What else can I do?

Greenwellies_2

Annie_Fanny wrote:

Do they not have hands? If there is no fresh milk they will have to get it out the freezer - for fook sakes? My partner's grandad had to cycle from Doncaster to Leeds for a window cleaning round when he was young!

Oh they have hands, but being teenagers, they cant think further than what they are doing at that precise time. So they'll make lunch for tomorrow for themselves, use up all the bread and not get another one out. (so when hubby wants a sandwich to eat, he can't (don't have a microwave))

I have a shopping list in the kitchen, they use the last of something and still don't think to write it on the board

I'm hoping this phase (with the boys) will pass, either that or they'll move out! LOL

Thanks
GW

Emmzi

I's tough admitting you made mistakes, or haven't been as thrifty as you might. It's tough when a financially secure future gets taken away from you. It's tough to develop a new way of thinking overnight.

I think GW does need advice, but might not be ready to do all of it right away. Improvement is better than stagnation, and the first step to perfection, right?

How about you all keep making suggestions, and GW just thanks you for them, but maybe doesn't say right away which ones she's going to use - just lets us know as and when she does something? Then she can take or reject advice (as we all do from here); we get to see how she is getting on, and we can all be kinda calm? Probably she's doing some thinking out loud here about why things might and might not work - I'm guessing home is a bit tense for that kind of thinking right now.

I'm just suggesting a little tolerance as I'm a woman who used to be slumming it if my weekly food shop didn't come from M&S; and it took me a while to adjust, and realise 'different' didn't mean 'worse.'

And you catch more wasps with jam than vinegar :-)

Just my tuppence worth, accept or reject as you wish.

Greenwellies_2

Sorry I am new to this forum idea.

I thought it was polite to respond to peoples suggestions, and I was being honest. You're right Emmzi, what ever I do, it can't all be done in one go.

Hubby is home from the interview (they'll let him know....)
He has another interview with the same Co, different branch on Wednesday morning *fingers crossed*
We have briefly discussed selling the car again. It does make sense.

Hubby has his head higher in the clouds than I do, so we're having some serious chats later tonight!

I do appreciate all the time and energy that people have put into this for me, at the end of the day you are putting yourselves out for me, and I know it. Although I have never had the champagne lifestyle, to go from a 'champagne' lifestyle to squash / lemonade lifestyle over night is tough, just mentally.

Thanks to everyone

(I shall be quiet now!)

Greenwellies

Peppa_Pig_5

Hi Greenwellies, just wanted to say welcome again, as I asked for your SOA and haven't been around since. Two young kids to look after, never enough hours in the day. I am glad to see you are getting plenty of advice.

I am getting made redundant in August. Like you I am a very optomistic person, the glass is always half full, not half empty. I have a good education and some may think that I should hold out for a job on the same level. I am part time and earn about £9000 a year, which for part time seems good to me. However, knowing that I am being made redundant I have started looking at alternative ways of earning money. I have started selling Avon products and have made on average £85 every three weeks after expenses. Also I am looking into being a courier for catalogue companies. All work I have chased up myself, as I know nothing is going to fall into my lap. I pay about £400 per month on childcare, so am looking for a job where I will not have to pay that. So courier work could work for me. It will only be for a couple of years until youngest goes to school, but a different view on working.

Sorry to go on, but what I am trying to say, has your husband got any other skills he can use and try alternative jobs. e.g local handyman, gardener, delivering parcels etc.

Hope this helps and I have enjoyed reading through all the replies. I am off to Lidl this weekend to see if I can save more on my food shopping.

Peppa
x

Greenwellies_2

lynzpower wrote:

2 things

1) you say loan on 0% so not paying it, what do you mean? you are defaulting?
2) if the ebay "has reached its limit" what do you mean?

Sorry, it's a student overdraft, not a loan *slaps head*

Not sure about the ebay one, it happened when i listed the car too. I think they limit the amount of trading that you can do.

thanks

GW

Greenwellies_2

Peppa_Pig wrote:

Hi Greenwellies, just wanted to say welcome again, as I asked for your SOA and haven't been around since. Two young kids to look after, never enough hours in the day. I am glad to see you are getting plenty of advice.....

Oh the joys of doing Avon, I too done that when my boys were little. Be careful, they used to invoice me for full price items, yet they should have been on offer.

As for couriers, we have a home depot (something like that) but they are not taking people on, I have also see a bit of a dodgy website about couriering all over the country, but I think it's a GRQ scheme.

Best of luck, and at least whatever happens you will be better prepared (and more realistic) than we were.
(((hugs)))

Thanks

GW
(I didn't stay away long - LOL)

Chortle_2

GW - you don't need to stay away, I think that all Emmzi was saying is that Rome isn't built in a day, and that maybe she felt like some of the more negative posts on here were pushing you too fast?

Thing is, we all know that you can only do it a bit at a time, we've all been there, and yes, it does need baby steps! If we're pushing you, it's a shove towards your lightbulb moment, not necessarily a "thou shalt do all of this NOW"

Greenwellies_2

Just for info....

I've emailed all my friends to pass on information about the car and I have had two interested parties on behalf of their friends. I doubt that anything will come from it, but it's worth another try.

:j

GW

mom23

Hi GW
i totally agree with Emmzi and would have posted earlier but had to nip to work!!
It is very hard to take in all the suggestions in one go (there are a lot of posts!!).
It is a question of sitting down and digesting all the info suggested, it takes time to organise yourself and get into DFW mode.
The easiest and most money saving for me was menu planning, making a list and sticking to it and bulk freezing ! i used to shop weekly untill i got the gist of it and can now shop fornightly!!there are 2 adults and 2 children in our house and my monthly food shop is roughly 130.00 includes all food and household!!
i do not buy "cheap" meat but i make it go along way we do not eat junk food and we eat loads of fresh fruit and veg!!
It did take me a while to get into the swing of things and it is not always easy but when you see the savings you make it is well worth it!!
My cupboards and freezer are always full and some nights it is bliss as the meal is already prepared and just needs taking out of freezer!!!
Since having my lightbulb moment there have been ups and downs but tbh i have more money in my purse than i ever did before and do not have to touch the dreaded cc!! :T
Hope you do eventually take on board everyone's suggestions as they are old hands at this, and although sometimes comments may seem a bit harsh they are saying it for your own good!!

Greenwellies_2

mom23 wrote:

Hi GW
my monthly food shop is roughly 130.00 includes all food and household!!

Shocked!
Wow, I do that in the butchers!
I buy a huge joint and then cook it and slice it. I then wrap in foil, with just enough for one family meal. (that way I can get dinner cooked faster too!)

Last time I went to the butchers I spent £117. That was:
Sausage rolls x 5
Pastie x 3
Samosa x 3
(all the above were brought to feed people at SIL, while she had no kitchen)

Boneless leg of lamb (Should get at least 2 meals out of it)
Lamb steaks x 5
Tray of mince (4 bags - about 1lb each)
Pork chops x 10
2 trays (about 20 in total) boneless chicken breast
1 large whole chicken

This was brought on the Easter Saturday. I have used the whole chicken and 5 of the chicken breasts and 5 of the pork chops. The mince has been used for the Shep Pie tonight and I have 2 meals worth of bolognaise in the freezer.
I guess this will last me another 2 weeks, Hopefully longer

Do you think I could realistically cut down to £200 a month?

Thanks,

GW