Debt is the bane of my life, but need OH and DS to get on board

eyeopener2

Beans n rice

[Deleted User]

eyeopener2 wrote: »

Beans n rice

Just had that for tea.

gilly1964

eyeopener2 wrote: »

Beans n rice

Is that not the same as 5 bean chilli

Baked beans x 5 with chilli and rice

eyeopener2

No chilli, that's just extravagant!

gilly1964

eyeopener2 wrote: »

No chilli, that's just extravagant!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

BettiePage

gilly1964 wrote: »

Unfortunately not as he is considered in full time education so only has his student loan to pay for the fees and then the minimum amount of grant to live on. This would not pay the accomodation fees, never mind everything else, which is why he has stayed at home.

Do you charge him rent?

Sprog has just started uni and lives at home to save money. Therefore he only gets the basic allowance. We've decided to charge him £20pw, payable per quarter (when he gets paid), but we haven't told him that we'll just be shoving it into a savings account for him. However, there's no reason you shouldn't incorporate it into the household budget.

eta: I think your son is getting too much grant btw. Sprog is on the lower figure you mentioned, similar circumstances.

gilly1964

BettiePage wrote: »

Do you charge him rent?

Sprog has just started uni and lives at home to save money. Therefore he only gets the basic allowance. We've decided to charge him £20pw, payable per quarter (when he gets paid), but we haven't told him that we'll just be shoving it into a savings account for him. However, there's no reason you shouldn't incorporate it into the household budget.

No we do not but he does do jobs around the house that previously me or OH did and they are worth more to us, particularly at the moment

Cuts the grass
Washes the cars
Routine car maintenance
Washing
Cooks once a week

gilly1964

BettiePage wrote: »

eta: I think your son is getting too much grant btw. Sprog is on the lower figure you mentioned, similar circumstances.

We have questioned it three times and each time they have said it is right

Nargleblast

I think you are wise to start with the meal planning, as that will bring some discipline to the shopping. Other things you could do include looking at switching gas and electricity suppliers, finding cheaper phone contracts, shopping around for all your insurances etc. Sites like uswitch or moneysupermarket.com or comparethemarket.com are worth a look.

Also make a note of every little item of expenditure - a newspaper, a bar of chocolate, a coffee or sandwich etc. It may surprise you where all the money goes.

The Moneysaving Old Style forum is a useful resource, and last but not least don't forget the October No Spend Day Challenge thread on the Debt Free Wannabe forum. You will get motivation and support there, and a few laughs as well.

As far as your son is concerned, you will all have 3 years of learning to rein in the expenditure while he studies. Just get him to pay his share as and when he can afford it, and keep him motivated. When he graduates and gets a decent paying job, then he can treat you!

gilly1964

Nargleblast wrote: »

When he graduates and gets a decent paying job, then he can treat you!

This is my favourite reply of the day:beer: