Tearing my hair out over housekeeping

garret1

please please help....

I am constantly bargain hunting but seem to fritter money away on things I think are bargains!!! OH and I are now arguing because we still can't live within our means even though he has a well paid job. ie I can't live within our means. I am really ashamed that I am overspending the household budget but don't know how to cut back. we are a family of 4 living in the highlands so am really stuck with tesco and lidl. no farmer's market here. I really don't feel extravagant as I never get my hair/face done, always buy own/value brands, never have holidays and all clothes are from tesco or ebay. Have sold a bit of stuff there but am running out. have sent a pm to someone who seems to have it sussed but would really appreciate some wise words from anyone else. hope u can help

B:(

Kazonline

Please don't be so hard on yourself - it's hardly as though you are blindly throwing money away. It is hard to judge what really is a bargain and what isn't sometimes - I know that I am really guilty of this too.
One thing that I found helped me enormously was to decide on a set ammount for a weekly budget and to stick to taking that out at the begining of the week, and not being allowed to touch any cards etc. The effect this had on my realising what really is/isn't a bargain was quite suprising.
Perhaps if your husband took control of the finances for now and just gave you a weekly housekeeping budget in cash it might help? Just until you feel more in control again.
I used to get in a tiz as I never knew what I should use as an ammount and was pleasantly suprised when the CAB advised me that £25 per person was a good low ammount. Suddenly I could afford to cook something other than chicken!!!
You aren't alone in having difficulty with money - just look around this forum, so please don't be hard on yourself, and don't let anyone put you down. You are doing your best, and that's all anyone can ask.
Best wishes,
Kaz

outrageous_monkey

Hi and welcome to OS

why not try cutting back slightly at first say £10 or £20 per week. Add up all your receipts and see which are bargains that you use all the time, or what are bargains that one day you might use.

Another tip off the OS board is the menu plan. If you do that then when you come to shopping you have a list to stick to, therefore, realising that anything else you buy on top isnt really a bargain as such.

I'm the worlds worst for over spending. I looked at my back account this afternoon and got a shock :eek: . I know that for the next week or three :rolleyes: I have to stick at what is essential only. But from personally speaking I am always really pleased with myself when I have just bought what is needed.

Dont be too hard on yourself, most people have got themselves into a bit of a mess at times. But stick around here and read the post because you will be amazed how money you can save. And whilst your on here, reading or posting your saving money. Well, thats how I see it.

Good luck and you can do it!

Julie

garret1

Thank you soooo much,

i agree that the biggest thing I need to do is take control and have decided on my weekly amount of cash. cards will stay in kitchen drawer. have made up a meal plan for next week and am currently living off meagre storecupboard. Can't seem to get excited about money saving until i stop feeling guilty. Thanks for the support.

Kazonline

Good for you ((((HUGS)))) I'd love to know how you get on, so if you feel like it don't forget to post an update.
Kaz x

garret1

will do. mind you am still trying to work my way round the site. will stay with OS for now. Definitely feeling better already so thanks again.

Bx

calleyw

Why not to get you started go through you cupboards, fridge and freezer and make a list of everything you have.

Then list all the meals you can make from that. You might surprised to find that you have a more meals then you think.

After that work out a meal a plan for a week. And buy what you need to make the meals for that week. Don't forget that nothing is set in stone. Just do meals for 7 days. Include breakfast and any snacks that you think you will eat. If there leftovers either eat them that week or pop them in the freezer for the next week.

Then once you have the hang of doing that for a few weeks on a week by week basis then start to do it for say a fortnight at a time which is probably best.

Don't forget that milk and cheese can be both frozen.

Fingers crossed this might help you to get you food budget under control. For cleaning you only need a few items. I use vinegar, bicarb, bleach for bunging down the loos. And stardrops with microfibre clothes. You don't need loads of different cleaning items. I dust but don't use polish.

All the best. Baby steps is best.


Yours


Calley

outrageous_monkey

Just had a thought

Another board you might be interested in, is the freebie board. Thats fab, I love getting all the freebies thru the post. I got stuff before christmast, personal radio, F1 car stickers etc that I put in my little lads stocking. Today I rang up for a free copy of Marie Claire. Stick with MSE and you wont ever go out again, lol

Julie

garret1

i'm definitely up for the freebies!!!

I do try to freeze wherever possible as I always make too much. Mostly we just eat it all instead... i think portion control is an issue. Meal planning I can manage but it is fruit, snacks and sandwich fillings which make up most of my shopping. sandwiches for lunch and my OH and 5 yr olds just seem to graze all day. we eat very healthily and go through a phenomenal amount of fruit a week. Am trying to buy that from lidl but it's still alot. Am also growing my own salad veg but am not convinced i won't have to top it up withh stuff from tescos that hasn't been attacked by snails!!!!

Poppy9

I do think that when you are skint you buy silly small stuff that's a bargain because you feel you can't afford to treat yourself to something nice. This is also a common problem when overweight and you don't want to buy clothes.

I am so guilty of this. I bargain hunt and buy constantly. I currently have christmas cake decorations in my fridge for Xmas coming which I bought in Tesco for 59p. Yes I saved £1.20 but do I really need them.

To stop this spending I've started an online saving account with my current account bank. On line I transfer as much money as I think I can every month to the saver. I leave enough for DD and food but the rest goes into savings account. This means for every overspend I have to log on and transfer the money to the current account. It's worked really well for me and over 12 months we have saving in this saving account of £5k:T This is even after going to Florida on holiday earlier this year.

calleyw

Don't forget that value fruit and veg in supermarkets can be ok.

A lot of it can be just the wrong size. At the moment my local sainsburys have value apples in and it's 8 royal gala apples (yum my fav straight from the fridge) for 72p. And if you look at the non-value ones they are £1.38 for 8 and they are much smaller than the value ones.

Last week they had had red delicous in. Not quite as nice a royal gala. Do you have any sort of market near by. The cost of fruit and veg might be a little cheaper.

So that might help to keep the cost down a little.


Yours


Calley