In a massive mess

RAS

RoxieW wrote: »

yes my sons clothes dont fit in their drawers either. neither do mine.
I am going to ebay some stuff. just put a bag up that I bought recently and have never used.

No -

Check first if you can take anything back if it is unworn.

If there is stuff that can be handed down to the next child or the baby, keep that to one side

Then sell unworn items by the item or in sets - if they were bought that way.

RoxieW

I know. I'm not sure how it happens. We have busy social lives with and without the children. We normally go out every weekend - in the daytime with the children and in the evening the two of us. Even if we just go to the local playcentre followed by a pizza for example - 3 x £5 entrance drinks in there £10 plus £35 lunch plus petrol - easily £70 - £75 in an afternoon out. Groceries is high because of entertaining at home, takeaways and buying luxury/organic items. This month we have stayed a weekend at alton towers, been camping, I have been to a spa and OH has had a big boys night out. Weve also been cinema and to a playcentre and several kids parties.

RoxieW

richard - car I dont know - its the one thing OH deals with as I dont drive. We did have an overpayment of £400 set up on the mortgage but I cancelled that yesterday.
RAS - thank you for your help. Thanks all for helping an not judging. believe me I already feel terrible.

RoxieW

RAS - We had a holiday in April and have one booked in Sept (but not paid for - only deposit). We have also been to Alton Towers. I added up roughly what we had/will spend on hols and divided it. We also have a big holiday booked for Feb - deposit paid.
clothes have all been worn at least once. Not just clothes but clothes, shoes, coats etc. I also have to buy new uniform and shoes before the return to school. Uniform is £20 for a sweater and I have 2 boys so you can imagine the cost.
child related expenses is prob more than that. Including all the boys clubs and the related expenses plus babys activities. not sure how to cut it.
entertainment - yes that needs cutting right down, as do clothes and groceries. I'll see what I can do with the SOA.
thanks again

RAS

Ok, so before OH gets home tonight, do a bit of quick research on very local activities that cost nothing, check out what you have in the fridge to make a picnic and show him that you can go out and not spend so much tomorrow. Take a ball or tow and maybe a bat and he can be a sporty dad with them.

Then suggest that you only go out once this weekend - have you factored in the baby sitting costs?

obsessedwithhamsters

I totally know what its like to overspend trust me! I am terrible with buying stuff for my kids. Its rarely for me that I over spend. They have a wardrobe full of clothes that are still new with tags or worn once. I sell them on e bay afterwards but cant resist buying more so I totally get where you are coming from. I just had to as I got myself in to all sorts of debt. Now I go to boot sales etc but I still spend far too much on the kids rather than clearing the debt quicker. Sad I know!

redpete

richardvc wrote: »

After filling in your SOA the clever ones here will give you lots of ways to cut down on your outgoings without cutting back on your lifestyle - then the money saved can go towards your debt.

You don't have to be very clever to spot that with £800 a month on groceries, £500 on clothes, £800 on entertainment, £300 on presents and 3 holidays in less than a year then maybe cutting back on your lifestyle is exactly what you should be doing.

jonjamie1970

obsessedwithhamsters wrote: »

just looked at your personal balance sheet. £800 a month on food??? £500 a month on clothes?? £500.00 a month on entertaining!?? If you just cut these costs by half you'd be fine. Why spend so much each month!??

I agree, its extravagant to say the least, I earn £4k a month and my spending with a family of 4 is a third of that, maybe even less.

RAS

jonjamie1970 wrote: »

I agree, its extravagant to say the least, I earn £4k a month and my spending with a family of 4 is a third of that, maybe even less.

You may not be aware, but this forum is for help not judgement.

If you have good tips for the OP on how to live on less, please contribute.

If you want make judgement, please go to one of the discussion forums where this is acceptable.

dancingfairy

Roxie - you have quite a good income - which is a good start - it should allow you to live well - just not quite so extravagently as you have been. I wonder if you have been trying to keep up with the Jones' ? on the other hand it is so easy to think I work hard so I deserve to spend lots of money on treats - sadly many, many, many people are living on credit no matter what their income - I think it's partly the celeb culture thing as well, and all the advertising saying we need this that and the other. With a few cutbacks and a change of attitude to what's important and by keeping a close eye on the finances you can get back on track.
Good Luck
df