where do people get the money?

sweetilemon

I've been interested in this thread, it's actually inspired me to download a budgeting app. Today I went to work, not far off min wage, already in the app i've noted £2 bacon roll, £5.88 lunch, £16.45 food shop, £45 jeans, £32 petrol...would have been cheaper staying off for the day! Anyway, I do understand, without a careful eye on expenses, keeping children occupied, fed and watered can be very expensive, some places it's easy to spend a lot of money if not careful! Is it maybe due to the kids being on holiday? Most of my disposable income goes on eating out (nothing fancy, mostly when out working or out for the day). A spending diary (well, budgeting app) will be good to see how much is actually spent in a month. I have more than one job and my wages vary. I generally keep bills money aside, the rest I just spend as I like. Tbh, I couldn't tell you how much I spend on disposable income, I just spend unless I'm running low in my personal account, limiting 'big' spends. Anyway, will look forward to you reporting back about where the money is going...and what it's covering, then maybe people can make more suggestions.

surfsister

Hermia wrote: »

Or they use vouchers etc. I had a lovely posh meal out with family recently. My aunt booked it via a website that meant we got a set meal rate. One person had saved their bonus from work, I had sold a couple of things on ebay to pay for my meal etc etc. Yet no one seeing us would have known all this.

I think unless you are rich you have to be frugal in some areas to have the treats you want. I love theatre and travel so I am frugal in other areas and budget carefully and cut back to afford the things I want. It can be really tedious and I have to be strict with myself, but it is worth it in the end. IME the people who always run out of money aren't swanning about buying designer handbags and sports cars. They are just mindlessly spending small amounts of money on a daily basis and not really accounting for where it is going or noticing what things cost.

another idea - I volunteer at my local theatre and get free tickets to every show! also lots of free cinema tickets available too on film first etc

maman

skogar wrote: »

Yes, a lot of people on here appear very organised but it's only because it allows them to do what they want more effectivey with their money. So that might be do more activities, put away savings, pay off debts, anything depending on their priorities.

bigmaz wrote: »

I Kind of thought that as well. I have worked hard to get the wages I get now. I know to some people it is a lot of money, but then again, its pennies to other people. We are all in different circumstances.

I'm fortunately in the position where I have plenty of disposable income. I don't really know exactly how much per month but could work it out if needed. I know I have plenty to pay all my outgoings and loads left which accumulates because if I don't need anything I don't spend it!! So we pay all the fixed things and try to keep other essential spending to a minimum. I hate being ripped off so I like to choose where I spend my hard earned not fritter it away.


My choices are good meals with friends, theatre, days out, football, holidays, expensive hairdresser and treating my DDs.


What amazes me bigmaz is that you seem genuinely bemused as to where this £750 is going. Various posters have asked what you spend it on and all you've really come up with is the odd cheap Indian and one evening out at £80 which you've struggled to afford.


It's obviously bothering you or you wouldn't be asking the question. What about you open another account, move £750 a month in there and only take money out when it's something you really, really fancy and then write down what it is. Maybe the very act will stop you just wasting it and maybe you'll find that in a while you'll see it accumulating.

surfsister

Seakay wrote: »

can really recommend using this budget planner - I thought that I was very unwasteful until I sat down and filled everything in!

https://budgetbrain.moneysavingexpert.com/budgetplanner/edit/1777838

what fun I love the red button at the end sort of like the nuclear button!! still I'm a great frugal saver so ok!! quite a lot due to this site and the nice people who write on it! thanks guys:beer:

GreyQueen

For people with child entertainment expenditures at this time of year, it may be well worth you looking at your council's website for free things they offer in the local parks, sports centres etc. It'll vary from area to area, but you may have a pleasant surprise.

I once had a very good regular example in the form of a mother of three on a very low income. She'd comb through the weekly free newspaper, looking for activities and things she could take her children to, jumble sales, all sorts of stuff. She was a well-educated middle class lady left on her uppers due to divorce but she applied herself to living as full a life as possible, and I admired her greatly.

I think a lot of us don't know where our money goes, and with a bigger income, the scale of the unexplained expenditure is higher but not necessarily achieving a fancier lifestyle. I cannot get over that people will pay good money for a few spoonfuls in pasta salad in a plastic tub from the supermarket, or a few chunks of fruit, ditto. These are things you can assemble at home in minutes from leftovers, into your own tubbyware, and save money and waste of disposable plastic pots and plastic cutlery.

sweetilemon

maman wrote: »

I'm fortunately in the position where I have plenty of disposable income. I don't really know exactly how much per month but could work it out if needed. I know I have plenty to pay all my outgoings and loads left which accumulates because if I don't need anything I don't spend it!! So we pay all the fixed things and try to keep other essential spending to a minimum. I hate being ripped off so I like to choose where I spend my hard earned not fritter it away.


My choices are good meals with friends, theatre, days out, football, holidays, expensive hairdresser and treating my DDs.


What amazes me bigmaz is that you seem genuinely bemused as to where this £750 is going. Various posters have asked what you spend it on and all you've really come up with is the odd cheap Indian and one evening out at £80 which you've struggled to afford.


It's obviously bothering you or you wouldn't be asking the question. What about you open another account, move £750 a month in there and only take money out when it's something you really, really fancy and then write down what it is. Maybe the very act will stop you just wasting it and maybe you'll find that in a while you'll see it accumulating.

