Help - Need to Get Back on The Challenge Track

moggins

This has been an awful month for me, money is down to an all time low and I've had to take money out of the savings account to cover some expenditure. I desperately need a new hoover as my Vax died a death at the beginning of the month and the little handheld I have can't cope with the detritus of three kids. I've got a Henry put by at Cash Generators which was £49.99, I've only paid a fiver of that and can't see where I can get the rest from before the end of the month.

We do have the CTC coming in on Friday but I was hoping that I could shove this straight into the savings account.

It hasn't helped having both the Mum's birthdays this month, having the shed delivered 2 weeks before we were expecting it, (I had to go out and buy the wood for the base), we have an important dinner to attend on Saturday (dh's ticket was free but we have to pay £18 for mine) and we'll have to find money for the drinks at the bar first. My 40th is at the end of the month and I know the other half will want to get me something nice even though all I want is to have a childfree day to myself.

Although the grocery budget is £200 I have been trying to reduce that to £160 and I've already spent that and I've had to take £60 out of the savings account to cover unforseen expenses.

Not doing very well at all, any suggestions anyone?

Curry_Queen

I can't think of any practical suggestions at the moment moggins so the only thing I can say is try not to let this month get you down, as you say you've had some extra unaccounted for expenses, and think of next month as a clean slate to start again.

If you don't manage to save any of the CTC this month will it really be such a disaster? I know it's easy to say, and I'd probably feel as you do, but if you can get this month out of the way then maybe look back on it later and see if you can spot any areas you could have done things differently, and just chalk it up to experience.

Take care *hugs*

Luis

My advice would be - relax.

Sometimes, the odd month from hell comes along (this month for me too), and despite all your hard work, the wheels come off.

Congratulate yourself that you had some savings to use - how hard would it have been without them! Forego putting your CTC in savings and buy Henry - you need it more than a few quid into your savings this month.

Think - at least that is the shed out of the way - won't have to find that money in a couple of weeks. It is a one off expense you would have had to pay at some point.

Ask the OH to facilitate your childfree day - why not? Explain to him that this is what you want more than anything. If he wants to get you something else as well - lucky you for having an OH who wants to show he cares! They have their moments don't they!

And have a cup of tea lol - you're budgeting isn't derailed, just a minor hiccup, from which you will recover. Thanks to all the hard work you have put in before, this is far from a crisis.

Good luck, and happy hoovering with Henry lol.

squeaky

moggins wrote:

This has been an awful month for me, money is down to an all time low and I've had to take money out of the savings account to cover some expenditure.?

Well my first thought is - stop spending money

And my second was - spend an afternoon down the local docks in a very short skirt... {just kidding}

Sounds like you're really up against it and with no quick fix in sight. Unless you have some way of earning money, or selling something, there is no option but to stop spending money. Now. No impulse buys, no treats, and only buy things that are absolutely necessary - and the longer you manage to do this last the shorter the necessary list gets.

Apart from the obvious like living off your pantry and your freezer, padding and stretching meals you'll find it's a good idea to calculate the cost of little things on a yearly basis. As an example Radio Times at 50p a week works out to £25 a year to find out what's on tv - when ceefax is free.

If you get a favourite magazine and it doesn't have more money off coupons that you actually use than it costs to buy - then change magazines or do without for a while.

I know the above sounds a bit frivolous but that's the pattern of thinking you need to adopt. Just make it fit your own circumstances.

I've no idea how to find them again but I've seen threads here on stretching meals and also on clothes make and mend that I'm sure someone will be able to point you at to help get started.

And finally - actually I really should have said this first with so many one off items cropping up in a single month it's no wonder you're off budget. Sheesh! You did well to even come close.

Rose999

moggins, I know exactly how you feel. I am also having a wick month - have already overspent on the grocery budget and am absolutely laoth to dip into the savings but am going to have to!
I am however trying to look at it from another angle - at least I am not having to use a credit card to get through which I would have done without thinking about it in the past.

I know this is not much help - sorry. As the others have already said, just start afresh next month. Good Luck!

moggins

Thanks everyone for the support, I rarely buy myself any luxuries at all anymore anyway and my magazine habit went out the window 3 months ago It didn't help that both kids had a growth spurt at the end of the holiday and I had to spend a small fortune getting them both kitted out with new clothes and shoes too.

You're right, putting it into perspective I have done well just by not going too much into debt (had to put some of the kids clothes onto the CC), there is plenty in the freezer to last us the rest of the month and at least I haven't completely emptied the savings.

I just woke up this morning, studied the finances and saw us in the same mid-month, no money position that we were in a few months ago and felt like I was taking a step backwards instead of moving on.

Next month, no birthdays, hopefully no more growth spurts and no more decorating to be done. I should be able to get back on track in May

Lillibet_2

Sounds to me like higher forces are combining up agaisnt MSE'rs this month:eek: So many of us are struggling with unexpected expenses but at least we are coping one way or another mostly with out going into debt. I think maybe we need to take a step back & give ourselves a pat on the back for this, it's a achievement as most people would just put the extra costs on the credit card or the overdraft & continue spending:p . Is it maybe a case of accepting that unexpected expenses will always come & bite us when we least expect them & that's what savings are for? If we go back to our budgets & stick with only planned spending we can try & build up our savings again over the next few weeks or months.

If anyone sees another person with a pin in their lapel we should risk being thought bonkers & at least give them an encouraging smile......long live the MSE support group!

elona

I have had to dip into savings as well moggins - we are having hall floor repaired and retiled and the cost of special tiles we need is dreadful - but it will be worth it in the end.

Place is a tip and shower has been out of action for ten days - we have 4 daughters so heating water for all the baths is fun!

Daughters laptop which she needs for uni is being repaired and may not be back before she goes back there.

Desperate to get spare part for shower and cannot leave the house because tiles are supposed to be delivered today.

Have just found out that younger daughter's school has gone (in 2 years) from being one of the best in the country (95%ile) to one of the worst (5%ile)


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:(:(:(

Magentasue

Hey - birthdays and a nice dinner out! New shed, new hoover! Enjoy all these things so they are worth the money spent on them. Things will even out - focus on the good and enjoy what you have. You've faced the dipping into savings, now forget about it until you can do something about it and party on!