advice please, My SOA

sistafromanothermista

The water meter is actually a really good thing. I *think* you can get one put in and if your bills don't reduce in 12 months they will take it out at no charge!

We have a water meter and our bills are lower now than they were....

ice_babe

sistafromanothermista wrote: »

The water meter is actually a really good thing. I *think* you can get one put in and if your bills don't reduce in 12 months they will take it out at no charge!

We have a water meter and our bills are lower now than they were....

I will try to convince hubby again. Hes worried that when we move having a water meter will put people of

ice_babe

Thanks for everyones input, its good to see other views from the outside looking in

sistafromanothermista

People are actually putting them in to cut their bills! so it might be a plus point!

Fosterdog

Im still confused about the CSA and the age of the daughter. You said she's 13 and 5 more years of CSA but then you said she is almost 18 and won't need a contract phone for her when she turns 18.

Or are there two daughters but only paying CSA for one?

Either way are there any other child expenses you have missed out? You say £20 for your son but what about savings for the daughter/s too?

Do you have them overnight or a week in the holidays at all where expenses would be higher?

ice_babe

Fosterdog wrote: »

Im still confused about the CSA and the age of the daughter. You said she's 13 and 5 more years of CSA but then you said she is almost 18 and won't need a contract phone for her when she turns 18.

Or are there two daughters but only paying CSA for one?

Either way are there any other child expenses you have missed out? You say £20 for your son but what about savings for the daughter/s too?

Do you have them overnight or a week in the holidays at all where expenses would be higher?

He has 2 daughters 13 and 17 both have the same mum.
He pays csa for the 13 year old who lives with her mum. Hes not seen her for over 10 years dispite having a court order for contact. Only recently have had to accept that we can no longer afford solictors and court fees when the mother has never complied to any of the court orders (mother gets legal aid and we dont)

His 17 year old daughter was kicked out by her mother when she was 15, and her mother has nothing to do with her. She was then able to meet her dad after 9 years and even lived with us for a few months but it didnt work out , she quit her job and college and she moved in with friends, at 17 there wasnt much we could do. We pay for her mobile contract and we are in regular contact with her, and shes slowing building on the relationship with her dad. we help out with things she needs, but dont give her cash as she spends it on the worng things

Fosterdog

Sorry to stir all of that up here, I was just trying to understand the family setup to know where spending can be cut etc.

I hope one day they are both back in your lives, I know how expensive family court can get OHs ex keeps going back on court orders and takes the kids in and out of his life as she pleases and we are left to pay to take her back to court while she gets legal aid.

DCFC79

Give Aldi a try or even Lidl if you have 1.

When you do your food shopping try going in with just cash rather than cards, you might find you actually think "do we need/want this" rather than just putting it in the trolley.

ice_babe

DCFC79 wrote: »

Give Aldi a try or even Lidl if you have 1.

When you do your food shopping try going in with just cash rather than cards, you might find you actually think "do we need/want this" rather than just putting it in the trolley.

We have an Aldi and a Lidi not to far away. Which one would be best to try? We do all our food shopping and petrol on a tesco clubcard credit card for the extra points and pay in full each month. I got £30 in points on my last statement which I doubled up and used to buy my son £60 worth of toys for christmas

Fosterdog

Whatever supermarket you use always try to plan all meals and snacks for a full week/fortnight and only buy what you need for them and no extras.

This has been the biggest money saver for me, I do a two week menu and one main shop each week with just bread and milk etc. in between.

Try and make things last, I've done a roast chicken today and bought a large chicken from Aldi for around the same price as a small one in Tesco. It is so big we will have a roast dinner today and tomorrow, chicken for rolls for work, some leftovers with a pasta salad on Tuesday and the rest in a soup which will last Wednesday and Thursday. This is for two adults and we won't be hungry in the slightest.

The only thing I vary on my planned shopping list is fruit as sometimes they have better offers on maybe apples instead of pears.

I don't go to Lidl often as it's further away, I find my local one to be better for cupboard and freezer items and Aldi better for meat, dairy, fruit and veg. Some are big enough to have fresh meat counters and delis so it's worth a look in your local one.

Well done on the double up, they can be useful at this time of year.