Im shocked!

beth3735

I work for Tescos so get a 10% staff discount card for shopping.
I have just had my annual benefits report through and it says I have used £496 worth of discount.

SO add a 0 on the end it means I have spent £4960 in just 1 year in the place.

That is well over double that I earn from the place. Plus also the odd shop in Asda and Morrisons

This amount has shocked me completly, I am wondering what annual amount I should be looking at for shopping for a family of 5?
That amount would also include clothes as I shop there for the kids clothes to make it cheaper, I also dont buy many clothes at the full price, Either with a coupon or when they are reduced?

RAS

CCCS suggest £383 per month for a family of four which is £4596 per year.

However people trying to pay back their debts would say £250 was acceptable for a family of 5.

beth3735

It has shocked me so much, but then like I say all things like school uniform, clothes, shoes, bedding has all been included,

I will seriously try and budget better on the shopping side of things, Its gutting to see double my wages go back into the place lol.

RAS

beth3735 wrote: »

It has shocked me so much, but then like I say all things like school uniform, clothes, shoes, bedding has all been included,

Hi

Do you really really need new bedding. Do you just buy clothes because you have the discount card and they are reduced. The reason supermarekts sell that stuff is because they know that punters lose their heads and they can lighten their wallets.

Keep away from the non-food aisles.

Join www.freecycle.com or the alternative free sites for clothes, chekc id the school has a second hand market, hand clothes down.

Stop buying stuff for you and OH as you have already got laods and stop buying household stuff.

beth3735

if im honest the only ever time I buy new bedding is when my parents come to stay, I have to admit im wrong for doing that lol Other time last year was when both my girls were really sick and to be honest it was more hygenic to buy new duvets and pillows as it was just everywhere for 2 days running, Plus baby went into big boy bed.

Honestly im not trying to make excuses lol Maybe trying to tell myself that It was needed. I will do what you advice though and avoid the non food aisles unless I really 100% need something.

Clothes I usually only buy if they are reduced, so yes I dont really need that too I sold my boys clothes that he had just grown out of and made £226 on Ebay for that size, But stupid me just shoved that money onto an xmas saver card rather than my debts.

I have to admit I am an impulse buyer, But I have seriously had I think my LBM only 2 weeks ago and I have been super with money since then, Its just this report I got through has shocked me at how much I spent between July 08- july 09.

I will definatly try the school for uniforms, as when my girls grow out of their dresses I have always handed them into the class to use as spares, But never thought about them selling them. Thanks for the tip

WASHER

Its only a real discount if you actually need it. Is it any wonder tesco have just announced their increase in profits yet again.

I know its difficult to pass by without popping one or two things into the trolley, but ask yourself this before any purchase:

1. Do I need it?
2. Can I afford it without the use of a credit card?

WASHER.x.

jackiegibbo

open a spending diary to keep track

www.spendingdiary.com and put in All the things you spend money on its a real eyeopener

beth3735

its very true washer, Tescos love giving the 10% as they know they are getting so much more back from me.

Luckily as I have chopped up all the credit cards I dont spend on them, But I am really using money that I could be putting towards paying more debt. I will seriously think about doing a proper budget and spending diary, I cant be in debt when my kids are older as Im scared they will follow in my footsteps like I did with my parents.

beth3735

Jackiegibbo, Thanks so much, I wouldnt of thought about doing the diary online. I will start that for a fortnight and see where im going wrong.

TBH I have been good though since getting serious about shifting my debts quicker than the CCCS quoted. So this will be a godsend x

beth3735

is there anyway of changing the Dollars to pounds? Or do you just keep it dollars and put in the pounds if you get me lol

jackiegibbo

beth3735 wrote: »

is there anyway of changing the Dollars to pounds? Or do you just keep it dollars and put in the pounds if you get me lol

Hi it lets you change when you sign up at the beginning;)