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Cost of living,,,,,,

3 replies

JollyPirate · 23/02/2010 11:06

Is it just me (no I know it isn't) who struggles from month to month financially).

I get paid Friday and virtually everything is accounted for in bills etc.

Tax credit comes in and ex pays maintainance but I am still broke by the middle of the month. No overdraft thank goodness.

Today I was working out my cost of living per week.

Rent is paid from salary at beginning of month.

Electricity meter £20 a week (have one of those key meters here).
Petrol for work, school runs £20 a week
Dinner money and breakfast club money for the days I work are another £15 a week

... all before I put food on the table. I could drop the three school dinners a week which might save £6 a week but there really is nothing else I can drop.

Hideous - just hideous. Am now broke until Friday but am boiling up a chicken at the moment from a roast we had at weekend (exH bought the chicken) and reckon I can get at least another two days of meals from it (chicken risotto and then chicken soup). Thursday will be beans on toast and cheese.

House is freezing but putting the storage heaters on adds another £10-£15 per week to the electricity so am not usuing them.... just the plug in heaters to take the chill off.

Gosh"! And this is the woman who at 22 thought nothing of splashing out £80 on a pair of trousers lol - how life changes as you grow up and older.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MiffyWhinge · 23/02/2010 11:30

it is quite depressing isn't it, have been trying to be brave about last year's income and expenses and realised that for much of the time I run at a loss (self employed)

but am taking heart that everything is cheaper in the spring and summer, we don't have central heating as such but am getting through insane amounts of solid fuel just now

itshappenedagain · 23/02/2010 14:30

im with you both. always have just enough to pay the bills. and as of june i will have to start paying back student overdraft so just dont know where im going to find the money! but will think about now for the time being!

WheresMyWaistGone · 23/02/2010 21:15

I had a hideous shock when I plucked up the courage to ring NPower to see how my direct debit actually relates to what I've used.

I know Spring and Summer should be better, but it's just started snowing again - will Spring ever arrive?!

I've finally managed to move out of my parents' house with my 2yr old, and even with more than half of the stuff exH and I bought together, there's still so much you need - like a bed! I think I'm about to surface from all that though and SHOULD just about float.

When I shop online, I try to buy everything via a cashback website (I have over £70 to claim ) and do online surveys thru a reputable co - pennies, but they add up!

It's so depressing tho.

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