Deep breath.....

Loomie

The 141.77 is less than in the SOA because the SOA was groceries as a whole and I included household (washing up liquid etc, anything grocery like that's not food). On my spreadsheet I've separated grocery bill into toiletries, household and food so I can see where the money's going better.

No my girl didn't need hairslides or felt pens and that's the sort of thing I really need to say no to. She did need clothes because she's grown out of them and she doesn't have many clothes. I feel happy that she needed them but I'm going to try and get her clothes cheaper next time - maybe ebay?

I do feel quite proud that I got free seeds from cbeebies and I already have pots and compost (our own that we put all out veg etc in) so that's a totally free and fun activity!

But you're totally right, I need to make harder cuts and I'm learning how to avoid the lure of spending - taking a book to work so I'm not bored at lunchtime and want to pop into town. I don't read magazines which I think are just designed to make you want things.

We are cancelling our sky subscription - which by the way is really difficult - they are impossible to get through to! We have freeview built into our telly so we're going to have that. Have also looked at my summer clothes that were packed away and I won't need to buy anything, actually have some I can sell.

Made £8.50 on ebay this week so that's good. 4 more items set aside to list.

£15.38 wasn't just dog food it was worming tablets too which are very expensive but necessary.

Thanks for advice

Loomie

Oh and also took lots of CDs and DVDs into work last week and made £22!

Pollycat

Loomie wrote: »

But you're totally right, I need to make harder cuts and I'm learning how to avoid the lure of spending - taking a book to work so I'm not bored at lunchtime and want to pop into town. I don't read magazines which I think are just designed to make you want things.

I didn't actually say you needed to make harder cuts -

Pollycat wrote: »

As I said in one of my earlier posts:

There's lots of areas that you could cut back on - I guess it depends on whether you're willing to suffer some pain now to be debt-free quicker or if you'd rather cut back a little but be in debt longer.
Cutting right back to the bone may put pressure on you as a family and make you all unhappy.

Only you can decide what you can all live with.
But there's no point in setting a budget that you can't keep to and then getting upset about it.

Was all the expenditure you listed on reply #30 included in your SOA?

Loomie

I meant you're right in that I want to be debt free quicker and therefore need to make harder cuts.

Expenditure listed in 30 wasn't in SOA because I did that on previous month expenditure to get a full months worth.

Pollycat

Loomie
there were quite a few fairly painless ways to cut quite a lot of expense out of your SOA (presents, groceries, sky, clothing) - which you've started to deal with.

My point was, as long as you all feel comfortable with the budget you've set, that's fine - but don't beat yourself up if you can't stick to your budget.
Revise it.

Good luck.

Loomie

Good day yesterday - my first NSD since I started that challenge, I made £8.30 on ebay last week, I listed 5 new items on ebay and have identified lots of things I can sell to make some money! I also discovered dog food for just over a pound and basics loo roll which is miles cheaper than sainsburys own!

I also made a pretty handkerchief for my sister on her wedding day and realised that homemade handkerchiefs would make lovely and reasonable priced gifts for people. I also have 2 people on board with my £10 budget for christmas and birthdays! It's a start!

Loomie

Haven't been able to keep to my budget this month so am going to be realistic and increase it. In fairness it's my sister's wedding this weekend and family wedding are very expensive what with outfit, hotel, meals out because you're away for the weekend, gift.... So we have nothing like that now and the weddings I do have this year I can wear dresses I already have because I'm no a bridesmaid! I'm going to set the challenge of £300 on groceries which looking at my budget is achievable.

One thing I've realised is that my finances are so complicated that I find it hard to get track of everything. I can see why people consider a cash only way of living. I'm going to leave my bank card at home and just get out cash each week and live on that.

I think I find the challenges helpful as they motivate me.

Lucifa73

Loomie wrote: »

She did need clothes because she's grown out of them and she doesn't have many clothes.

I hope you're ebaying the ones she's grown out of... Also, a few of my friends only get their kids clothes/shoes from ebay. For example one got her son Clarkes shoes (new with box) for £10 instead of £25 in shop...

Loomie wrote: »

I also discovered dog food for just over a pound and basics loo roll which is miles cheaper than sainsburys own!

I did Martins' brand challenge and saved myself a fortune. Basically you buy things a brand 'lower' than ususal e.g. get Tesco butter instead of Lurpak. If you can live with it stick to the cheaper brand going forward, if not go back to the normal brand. I've saved a heap on things like butter, frozen veg, toiletries.