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Original poster

I have just added up all my direct debits and it comes to nearly 5k a month!

225 replies

LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 10:11

I cannot believe it's so high! No wonder my disposable income is so small. £4667 a month!

I've included all fixed costs that I can't do anything about (but NOT petrol and commuting costs which I also can't do much about, or food which is about £600 a month)

It wasn't as bad as this a few months ago but that bloody HMRC thing where they now make self employed people (who earn more than £1000 a year profit) pay on account - actually in ADVANCE of earnings has totally fucked me! Why the hell am I paying tax on money I've not even earned yet!

I'm looking through them and there's not much I can do anything about unless I want to not have my house insured or dogs insured.

OP posts:
ClashCityRocker · 02/08/2019 08:12

The tax due this July is for the year ended 5 April 2019...its really not in advance, its three months after the year end!

If you do your tax return before the July payment is due, and the liability is less, you can reduce the July payment. The first year is a bugger though, I agree.

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 08:14

Yes Awkward - pretty cheap. It's in case I need to cancel due to work (I've had to once ). I think it's 70 quid ish.

OP posts:
Yabbers · 02/08/2019 08:25

@MyDcAreMarvel

Your £400 a month allegedly includes toiletries etc. No economies of scale there.

Average daily spend on food is £3.50 per person. Your all in cost of groceries (not just food) is half of that. No amount of bulk cooking allows for cutting food costs by more than half.

He has disposable income as stated in original post. I would love to have anything left after rent and bills
So go start a thread about it and get advice. Why is it the OP’s problem? Maybe you shouldn’t be so envious.

AwkwardPaws27 · 02/08/2019 08:26

I think it's 70 quid ish.
A year or a month?

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 08:27

A year.

OP posts:
SkydivingKittyCat · 02/08/2019 08:33

Term Life with mortgage (for death)
Special sick pay one for the self employed person (for normal sickness)
Indemnity £10million for self employed person
Critical illness (for if I develop cancer/other illnesses meaning I can't work)

Separate policies? Could you not get a policy that combines some or all of these benefits?

Do you not have travel insurance through your bank account? Seems silly to be paying for a policy if you've not been abroad for 18 years Confused

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 08:35

Unfortunately I've not found a policy that does all of these

OP posts:
Ibizama · 02/08/2019 08:37

What time do you start work if you finish at ten? Go to the supermarket then, or in your lunch hout

user1483387154 · 02/08/2019 08:41

Yabbers get over yourself.
There is no way out of my situation due to Hague convention. I don't need advice about it from internet strangers when I have it from lawyers.
Yes its frustrsting when you see a woe is me post when they are simply over spending.

I have every right to feel that way and Eexpress it on a public forum.

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 08:44

ibiza - 7am. Dh already left for work. I am free from 10.30-3pm before I start again (that's when I do my exercise) - so no car to go shopping then.

OP posts:
firstimemamma · 02/08/2019 08:58

Why is food £600 per month?! How many people are in your family?

We are a family of 3 and the weekly food bill for us is £60. That includes snacks and treats such as beer.

SkydivingKittyCat · 02/08/2019 09:04

You do 4 hours of exercise every single day?

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 09:07

Yeah. Really slowly Grin
That does include travelling, showering, doing hair and make up before work again. So really only 2 hrs guided exercise

OP posts:
SkydivingKittyCat · 02/08/2019 09:08

7 days a week? And your husband works 7am-10pm every day as well so couldn't possibly go shopping either?

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 09:11

No, I work all day at weekends (busiest days for me).

OP posts:
Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 09:12

Dh has caring duties at weekends (elderly rellies)

OP posts:
furrytoebean · 02/08/2019 09:12

But why can’t you get a Tesco delivery?

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 09:13

I do get Tesco deliveries Confused - that's how we currently get our shopping

OP posts:
Teachermaths · 02/08/2019 09:19

And he can't fit in a 20 min run round aldi?!

furrytoebean · 02/08/2019 09:23

So I’m stumped to how you’re spending that much at Tesco unless you’re living off Wicked ready meals.

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 09:24

Current nearest Aldi is the worst drive ever - crawling traffic as it's on a retail park - at least an hours drive for about 3 miles.

The new one will be on his way home from work so much easier.

Although after reading some threads on here no one notices much difference between Aldi and Tesco (and Ocado price match Tesco)

OP posts:
Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 02/08/2019 09:27

Because it includes everything - all toiletries, cleaning products, dog food at £80 a month.

OP posts:
Teachermaths · 02/08/2019 09:31

My food bill includes all that. It's 250 a month for 3 of us.

furrytoebean · 02/08/2019 09:46

Yeah my food bill includes all that too, including 3 cats who are on special cat food.

But you obviously just want a vent and not to make any changes so that’s fine.

ssd · 02/08/2019 09:50

MN at it's finest, woman earning over 5k a month is hardship woes.