my new soa help

Burlesque_Babe

I think it depends on whether the couple can afford to go out and spend the £100 and still have money left over , or whether they are looking to save money/cut back/reduce debt. If they are, then £100 is too much.

It's the same with sandwiches, in my pre-MSE days, I happily spent £2+ a day on a sandwich/chocolate etc (we have an on site shop, canteen and a sandwich trolley!!), but now I want to cut back and pay off the credit cards, that has gone out of the window and I make my own if I want to eat at work.

It's frightening how much racks up each month on this kind of thing - I'd be a lot better off if I'd not gone out as much and stopped spending on the sandwich trolley willy nilly!!

Floss

Re petrol expense
Is it possible that you could change your car? and is that 48 miles each way or daily? Are you buying your petrol at the cheapest place? (usually Tesco or Sainsbury, then you also get the points from them).

Also, are the older DS's at college or working? If at college do they get EMA? (Up to £30 per week paid to the student + bonuses, if household income less than £30k, check out http://www.direct.gov.uk/ema/) If working, do they chip into the household expenses? As Mr T says, every little helps.

Mrs_A.

thanks everyone for your tips and ideas and guidance i can see i have a lot of work to do and will implement these changes after i have a pow wow with the family at the weekend
many thanks again
regards
mrs a

earwig

do you pay rent or mortage as i didnt see these on your soa

Mrs_A.

no we live in a tied house and get free rent and council tax