Making ends meet (or just slightly closer together)

The-empty-penny-jar

Where to start?

The current outgoings need to be cut by £200 minimum to make way for nursery fee's and various expensive school trips coming up soon.

The biggest chunk goes on food, utilities and a financially blind OH who spends like its payday everyday :mad:

Family of 6 (OH, me, dd10, ds6, ds1 and dd 6m)

Pee

Can you discuss with OH and agree a budget that he feels he can stick to, with some spending money for him to spend as he needs/ wishes?

If you could agree at the same time that you will cut the grocery spend to 75% of what you currently spend, so that he doesn't feel it's all about what he is cutting back on but bearing in mind it sounds like he is at least a significant part of the problem (albeit, possibly the main source of family income!)

You will get lots of tips to help on here.

meritaten

and watch how much food is wasted - making out a weeks menu and buying only what is needed can cut the food bill considerably!

The-empty-penny-jar

my maternity pay is the only source of income at the moment with tax credits and child benefit.
We have just gone through the bank account and its abysmal!
I feel quite sick that OH cannot account for over £300 of cash withdrawls

Butterfly_Brain

You need to sit down together and agree a budget, it is nigh impossible to budget if you don't have OH on board. Alternatively just feed him things like beans on toast, egg and chips, pasta with peas etc until he gets the message

meritaten

sorry - but you really do have to get OH money savvy. to not be able to account for £300 is really irresponsible. £30 yeah (at a pinch) but £300????????????

Pee

Surely this is either drink or drugs? £300 wouldn't take very much spending in the pub but obviously if he had £100 spends the £200 you need is right there. (I'd still say to menu plan.)

What do you think he has spent the money on? I'm guessing even lots of coffees and eating out and a few beers would do it, but surely he would know that he had spent it on that, even if he thought it was more like half the amount. (I have to admit I underestimate cash withdrawn by about half if I don't keep a careful note of it.)

mum2one

you said its just maternity allowance coming in, so is oh going online bingo, casino, betting etc?

may be worth doing a statement of affairs and a 2nd pair of eyes may see cuts that can be made xx

Pee

SOA is a brilliant idea. Even if you don't post it, working it out will help you see things more clearly.

The-empty-penny-jar

Its mostly lego for ds1, charity shop 'bargains', costa coffee and general man crap and rubbish.

B&Q is another blackhole.... as is 'nipping' in to morrisons, blockbuster etc etc

On paper we should have £500 after bills...........

The-empty-penny-jar

Going through the bank statements is a real eye opener.
Does anyone know how many accounts I can have with one bank?
One for day to day spending and keep the bills in the other account?