Learning to save...

wannabee_in_credit

Hi everyone

The fantastic people throughout the forums have directed me over here to ask for general money saving tips. I intend to have a good look through the posts and see what I can pick up but if you can suggest anything on here I'd be really grateful.

A little bit of background - I'm a 34 year old mother of two (aged 7 and 3). I work full time and my OH works full time - he works a funny shift (4am till 2pm) and is next to no help around the house. I'm usually out of the house from half seven in the morning till half five at night and then once I'm home it's into full time mother mode until the kids go to bed about 8pm.

After my son was born in 2008 my boyfriend had a nervous breakdown. I had been managing my debts (just - or so I thought), but he was off work and I was on maternity leave and it tipped us over the edge. I'm on a dmp and every penny is very precious. Just lately I'm starting to lose the motivation a bit - I'm tired, and it's hard sometimes, which I know is no excuse - so I'm looking for tips.

It's been suggested by others that there is room for saving in terms of my household budget so as I say, I'd love any suggestions - particularly for someone who barely has a spare hour in the day.

Any food, cleaning, repairing, child related etc etc money saving tips much appreciated.

Thanks fantastic people...

Linda32

Oh yes, these always room to save a few more pennies, you've come to the right place

First off though, abit more back ground please, if thats okay?

Do you take pack lunches to work?
If so are there any facilities, microwave, kettle etc?
Childrens lunch boxes.
How much do you want to spend per week? or can you spend per week. I know the answer is, "as little as possible"?
Or how much do you spend now.
Do you mind about buying branded goods or are you willing to drop down a brand?

Best of luck, I'm sure we can help.

SpikyHedgehog

Thinking about the children, I assuming the 7 year old is in school, does the 3 year old go to school yet? You should be able to have 15 hours funded sessions per week for free (well, Local Gov't pays the setting, but it's free for you) which can help. The private nurseries should take the 15 hours funding off the bill if the 3 year old is in for more than 15 hours a week, and some childminders can access the funding too. (Mine couldn't.)

wannabee_in_credit

Linda32 wrote: »

Oh yes, these always room to save a few more pennies, you've come to the right place

First off though, abit more back ground please, if thats okay?

Do you take pack lunches to work? Yes, every day
If so are there any facilities, microwave, kettle etc? Both of those things
Childrens lunch boxes.School lunch for my daughter (£2 a day) and my son's meals are included at nursery in the fees
How much do you want to spend per week? or can you spend per week. I know the answer is, "as little as possible"? Looking to start spending £50 a week on groceries
Or how much do you spend now. currently spending £75-85
Do you mind about buying branded goods or are you willing to drop down a brand? No snobbery about brands although some of the real basics I can't stand (like very basic meat)

Best of luck, I'm sure we can help.

Thanks again

wannabee_in_credit

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

Thinking about the children, I assuming the 7 year old is in school, does the 3 year old go to school yet? You should be able to have 15 hours funded sessions per week for free (well, Local Gov't pays the setting, but it's free for you) which can help. The private nurseries should take the 15 hours funding off the bill if the 3 year old is in for more than 15 hours a week, and some childminders can access the funding too. (Mine couldn't.)

My 3 year old is full time at nursery. Only turned 3 in September so I don't get the grant for him until January (the term after he turned 3). The private nursery he goes to will take the grant money off his fees - that's what I did with my daughter and it worked very well.
Looking forward to an extra £100 a month or whatever it is - will really help me to clear some more debt a bit quicker...

Thanks

kitschy

Could your little girl have a packed lunch? If so, there are lots of ideas on here for a lot less than £2 a day.

I'll go and find linkies....


Packed Lunches for School
Help with packed lunches

Linda32

Hi again,


Okay so £50 per week is do-able I'm sure.

Have you come across a meal plan yet on the forums, sorry if I'm asking obvious questions, but I don't know where you've already looked

Is there any special requirements in your diets? no dairy or anything like that?
Are you aware of batch cooking - sorry again if I'm asking the obvious.
You said about not liking basic meat, and I agree with you, so I assume you all eat meat and are not vegetarian?

Do you take a shopping list to the shops and stick to it?

JulieGeorgiana

You could save a fortune giving your 7 year old pack lunches (especially if they are eating warm in the evening with you). I think I spend £2-3 a week on pack lunches for my 9 year old. He gets the following:

3 sandwiches (slices of HM bread) with lemon curd or jam (8p a Day)
1 slice of HM Cake/ Jam tart/ Scone (7p Day)
1 Yogurt (Frozen Choob/Froob) (16p Day)
1 carton juice (14p a Day)
1 banana (9p a Day)

= 54p a Day (£2.70 a week)

which is a saving of £7.30 a week (39 school weeks a year)

TOTAL YEARLY SAVING £285

PS. Substitute cartons for squash and you are at 40p a day or £2 a week or £312 a year saving

Maybe you have to feed your daughter warm in the evening which you might not do now... but with help on Old Style I feed my family for 35-50p a head on most meals (which use butchers meats and tons of veg so are good health-wise). So again a substantial saving (Cheaper then packed lunch!).

wannabee_in_credit

Linda32 wrote: »

Hi again,


Have you come across a meal plan yet on the forums. Not yet, but the kids are in bed now so my evening is my own for internet and so on...

Is there any special requirements in your diets? no dairy or anything like that? No official requirements other than my hating shellfish. BUT, my daughter is an incredibly fussy eater and I have absolutely no idea of how to deal with her... I could cry sometimes when I think of how little variety she has in her diet (she likes carbs and really bland foods but barely touches anything else)
Are you aware of batch cooking. I tried it a few times but could never properly get into it. I'll do that again though for definite.
You said about not liking basic meat, and I agree with you, so I assume you all eat meat and are not vegetarian? That's right

Do you take a shopping list to the shops and stick to it? About to do that for the first time tomorrow!

I'm so pleased I finally got the nerve to look on here, 'fess up to my cashflow problems and ask for some help.

wannabee_in_credit

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

You could save a fortune giving your 7 year old pack lunches (especially if they are eating warm in the evening with you). I think I spend £2-3 a week on pack lunches for my 9 year old. He gets the following:

3 sandwiches (slices of HM bread) with lemon curd or jam (8p a Day)
1 slice of HM Cake/ Jam tart/ Scone (7p Day)
1 Yogurt (Frozen Choob/Froob) (16p Day)
1 carton juice (14p a Day)
1 banana (9p a Day)

= 54p a Day (£2.70 a week)

which is a saving of £7.30 a week (39 school weeks a year)

TOTAL YEARLY SAVING £285

PS. Substitute cartons for squash and you are at 40p a day or £2 a week or £312 a year saving

Maybe you have to feed your daughter warm in the evening which you might not do now... but with help on Old Style I feed my family for 35-50p a head on most meals (which use butchers meats and tons of veg so are good health-wise). So again a substantial saving (Cheaper then packed lunch!).

I'm not sure what the rules are about packed lunches at her school but I will talk to her. My worry is always that she's so fussy with her food. But I should be able to find some things that she likes (she loves basic biscuits and value juice etc).

wannabee_in_credit

kitschy wrote: »

Could your little girl have a packed lunch? If so, there are lots of ideas on here for a lot less than £2 a day.

Thanks so much for this:)