I agree. I dont have a huge amount to spend and need to be saving for a house, although not entirely sure how much I spend I know when to cut back and what it's been 'wasted' on if need be. It seems there is not much indication from the OP whats costing so much. A spending diary will soon show it up. Personally, I choose to not take food from home for lunches as I find it a hassle & not always what I want at lunch although I know its an area I could cut back if need be. I do however try to get deals, best prices etc in a lot of areas of my life. These luxurys need to be 'discovered' in your spending diary so you can find out where you can change the spending so you can fit in more meals out if or whatever you chose.

maman

GreyQueen wrote: »

I once had a very good regular example in the form of a mother of three on a very low income. She'd comb through the weekly free newspaper, looking for activities and things she could take her children to, jumble sales, all sorts of stuff. She was a well-educated middle class lady left on her uppers due to divorce but she applied herself to living as full a life as possible, and I admired her greatly.

I know someone who was exactly in that position. She did as many free things as possible with the DD and also studied herself while the DD was young. Now qualified she has a good job but has carried on living frugally. So although she had more money she chose not to up her lifestyle. She has saved for a large deposit so now in her own home and off to NYC on holiday in a couple of weeks. All from living frugally and choosing what to spend disposable income on. It's so worth it!

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Based on observing the spending habits of friends and colleagues, I would guess that hundreds of pounds "disappear" each month on:

- sandwiches/snacks/drinks
- magazines
- after-work drinks
- popping into the supermarket for milk/bread and filling up a basket
- gifts/wrapping paper/cards/stamps (especially if you're at the age when all your mates are marrying and spawning)

I know we are MSE Old-Stylers who look down our noses at this, but you have to remember that many people CAN afford to live like this, and that they are paying tax on these transactions that benefits us all, and keep high street shops open and employing people.

Butterfly_Brain

I think that you definitely need a spending diary.
One OSer who has her own blog says that popping in for a loaf of bread can cost you £20 or more, it is automatic that you spot something and buy it.

We live on a very tight budget because DH is lucky to clear £1,000 pm, but we do manage. After bills we have £350 pm to live on for five adults, that inclues DD's rent and board.
We are hoping to cash in one of our pensions next year to pay off the mortgage.

We grow a lot of our own fruit and veg and I preserve it by freezing, dehydrating, salting, pickling, canning or making jam, we even make our own wine.
I have just got another 2lbs of runner beans from the garden this morning and there are hundreds of flowers and loads of little ones just growing. I have 9 baby butternut squashes just appearing all from a plant that was reduced to 50p in a garden centre:j:j
We have 12 kale plants, 8 cabbages, 24 parsnips, 24 swede, 24 turnips and 12 potato plants also 2 different varieties of courgettes, five different lettuces, blueberries, loganberries, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, gooseberries, 3 rhubarb plants, pears, apples sweetcorn which has really done well this year plus peppers, chillies and tomatoes in the greenhouse.
We buy heritage seeds so we harvest the seeds of the plants every year so free seeds = free food.

I would love to keep chickens but our garden is not big enough

We forage as well and I can't wait to go blackberrying at the weekend, we will also get some sloes to make sloe gin as presents for Christmas and look for beech nuts, hawthorns for hawthorn jelly, rosehips for rosehip syrup and hazlenuts.
We go to a local farm for pork, I have ordered half a lamb from the man on the market and our butcher gets whatever we ask for such as ox cheek, ox heart etc. I only buy beef if it is on offer.

I bake my own bread, make my own bolognaise sauces, ketchup, brown sauce etc.
I use washing up liquid, white vinegar, soda crystals and tea tree oil for cleaning.
I only use half of the recommended washing powder (liquid is a total waste of money) I use white vinegar as softener.

Farmfoods and Aldi are great places to save money on a tight budget.

We rarely have takeaways or eat out, that is for special occassions only such as birthdays and anniversaries.
If we want to see a film we wait for it to come out on DVD rather than pay £50 at the cinema where you have to put up with, unruly children, people walking past the screen, people munching sweets, popcorn etc or talking through a film.
I would rather pay £10 for the DVD

I have two books called the takeaway secret and take away secret 2 which are well worth getting, both books contain authentic recipes from takeaways.

We like a drink but we only buy spirits on offer and have a cheap lager from Aldi and we make our own wine.
My DH loves the Ameretto from Aldi and the Orange liquer is very good as is the Baileys and Gin.

We also manage to save a little so we can get a few days away, and I buy Christmas stuff throughout the year and put £1 a day away in what is known as the sistercas fund, this gives us £365 every Christmas to spend on extras, anything left over goes in the birthday envelope for the following year.

The best advice that I can give you is to keep a spending diary and put everything you buy in there, after two months it will give a real idea of you spending habits.

Make up a food plan for the week and include homemade lunches, invest in a good thermos flask for coffee or tea and it can even be used in winter for hot home made soups, stews, chilli, bolognaise etc.
This is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying from a shop, plus you know what is in it.

Make a list before going shopping and only take cash with you, leave your card behind, this stops impulse buying.
I keep a spare £20 at the back of my purse in case I see and good YS deals though.

Living frugally isn't that hard and you do not have to go without, in fact you tend to eat healthier food that has no chemical additives.

I have the mind set, that I never pay full price for something, I wait for sales and coupons.
Any coupon money or lottery ticket win is put into a savings jar and it goes towards our holiday.

Sorry it is a long post, but it is just to show you that you can live for a lot less if you put your mind to it xxxx

GreyQueen

:T Bravo, BB. Long but very good and very informative.

I consider I live a very luxurious lifestyle. I have a machine just to do my laundry (servant!), a library book which was only published this year and which I may be the very first borrower for, 2 different kinds of melons, black and green grapes and several other fruits from my Magic Greengrocer (carrier bagful for £1) and tonight I may, if it isn't raining, go up to Sainsbugs and play Hunt the YS bargains.

Life with much more money would be boring because it'd be too easy and where's the thrill in that?:rotfl: