Need tips on switching the family from frivalous to frugal please!!

Bumpmakesfour

Hope this is in the right place,sorry if it isn't!
I really would appreciate some tips with trying to get the family on board with me and becoming more frugal.We haven't exactly spent millions but live very much by the "if you've got it spend it and worry about tomorow tomorrow".Things have happened in our lives that make us really want to make the most of each day but I'm thinking I may have had a "lightbulb moment".
Suddenly I'm looking at what we're spending on shopping and days out and realising we could have saved x,y z...maybe I'm (finally) growing up and let's face it it's about time!We have three young kids and I'm 23 weeks pregnant with the 4th.I'm finding myself living on the "grabbit" bored,saved tons already on xmas presents thanks to you seriously helpful guys on here :)Reduced my shopping bill significantly thanks to the mealplanning tips on here,saved a fortune on baby bits hitting the sale links..etc etc etc..
So I'm in "the zone"..just have 4 others to drag into it with me! Can anyone please give any advice on how to turn a family into a money saving family?Preferably without them noticing too much if possible!

jfh7gwa

Bumpmakesfour wrote: »

So I'm in "the zone"..just have 4 others to drag into it with me!

No, you have 1 other to convince at most. You need to get your partner on board (and I mean truly - as a team), and filter things down from there as heads of the household.

You didn't say what age your children are, but I'm assuming not adult i.e. old enough to be earning their own income as adults and contributing a portion to the household (and in fact if that is true, it's even easier to deal with - you just set out a clear idea of what's expected in terms of household contribution and resource allocation e.g. £100 board a month and no cases of running hot baths for too long or using up too much of XYZ food unless they buy it from their own income.. if you see what I mean).

Bumpmakesfour

Good point!Technically just one other to drag..hubby..although he's the hardest task I fear!He's waaaay too used to leaving everything to me.My kids are only 8,6 and 5 and already earn their pocket money doing hoovering/washing up etc..but I'm very aware that they're all used to full cupboards,meals out,mummy arriving home with new clothes,tons of gifts under the xmas tree etc.:o
For various reasons(unavoidable financial AND coming to my senses ones!!) things need to change...So I just need a clear plan in my head now

Spendless

Do you look at the vouchers board? Set yourself a mini-challenge, you won't go anywhere for family days out unless it is reduced or you have a coupon to reduce it.

Vue cinema do a kids AM for around £1.25 per person to watch. Next weekend it's Horrid Henry, a film that was showing in the school summer hols.
http://new.myvue.com/offers-savings/kids-am

Look at the restaurants you go to? Do they do 'happy hours'
'2 for 1s' at certain times, kids eat free? If they do arrange to go then, if not find a place that does, and keep your current favourite as a special date eg birthdays/anniversaries place.

Shop in the sales for the next size up for your kids. Limit how much they own.

marywooyeah

make the most of discount vouchers - if there is someone you want to go research it first to try and find vouchers and see if there are reviews, these can help you decide how to save money eg taking packed lunches if the food is too pricey.

I've been walking down to the local supermarket near closing time and grabbing some right bargains - yesterday I got some butter chicken breast for 19p, a pack of cobs for 9p and some hot dog buns for 5p, bought some hotdogs for 78p so lunch and tea today costs a combined total of £1.08! its a bit hit and miss - try to find out what time your local supermarket does reductions to grab a bargain, freeze things for later use too.

have you got sky? ring them up and haggle down your package price, they are amenable to it and it's easy to do.

got credit card debt? transfer it onto a 0% card to save you paying interest.

CH27

Work out all your incomings & essential outgoings & then set yourself a budget for clothes etc.

make_me_wise

What saved me and dh the most money was sorting out our bank accounts first and foremost. We have joint and seperate accounts.

One of the joint accounts has all our bills set up on direct debit, a really good way to make sure you get really good deals from companies. Everything from utilities, council tax, phones, broadband, insurances etc. We also put by a certain amount every month to cover annual expenses like car tax and MOTs. We regularly check that we are paying as little as possible for all these things. We know how much needs to go into the account each month and pay it in as soon as we are paid. We do not have a cash card for this account so cant dib into the money.

The 2nd account is used for general monthly spends like petrol, food etc. We have a large fridge/freezer in the kitchen and a seperate huge freezer in the garage. We meal plan and cook in bulk, having the freezers means I can store loads and also take advantage of all the supermarket bogof offers etc.

Money left over after this is ours to spend. We each have an ISA paying crap interest at the mo despite us shopping around for the best rates.

When we see something we like we dont buy compulsively. If it still seems like a wise/necessary buy a few days later we look if we can afford it and buy it or save up for it.

We live in an area where there is plenty to do for free. Its just about adapting your life to fit your income.

Mojisola

One good way on reining in the spending is to keep a little notebook and write down everything you buy - a magazine, a coffee, kid's sweets, day out, etc.

At the end of every week, tot it up and be prepared to be shocked! If you can put it all a spreadsheet and separate the areas - food, treats, outings, household expenses - it will be even clearer.

Work out how quickly you can save up to a target if you trim the spending. Get everyone to agree where they will cut back on, either by not buying things or buying cheaper versions or using vouchers, etc. Keep reviewing the savings so you can see how well you're doing. Once you've got a little nest-egg, start saving for some fun things.

Bella79

I find keeping money pots/envelopes a really good way of cutting down, swipeing your debit card here for £5 there for £8 etc adds up and you dont realise how much.

We have one joint acc for all d/d and one joint acc for wages, everymonth i transfer the money to the d/d acc then whats left in the wages account, some goes into savings then i draw out all the food money, and petrol, entertainment , and put the money in seperate envelopes for 4/5weeks, when u have the cold hard cash, it really makes it clear what u do and dont have. i usally always carry £10 in a serperate compartment in my purse out of the food budget in case i nip out and need milk etc

Jinx

In our house, petrol is a huge cost as we live out in the sticks. So one of our cost-effective things is to do everything together on a saturday for example, visit post office, do the food shopping, buy the wine, library books, get more fuel etc. It means one 'main' trip. We try to do any other bits n pieces on the way to and from work.

Mrs_Arcanum

Your children are a good age to learn they don't need everything they may want and if they really want something you can support their saving to get it themselves (perhaps going halves or helping once they have saved enough towards it).

They also do not naturally want all the latest gadgets or designer stuff so can be easily steered away from this.

Make the most of things like Orange Wednesdays or Inset/polling days for cheaper days out.