HELP! Have cut back all I can but am still over-spending!

dancingfairy

Oh with regards to Tesco you don't necessarily have to shop at Tesco to have one of their credit cards O.k so you won't earn as many point and get extra points etc but you can still use them for everyday spending and use the vouchers as car breakdown cover or for meals out or days out etc.
df
P.S I can understand being annoyed at having to cut back after years of working full time and thinking you should be able to have enough to make ends meet. It's tough for a lot of people right now

ScrimpingandSaving

Thanks for all contributions.

mildredalien yes you do have a point. There are days when I feel ok about it all and days when I just don't. I guess I feel hard done by because at the age of 41 after a lifetime of budgeting I thought things might be a little easier now. I remember existing on just hubby's wage at one point, now we are living off two wages and are still having to budget. But yes, sometimes I'm guilty of seeing the glass half full (probably cause I'm from oop Norf) when instead I should be counting our blessings.

It's the seemingly little things that catch up with you isn't it? You can budget for groceries and shopping but then you realise that you need to pay towards the next school trip; hubby has to buy a new saw; one of the kids has been invited to a birthday party; family come to see you so you get extra food in; school hassles you to buy raffle tickets; kids need new toothbrushes; you run out of water filters (we live in a hard water area); the shower head packs up, etc, etc. I've realised that all these little spends add up to a big spend and there are lots of little spends we are doing.

fallen121 thank you for the saving tips.I'm impressed that you walk so much! I walk around 4 miles a day taking my son to school and back. Unfortunately the supermarkets are quite a distance (nearest is 5 miles away over fields) which is why I'm guilty of sometimes 'topping up' using the local shop. Luckily my shopping list and weekly food plan has put a stop to this.

I have cancelled my subscription to AVG and am relying on the free version.

Money for birthdays is a good idea My friend runs one of those Phoenix cards things so I generally tend to buy cards in bulk.

Kindle - nonononononononononoNO! I love my books. I collect old, rare books and have done since I was a teen. I specialise in old copies of Arthur Conan Doyle books and used to source them from car boots, book shops, antique fairs, etc. I have a bookcase stuffed with them. Nothing beats the smell and feel of a proper book. I'm so old-fashioned I know!

Yes I have discovered that Aldi is good for household items but so far my impressions of Aldi are both good and bad.
The bag of carrots I got last week went off. All of them. So I had to replace them in this week's shop. They don't have any decent salad in, all the iceberg lettuces looked really sad so I have to get salad from Asda. Not a great selection of fruit and veg and not that much cheaper than Asda either.
However their cooked meat is great. I got loads of cooked ham and froze half so it would last 2 weeks. The bread section has also improved loads. So I'm beginning to learn what I can get from Aldi and what I need to go to Asda for.

You have an interesting point re the fruit juice. I am appauled at what we spend on fruit juice thinking that it's a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks. We normally have it with our meal as I thought some Vitamin C with our tea was good for us. I might now stick to cordials as they are cheaper.

Loved reading your tips. It's so interesting to read how other people manage and I know I have a long way to go yet.

suki1964yes that's how I feel. And I completely agree that you need to save yourself a treat otherwise what is the point? Posters claiming that we treat ourselves in spite of the children have no idea what they are talking about. Judgemental horse manure the lot of them. My kids have a happy and healthy life and are happier for the fact that their parents also allow time for themselves. If we didn't spend a little money on what we enjoy then we'd be very miserable indeed.

Anyway, back to making clothes out of sackcloths whilst I burn a few bills to keep warm.....

CH27

ScrimpingandSaving wrote: »

Thanks for all contributions.

mildredalien yes you do have a point. There are days when I feel ok about it all and days when I just don't. I guess I feel hard done by because at the age of 41 after a lifetime of budgeting I thought things might be a little easier now. I remember existing on just hubby's wage at one point, now we are living off two wages and are still having to budget. But yes, sometimes I'm guilty of seeing the glass half full (probably cause I'm from oop Norf) when instead I should be counting our blessings.

It's the seemingly little things that catch up with you isn't it? You can budget for groceries and shopping but then you realise that you need to pay towards the next school trip; hubby has to buy a new saw; one of the kids has been invited to a birthday party; family come to see you so you get extra food in; school hassles you to buy raffle tickets; kids need new toothbrushes; you run out of water filters (we live in a hard water area); the shower head packs up, etc, etc. I've realised that all these little spends add up to a big spend and there are lots of little spends we are doing.

fallen121 thank you for the saving tips.I'm impressed that you walk so much! I walk around 4 miles a day taking my son to school and back. Unfortunately the supermarkets are quite a distance (nearest is 5 miles away over fields) which is why I'm guilty of sometimes 'topping up' using the local shop. Luckily my shopping list and weekly food plan has put a stop to this.

I have cancelled my subscription to AVG and am relying on the free version.

Money for birthdays is a good idea My friend runs one of those Phoenix cards things so I generally tend to buy cards in bulk.

Kindle - nonononononononononoNO! I love my books. I collect old, rare books and have done since I was a teen. I specialise in old copies of Arthur Conan Doyle books and used to source them from car boots, book shops, antique fairs, etc. I have a bookcase stuffed with them. Nothing beats the smell and feel of a proper book. I'm so old-fashioned I know!

Yes I have discovered that Aldi is good for household items but so far my impressions of Aldi are both good and bad.
The bag of carrots I got last week went off. All of them. So I had to replace them in this week's shop. They don't have any decent salad in, all the iceberg lettuces looked really sad so I have to get salad from Asda. Not a great selection of fruit and veg and not that much cheaper than Asda either.
However their cooked meat is great. I got loads of cooked ham and froze half so it would last 2 weeks. The bread section has also improved loads. So I'm beginning to learn what I can get from Aldi and what I need to go to Asda for.

You have an interesting point re the fruit juice. I am appauled at what we spend on fruit juice thinking that it's a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks. We normally have it with our meal as I thought some Vitamin C with our tea was good for us. I might now stick to cordials as they are cheaper.

Loved reading your tips. It's so interesting to read how other people manage and I know I have a long way to go yet.

suki1964yes that's how I feel. And I completely agree that you need to save yourself a treat otherwise what is the point? Posters claiming that we treat ourselves in spite of the children have no idea what they are talking about. Judgemental horse manure the lot of them. My kids have a happy and healthy life and are happier for the fact that their parents also allow time for themselves. If we didn't spend a little money on what we enjoy then we'd be very miserable indeed.

Anyway, back to making clothes out of sackcloths whilst I burn a few bills to keep warm.....

That says a lot about the type of person you are
People have offered help, views & suggestions. Shame you don't like it but there are a lot of good points being made.

suki1964

CH27 wrote: »

That says a lot about the type of person you are
People have offered help, views & suggestions. Shame you don't like it but there are a lot of good points being made.

Yes there's been some great help on this thread. GIVEN WITHOUT JUDGEMENT

No one has a right to judge others, no one

ScrimpingandSaving

CH27 wrote: »

That says a lot about the type of person you are
People have offered help, views & suggestions. Shame you don't like it but there are a lot of good points being made.

Really? So I haven't thanked those who have actually spent time in trying to help me? Not even in that very same post from where you took that quote of mine?

There have been posters who, instead of taking time out to post constructive help and criticism have instead accused me of neglecting my kids whilt I drink all our funds dry. You think that's a good point being made?

Those who can read a post from someone who has laid bare her financial report for all to see, who has conceded points and vowed to cut down, who has made real changes and who has asked for help, yet still throw in digs about my children are the ones you should really be concerned about.

But thanks for the implication as to what type of person I am on the basis of a post that hit back at those who callously tore me apart with their snide comments and jibes. Yup, the fact that I defended myself and am still making changes to make my family's lives better really does show me up for the type of person I am eh?

