Newbies - spending more than we earn

Rache_2

skintchick wrote:

Have you considered selling your large and expensive house and moving to somewhere cheaper and closer to the station/your husband's work?

Can you take your hubby to the station and get rid of his car altogether?

Just a couple of thoughts, although I appreciate rather drastic!!!

As I mentioned before - selling our house would break our hearts, but if it needs to happen then so be it. Sadly houses near the station, in this area, are 20-30k more expensive. But as I say, if we tighten our belts as much as we can and still can't justify such a large mortgage then we will consider it.

It's not actually that large - it's a 3 bed semi - just expensive because of the area.

I can't take my husband to the station as I can't drop my son off at nursery and pick him up again in time to get to/from work. Also my husband, although he mostly commutes, occasionally - every other week sometimes more often - has to drive longer distances, so needs a car for that too. I hate being a two car family by necessity but for the moment it is a necessity.

mintymoneysaver

Rache,
i noticed your mastercard has about £900 left till the limit, while you owe about £800 on your two other cards.Could you transfer those two onto the lower interest one and then cancel them? Might not make much difference but it would mean you could throw any spare money just at the one debt rather than trying to balance 3?

nic82

Hi Rach,

Just an idea but have you heard of bookcrossing? See https://www.bookcrossing.com for detailed info, but it might help a bit with your book situation.

Part of it won't help with your money saving, as the idea is to "release" your unwanted books into the wild, so you'll effectively be giving your books away for free, instead of selling them.

However, the other part of it is to go "hunting" for books - i.e. search for books that have been "released" near to where you live, where you shop, where you work, etc. If you find some, then this perhaps could be good reading material for your husband? Then, when he's read them, he could "release" them again (don't sell the ones that you've found though, as it's not very fair on the person who originally released the book).

With your husband working in London, there are loads and loads of books released there each day. You'll find that sometimes they're released on trains and buses, as well as on benches, in a cafe etc.

It may not be your (or your husband's) "thing" but I just thought it might help to cut down on some of your book expenditure. It's especially good if you have don't mind what you read (e.g. sci-fi, horror, chick lit, etc.). I have always been a chick lit kind of gal, but after discovering bookcrossing, have read some things that I would have never picked up in Waterstones.

Hope this helps

Rache_2

dinkylou wrote:

I dont know if anyone else has mentionned this but I saw in your SOA that you spend £109 per month on books!

This seems an extremely high amount. Could you not join a library or swap with friends and family?

Also, could you cut out the holiday or go somewhere cheaper this year to save money?

We're not planning on having a holiday this year - if we do it will be a free let of a relative's chalet.

Yes we buy tonnes of books - as I say a lot of them are necessary - work books, but I could sell some when I'm done with them, or try to find them 2nd hand.

Our local library is only good if you're into chick lit and romances and biographies of Gloria Hunniford. It's good for the little one, though - we are members and we do borrow a lot of books for him. My family live quite a distance away so with postage costs it's not feasable - but good idea about lending/borrowing with friends. Might just suggest that.

Rache_2

lush_walrus wrote:

One long option for saving money and acheiving the healthy food you enjoy may be to make one of your passtimes tending to an allotment and growing your own. I know its really time consuming, but it can also be fun and there is no feeling like knowing that you have grown what we are eating.

The good thing that will come out of this experience is that you will definately conquer your debt and you will equally learn a new way to live. It's a funny thing, but even though I am ok for money at the moment and without debts I have really learnt to enjoy finding ways around things and learning to live cheaper. I'm sure once you get into it you will too.

That sounds exactly like where we'd like to be.

Allotments are like gold dust round here, but actually we probably have some space in our garden for some veggies. I think that could work really well and it would be a fun way of eating well, getting some exercise, and saving money.

Rache_2

JAMIEDODGER wrote:

rache, although i do spend a lot less on food than £300 per month its taken me a long time to get to that point. i have me and 4 little ones to feed, i only buy my meat from the butchers, fruit and veg from the farm shop and stock up on other bits and bobs from tesco/lidl when i need to, you dont have to compromise on the quality of food you buy, its all down to savvy shopping, organisation and time thats all. hope i didnt offend x

Course you didn't. I'm so grateful for all of this advice.

PS I learnt long ago that the easily offended should not post personal details on internet forums;)

Spendless

rache -your childcare. Does yours and/or your OH employer offer childcare vouchers and would your provider accept them?

Rache_2

HLK wrote:

If you are spending £109 a month on books there must be some you don't want anymore .. there'ss a fabulous thread somwhere on how to sell them on Amazon. Seeems to be easier than Ebay and some of the posters have made lots of cash this way. It's still recycling and better than giving them away! I'll see if I can find it and post back.

EDit..

part 1

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=73819

part 2

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=125534

Wow! there are some great tips on these threads. Thank you.

My only (minor) hesitation about this is that although it certainly appeals to my new found thrifty / pro-recycling nature - it is quite labour intensive. As a full time working mum time is something I don't have a lot of. I will certainly bear this in mind once I have worked through the quicker/easier ways of money saving - as I say I've sold on foums and through Ebay in the past so I know it can be done. It's the whole "packaging up and finding the time to get to the post office" part which puts me off.

Rache_2

HLK wrote:

I know you're out in the sticks but see if there's a Lidl or Aldi nearby. German quality goods at v good prices. the chocolate is continental - high cocoa solids at a fraction of G&B. Theres a 'What to buy, not to buy at Lidl, Aldi etc' on the shop but don't drop board which is worth a read.

Lidl is 7 miles away; the Aldi website isn't letting me see my local branch. Trying to work out how much I'd need to save to make such a trip worthwhile.

I know there's a Costco not too far away; which might be worth a look for a monthly tins cans/loo roll expedition.

irnbru_2

Rache wrote:

Our local library is only good if you're into chick lit and romances and biographies of Gloria Hunniford. It's good for the little one, though - we are members and we do borrow a lot of books for him.

You should be able to reserve books throughout your region/county in your local library. If they're upto date tech wise, they'll email you when ready for collection.