Fed up and skint!

FrankieM

From your soa, you're £44 a month short, so I guess your first port of call is trying at least cut amount from somewhere on the budget.
For us it was always the food budget cause that was usually the only thing that was 'tweekable'. So perhaps looking at that might be the first thing.

Also in regards to nursery..I've never heard of having to pay a top up on top of a free place. Surely thats the nursery wanting more money?
It may be worth looking for somewhere that doesn't make you pay extra or stopping it if you can't afford it.
I've always stayed at home, but we've always gone without loads for that priviledge. If its important that your wife is at home then, unfortunately, sacrifices have to be made somewhere..

mum2one

Are you in a private nursery, or are you going over the allocated times of 21/2 slot x 5 a week. Even at a private nursery they should not be asking for top ups. I never caught hold old ur child was, will it be long b4 they start school.

Verbatim

Crikey, you've had a hard time.

Welcome to the dfw board.

Lots of obvious advice already, meal plan and make shopping list to match in order to cut out unnecessary spends, spending diary to see if what you think you spend is what you actually spend, take packed lunches to work, switch off appliances / ensure no standby is left on, mystery shop, get cc's insurance etc through quidco for cash-back, free clicks for points, comps and coupons. You might also take a look at the matched Betting thread which is not betting but has to be thoroughly understood first and should be left alone by anyone with gambling tendencies.

How big is your house? If you have a spare room take in a lodger and get tax free cash under the govt's scheme. Afraid I can't remember how much is not taxed. Or there are plenty of people who live away from their work and want a room from Mon pm until Fri am which would be less intrusive. I presume the tax situation would be the same. Or B&B again possibly just M-Th nights. If you live in or around London this could bring in around £30 per night, more for a double room. Or are there foreign students at language schools near you? I think you'd get around £140 per week including their breakfasts and evening meals. Letting a room is more long term but the other optios can be short/fixed term and allow you to take a break every so often or you could decide just to take foreign students during the schools' busy period in the summer if this brought in enough.

Sorry for the long post and hope things go well .