Advice on how we can save money or is there anything we can claim

t4mof

I sympathise with the birthday parties issue. Try this site for good prices on toys:

http://www.thetoyshop.com/toyshop/browse/searchbrowse.jsp?bmUID=1303769706212&bmLocale=en_GB

Click the Super Savings tab on the right hand side (the link may take you straight to the savings part). You can then filter out boys/girls and by age.

It's free delivery if you spend over £30 but you should be able to stock up on a few presents for that which will last for a few parties.

Also, keep your eye on the Quick Grabbit While You Can Forum for other bargains

HTH.

Stalkdog

Are you renting out your own house? The rental market is pretty boyant in most areas, so you should be able to come pretty close to covering the mortgage

chrissie52

Do you have the house that you rent out on an interest only mortgage? If not it may be worth looking at that.
Do hope that you find some way through the difficulties you are currently experiencing. Take care.

[Deleted User]

willowwoody wrote: »

Hi these r actual figures, the sky is a package with internet and phone, we only have to basic channels. We r looking into freeviw to see if its cheaper with phone and internet.

You should be able to get home phone and internet for £20-£25 PM - then get freesat or freeview for TV, you just can't afford it right now (this would halve your current bill)

could try and cut down on presents but my children are invited to at least 2 parties a month sometimes more then we save for their bdays and xmas each month plus all our familys, we dont spend much on them each at all but theres so many.

Start to buy things when they are on offer or in a deal and are heavily reduced - and save them in a box for when needed for childrens parties - use vouchers that you can save from going surveys online (Onepoll, Vivactic, YouGov, My Survey, Global test market, etc... check the "up your income" board for earning with surveys - you could also try mystery shopping. Also any shopping that you do on line, see if you can go through one of the cashback sites (eg Quidco, onepoll etc) http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=145

You can also buy things throughout the year when they are reduced or on offer for the childrens christmas and birthdays and save them in a box (use the cash back sites when shopping online - Quidco, onepoll cashback, topcashback), and keep your eye on the "Quick grab it while you can" board for especially good deals and offers - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=36

the childcare is reduced now as my daughter has just started getting the 15 free hours last week. We would love to get rid of one car but my partner has to have a car for his job as he is a residential worker and has to take the children he works with out everyday. Im not on a bus route so would have to walk my children to preschool and back everyday with is a 5 mile round trip so 10 miles a day is a bit much for a 3 year old and 8 month old. The preschool is in a rural village with no buses either. The other income is a house my partner owns but the morgage is more than the rent. We cant sell as we have tried and its got £20000 negative equity. Ive been on phone to tax credits etc and they say we are not entitled to any more. We dont get working tax credits they said you have to earn under £16000. Child tax credits is £85 and child benifit is £33. Thanks for your suggestions.

Also, as others have said check that you are on the cheapest tariff for gas and electric in your area (e.g USwitch), and if switching is cheaper then try and see if there's anything on one of the cashbacks for switching through there (e.g. Quidco) - Also ensure things are not left on standby, switch heating off in rooms not in/rarely use, etc Also check with the company that you are not in credit with them as you may well be if you are not using as much as your DD pays for - if this is the cash claim it bacl and reduce DD.

Mobile phones also seem high - if you are stuck in contract see if you can reduce a tariff, if/when out of contract then have a look at SIM only deals and PAYG - there are some good offers around for £10 pm.

Clothing also seems high - if you have been spending this amount on clothes you must have wardrobes bursting at the seams - have a good clear out and what no longer fits/doesn't get worn put on e-bay

As determined new ms has pointed out there's lots of room for making cutbacks - and allowing you to have a monthly surplus too (perhapse start saving for emergencies so that if an unexpected expense comes up you will be in a position to cover it without tipping your finances over the edge).

Also, Good luck with making cutbacks and getting your budget to balance, you are in the very fortunate position of realising that something needs to change before getting in to debt - so you should be pleased with yourself for that.

HTH

D9

Dharma_Bunny

I think you should consider moving. You're three hours from your husbands work and miles from school, you're renting out a house you own at a loss while paying rent for a house in a location that is costing you money.
Move closer to work/school and you can get shot of one car, your husbands commute will reduce and if you could move into the house you own, your housing costs would halve.

With regards the smaller savings, you don't have to spend much on gifts for little kids, babies especially, and you can tell your family that you'll only be buying for children.

Babies shouldn't wear shoes until they are walking all on their own, so the littlest one doesn't need shoes at all. Are you anywhere near a Clarks outlet? We have one close by, but if there's an outlet village place a drive away you could make a day of it and pick up clothing/gifting bargains as well as getting 30%ish off the cost of the shoes.

Does that £28 month for dancing include all exam and costume/other show related costs, or is just the basic lessons? Dancing gets more and more expensive as they get older too, so it might be kinder to drop it now.

You'll need to make some major changes here, but I think that once that's done you'll be in a good position.

curlytop12

sorry if i have misunderstood but the way it reads is that you have to have a car so you can take kids to preschool??
sell car,stop pre school,meet up with other mums at local toddler groups etc.
free view definately cheaper,(free)then get a package for landline and internet(£20 ish a month)
mobiles-ask to drop a tariff if you cannot get out of contract
re-think your present budget
cut entertainment budget
stop dancing until you can afford it-your children will not miss out at this young age(or even remember 6 months without this),believe me
please don't get into more struggles trying to maintain a certain lifestyle when your kiddies are so young they won't care/remember(speaking from having done exactly that!!)
child benefit is £80-odd per month for first child-please check
good luck:)

RAS

willowwoody wrote: »

We would love to get rid of one car but my partner has to have a car for his job as he is a residential worker and has to take the children he works with out everyday.

In which case, he must be paid mileage or an essential user allowance. How much does he get back per month from his employer?

Can you not move back into the house you own and give up the rental you are in. It might mean moving away from the country but your finances and the long commute dictate that you need to do this if possible.

That way you can sort out the negative equity overt time and sell up and move properly to the country if you want. Preferably nearer Oh's work.

jessicaRabbit

Just a quick point about kids shoes. I take my daughter to Clarks, get them to measure her feet then buy the right size from ebay...and sell them again afterwards!! Have had many a bargain and have even got them to check they fit her ok when passing Clarks too.

TUS

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but you have LOTS of options for making changes to your lifestyle which will save you a LOT of money. Many have been listed above already. You just need to find the motivation to put the wheels in motion and actually do some of these things.

Your kids feet will not be damaged by wearing non-Clarks shoes. As someone said, getting the correct size is most important, not the brand.

Your rent/mortgage/travel issues are a massive one and can be combated with 1 or more change. As you are renting you ARE flexible in terms of being able to move house. You CANNOT afford 2 cars. You cannot afford to buy others presents.

All this means change, which may be scary, but you must do it. In 5 years time you will be glad you did.