746

if you owe the council tax £400 and they refuse 2 x payments just go into the offices and say you want to pay £200. They're not going to turn you away. And by the time they finish messing around you'll have paid the other £200 too.

one thing i've learnt is to keep paying whatever you can even if they say they want more otherwise its just delaying the inevitable.

i'm dreading this month and having to pay council tax and water again:mad:

brokeinwales

Definitely give the epilator another go - it is a bit painful at first,

LOL "a bit painful" doesn't begin to cover it! The devil wields epilators in Hell!

I don't understand about the necessity for the taxis - is this because one or both of you works evenings, or returning from social evenings?

The essential taxi is coming back from my kung fu class - which is on the other side of town and doesn't finish 'til gone 10pm. I did actually get a lift with someone last week though, so there's a possibility of cutting back by paying them something towards petrol maybe?

I'm not sure also why your make-up costs so much - I appreciate you say you've been buying expensive makes and that you're looking to find cheaper brands, but what is it you keep buying and how come it runs out so quickly? I don't wear make-up myself apart from lipstick occasionally, so am a bit ignorant about it, I concede. For instance, do you always wear foundation? If so, do you really need to when you're not modelling?

It's not just make-up - also things like face wash, scrubs, moisturisers etc. Obviously I don't buy the same amount every month - I averaged it out for the SOA. For daily wear I tend to just use concealer, powder, blusher and mascara - maybe eyeliner- but modelling tends to be the whole kit and caboodle, and I have various different types of make-up for different "looks". I have been buying the top range brands like Mac - which I probably don't need to.

Keeping_Motivated

Hi for what its worth I think you are doing really well and taking everything on board quickly so I am sure you will be sorted in no time.

I find it helps to have my wages paid into my current account then on the same day I have a transfer set up into my bills account to cover the bills for all month (plus an extra £50 in case of any emergency bills, if not then it always comes in handy somewhere). So my bills roll out all month without me worrying if there is enough in there (I do not have a bank card for this account so cannot 'borrow' from it). Then what ever is left in my current account is to live on or if your lucky some to save. I have the 3 accounts (savings acc too) with the same bank and I always use internet banking so I can track every day. Bit obsessed now me thinks!

I shop online every other week (using codes for free delivery) and the inbetween week I just nip for milk, fruit and bread nothing else and I buy frozen veg from my online shop as it saves waste and saves me having to replenish in the inbetween weeks.

Also have you had a look on ebay when its time to buy some more make up? Some are selling unopened products for less than the department stores so might be worth a look.

KM x

In_Search_Of_Me

brokeinwales wrote: »

If I was already budgeting really sensibly I wouldn't be here asking for help, right?! I do realise the seriousness now - but I guess it only really hit me in the last 24 hours.
quote]

sorry you seem to have taken offence to what I was saying? I was just trying to explain why people were being tough with you. I appreciate that its a scary time which is why I was trying to help!
Have you looked at the kung fu classes as sophia Gardens? It may be easier & safer to get the bus home as only a short walk to town to get a bus back to splott & think theres a bus that goes from cowbridge rd to splott anyway? (12 or 13) hich comes from ely.
Making body scrub is a great idea...epilady does initially hurt but you do get used to it & the hairs get softer. Not sure about blotches as never had them but asume thats from hair being plucked out but the same happens with waxing...plus you can do everywhere ( VERY carefully!!) with a good epilator which saves a bomb! HTH!

mollymunchkin

Have you tried waxing your legs yourself? I find the Veet waxed strips very good.

arealbasketcase

Hi brokeinwales

I have been hanging around these pages for awhile and just thought I would dip in to say that I think you have taken all this advice really well.

I too have only me and o/h in the house and I am sure we spend over £200 a month on groceries, these threads have scared the hell out of me. We do loads of cooking from fresh (that's the royal we and actually means him, aren't I lucky?) so I don't know how everyone does it for so much less!

My hair is only done once every eight weeks and costs me £60+ if I have my roots re-touched!

Make-up, my cleanser costs £40, never mind the rest, mind you I always manage to make sure it is bought for me as christmas or birthday presents! (I paid £18 for mascara!)

I am now seriously reconsidering my budgets, o/h will die of shock, he never thinks about money. So far we have been lucky 'cos we have both earned good money but I am going to college in september to "retrain" so I think we had better start sooner rather than later.

Anyway, well done brokeinwales, I think you are doing brilliantly.

In_Search_Of_Me

Hope youre ok

brokeinwales

Hiya again, just popped back - I'm overwhelmed by all the replies and all the advice, so please don't think anyone's offended me - I'm just feeling a bit defensive right now.
Anyway - I was justvery moneysaving - someone who lives not too far from me from the writing group walked with me most of the way home so I didn't even pay out bus fare tonight. Feel quite good about that even if it is only £1.30!
Last night I also typed up our new budget, printed it an stuck it on the kitchen cupboard to help us keep track. I also dug out a huge bag of dried chickpeas that's been in the cupboard ages, and am boiling them all up to freeze in little bags!

Wanted to say hello to arealbasketcase too - nice to know I'm not the only one just starting out here. (But even I don't pay £18 for my mascara! wow!)

I will keep you all updated with how it's going - it feels better if I can bore other people with it!

brokeinwales

Have you tried waxing your legs yourself? I find the Veet waxed strips very good.

Yeh I tried those. It didn't work at all - they just left loads of residue and left my skin stinging and didn't seem to be terribly effective at removing the hairs. I think my legs are a particularly tough area though - as I have very dark, very thick, very fast growing, tough hair, and very pale, very sensitive skin to go with it!