SOA - time to face the truth :(

Thisisme_3

MrsCautious please don't apologise I really appreciate your suggestions.

With regards to the presents I think we would struggle to cut it down much. We have two nephews and god children and two children of our own so just these alone at Xmas, Birthdays and say Easter Eggs etc can be quite expensive. I don't want to draw too much attention to our debt too if that makes sense. I will however do some calculations and def look in to it

Grocery shopping I would love love love to get cheaper. I honestly don't know how people do it! I'll definitely look on the Grocery Challenge Board.

I have lots of things to sell and have started listing on ebay.

I totally agree about getting our weekly activities spend down and I'll speak to OH about him spending less at work.

We need to put £100 a month away for emergencies at the mo as our boiler is very very old and on it's way out which will be a massive expense just hope it hangs on a while yet!

Thanks so much for your input and taking time to reply x

MrsCautious

Good luck with the boiler, we had one in the spring and it has made a big difference with gas bills.

I reckon you could surprise yourself with your food shopping and prezzies, it can become a bit addictive x The ppl on the Grocery Challenge thread (in old style) and NSD challenge (in DFW) are really supportive, I'd warmly recommend it. x

I have a close family member who hasn't been able to buy my children presents for years and they asked me not to buy for theirs, I didn't feel any awkwardness when they said they couldn't afford to do so, but they were in a very bad position by then. I would hope those who love you would understand and support you emotionally rather than expect you to spend money you owe other people.
They should congratulate you for taking such positive action.

Take care x

lee111s

£80 a month on lunches for your partner is a lot of money! Cook large batches of soup, take sandwiches or tupaware full of home cooked meal left overs (or just make more so there's extra for him to take).

Danni-R

Monthly Income Details

Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2000 (average)
Benefits................................ 745
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2745
Monthly Expense Details[/b]
Mortgage................................ 306
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity............................. 72 (v high due to them having us on the wrong DD amount for ages so arreas)
Gas..................................... 73 (as above)
Water rates............................. 35 could you go metered?
Telephone (land line)................... 14.5
Mobile phone............................ 50 (I'm tied to contract at £36
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 23
Internet Services....................... 0 (currently getting 6m free)
Groceries etc. ......................... 320 as you are a sahm could you do more 'fresh' cooking/ batch cook etc?
Clothing................................ 40 is this really needed?
Petrol/diesel........................... 320 (Oh uses £50 pw for work)
Road tax................................ 22
Car Insurance........................... 35
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Other child related expenses............ 20
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 3.75
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 15
Contents insurance...................... 15
Life assurance ......................... 15
Other insurance......................... 30 (oh's work insurances)
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 75 can you cut this down a tad?
Haircuts................................ 5
Entertainment........................... 78 (£15 pw plus £18 swim pass) this is a lot....
Emergency fund.......................... 100 do you actually have this? Where is the fund?
Total monthly expenses.................. 1801.25
[

if you head over to the money saving old style they have great menu plans etc that could help you cut down the food spend.

As your kids are pretty young the presents to people could be stuff they've made?

RAS

Hi

Surely OH should be taking his work insurance and possibly some of the travel costs out of his business account not the household income? Do not mix up his expenses and your family budget.

You have not added in your income?

Your groceries and clothing and presents and ents and emergency fund and OH's lunch are all very high.

Get shot of the satellite TV.

Ms_Chocaholic

I was shocked at the petrol cost; £50 pw averages out at £216 per month, you're spending another £114 per month on top

Thisisme_3

Hi thanks for your replies. We don't keep his business costs separate as he subcontracts so all he has are petrol costs of £50 per week (large van) and a few other minor costs. It works for us like this

Thanks

hereigoagain22

Danni-R don't assume that because the OP is a SAHM it's any easier to batch cook etc. I've just gone back to work and find it's easier to find time to cook now as I'm at work and the children at nursery during the day so there's much less mess to clear up in the evenings and I have a little energy now!!

I do think you could save a little on your savings for birthdays/Christmas but like another poster said it's all down to personal choice.

What do you buy in a food shop and what do you eat (meals, snacks, breakfasts, coffees etc.) on a weekly basis?

Some of the payments you have listed for the debts seem a little low even for the minimum payments and could amount for some of the surplus - can you double check these?

Do you buy newspapers/coffees/sweetie/juice for kids/magazine.

The kids are young. I spend £10 a week on my 2 although they are a little younger. We try to do free stuff- meeting up with my sister and nephews, doing treasure hunts in the house, going to the park, the library etc. Once a week we do something that costs - swimming, soft play etc. and the kids really apprecciate it more. I go just after breakfast or lunch which saves me having to buy the expensive on site food!

Thisisme_3

What do you buy in a food shop and what do you eat (meals, snacks, breakfasts, coffees etc.) on a weekly basis?

Some of the payments you have listed for the debts seem a little low even for the minimum payments and could amount for some of the surplus - can you double check these?

Do you buy newspapers/coffees/sweetie/juice for kids/magazine.

Hi, sorry if this hasn't done a part quote lol I had no idea how to do it. The payments are low as they are in a DMP with StepChange at the moment.

We cook mainly from scratch, my DS has to have Lactose Free Milk which is so bloomin' expensive. I shop at Asda or Aldi, I buy meat at the butchers. I find a weeks worth of meat can be £25, milk for my son is around £6-£7, nappies around £3.

x

Thisisme_3

Danni-R wrote: »

Monthly Income Details

Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2000 (average)
Benefits................................ 745
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2745
Monthly Expense Details[/b]
Mortgage................................ 306
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity............................. 72 (v high due to them having us on the wrong DD amount for ages so arreas)
Gas..................................... 73 (as above)
Water rates............................. 35 could you go metered? I went on an online calc thing and says it's cheaper to stay DD.
Telephone (land line)................... 14.5
Mobile phone............................ 50 (I'm tied to contract at £36
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 23
Internet Services....................... 0 (currently getting 6m free)
Groceries etc. ......................... 320 as you are a sahm could you do more 'fresh' cooking/ batch cook etc? We cook almost everything from scratch
Clothing................................ 40 is this really needed? Probably not monthly but there can easy be months where it comes to this if the children need shoes maybe or a coat for eg. Does this seem a lot?
Petrol/diesel........................... 320 (Oh uses £50 pw for work)
Road tax................................ 22
Car Insurance........................... 35
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Other child related expenses............ 20
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 3.75
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 15
Contents insurance...................... 15
Life assurance ......................... 15
Other insurance......................... 30 (oh's work insurances)
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 75 can you cut this down a tad? I think we can get this down to £60
Haircuts....I............................ 5
Entertainment........................... 78 (£15 pw plus £18 swim pass) this is a lot.... I know I am trying to get this down to £10 a week plus my swim membership.
Emergency fund.......................... 100 do you actually have this? Where is the fund? We don't have this but will start it from April as I am concerned that our boiler is on it's way out.
Total monthly expenses.................. 1801.25
[

if you head over to the money saving old style they have great menu plans etc that could help you cut down the food spend. Thanks I've been having a little nosey on there.

As your kids are pretty young the presents to people could be stuff they've made? Yep could definately do that although I'm really not very arty!