Money Saving Help/Boosting Income?

lou1990

hi, I wonder if any one can help me, my family and I are having terrible money troubles, like most people, but I dot know what to do so save money or to make more.


I've cut back my shopping drastically, I'm buying pretty much everything on the basic brands, which I must say we don't notice the difference on most of it, my shopping bill is around £260 a month for a family of 6. I sell on Ebay and Gumtree, I'm not crafty so making things to sell is our of the question. My husband works VERY hard and is going to be selling his motorbike so we can afford Christmas. but I am still at a loss.


I've ran out of things to sell, all old clothes are gone, all my jewellery, old cds/dvds. I've claimed back bank charges, checked tax codes ect. I've done everything that is suggested on this site and I'm still struggling, I can only afford minimum payments on all debt, I'd love to pay more, but if I do something else cant be paid. I'm trying to reduce bills, keeping the gas and the electric low.


I'm out of ideas, please does anyone have any more suggestions? my husband does smoke and drink, I do not, I have tried VERY, VERY hard to get him to cut down, and he does try... but has not succeeded, and this of course does cost a fair bit every week.


only my husband works, our two youngest children are 1 and 2 and we cant afford child care, but id love to work, taking on bar/waitress work will be tough as I have health problems and would cope with it, but sit me in an office and I'd be fine.


Anything please?

McKneff

If you post up an SOA we can possibly see other things in your budget you could change. Im sure someone will post up a link to one. No one can really help without details. 2 things stand out though, your OH could help a lot, does he smoke cigs or rollies, he could also brew his own beer, or cut it down drastically. You should get child care help too surely so you would be able to do some hours, you could do some now without child care, late work in shops, supermarkets, pubs, early morning hotels etc.

skintsocks

If you can do it, posting a budget would help others to give advice. You know this already, but the other half is going to have to cut the drinking and smoking, as that money would feed the children. Have you thought about things like renting any car park space you may have at your house? Or registering as a childminder and taking in another child whilst looking after your own perhaps? From my own point of view, I absolutely loathe ironing with a passion, so it has to be a money-maker if you can bear to do it. I know most of them around here drop it back to you, but perhaps you could knock a pound off it for collection, and that saves you the hassle of getting it back to them.

Listerbelle

Sorry to read about your difficulties.

Some of us on here earn a little money through different websites watching ads and doing surveys or similar.

It wont make you rich, and may not help for this Christmas but it would have you all sorted and stress-free for next Christmas.

Some people seem to make 10 - 40 pounds or more a week.

Links that you can bookmark:
One of the threads has lots of ideas:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4803772
(relates to November, there will be one for December shortly)

Swagbucks: pays via paypal, amazon and other vouchers
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4755472

Clixsense: paypal
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4799610

Instagc: amazon and other vouchers
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4610473

Dooyoo (write online reviews)
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4490749

Best wishes

lou1990

Do these site actually work? I've used a few like these before and have had no joy. Getting my husband to quite is easier said then done unfortunately is these some sort of tool to use to do a budget or do I just post up figures? I've done budgets before and we are lucky with ours debts as they are below national average, but it still doesn't make it easier. My family keep telling me to become a child minder, but I know my back will not manage running around after so many children, and I'd end up minding all of my sisters' children and probably make no money any way lol


Thank you for all your help so far. I feel a relief just by asking for some advice, thanks you so much

Listerbelle

lou1990 wrote: »

Do these site actually work?

Yes. This is how I pay for Christmas and buy birthday presents for my daughter's little friends. And a few other goodies for me

lou1990

Thank you, This could be the answer I've been hoping for I will give it a go

McKneff

Could someone post a link to an SOA please for the op

Ilona

http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

Ilona

milmol7

As a one-off boost, could you switch your bank account? I have just switched to Halifax last week (due to complete tomorrow) but the £100 switch incentive is in the account already.
I also do dooyoo and agree with Listerbelle that by doing it properly and taking it seriously (even though its REALLY fun) you can earn plenty of Amazon vouchers, even cash over a period time. I have done quite a bit of my Christmas Shopping thanks to my earnings on there.

PlutoinCapricorn

Have you tried cheap and safe cleaning products? This has been a big money saver for me. It has also helped to improve my health.

You really don't need most of the stuff that people buy mindlessly: someone posted about this on here recently. You can get a lot done with vinegar, washing soda crystals and washing up liquid for example.

I usually have porridge for breakfast: I get large packs of whole oats.
You can get 4-pack Branston baked beans for around 30p per tin.

Where do you shop?