Living off £149 per week

student-mum-2

following the frugal living challenge im going to challenge our family to live off £149 per week for ... well as long as possible

this equates to the original £6000 p/yr from the frugal living challenge and our 2 children's child benefit (just like the FLC i wont be including rent or council tax)

so is it possible ??

im not sure if its possible and if it is ... it is going to be tough but im going to give it a go to give us the best future possible and help us pay off our debts and achieve our dreams to one day get married and buy our own house as well as DP setting up his own business in the future


so here goes wish me luck think im going to need it

Downsizing__for_sanity

Good for you - are you including childcare in this? I am also a full time student and this is my biggest cost really. We have approx £200 a week for food, fuel, entertainment, everything etc. t sounds a lot but it can easily be frittered away each week - this week I have already spent £5 on cards and £17 on a new baby present. I find the best thing for me is to make a list and to stay out of the shops!

student-mum-2

we dont have any child care costs atm as i study at home ... purely and simply so i didnt have to worry about child care and baby was only around 3 months when i signed upto my course

i also just realised i have made a slight c&^k up as originally in 2008 the FLC was £4000 a year but tbh with costs going up i cant see that £76.50 + child benifit would be an amount to be able to live off long term ? maybe im wrong will see how it goes

one step at a time

Downsizing__for_sanity

What is FLC? My child benefit is £135 a month for 2 but obviously doesn't anywhere near cover the expenses of kids. As I am full time, I do get some Childcare costs reimbursed but I never know how much or when. We now have an au pair as well as nursery which helps with the irregular shifts. Can your husband get Childcare vouchers from work -these are tax-free and would let you have childfree time to study/tidy/shop once in a while?

student-mum-2

FLC - Frugal living challenge

my partner is only working part time now after a reduction in hours but is going to college in sept along side working for a change in carrier after having many short term and insecure jobs in the past so i dont think we qualify tbh its not something ive ever looked into

Downsizing__for_sanity

Oh, I see - I thought FLC was something to do with Family Credit. I think if you pay tax childcare vouchers are worth applying for but it can mess up your WTC I think depending on what you qualify for.

I think you will be able to manage on £149 a week, it's a mindset really. I try to meal plan, make a list and stick to it - oh and try to shop without the kids as its much less distracting.

Good luck and try hard, but remember to enjoy life as well. It's hard to study as well as be a full time parent!