Why can't I stick to my budget?!

socmwils23

It would appear there are two solutions.

1) learn to say no. If the budget is spent then its spent and you can't do anything until next month
2) increase the budget which will impact on other areas but it comes down to priorities ultimately.

chili1496

forget the wine and dine, stay in and get straight to the 69

FreddieFrugal

We may be freaks. But when we go for days out the only cost is fuel to get us where we're going. There are so many free places. We love just going for walks in countryside. It also helps that as joint crimbo pressie from my parents we've got National Trust membership so we can go to all those places for free.

We do pay to go places as well but only very rarely. When we go out with friends, we tend to go out to countryside walking. We're not really drinking sort of people which helps with finances.

May seem boring to some but it's what we enjoy, it's healthy and dirt (literally) cheap.

£300 a month is our combined food and fuel costs for both of us running seperate cars. Cant believe that's just half of your combined 'fun' money. Noŵ I feel money saving!

opinions4u

Stop going out when the budget is spent.

It really is that simple.

DVDs. Playing cards. Board games.

matttye

Without meaning to sound too sarcastic: just stop spending willy nilly.

There really is no other advice that can be given.

dawyldthing

your going out money is more than my mortgage costs. I think my best suggestion is to look out for all the offers. with orange wednesdays for the cinema, cheap bowling on some days and other food offers most things can be done on the cheap while still enjoying it, just avoid the expensive days to go out on and you'll be laughing to the bank

Bloomberg

sophie131 wrote: »

Each month I do a budget... withdraw my petrol money, grocery money and 'fun' money!

The part I struggle with is my 'fun' money - this is supposed to cover all those little things like meals out, cinema, days out etc. My partner also does similar so really, 2 people have £300 to blow each month but every single month we go over!

Sometimes I can attribute it to things like friends asking us to go out near to the end of the month or us being super stressed and going out for dinner so we don't have to cook.

Has anyone got any tips to make this money stretch a little further?

Sticking to a budget requires real discipline. If your essential bills are paid then that is the lesser of two evils. Why not ask your friends over for a meal rather than going out. You can get some beers from the supermarket and have a nice night in - infinitely cheaper.


There is an ale which I drink in my local golf club which costs £4.95 a bottle, they aren't exactly giving it away. The next day I was with my wife in Waitrose and noticed the exact same bottle for £1.95. This is just one example of how much more expensive it is to go out as opposed to staying in.