Here, have a beer and chill out. Don't worry, I'll take the money from my son's piggy bank. :beer:

suburbanwifey

ScrimpingandSaving wrote: »

Really? So I haven't thanked those who have actually spent time in trying to help me? Not even in that very same post from where you took that quote of mine?

There have been posters who, instead of taking time out to post constructive help and criticism have instead accused me of neglecting my kids whilt I drink all our funds dry. You think that's a good point being made?

Those who can read a post from someone who has laid bare her financial report for all to see, who has conceded points and vowed to cut down, who has made real changes and who has asked for help, yet still throw in digs about my children are the ones you should really be concerned about.

But thanks for the implication as to what type of person I am on the basis of a post that hit back at those who callously tore me apart with their snide comments and jibes. Yup, the fact that I defended myself and am still making changes to make my family's lives better really does show me up for the type of person I am eh?

Here, have a beer and chill out. Don't worry, I'll take the money from my son's piggy bank. :beer:

You've been a lot more polite to that poster than I would have been hon. Go you! I think you are a great mum, don't let them grind you down. The real people who are here to help are rooting for you x

mildredalien

ScrimpingandSaving wrote: »

Thanks for all contributions.

mildredalien yes you do have a point. There are days when I feel ok about it all and days when I just don't. I guess I feel hard done by because at the age of 41 after a lifetime of budgeting I thought things might be a little easier now. I remember existing on just hubby's wage at one point, now we are living off two wages and are still having to budget. But yes, sometimes I'm guilty of seeing the glass half full (probably cause I'm from oop Norf) when instead I should be counting our blessings.

It's the seemingly little things that catch up with you isn't it? You can budget for groceries and shopping but then you realise that you need to pay towards the next school trip; hubby has to buy a new saw; one of the kids has been invited to a birthday party; family come to see you so you get extra food in; school hassles you to buy raffle tickets; kids need new toothbrushes; you run out of water filters (we live in a hard water area); the shower head packs up, etc, etc. I've realised that all these little spends add up to a big spend and there are lots of little spends we are doing.

Hah yes there is always something! Honestly if I bought everything I thought I remotely needed right now, I'd be spending thousands! And that's not on high living and extravagance, just on modest upgrades to our possessions - for example we rent right now, and have been told we can get rid of the wonky old sofas that came with the house and buy our own if we want. There's always something else that the money is needed for though.

Do keep your eye on the little things, they can get away from you so easily :eek: It might feel painful having to watch them all the time but perhaps just try and see it as part of your routine to keep your family ticking over, and get the best for yourselves and your children. It'll also teach your kids positive skills for managing their money in the future

ScrimpingandSaving

Yeah I know. I just had a conversation with my daughter who told me that her friend had been boasting of having £200 pocket money, of how she's got her own bank account and how "almost everyone" at her school are wearing £95 waterproof jackets.

I asked her to count how many were wearing these jackets and that if she did she would find they were in the minority. I also remembered your earlier post and told her that she should stop wishing for things that others had. Wishing your situation better doesn't work. I told her to think about what she did have that her friends didn't and to count her blessings because there are always others worse off.

In fact we Googled and discovered that many people's lives could be changed for £95 so what a waste it was to spend it on a jacket! (Thank you Oxfam!)

I hope she's now a little bit more enlightened. As am I through reading all the helpful posts, even those criticial ones.

bess1234_2

She sounds like she's got a good head on her shoulders, and will do much better than the other girl. Keep going , it does get easier and becomes second nature. And I'm guessing the list comes from your spending diary. Maybe next month set a contingency fund, and then choosing spending from a fixed amount will sharpen the mind. Or the saw lol:rotfl: Mine all went on the dentist this month, having to spend all Your money on inflicting pain upon yourself just feels damn unfair !

pennies_from_Heaven

ScrimpingandSaving wrote: »

(BTW my shopping for this week also included 2 bottles of wine, 1 for £4.99 and 1 for £5.99 plus a 4 pack of Guinness so nerrr!)

LOL!! Reading this I almost spat my Rioja all over my keyboard :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: not very MSE on my part, almost a waste!

:laugh: