Keeping down spending on "stuff"

clairejc

Unfortunately, if you want to seriously reduce your debt, you MUST spend less. When I bought my first house 10 years ago, I had no extra cash, especially when the boiler broke down! At Xmas etc I told people I only had £5 per gift, and would be happy if they only spent that on me! It was a challenge to find things, but if your friends and family truly care and wish to see you financially sorted out, they will be OK about it. Tell them what you are doing, and the supportinve ones will help and stck with you.
For Christening presents etc, sounds corny but start to be creative and make stuff, be more personal, put time in. you are still breaking old habits, so it will take a while. Enrol the kids and do it together. The risks of not getting your debts paid are surely worse than buying or creating cheaper gifts.

Keep going! Claire

cal97

Don't buy presents for anyone except your kids, adults don't need presents and should be able to understand why you can't afford to buy them.

Prudent

I buy most of my pressie at car boot sales. This is especially good for children's pressie as it is common to get unopened toys or toys in perfect condition. You will be very surprised at how easy this is. You need to be fairly organised. I buy for around 35 people at Christmas, mainly relatives and friends. I keep a list, when I find something I right down what I have bought, wrap it up and stick it in a box in the lost until Christmas/ birthday.

loobyloo1980

lisa_75 wrote:

With the going out, how do you cope with birthdays/christenings/aniversarys /weddings? This month alone I have been invited to a christening (that I have to attend), an anniversay party (that i have to attend) and a wedding (that I have lied and said I can't go to). All these need a gift/ money for the bar etc. Do you just simply not go to things like this? The kids are also always being invited to parties at school.

As for £10 on a gift, what kids of things do you buy? I would really love some ideas. I have my mum and best friend to buy for this month. I would usually spend £50 each at least as my best friend spent £150 on me last birthday. I am going to feel so awful only spending so little when I get such nice gifts.

I know how you are feeling, I have been there. A couple of years ago before I seriously got my head into debt repaying mode I was spending £150 per child at birthdays on presents, plus about £80 for a party (2 kids then), then at least the same again each at Xmas, plus about £25 on each of my brothers, sister in law, £30-40 on parents and in-laws, £100 for each other, £10 each on nieces and nephews, etc etc.

I just couldn't continue as I had to do it all on credit. Last Xmas we decided enough was enough. We have another baby now and there is no way we could keep spending that much and get into debt. We cut it right back and for the first time in years did Xmas shopping without use of a catalogue or credit card. Luckily for us hubby does all his overtime in the winter so there was more money coming in, so we don't save throughout the year and just start buying in September when the overtime starts.

My best friend took me out for lunch for my birthday and it cost her £10 for my meal and drink, but it was a lovely day out and I would rather that than a pressie. To be honest, any more than that is unnecessary. We just get each other gifts from body shop and that kind of thing. We don't bother at xmas as we both have kids and her daughter's birthday is 19th december as well. We just buy for the kids and spend £5 each child.

loobyloo1980

lisa_75 wrote:

I wouldn't get help with course fees from the OU as my husband earns too much. I am about to enter my third and final year so I don't really see the point in stopping now. Besides, I have only got through my degree because of the great friends I have made. It is not the same doing it at home on your own. Hopefully the students loans will be an investment in my career.

Have you checked this out Lisa? I am an OU student in the equivalent of a 3rd year university course and I have never paid for any of my OU courses. We have a household income of £20k, but could earn more and still get it paid because they give allowances for children, plus they don;t count your tax credits and child benefit and things like that as income. My degree has been totally free.

kateky

I volunteer at a charity shop (only once a wk),and you won't believe the things that come in! Burberry, authentic, Gucci, authentic, etc plus loads of clothes that still have the tags on them, gift sets unwrapped etc! You need to go and have a look! I don't know why anyone buys namebrand jeans or especially childrens items anywhere else??? You save tons of money and as I said, loads of them are brand new. I have an excellent job and make very good money, but hey I don't like to throw money out when I can use it elsewhere. Good luck and hit those charity shops!!:

tango

ZTD wrote:

It goes back to the old saying.

"What should I spend on the kids?

Half the money and twice the time."

If you spent no money on them, they'd get over it. If you spend no time on them, then they'd be devastated.

Myself and they OH have a £10 limit on Christmas prezzies. It's very hard, and it takes time to select them, but the prezzies are better than £100 thoughtless ones.

Very true..the number of times i have spent money on my children/friends....it is often forgotten very quickly...you can do pressies on the cheap.and because you don't have the money to spend,you often take more time to think of something a bit different.
Kids forget materialistic things very quickly.:D

kateky

Sorry, forgot to add, you can feel good about helping the charity too!

Prudent

kateky wrote:

I volunteer at a charity shop (only once a wk),and you won't believe the things that come in! Burberry, authentic, Gucci, authentic, etc plus loads of clothes that still have the tags on them, gift sets unwrapped etc! You need to go and have a look! I don't know why anyone buys namebrand jeans or especially childrens items anywhere else??? You save tons of money and as I said, loads of them are brand new. I have an excellent job and make very good money, but hey I don't like to throw money out when I can use it elsewhere. Good luck and hit those charity shops!!:

I just love charity shops. Sometimes you need patience and persistance, but other times you can get a run of good finds. This summer my local one has a 25p box for tops. I got 15 tops for my daughter over a four week period as she is going on an activity holiday with friends some were makes like Nike, Reebok, the rest were high street shops like next, new look river island etc. Most were as new or even new with labels. managed to get six for myself including a lovely next blouse for work. Total spend £5.25 One top had a label still on saying £18 :rotfl:

laughing_cow

kateky wrote:

I volunteer at a charity shop (only once a wk),and you won't believe the things that come in! Burberry, authentic, Gucci, authentic, etc plus loads of clothes that still have the tags on them......

Ooh, where's your shop, I want some of that cheap Gucci! :rotfl: