How do people afford to drive/have a social life?

TheWaltons_3

It will be going somewhere. Do you buy takeouts? Have an expensive hobby?


In desperation, as we've been so busy the last few weeks... we've ordered Dominos pizzas about 5 times. That's £60. :eek:

No more pizzas now!

Mummy2Two_3

TheWaltons wrote: »

It will be going somewhere. Do you buy takeouts? Have an expensive hobby?


In desperation, as we've been so busy the last few weeks... we've ordered Dominos pizzas about 5 times. That's £60. :eek:

No more pizzas now!

This is the thing we only have takeaways once a month and that costs us £10-15. We dont have hobbies, although i have a PC and internet (doesnt cost us at the moment as we have a 12 month credit) and my partner has a XBOX 360 ( i saved a whole year to buy it for him by selling some things on Ebay)
We dont generally buy things that are new and we use Freecycle a lot

Morglin

I think most people with children are skint for a few years.:rolleyes:

It was even worse in the days before subsidised child care and tax credits............:eek:

It will pass.

Lin

Dead_Eye_Jones

Going out doesnt have to be expensive! Im the slowest drinker in the world, so a night out at a pub tends to cost me about £2.50! Or if im really hitting the booze, maybe Ill get 2 pints!

Do you know other parents in the area, can you head down to the local park or something with them, invite them round, etc.

Local social groups? Library club? School/Nusery groups?

I guess im lucky living in London, my travel is the price of a train ticket - more expensive than it should be, but far cheaper than running a car! There are then hundreds of free events going on all the time. Is there any local community events in your area?

Around here we have had the Tour riding through recently (free + home made lunch!), the India festival is ongoing throughout summer, the usual free stuff on the South Bank, blah blah. It takes a bit of research but you might be suprised by all the amazing things people organise for others to enjoy!

All the best

Gaz83 wrote: »

If learning to drive is what you want to do, why not do that and get a car etc. before having children?.

Surely had that money been spent then it would just mean having less now. I dont see that when it happens makes a difference !

Gaz83

Dead_Eye_Jones wrote: »

Surely had that money been spent then it would just mean having less now. I dont see that when it happens makes a difference !

Not necessarily, as learning to drive and buying a car before a child is born would offset the cost of four people travelling regularly by public transport.

raq

Morglin wrote: »

I think most people with children are skint for a few years.:rolleyes:

It was even worse in the days before subsidised child care and tax credits............:eek:

It will pass.

Lin

tell me about it. we where worse of with one child 5 years ago and much better now with 3 children

lil_me

Without an SOA it's a tricky one, pity you can't get your partner to give permission, my partner it's a case of doesn't know won't hurt. Hope you find the answers even if it does take a very strict spending diary documenting everything to realise where you can reduce outgoings.