The £700 a month experiment

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Busy day. No outgoings. Balance -18.65

Today the gas bill came out. It was £45.99. We are warm and housed and there is a weeks shopping in. The New Balance is - £18.65 Yet I am pleased. Facing the final week without any money left in the budget doesn’t seem at all bad when I am warm and housed and fed. So tomorrow I am leaving work as I know I can make a success of this budget and give more time to my son. I will be mainly eating porridge and baking cheese pie as it is a frosty day and I have surplus milk. I’ll also move my photos off my old phone to my computer today so as not to lose so many precious memories that have collated on it over the years.

It seems I must be mad. I watched a programme last night about universal credit. A single mum on there was getting £997 a month - and complaining about it. That is a heftier budget than mine. What makes it worse is that with UC she will also get free school meals, free prescriptions and funded opticians and dentist. Plus boiler servicing and property maintenance. I pay for these and in fact am proud to  - being a single mum is a proud culmination of all my achievements to date. It is said there is a thin line between genius and insanity. Let’s hope I transpire to be on the correct side of that line... I have 8 days to go. A weeks food arrives today, and my prescription is in so although there is very little left in the kitty we are fed and housed for the remainder.

Today I have masses of admin to do. I have also placed a shopping order of just over £40. Technically it is possible to get a weeks shopping for £20, but not only do I have to spend at least £40 to have it delivered, it also allows me to use an £8 off voucher and ensures M not reducing our quality of life with my budget. Outgoings £43 New Balance 27.34 9 days to go...

I have been mentally writing my book this morning. And checking upcoming bills as, on day 20, the monthly budget is looking low. I better not comment yet but I believe I have 70 pounds left, but 100 pounds due in bills in the final 10 days. However I have still covered my sons trust fund, so am meeting all my responsibilities and if I were to keep the shopping down to £20 for the final week would in fact make it. The end result (I said I wouldn’t do this) looks close enough to be worth a second month. Outgoings: Broadband/Internet: 24.99 Child trust fund: 11.03 New Balance: £70.34

Wet day in watching films and playing computer games together. fried chips from leftover jacket potatoes. No spend.

Outgoings zero. Ate well using leftovers from Thursday. Activities: family walk in the woods.

Last day of being in the EU ToNIGHTS TAKEAWAY might have blown the budget.... Outgoings: £26 on fish and chips New Balance £106.36.