Suggestions on easiest places to cut back spending...

Plans_all_plans

Hi

This month I have gone a bit crazy with money (mum's b'day, friend's hen weekend, visiting family) and as a result we are £300 overdrawn. However, next month will be an expensive month too as car insurance is up for renewal (which we usually pay in one go), the boiler needs servicing, my nan's 80th b'day and my best friend is getting married.

I am really not comfortable being so far overdrawn as it just never happens usually and with next month looking just as expensive, I'm panicking!

What do others find are the easiest things to cut back on? I usually find I can cut back the food shopping, but I don't really want my husband to notice that I'm doing him tea on a shoestring!

Where do other people cut back if they're feeling the pinch?! Thanks.

betti911

I cut back on socialising and unessential items (rare treats usually) like magazines, coffees etc. I also make my lunch each day and do not go out of work at lunchtime to avoid spending any money.

fannyanna

Do you have a budget taht you've worked out and stick to?

pigpen

boiler service... I signed up to british gas homecare as they do a free service as part of their plan and it is cheaper to pay the £10 a month than the £250 for the service.. it also means the cost of the service is spread over the year.. and quidco do cashback on it so you save there too.. I got £50 cashback when I signed up.. (homecare customers are also getting free loft insulation and cavity wall insulation now too)

Lotus-eater

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

Where do other people cut back if they're feeling the pinch?! Thanks.

Whatever you don't need, it's different for everyone.

For me, it's sky tv and non essential food (all sweets, crisps, takeaways, any expensive cereal (porridge is great for you and cheap), anything "premium", expensive meat (go veggie for a week or two), any soft drink).
Do a meal plan, stick to it and shop online (no impulse buys).

Just anything else you don't need. No coffee's out, no doughnuts, no bought sandwiches, take your own water and food.
Don't drive somewhere if you can walk, petrol is really expensive atm.

Probably loads of other things.

Plans_all_plans

Well I don't usually spend on 'non-essentials' like coffees or lunches, so though it's a good idea, it doesn't apply to our situation.

In terms of a budget, we roughly have just under £500 left over after everything essential like food, petrol, mortgage, other bills are taken into account, but this has gone on overpaying the mortgage til this month. So in effect, I've spent £800 more than usual this month!!

The budget isn't set in stone by anyone's standards, it's just a 'this is what we usually spend' and I stick to it month in month out. To be honest, if I'd had more sense, I'd have built up some savings before OPaying the mortgage!

bargainbetty

You seem to be looking at it from the wrong direction.... if I'm wrong I'm sorry, but you appear to be saying 'I have to pay for all this big stuff, how can I cut back on essentials....' What you should really do is say 'What do I have to spend on essentials, and how much would that leave me for the big things?'

Look at how much you have to spend, work out what you can afford for the big things and stick to the budget. You probably don't need to buy a new outfit for the wedding, wear something you already have. Choose the presents wisely rather than extravagantly. Your nan would probably like something thoughtful rather than expensive. If she has an interest, a subscription to an interest-magazine might be nice, or a membership to the National Trust if she likes getting out and about?

Look for stuff you have laying around that you can put on eBay or take to a boot fair to free up money too.

Good luck x

gonzo127

do a SOA and pop it up and we can suggest areas to cut back on, and cutting back on food does not nessesarily mean people noticing its on a shoe string, old style board for some great suggestions

Plans_all_plans

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Whatever you don't need, it's different for everyone.

For me, it's sky tv and non essential food (all sweets, crisps, takeaways, any expensive cereal (porridge is great for you and cheap), anything "premium", expensive meat (go veggie for a week or two), any soft drink).
Do a meal plan, stick to it and shop online (no impulse buys).

I do meal plan already and am very rigid when it comes to the weekly shop, but where I let myself down is I walk round to the shop and can easily spend £10 on sweets and cr*p every time I go/feel like sweets!

We don't have sky. Walking to work will be the reality when our DD goes to school in Sept, but at the mo I'm on a tight schedule with getting her to and from her grandparents for childcare in the morns.

Ilona

Lotus-eater has got it about right. It's about prioritising, about knowing the difference between what you need and what you want. Whatever you dont need, stop spending on it. For instance I don't need a tele so I don't have one, but you might like to watch yours.
Ilona

Lotus-eater

pigpen wrote: »

boiler service... I signed up to british gas homecare as they do a free service as part of their plan and it is cheaper to pay the £10 a month than the £250 for the service.. it also means the cost of the service is spread over the year.. and quidco do cashback on it so you save there too.. I got £50 cashback when I signed up.. (homecare customers are also getting free loft insulation and cavity wall insulation now too)

£250?
I paid £46 this year through a private tradesman.