Don't know how we'll eat this month

sunnydais

I am quite new to this forum as well Worried and I know how easy it is for debts to overtake us. You will find lots of support here as we plough our way through our debt mountains! Scary how quickly they grow
Good luck things will get better

Kay_Peel

On the subject of haircuts, I used to spend £80 every 8 weeks, like you. Now, I go to the local further education college. It runs a Hairdressing and Beauty salon during term time and in the evenings. The standards are really high, the trainees are closely supervised and I get a BETTER service than I used to. I now pay:

£25.00 - full head colour, cut and finish
£23.00 - regrowth, cut and finish
£6.00 - style, cut and finish.

Men pay between £3 and £5.50 depending on the style.

At those prices, I treat myself to a luxury manicure while I'm there: £5.50

The other option is to find a mobile hairdresser who will visit your house and do the whole family. Their rates are usually very good.

Have you had a look at the excellent Old Style Board for tips on meal planning? The ideas will halve your grocery bill.

Good luck

Pinky15

Hi there - just wanted to offer my support I have 3 littles ones and also know what its like to be short. We have more money than ever but are stony broke as we are paying for things ourselves and not with Ccards. We too ran up both of these whilst I was on maternity leave and I spend many a sleepless night worrying about them!
As soon as we are paid I look for offers on nappies and wipes and buy enough for the month then at least I am not lured back to the shops, this also saves on diesal and parking costs. I then collect points and usually by the end of the year have enough to pay for a months wipes and nappies!! and a few treats. Keep posting and let us know how you get on x

Verbatim

hi there,

very impressive that you've already made savings. Well done.
The things that worked best for me were meal planning a month at a time and having students from the local language school.

With the meal planning knowing I had enough in for 30/31 meals meant I knew I didn't have to buy anything else. I don't stick rigidly to the plan but swap around or change if something comes up but it brought my shopping spending down. hugely Personally I find butchers more expensive than supermarkets, especially if you can find offers (last week my sainsburys had special purchase frozen half legs of lamb at £2.25).

With the foreign students it's more flexible than a permanent lodger and you can have one for a few weeks then no-one and then start again. Or some people have a Mon-Thurs lodger which may suit better than a student.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, just wanted to say well done for coming on here and making the effort to sort things out. I dont think you need to go down the IVA/DMP route if you really make an effort to cut back. Just a few random thoughts:

Once I had adjusted to my new "no frills" way of life I was actually happier. Its all about being honest with yourself and taking control of the situation. There is nothing scarier than standing in line at the checkout not knowing if your card will clear. I still have moments when I get fed up and wish I could afford things but I know that spending money is a quick fix and does not really make you happy.

I got into debts when my children were very small because I was the main earner before we had them. I didnt have my lightbulb moment until last year, when my kids were 9 and 11!!! Do it now.

Also, keep coming on this website. If I am struggling or things are getting bad I just have half an hour reading other peoples stories. There are loads of us in the same situation and you can pick up some great advice.

Good luck, its hard work juggling a child, debts, work etc etc so dont be too hard on yourself.

ampersand

Hello again, ws -
You started this Thread not even 12 hours ago, yes - not even half a day - and just look at what has been achieved already.
There are so many sound points here, and much empathy upon which you can draw, not just now, but as you continue your steady way up to solvency and restored self-esteem.
You have garden space, so I hope you'll make time to seek advice[if you need it!]on the Greenfingered Thread, too. Cathartic, good for fitness, apart from savings and knowing what you are eating is what you have produced. What terrific early memories for your daughter to have as part of her normal Life.

Are Clubs really necessary for 2 year olds?

Company, stimulation, yes - but do you have to pay to provide this?

Forgive me if I trespass in no-go territory, but as others have mentioned, your OH must be part of this.
You have confirmed something that some of us inferred. If all else fails, you must show him this Thread, which you have so bravely begun with intelligence and an instinctive grasp of essentials.
The distinction between that LB moment and the Into Action one - as better expressed earlier, is one you must BOTH take on board.
This is currently not so and your parents are visiting, too.

Let's see you tomorrow. Meantime, sleep differently tonight, knowing you have done the hardest thing.
Please ring CAP. I just feel they're right for you - and soon we'll know you by another name.
[I also thank you for bringing redsquirrel back into contact.]

chops22

wow you have made some great progress already. The only thing I can think off are childcare vouchers. I pay £70 a month on nursery fees, but now this amount is taken out of my wages directly. It means I pay less tax.

curlygirl1971

Just a thought but with regard to your daughters clothes try charity shops (although agree with previous poster - Xmas and birthdays are great opportunity for relatives to buy clothes) my sister gets some fab great kids clothes from charity shops.....and sometimes things for grown-ups too! It's stating the obvious but just make sure that you are only buying what you need ("do I need it and if I do can I get it cheaper?")

You can't drive this all by yourself - you need to do it as a family, it's a shared responsibility

get a good nights sleep

Triggles

Something to consider for meatless meals that a "carnivore" DH will still eat (I say this because my DH is a meat and potatoes kind of guy and he is still reasonable and will eat other meals with less or no meat to be cooperative and to keep the budget in line):

- beans on toast with shredded cheese on top
- jacket potatoes with chili or beans or cheese or broccoli
- eggs or omelets with toast
- homemade vegetable soup with dumplings (made with chicken stock)

plus I use only half a 500g pkg of mince for any type of cooked meal like chili or spag bol - as you can add veg and beans which are cheaper to bulk it up without the extra mince in it. And for chili, you can serve it on top of rice for an added filler without putting any extra meat in it.

maman

Gillianh2 wrote: »

Just a thought about the toddlers clothes.Christmas is coming up could Grandparents Aunts etc, either purchase clothes or give vouchers for you to get them as and when needed. Ditto for Easter etc; I know we all want our kids to have the latest toys, but at 2 they play with the packaging more than the presents! LOl You dont have to inform anyone of your financial difficulties if you prefer not to, just say its a prefrence thing.

I wondered whether grandparents would pay for clubs as a gift. While not essential it's better than heaps of 'stuff'. If your DD gets lots of toys at Christmas from relatives and friends put most of them away and bring new ones out at intervals that'll stop you being tempted to spend during the year just because you want to treat her.

On the food front, I've found that a stir fry is excellent for using minimal amounts of meat with loads of veg and (cheap) noodles. Last night I did a toad in the hole with very few sausages (cut into meatball size pieces) and that was very filling with mash, veg and onion gravy.

I think you're very brave but (as has been said) do get your OH on side. The meat bill alone is enormous with huge scope for cutting back.

Good luck.