I am struggling to cope with budgeting

BMG

I have never worked to a budget before. I have always spend whatever I wanted on my credit card.
Now I am having to budget and I can't cope with it.
Anyone any tips of where to start?? I don't know whether my budgets listed below are too low? We haven't much spare cash but all out meals are so boring and I am not really eating much of each meal.


Sorry for moaning, I am feeling very down at the moment due to things that have happened in the past 24hrs

joedenise

I think people need a bit more information before being able to comment. How many people are there in your family? What sort of meals are you eating? What percentage of your income is going out for essentials? Etc.

Denise

narabanekeater

hi there - let me offer you a big :wave:with a rather rude looking:grouphug: I'm so expert but all the lovely members will be around soon to help you and I shall look back on this thread later tonight. Whatever has changed over the last 24h im sure we shall be able to help you.

WantToBeSE

As joedenise says, we need a more acurate picture of your family/household to give advice.

How many adults/children?
How many cars?
Do you work?
Are children school aged?
Any pets?
What meals you normally like?

BMG

There are 2 adults, no children, 2 cars, no pets
I am unable to work and hubby is on short time. Some months he works every day, other weeks he has nothing.
We have sandwiches at lunchtime and a cooked meal every evening, such as shepherds pie, lasagne, chilli, casseroles
On a bad month everything goes on CC because the money pays the bills.

AlexLK

My wife and I have been trying to budget since September (having never done it before), it has been incredibly difficult and we are still struggling now. Our main problem is not being anywhere near strict enough with it. You really are not alone!

BMG

I think it is partly staying at home rather than going out so that I don't spend. I have to go in the car everywhere as I can't walk very far.


Good luck with your budgeting

WantToBeSE

Thanks for the info

If there are 2 adults with 1 of you not working, is it possible to share a car between you? The reason being that you spend £200 a month on petrol and you could (i imagine) cut down on this.

£160 for groceries for the both of you sounds OK, but i know that many people spend the same amount and they have children. Maybe post on the Grocery Challenge thread for advice on this.

I cant see why you would need to spend £40 a month on cleaning..can you elaborate on this?


It sounds as though you are struggling because you are just not used to it. It was a shock for me too, at first. Many people here have been through the same thing. You CAN and will cope, you'll get used to it, honestly.
It can be tough, but hanging around here, picking up tips and joining in with the chatter can really help.

themarsbargirl

Do you bake? You can make really nice cakes and biscuits etc very cheaply. What's your favourite food? favourite takeout? try making that at home, my hm pizza costs me 20p, i can do h'cdonalds breakfasts, indian...cheap and easy. will help fill time too.

Willowpop

The 1st thing that shouts to me is your cleaning budget for the month. £40 seems high.
Washing up liquid, a bottle of stardrops and a sprayer to decant some into and water down, some disinfectant. All that comes to around a fiver...not sure what else you would need..trying to think what i have...oh, some Jay cloths if you need them perhaps if you've no rags. What else were you including in that budget?

BMG

We are unable to share a car because when OH is working away, he is gone for a week or more and is about 150 miles away from home. The huge amount of petrol is mainly his when he is working. Some of it is mine for trying to live my life as normal as possible with my health.


I can't bake to save my life.


The budgets were set at £10 a month as I have no idea what we spend on things. I know some of them will be too high but I don't know the exacts at present