Having a bad debt free day

moneypenny2k

Esqulax wrote: »

Is there no swimming program thats group based? no doubt it may be a lot cheaper. Although the swimming can be a finite spending.. they will be abl to swim eventully and its something you dont have to pay out anymore!

I agree, I don't know how many children you have but we have local authority classes that are groups of no more than 6 to 8 children per group and cost about £20 for a whole set of 10 sessions.

Or could you not take over yourself and make a family trip to the pool one of your weekly treats?

Finally, is there a nice gran or auntie/uncle who might pay for the lessons as Birthday or Xmas pressies?

Right that's my box out thunk... Wish you well :idea: :grouphug:

gailey_2

Bubby wrote: »

As the title says I am feeling quite low today about my debt free journey:(


I know that there is light at the end of the tunnel eventually but it feels like a carp life at the moment if you know what I mean. I am grateful that I have learned how to budget better and not to get a "bargain" when i can't actually afford it etc but sometimes I just wish that I didn't have to make excuses as to why we can't do xyz to our friends because the truth is that we can't afford it:o

I have realised today that we will no longer be able to afford swimming lessons for our children and this is a real blow as they were making great progress:(:(
Looking forward to 2011 on my monthly spreadsheets money is slightly better but if interest rates go up I just don't know what we'll do:(:(:(:( (mortgage is on a tracker)

We have no savings and spend £200 or less per month on food to feed our whole family, we only use our cars for work/schoolrun and are only paying the minimum payments as it is, Our only "luxury" is Sky which is £19 per month and if we get rid of this aswell it will be yet another blow for both us and the children.

Sorry just feel really down about it all today

Think most of us trying to dig our way out of debt have bad days its normal but try not to let it get you down.

I have 2kids and think sometimes its worse as kids dont understand cutbacks and money although my 4year old has some idea as says we cant have that mummy too expensive, is used to foraging, me saying no, going to carboots, nearly new sales ect or mummy photographing all her old clothes to sell on ebay.

Not sure how many kids you have or what ages.
mine are 4half, 15months and 3rd on way.

My eldest we take to local leisure centre as a family about once month. Thee do group lessons not sure how much but as I dont drive its just too far to take her. In half term a local school , dident even realise had a pool was advertising intensive swimming lessons 25pounds for whole week so 5pounds a day , half hour lessons in groups of 6. Daughter really enjoyed it and want to start her again in april they dont do it at the moment as pools too cold.

She does gym lessons which are approx 30-35quid a term.
cheerleading 32pounds for next term
she starts rainbows soon which is younger brownies but think thats fairly cheap.

In half term local church does messy play and sports activities for quid includes a drink and a biscuit.
Toddler group is pound for story, drinks and biscuits.
Local libary does free crafts which is good.
If weathers nice we go to park, long walks or rides on cyclepaths.
In summer daughter loves to come pick berries and we go pick your own farm for strawberries and feed the piggies all free.
We have something called invitation booklet for money off coupons on any days out.
if we buy online we use discount codes/sales.
But most of kids clothes from sainsburys, primark, ebay or carboots they dont realise.The ebay stuff is all brand names.

Food-we stopped buying everything at sainsburys/tescos and started doing some farmfoods, lidls and aldis.
Co-op do best reductiosn so try buy as much reduced as we can and chuck in chest freezer.
we buy value or own brand products.
used our garden to grown some veggies and herbs.
foraged free stuff.
meal plan, cook from scratch.
batch cook and freeze.
bake own bread, cakes and biscuits.

are you saving nectar/clubcard. advantage points and using them wisly.if you convert into vouchers they worth more than in store.
we fill up car in sainsburys to earn extra nectar points.

hubby takes packecd luches daily, sometimes flask of coffee to work.
Some weeks daughter take packed lunch when we cant afford school meals/


Do you get tax credits of child benefit at all as how does that get spent.
does your wife work.
could you walk the school run to save petrol.
could you go down to 1 car at all as we until recently were 1car family i dont drive as cant justify cost as hardly go far and walk miles, schools just 15mins walk.

check out up your income as

reveiws, surbeys, mystery shops can earn extra money
ebay and carboot what you can and maybe start up kiddies saving pot for their stuff.

I do think you need to post a soa see if you can swutch anything to save money.

check out

up your income board-ways to raise extra cash
benefits board-check you getting what you entitled to.
oldstyle for grocery savings.

I recently ditched contract for payg phone.

I also think maybe you need to contact cccs or payplan/cab.
work out entire debts, interest rates and monthly outgoings as you said you only making min payments which would make it impossible to clear. maybe a dmp may be right for you as you still get to keep your home.

Good luck hope 2011 is better year for you.

whiteguineapig

you could always use any money you make on ebay a treat for the children

themull1

Why don't you teach the kids to swim yourself.?