Lightbulb Moment - Please Help x

beanielou

Baby steps help.
One thing at a time.

Sagz_2

You might do better selling the dance wear on a specialist site rather than ebay. I had a quick google and found this one but I expect there are others. Or could you advertise them at dance schools etc?

I understand it must be difficult for your children having to cut down, but the best thing you can do for them is teach them the value of money - it will last them all a lot longer than a laptop!

Keep trying to involve your OH, it's taken me nearly 5 years but mine now has a saving account instead of debts and he can spot a yellow tesco discount label from 50 feet :rotfl:

kathrynrobson1011

Thank you, I did put my foot down with the allowance and was really proud of myself. No attitude, I think it was more an education. When you watch the children's channel's they are full of adverts for loans, credit cards, etc. right after a wonderful toy advert. My DD was singing loan jingles from the age of 2. No other country is in the state it's in.

I've sold dancing stuff on ebay before and it has gone quite well. A lot of dancing Mum's have searches saved so the minute you list you normally have a good number of watchers. May also put them in the yellow paper. Although locally there is a regional dance competition that I could take them to for £5 entry but hopefully the would sell.

Thank you for all the great advice.

Feeling really positive.

So far this month I have spent £60 on food, and bar bread, milk, veg I think I can meal plan for the rest of the month. Had loads of food already in the cupboards. :j

I know it's a baby step, put it feels like a great big leap!!!!!!

Kat x

savingwannabe

I have had to go down to part time at work. To save money i am buying clothes (fab ones) from ebay at much cheaper prices.

Also i have dropped a brand or two at the supermarket. If poss get your fruit, veg, meat at an AL** or a LI** (but they are too far away from me).

Keep a spending diary and log all spending. It is amazing how much i was frittering away at work, now i am saving as i am taking in snacks that i bought much cheaper in the supermarket.

Get the kids to help out maybe ebay things, and carboot things too.

I have saved so much money and i have only been doing this for one month.

We are all in the same boat. I read your other post and am glad i found your thread.

Good luck, things will get better, you have had your LBM!!!!

:j

Faye449

kathrynrobson1011 wrote: »

.

Presents is very high, unfortunately we have got caught up in the kids must have for Xmas. It's like a competition between the mothers at the school gates. Me and hubby go without presents, entertainment, etc to 'provide' for the kids - I say provide but really mean spoil. DD is now 10, has an ipod shuffle, ipod touch, has had 5 mobile phones, laptop, flat screen etc. Have had a talk with her last night and she understands about money being tight, felt awful but she had to know the facts when she asked why she couldn't have a £30 per week allowance like 'all her friends'.

Hi Kathryn!
Good luck with everything, you sound very positive. It feels so much better when you have a plan ;-)

I wonder how many of the other parents are in the same situation as you but in denial still? Most of them probably so just remember that at the school gates and be a bit smug that you're sorting yourself out and they aren't!

kathrynrobson1011

Thank you savingwannabe

I'm starting, baby steps, one day at a time. We have both of those shops quite near us, also I work in town centre so I can go to market at lunchtime and get really cheap fruit and veg.

My other downfall was smoking, which I am pleased to report has stopped today, that's a saving of £6 every two days. Also, took my lunch to work as opposed to a stop at the bakers which would cost approx £3, so all in all about £6 saved today alone.

I've looked at March's bank statement (we had quite a bit of money left from Feb) which should have been thrown at debts with hindsight, and realised that we spent £150 on food, so the £250 on SOA can def be reduced, £158 on utter rubbish (includes alcohol, smokes, plus stuff that the kids simply DO NOT NEED) plus another £370 in cash withdrawals with absolutely nothing to show for it (except empty takeaway cartons and buying kids sweets/magazines, etc at shops). NOT SURE HOW ALL THAT WORKED OUT, WE DIDN'T USE OVERDRAFT OR CREDIT CARD, Perhaps my brain has stopped working tonight. Too many numbers crunching about. LOL

The spending diary is here to stay and hubby will have to like it or lump it.

Kat x

kathrynrobson1011

Thanks Faye - you're def right. And DD will def appreciate the little things in life, for example tonight I have started to teach her how to cross stitch and she has fallen in love with it. Has cost nothing, as I have loads of odd bits off my finished kits lying about the house.

Kat x

savingwannabe

Fab, it has been exactly the same for me. I cannot believe how much extra i have saved in the last month. Usually i was nearly overdrawn with nothing to show for it except unread magazines, papers, snacks, coffees and clothes that i did not need!!!!

Well done. :j

kathrynrobson1011

savingwannabe wrote: »

Fab, it has been exactly the same for me. I cannot believe how much extra i have saved in the last month. Usually i was nearly overdrawn with nothing to show for it except unread magazines, papers, snacks, coffees and clothes that i did not need!!!!

Well done. :j

Except I was normally always overdrawn, lol :rotfl:

But no more, not ever, cards have been cut up much to hubby's horror, and I've found £20 in an old copper jar in my wardrobe, that will be going straight off the catalogue tomorrow.

Will be wandering the streets shortly checking for dropped change, hehe.

Kat x

scottishblondie

kathrynrobson1011 wrote: »

Presents is very high, unfortunately we have got caught up in the kids must have for Xmas. It's like a competition between the mothers at the school gates. Me and hubby go without presents, entertainment, etc to 'provide' for the kids - I say provide but really mean spoil. DD is now 10, has an ipod shuffle, ipod touch, has had 5 mobile phones, laptop, flat screen etc. Have had a talk with her last night and she understands about money being tight, felt awful but she had to know the facts when she asked why she couldn't have a £30 per week allowance like 'all her friends'.

Wow is that the going rate for pocket money these days?! £30 is how much I allow myself for my entertainment budget each week, and I'm 24! I used to get £2 a week and lunch money on days when it wasn't made for me. My mother doesn't believe in children having a lot of money to themselves!

TBH I did sometimes feel a little hard done by as a teenager compared to my friends who got money and fancy presents all the time, but in the long run it was definitely for the best. I'm much more aware of the cost of things and how to look after my money than a lot of people my age. Don't feel bad about cutting down on the "spoiling" - as long as kids have what they need and are loved they'll get over the hardship of not having all the latest things