Stuck in a rut with money

FiFithepoodle

At the moment my monthly income is £1560 (I live with my partner and my 3 yr old)

and our outgoings are £1250

So that leaves us with £310 (which i think sounds allot at the time but we always over spend and end up further in the overdraft) a month to live on (that has to cover petrol & food etc), and we are -1500 in the bank (2900 OD limit)

Im also pregnant so we need to start getting baby bits as well.

Its really starting to get me down.

With such little income leftover i'm never going to get out of the overdraft.

We are also moving next month so need to find money to rent a Van etc and we need to buy a Fridge/Freezer

I feel stuck in a rut

dancingfairy

Can you reduce any of your outgoings at all by shopping around for gas, electric, insurance etc etc? cancel any magzine subscriptions,any useless warranties for things you've longsnce thrown out, any 'optional extras; you are paying for through the bank that you can get cheaper?
In terms of getting baby bits can you try second hand/nearly new? Have you tried freecycle/gumtree/ the back of your local paper?/nct nearly new sales etc etc? I appreciate she will probably want to buy a few new bits though like a mattress for the cot etc.
With regards to the freezer etc have you tried your local council place for peopleon a low income? have you got any bigger charity shops that might help? Can you get a second hand one for now until things are a little easier?
df

bluebird

All's i'm hearing is we need this, we need that, but no mention of how you yourself can make cut backs.

BJV

I know how you feel, At first glance it looks as though we have a lot of income but same as you two children, etc.

Last year I got so fed up I joined this forum ( I mean that in a nice way really ) and it has helped.
The first thing it made me do is to look at what I was spending my money on, made me look at ways I could still enjoy a standard of living but be smarter with my money.

Hey I know that this sounds easy and understand that it is not. But I have been able to make savings. The Kids have not suffered and I have discovered the world of ebay and shopping on reduced. ( Sad but I get a thrill out of getting a bargain now. )

So take one day at a time and you will be amazed. There are some really amazing threads and support here so stick with it. Good luck with new baby as well.

alastairq

bluebird wrote: »

All's i'm hearing is we need this, we need that, but no mention of how you yourself can make cut backs.

because, in a family, it is always 'we'...and very little 'I'?

Hovel_lady

If you want to post a SOA (statement of affairs) people might be able to help you further

http://makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Format for MSE at the end and remove any links before posting.

Poosmate

alastairq wrote: »

because, in a family, it is always 'we'...and very little 'I'?

I understand what Bluebird is saying. Having a family does skew the budgetting somewhat but there is always something that the individuals within that family can do without. This is going to sound very Victorian and sexist but for the sake of simplicity - a magazine subscription for her, 1 night out in the pub for him, 1 or two less visits to the ball park for the 3 year old each month.

Unless people know where the money is spent they can't really give constructive and relevant (to that family) suggestions. It's pointless saying reduce your Sky/Virgin package if they are already on Freeview, though it may help someone else reading the thread.

The best thing the OP can do is post a SOA using the link provided by Hovel Lady.

Poo

Barbeduk

Part of the answer is definitely to cut back where you can, some things you won't even notice (like shopping at discount supermarkets instead of T, S.) but you might do this already. If you post your budget you'll get loads of great feedback.

As a parent all I can say is second hand all the way! EBay is your friend, and you can sell it all once you've finished with it.