Frugal Friends Forging Forward Toward February and Further Financial Freedom

[Wolfcub]

New fred

NSD.

Amongst well done cancelling those subscriptions and the Uber Eats app 👍

Ok this is my essential, absolutely must be paid each month, budget. It's actually been scary for me to look at it all written down - I had no idea just my essentials were totalling this much :[

Housing - 455
Gas and Electricity - 30 [Need to get access to my account to give up to date readings due to over estimation, may look to switch this too]
Water - 15
Food - 80 [I am going to try two Iceland deliveries per month, this may not work but let's see if I can manage it]
Credit Card Debt - 200
Phone and Broadband - 25
Work Software - 10
Savings - 20 [Automatically by Direct Debit - it's an emergency fund]
Work Training Loan repayment - 65 [7 months to go]
Spotify - 10 [I guess this can go for now as I am shielding so don't really need to download anything]

Total: 910 - this seems really steep even for London

I need to work out where I am with Council Tax as well, I was paying it in lump sums and I need to know if I have anything to pay, they've not contact me yet so hopefully not but I will double check.

Thank you @AdoraBell Cross post there.

Welcome iamongst.
How many cc do you have and do they all have balances on?

You do need to be ruthless with subscription and cancel until finances are better.

Go thought all of your bills and do you need them and are you on the best deal for those you do?

Do an audit of your cupboard/freezer for food and meal plan around them. If you don't have a big food surplus meal plan anyway.

Oops x post as site not posting

Hhmm do you need work software or can work pay for it
I get the feeling you are some kind of contract worker.

Gas and electric definitely get logged on and submit a meeter reading. If you have your account number you might be able to do it by automatic phone

Sounds best em.

No more spends today. Was going to go. For a walk. But it's cold and wet. Dunno why my phone puts on random full stops

Thanks for the welcome @lifelongfrugaleer - I only have one credit card, but the balance is just close to 6000 - even after today's payment.

"Do an audit of your cupboard/freezer for food and meal plan around them. If you don't have a big food surplus meal plan anyway." - this is a really good idea actually. I know I have soup etc. that has been saved for isolation if needed but to be honest, I am pretty sure I can ask someone to help out from the Council if I did get to the stage where I couldn't get a delivery. I'll do this tonight.

Ok to do a credit card transfer you need 2 cards. One empty and one with the debt on.
You could apply for a new on but it depends on your credit score and you might not get the full limit you need on the second card.

Lots of companies do a decision in principle without affect your credit score.

If you want a second card and to go through this let me know and I will try and explain

As for earning money the obvious is selling stuff you both longer want or need.
Do you have a skill you could sell?
Craft, accounts , admin kind of stuff. Sorry not sure of your skill set.
There is a make £10 thread but I've not really read it

Plates are super cool

Hi I among don't rule out not getting a job while offices are closed. We are "onboarding" remotely.

em do not open yourself up to UK tax.... I am dreading the budget in March.

I am on birthday cake & steak dinner duty tonight. DS is sweet 16 today. I have blinked and it has zoomed by.

They haven't arrived mind.... he is having a late birthday present

Happy birthday Unescorted's ds

I am also dreading the budget. I think we will get screwed on tax for at least the next ten years

We were also onboarding until recently so don't give up hope

Yes we have staff who have never seen the inside of the office and they have been here months

Welcome Iam
Spends today, 21 Amazon on a jewellery display and a pair of earrings as a birthday pressie for my neice.
12 in Lidl
Happy birthday to your Ds Unescorted

Will catch up on thread later..NSD...

Hiya everyone, rubbish day today. My bathroom light has broke so am using a lamp in my hall to light bathroom up and I also dropped my phone and smashed it to pieces. DM has an old phone I can use, so I’ve just popped my SIM in there, but I was very stressed for a while. Elijah wasn’t very happy today, nothing pleased him, except for CBeebies. I didn’t get much sleep last night due to pain from a flare up, so was pretty much running on empty today. I’m hoping to get to sleep soon and then start tomorrow fresh.

I’m sorry you felt down yesterday amber, I hope you’re feeling better today💐

Thanks life, I’ll have a look into that!.

Hi welcome amongst well done on cancelling unnecessary subs!

Great news about the dishwasher sing

Happy birthday to your DS unescorted!

NSD

Aw peanut hope your day is better tomorrow....

actually today. I'm wide awake unable to sleep. Have had a stressful house selling day. Hopefully on the home stretch but still aware it could all fall apart (plus I started getting cold feet earlier - I think it's just the stress and lack of sleep)

Now drinking camomile and will head back up soon with my headphones and Calm app

madden house buying is so stressful. It will be fine & they are probably equally worried you will pull out b/c of the time it is taking. Is it worth asking your solicitor what is outstanding and what the time frames are. I find having a very long to do list helps my stress levels because I can see the transaction coming together & it helps knowing where pressure needs to be applied.

DS says thanks for the b'day wishes. I am disappointed that his present has not yet arrived. I should have ordered it earlier. Hopefully it arrives for Saturday which is traditional pancake day.

Madden not surprised you are stressed. House buying is painful. I agree with Unescorted re asking what still needs to be done

Last day of work before a long weekend, not that I can go anywhere but I have leave I have to use. Will be glad to see the back of work for a few days to be honest

Hi peanut, hope your day is better today, lifes tough at the minute..
Claimed the working from home rebate/ tax rebate from HRMC will see if its successful, inspired by Martin Lewis.
..

Uniform tax rebate *

New page- thank you for the Iceland recommendation- just signed up!

@IAmongstTheWorld

Ok this is my essential, absolutely must be paid each month, budget. It's actually been scary for me to look at it all written down - I had no idea just my essentials were totalling this much :[

Housing - 455
Gas and Electricity - 30 [Need to get access to my account to give up to date readings due to over estimation, may look to switch this too]
Water - 15
Food - 80 [I am going to try two Iceland deliveries per month, this may not work but let's see if I can manage it]
Credit Card Debt - 200
Phone and Broadband - 25
Work Software - 10
Savings - 20 [Automatically by Direct Debit - it's an emergency fund]
Work Training Loan repayment - 65 [7 months to go]
Spotify - 10 [I guess this can go for now as I am shielding so don't really need to download anything]

Total: 910 - this seems really steep even for London

I need to work out where I am with Council Tax as well, I was paying it in lump sums and I need to know if I have anything to pay, they've not contact me yet so hopefully not but I will double check.

coming in a bit late to this but:

Gas and Electric - absolutely switch if you can and check to see whether you have credit on the account. if you do i'd say get this paid out and whack it straight on the credit card debt
work software - can work pay for this?
work training loan agreement - once this has been finished stuff the £65 pcm onto the credit card debt
spotify - ditch - bbq sounds app has loads of free content - audio books and podcasts etc

are you paying the credit card by standing order or direct debit? if you're doing minimum payment by dd as well as bigger sums change the dd to a SO. it'll knock loads of interest off.

OMG Madden house selling and buying is way up there with getting divorced/ a bereavement/married ! Take good care of yourself lovely, it is horribly stressful but one of lifes necessities unfortunately
Great advice Em especially re the credit card
NSD for me today which has been a long time coming!