HELP please-worried about the New Year and keeping to budget.

IWannabedebtfree

Sorry if I'm wrong in starting up a new thread and should really have posted on an existing one. My problem is that my hband is going to lose his job in Feb, although he is going to set a small business from home, that will take a year at least to take off. I have a reasonable income and we can live on it, but with absolutely NO spare cash.
I should change my user name, as I/we, are now totally debt free, after budgetting, and a small inheritance which we invested , but I am absolutely desperate to stay that way. Recently,it has not been a total disaster if I've gone £100 over budget occasionally, as we've had my hband's salary to bail us out, but this will all change. I don't fritter money and enjoy budgetting , for a while, but after a month or two, I stop writing it all down and become careless. Also, I forget to add in unforeseen extras,-isn't there just always something unexpected with the kids and house!
Have you any ideas to keep up my motivation and to help me stay ahead of the game, please?
Any advice gratefully received.

pink_numbers

I know how you feel! My OH is doing is last day at work today and I'm petrified! It's one thing to have a well thought out budget to make sure everything is covered, and having to live the budget.

I would go totally cash based for everyday spending. That way, when the money is gone, it's gone. You can't spend what cash you don't have. It's worked really well for me, as a visual person.

and keep talking to your family, because you are going to need everyone on board

Pink.

Hi IWannabedebtfree,

Congratulations on becoming debt free. My husband was made redundant in 2003 so I know exactly where you're coming from and how frightening it is. I won't go into details here (pm me if you want to know) but it unexpectedly turned out to be a really positive thing for us.

You might get more help on Debt-Free Wannabe board (you don't need to have debts to post there ). You can post your SOA (statment of affairs/income and outgoings) and they'll be able to advise you on if/how you can make savings.

I'll move your thread to the DFW board later to see if you can get more help once you've had some input from the Old Style board.

Good luck to you both.

Pink

Butterfly_Brain

I found that after DH was made redundant again a couple of years ago I was terrified but he managed to get a job but at only £14,500 pa.
But CTC was raised and we now get working families TC so we manage to keep our heads above water -just! I don't know how we are going to cope next year with a wage freeze and all the prices going through the roof.

I make a game of making the money stretch and it gives me great pleasure when I find a bargain.

Meal planning is a must as is writing lists and I agree with only taking cash with you - it focuses the mind more.

We have a veggie night and a soup and pudding night at least once a week.

I have a well stocked larder and freezer so on tough months when, car tax,mot or bills are in I know that we have enough to eat.

Grow your own veggies they really do taste so much better straight from the garden plus it keeps you fit and the whole family can be involved.

IWannabedebtfree

Thanks everyone so far-I am beginning to sort out a meal planner for myself and just bought a Cash Book from the P.O, as this has helped me before.
I would like to use only cash, but also appreciate the cashback from my credit card, so will probably need to find a way of controlling my spending on my card.Perhaps by only using it at Tesco on-line, where I've shopped for years-at least I can monitor my spending, and it helps me to spend less than in store, as I can agonise for ages over the cheapest/best deals-I find that it works for me, anyway.
Thanks again, all ideas appreciated, please keep them coming!Hope this is helping others, too.