help me save some money please

Wingman

ms_london wrote:

I am not judging anyone, but you are right, you dont know whats around the corner, which is why debt is so bad, because you could be landed in a very sticky situation very easily. Health is definately more important, by all means, and money doesnt create happiness. I learnt so much through being in debt and am a better person for it. Now I have the money, granted I am saving for my trip, however, I still dont want to spend it, and am a little bit tight, but the difference is I know its there & I dont have the constant nag of "I dont have any money" hanging over my head, which is something I had for years.

xx

I know what you mean hunni, it would be lovely to not have to worry soo much about money and well done you for getting out of debt:beer: It can be a very enriching experience, you do end up appreciating things more and also learning the true value of things:D

When you go travelling you will no doubt enjoy your experience even more knowing that you have worked so hard saving it for yourself and you won;t be paying it back for the next 20 years:rolleyes:

I look at things in a different way now, hope my post didn't come across too defensive xx

Ajax18

ms_london wrote:

Ajax18 - I appreciate your comments. I love getting a bargain too, and even though I am better off without any debt (obviously) I'll still save money where I can - I love charity shops/ebay/primark - and even find New Look too expensive (not to mention tacky!!). I am a money saving nerd too!!

However the difference is HAVING to be like this and WANTING to be. I love saving money,but I know I have the money if I want it. And this is the first time I've ever been in this position as I have struggled with money ever since I turned 18 and could get credit (am 26 next month).

Well done on putting yourself through uni - thats a fab achievement!! :T :T

I just dont like feeling as though you're on a never ending hamster wheel where you cant get off, you have to work to pay the mortgage (and the like) and youre life isnt your own because you are committed to X,Y,Z. I know that this is life and you cant do what you want, when you want, but there has got to be a balance, as you only live once?

xx

hm, it is difficult really. Sorry went a bit over the top in my post there...

I have an aunt who I find totally inspirational. She started of with nothing when she left school and married fairly young. My uncle left school at the age of 15 and was working in a distribution centre and my aunt started an apprenticeship at the local florist. From this she worked herself up to owning her own successful flowershop and my uncle stayed with his company for such a long time and worked really hard that he is now assistant manager. They are both in their 40s now and will pay the mortgage off next year, have a beautiful daughter and live quite comfortably. I think this just shows that no matter where you start out from, if you check yourself and stay within your limits and aim to work your way up, you can achieve your goals... You just need to be realistic and stay within your limits so as to not get yourself in debt in the meantime...

Wingman

Essex-girl wrote:

Hiya ms_london



It is worrying at the mom, I know people who are on good incomes and a few years ago were considered well off but now because things have gone up so much are now struggling - however I dont know how much debt they are in.

So very true, things have to change, we are being totally ripped off in the UK

moggins

We do it because we want to live a certain way, I want to be a SAHM so we only have one income and four people to pay out for. I could have gone back to work full time when my DD started school but after the loss of the tax credits and paying for stuff like travelling, clothes etc we would not be that much better off, we would have to pay more for ready meals and takeaways because I'd be too tired to cook (DH loves his home cooked meals).

We don't do without, DH still racks up his DVD collection every month and I have saved £600 to take the kids out for day trips in the summer (we could have had a holiday but only at the beginning of September and I'd rather spread out the trips etc rather than have two bored kids through the holidays).

We do have debts to pay off but only because due to an accident (and not having fully comp) we had to replace our car quickly and because we wanted to make certain improvements to the house but all these monthly payments are well within our budget.

I also think that living this way teaches our kids valuable lessons about life and money, that resources shouldn't be wasted just because we can and to appreciate the little things in life. I'd rather not work to earn extra money and then have to spend that money on guilt presents because I don't spend enough time with the kids.

Hardup_Hester

Hi Tracey
I know it can be a struggle, here is how we manage.

My SOA

Monthly Incomings:

£863.41 wage,


Monthly Outgoings:

Mortgage/Rent - £376
Council Tax - £113
Home/Building Insurance - £17.89
Gas - £33.52
Electric - £31.65
Water rates - £28.60
Phone - £20.
Internet - £9.99
Mobile - £2.50
Pet Food etc - £10.00
Car Insurance - £25.55
Car Tax - £10.42
Petrol - £56.70
Life Insurance - £12.50
TV licence - £10.54

This leaves £104.55 for food & everything else, we haven’t had a holiday for 5 years, don’t eat out or get takeaways. We don’t buy new clothes & we usually offer services such as babysitting or gardening as gifts. For us, this is how it is, I’m 54, we have no real debt apart from our mortgage. There isn’t much we can do to improve our circumstances as we are too old to do much, lol. Hubby works occasionally, but finds it difficult as he is partially sited & I temp during my holidays from work.

Stratford_Bill

Ajax18 wrote:

See, my parents are perfect examples for what you should not do. They led a lifestyle way above what they were entitled to from their earnings and are so much in debt now! I am quite angry at my parents, because thanks to them being so easy with their money I had to work myself through uni and did not get one penny from my parents because they could not afford to support me. I did not qualify for a student loan because I came over from Germany, so I studied full time and worked night shifts from 10 pm to 5 am throughout uni. If my parents would have been a little bit more considerate and thought about us kids (there is three of us) as well as them, maybe I would have not felt completely left on my own at the age of 17!

Ajax, I think you are being a little too hard on your parent. We took the same stance with our kids, only we did it deliberately. Perhaps your parents were wise enough to do the same. You can hobble your kids for life by making things too easy for them. You have lived through poverty, having to keep yourself warm on cold nights, making a meal out of next to nothing, working at menial jobs. Think back on the things you have learned, the people you've met, the experiences you have been through. How would things have gone if everything had been laid on for you? what would you have learned. Would you be able to live on your own resources, like you do now? Would your weltanschauung be as well formed as it is at the moment.
I think one day you will appreciate what your parents did for you. They are very wise.

Stratford_Bill

Hi Tracey
these are the figs I came up with per month
garden - £1.25
eating out - £8.33
drinking out - £4.17
meals at work - £2.00
park and ride / parking - £4.17
mothers/fathers/easter day - £5.00
cost of christmas - £57.92 (2 children plus 13 family members)
cost of birthdays - £37.50 as above
cost of weekend break - £16.67
cost of holiday - £166.67
cost of new electrical applicances- £21.67
clothes and shoes - £25.00
hobbies - £6.25
families day out(swimming etc) - £8.33
haircuts - £8.33 ( if I have it highlighted)
beauty products/treatments - £2.50
optical - £8.33
chemist /tablets - £5.67
magazine - £3.00

You should be able to run a garden for nothing if you use traditional methods of manuring (compost heaps etc)
Eating out can be changed to eating in.
Drinking out can be changed to drinking in or not drinking at all.
Take your own lunch into work with you.
Others have mentioned the cost of the holiday. I am sure that you can get a cheapeer holiday than if you go on a package tour. The restaurants where the truckers eat are much cheaper. Taxi drivers know the cheapest hotels to stay at. That sort of thing.

The price of petrol seems to be rather high. Have you thought about trading in the car for something more fuel efficient? Are all those journeys really necessary?

The television can go to your parents' house, and you can save on the licence. You will only then start to live...