Newbie to here :-)

Skint_Catt

Join us over on the Old Style Board for the Grocery challenge and other hints and tips with food! You'll be surprised how much you can reduce this cost!

Poosmate

Hi Tiara and welcome to DFW.

I read your OP in amazement as i too find myself in an almost identical situation to you. I've been coping for the last 7 years and over that time have managed to hang on to my house and not default on any bills or incur any bank charges (except a couple that were refunded due to £1 over overnight situation).

Anyway, you might be able to knock £10 off your satelite/cable - I've just knocked £12 off mine today by going with Virgin Media 3 for £30 for 12 months (cable tv xl package, internet and phone). A word of warning though, the phone does not include any free calls! I've kept my BT line for this reason - I only pay £16pcm and know I would be charged more than that in paid calls on the Virgin phone. (I talk to my mom every night for about 20mins as I don't see her very often).

Would you be able to generate some more income by ebaying some of your childrens clothes (they grow out of them before they've worn them almost)! Or toys they no longer play with?

Sorry my posts are always long winded! Enough for now. I'll think some more and come back later.

Hope you get things sorted.

Poo

P.S.

I did the cccs thing today and cried my heart out at the results - it's not the way for me to go at this time.

tiaramaker

Hi Poo (love the name! lol)

Yes I should get on ebay again. Would you believe I chucked some dvd's on the other week and one of them went for £15!! Pinocchio limited edition that they'd only watched twice!

My cable includes internet as well so doubt I'd get it down much elsewhere, but will look into it.... oh this thriftiness is catching isn't it! :-)

kizzykizzywizzy

Hi Tiaramaker, welcome:D

Have you thought about changing you mortgage to interest only for a while ( if it isn't already? )
Same as others have said mobile & clothes stand out as quite high, can you cut your petrol at all? by walking more.
If you don't already know about it, how about using quidco when your car/house ins is due, it's a cashback site, I've got £90 in cashback coming at the end of this month.
Other than that, all I want to say is good luck & keep posting:p

RedDino308

Hi Tiara,

Welcome and well done on getting this far. Looking at you SOA there are a few things that could probably be pruned down a bit.

1) £250 is a lot for groceries. Can you get better deals if you change your habits here.
2) Council tax. If this is over 10 months can you ask them to put it over 12 months.
3) Mobile phone is far too high IMHO. Are you stuck in a contract at the moment? If not then search here for how to get the best deals by putting the screws on your provider.

I'm sure many more skilled people will give you great advice so don't panic you are in good hands

RedDino308

tiaramaker

Thanks RedDino,
Re the mobile, I am in an 18month contract but it gets bumped up by texting so need to pull the reins in there a bit.
Re the groceries, I've been slack on keeping tabs on this for a while, but am going to start keeping receipts so that I can properly review it. This does include packed lunches for the 3 of us as well though, but I'm sure there's room for savings here as well.

It's day 2 for me and I'm hoping/aiming for a SFD (is that the right term for a spend free day?)! Fingers crossed :-)