Need to tighten our belts!!!

Daddyto3

How do you all budget for annual things like Mots, Birthdays, Xmas, Holidays etc. Do you put a monthly amount away? We have never really done this, do you think it is something we should? Or do we use the moneyto pay debts 1st?

Anyone advise?

Cheers Guys.
Phil

bank_of_slate

Hi daddyto3,
We have a jar into which goes all the copper and those horrid little 5p's.
It's amazing how even small change adds up!
If your wife feels so strongly about the charities, are there other things that she could do such as taking part in the 'Race for life' that would still help her to support these causes?

...Linda xx

Daddyto3

If your wife feels so strongly about the charities, are there other things that she could do such as taking part in the 'Race for life'

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Cheers Linda, will suggest this!!!!

Conor_3

Sorry, the point which I didn't make so well about the charities is that at the moment you need the money. There's nothing to stop you paying more later on to make up for it.

You have only yourselves to turn to to raise money. The charities have potentially 65 million other people in the UK alone. Woldwide, several billion people. I'm sure that the charities wouldn't want to take your money off you if you're penniless, which if you're spending more than you earn you are in effect.

Baileys_Babe

Prehaps you should suggest to your wife you stop giving finacially to the choosen charities but give time or other practical assitance they could benefit from, whether regularly or for specific projects until the family has solved its own debt difficulties. If your wife will still not budge on this ensure you are donating using the gift aid scheme, this won't help you any but the charities will be able to gain the tax back so your donations will go further.

paint

I can't believe that people are genuinely suggesting that you should stop contributing what amouts to less than 50 quid a year to charity! Surely repaying debt is all about prioritising expenditre and lifestyle choices and in that there has to be room for compromise. I'd say binning the milkman and keeping the charitable donations was a good compromise in this instance. Good luck.

Conor_3

paint wrote:

Surely repaying debt is all about prioritising expenditre and lifestyle choices and in that there has to be room for compromise. I'd say binning the milkman and keeping the charitable donations was a good compromise in this instance. Good luck.

No, repaying debt at the level where you're having to buy food on credit cards is about SURVIVAL. You can't afford lifestyle choices. Lifestyle choices are FORCED upon you by your situation.

FrankieM

Hi daddyto3,

In regards to budgeting for birthdays, christmas , mot etc. I think most people tend to figure out what thy spend over a year and then divide by 12 to find out the monthly amount to put away...though I tend to budget £100 per month per car because of repairs etc that can happen when you least expect it!
In regards to spends, my OH and I have £10 per week each too, though mine can get squeezed out at times it really doesn't bother me...my OH on the other hand likes to know he's got some money that is 'his' to waste as he wants. You could always cut it back to a fiver a week for now.
In regards to charity...maybe keep an open mind and see where else you can cut back first then drop it if you really need to.

We have debt but still tithe and give over and above that because we feel that its the right thing to do. Yes we would have got our debt paid off sooner if we hadn't but then we may have just spent the extra money on ourselves....its a contenscious issue!!!

rubytuesday

[I know, I know, but I strongly believe in jobs in the community, and our milkman has been doing this round for years (soft touch i know) we will reconsider.
Regards to the charities, my wife is a very strong believer in donating to both Oxfam, and Cancer relief. It's £4 a month for both, which equates to 6p a day each. - Don't know whether she would be prepared to cancel - will ask her?

I agree with you about the milkman and think you should carry on giving to charities if you want to, I know that many religions suggest tithing 10% of your income. I think you should do what feels right for you. If you feel you can't afford it at the moment then stop for now and start again later. I also use the milkman because I want to use recycleable bottles.

rubytuesday

Sorry still can't get this quote thing right!