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Can anyone help me on budgeting?

17 replies

MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong · 14/07/2013 19:49

I'm just moving into my first home with dd (10 months) and our pet dog.
Would anyone be able to possibly help us with an idea of the cost of the following to help me budget for the first few months.

My areas are:

Food shopping
Gas
Electric
Water

Many thanks.
just getting over the shock of a tv license Grin

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SnoopyLovesYou · 14/07/2013 19:52

Depends where you are going to be living...

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MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong · 14/07/2013 19:55

I'm just looking for a rough idea of an amount to be putting aside whether that needs to be £10 a month or £50 a month for each

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SugarSpunSisters · 14/07/2013 20:03

What area of the country? Some water compnaies charge triple to other companies.

What type of property? House or flat? Gas central heating or electric storage heaters?

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MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong · 14/07/2013 20:05

Ahh south east. It's GCH and a first floor flat x

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coffeewineandchocolate · 14/07/2013 20:08

do you have a pee pay meter for gas and electric? is you water party as you use?

food wise, I think you could do a grocery shopwith cleaning products for thirty pounds a week once you have a decent store cupboard if you cook from scratch/easy healthily. shops like aldi/ farmfoods/ local pound shops are good value.

do you have pet Insurance? if recommend this to avoid possible huge bills of something goes wrong. make sure it's lifetime cover (some of the cheaper insurance Isn't) as if it isn't it ain't cover a condition after the year of insurance is up. our pet insurance is 20 pounds a month.

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coffeewineandchocolate · 14/07/2013 20:10

pre pay meter! although pee pay meter could reduce your bills! (I may be on to something!)

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MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong · 14/07/2013 20:11

Thank you everyone.
Nothing is metered unfortunately, I've put my budget as 40 per week as dd needs her milk.
I've sorted my pet insurance since I had him and its 15 per month which is good.
I think I might just be panicking a little as I'm finding it a bit daunting

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coffeewineandchocolate · 14/07/2013 20:12

it also should say 'is your water pay as you use' God I hate predictive text! although I'm a little impressed that pee and party are popular words in my dictionary- it makes my life should way more debautorious than it actually is!

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coffeewineandchocolate · 14/07/2013 20:17

do you qualify for fruit and veg vouchers? they can be used on milk too. electric and dad will be seasonal so it's good to build up your account in the summer months. if you can get them to change the meters from pre pay it is cheaper per unit. I think maybe start with 20 pounds a week on gas and electric each and See how you go. also if your income is low enough you may get a council tax discount or exemption

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MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong · 14/07/2013 20:21

Excellent advice coffee, I hadn't heard much about the vouchers but will start now.
Great advice!
And you've made me chuckle Smile

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coffeewineandchocolate · 14/07/2013 20:34

I've cheered myself up as well :-). It's also worth looking off the beaten track. we get our meat from a butcher who advertises on fb. I know it's reputable as she used to be in business with another butcher in a shop, however set upher own business. she works from an industrial estate and delivers free on bulk orders. As she doesn't have shop overheads (just the butchery) it's cheaper for good quality meat.

fruit and veg wise, the local markets are good. also there may be charities who grow and sell cheap veg (our local adults with disabilities team does this)

bills wise I would suggest having an emergency pot/fund where you put in your coppers/ spare cash. mine saved me last week when mycar got a flat....

Congrats on your new place tho! have you got all the plans in place to move? babysitters and bottle of wine to celebrate

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AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 14/07/2013 20:45

You can also look into seeing if there is a PDSA vet near you and if you qualify. Just check their website for more info.

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MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong · 14/07/2013 21:00

Got wine, and going to have to try the move with dd with me/friend. She's a good little girl though so will be o problem. She shall enjoy undoing all my boxes I'm sure!
No PDSA but thank you for the info Smile

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coffeewineandchocolate · 14/07/2013 21:11

boxes occupy all children :-). The wine is the important bit!

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sillymillyb · 14/07/2013 21:14

Im trying to think what I spend - I have a budget written down (not near me or I'd go get it for you!) and am in a 2 bed downstairs flat on my own with 15mo ds .

I strongly recommend like someone else has suggested having an emergency fund, there is no worse feeling than having nothing, it terrifies me!

Below are the estimates!

I spend £40 a week on food / nappies / cleaning stuff
£33 a month on water
£68 for gas and elec
£15 a week for activities for ds (soft play once, a play group and a swimming lesson)
£26 i think for tv licence though this will change to £12 once I've had it a while
Rent and council tax etc - I'm up north so completely different to your amounts I'm sure
Mobile phone - £28
Internet / tv / phone line - £30

Also you will need petrol / travel put into your budget - I try and walk everywhere but I still spend loads on this area (argghhh!)

Hope that helps :)

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MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong · 14/07/2013 21:15

Sillym, that is perfect!!!! Your a star! Thank you Grin

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TurnipIsTaken · 14/07/2013 22:57

If you can try and save a little so you take advantage of special offers when they come up. Eg ds has sensitive skin so I need pricey washing powder, every so often its half price so I buy three, saving me about 15 quid.

Always make sure you have 20 quid or whatever stashed away as a taxi emergency fund incase you need to get dd to A&E (hopefully you'll never need it).

Not really budgeting but have bread in freezer, long life milk etc in case you can't get to the shop. If you have time batch freeze so you always have a meal ready to go and aren't tempted to spend on a takeaway just because you are too tired to cook.

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