May - living on fresh air challenge...

Frith

Will look at the store cupboard challenge later. I have looked at the cheapy brands thread (or whatever its called!)

Will be £340 of money over the next fortnight.

My rough calculation is bills come to about that, I hadn't realised how late the phone bill DD is taken so that won't come out of the fortnight's money (if that makes sense).

I will have to look on the calendar and see if 23rd falls on a weekend (for example) or if there are bills due in "week 3"s money.

Boys are absolutely grumpy and snarly this evening so it'll be bathtime bedtime in about 2 mins flat just now!

Liz

babes21

Hello Acey

Just read through your thread and i'd just like to wish you luck!! Shall be following your diary.

xx

Frith

I've just phoned the CSA AGAIN! They can't actually tell me anything useful due to data protection...
Anyway, I have had no money at all from the ex since January 3rd. For 2 years it has been £5 a week (or nothing) but its the principle that keeps me ringing them.

In February he got a job. I phoned the CSA to tell them and they *should* have taken 20% from his wages. I have had nothing at all since then.
The ex refused to tell them where he worked. Last thing I heard, the Inland Revenue were going to give the CSA his work address.

Today, I was on the phone for 20+ minutes to a helpful advisor who says I should only be getting £5! I asked why this was and she was not allowed to tell me if that was off his wages (if on a low wage) or off his benefits.
I asked if I would be getting the arrears paid and then she said, "For people
on benefits, we can only *request* that they pay their arrears" !!!!!!!
So he obviously heard about the 20% and gave up work AGAIN!

NSD (of course).

I was wondering idly how much weight I will lose this month! Last time we lived like this (a year on less than £20 per week) I lost 2 stones. I was half a stone overweight in April so I will weigh myself again next time I'm passing the medical centre. Size 14 or 16 trousers at the mo and size 14 tops.

I am quite a big build and tall so if I get to 12 or below I look skeletal!

Liz

RAS

ACEY wrote: »

Will be £340 of money over the next fortnight.

My rough calculation is bills come to about that, I hadn't realised how late the phone bill DD is taken so that won't come out of the fortnight's money (if that makes sense).

Makes absolute sense. One small victory.

ACEY wrote: »

I will have to look on the calendar and see if 23rd falls on a weekend (for example) or if there are bills due in "week 3"s money.

23rd is a Friday. How does that pan out?

RAS

ACEY wrote: »

Electricity: £80

ACEY

Is this a DD, on a pre-payment meter? Can you go round and switch off anything you do not need - including the computer, if you are not using it. See if you can knock this down.

And have you read http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/make-money. In this situation even £20-30 quid a month would be a bonus.

Frith

I think that's a good thing about the 23rd being a Friday. The bills come out 25-28th (apart from the phone, apparently!) so I'll get the child benefit/child credits on Tuesday 26th which will be very helpful.

Not a pre-payment meter and it IS expensive (although £73 in reality). Everything is electric, no gas and the hot water heater seems to take a lot. There is nothing left on except the fridge freezer and one bulb upstairs at night.

Haven't read the thread, will later, being hassled into playing a new level on the playstation! Small son has got as far as he can and wants me to take over. (We did spend an hour cycling up and down outside the house earlier in case my parenting looks especially shoddy this evening!)

Liz

RAS

Hi

you would beat me - cannot do playstation at all.

I did wonder how you managed to keep two lively boys busy in a small house with a small garden; it must feel a bit cramped in poor weather sometimes.

Must be off - want to hit the plot tonight.

RAS

ACEy

Are you on a dial-up modem? Do you know that BT have changed their charging routine for cheap rate calls. Something like the 4.5p now only buys 10 minutes and then they charge the same amount for every 10 minutes thereafter, so the cost of an hour long session would be 6 times higher.

Check it out.

Frith

I'm with Talk Talk so I have Broadband. It would be £20 per month but it seems you have to pay an extra £10 if you're on a small, rural exchange. (Parents use the same exchange and also pay the extra £10) Free calls except to mobiles. I have been calling my sister a lot (she only has a mobile) hence the bill being £40 last month.

I wouldn't mind having a cheaper deal!

Liz

Frith

NSD today!

Was woken up very early by Buzz Lightyear talking to me- he's not been the same since he "went swimming" in the bath! Must take his batteries out.

No bills taken out today but still no reply re: the charges.

Did 1.5 hours of college work, washing out, tidied up and have made tea. Also cleaned all the surfaces down.

Our favourite store cupboard tea. (We're having this tonight)

One jar of sausages (or pack of fresh ones)
2 tins of baked beans
3 potatoes
cheese
herbs

Slice and boil potatoes
Chop sausages up and put in oven proof dish with the baked beans. Grill the sausages first if they're fresh ones.
Put sliced potatoes on top when cooked.
Put herbs on and then grated cheese.

Bake at 180 for 35-40 mins.

So that'll be easy enough to bake when we get back from gymnastics this evening.

Liz