Let Them Eat Cake... Eventually

cakeforbrains

deleted sorry

twiggy86

Hi!

Firstly well done on posting on here! Sod your relative (I've read your other post) - you need to do this for you and your family (i.e. OH and children)! Now you've paid him off, what you spend or owe is none of his concern! I would say I'm sure he's only trying to be helpful but I'm not so sure having read your other post!

Food shopping is an area which can be cut without too much effort just a bit of organisation and thought - since trying to do cut down I've pretty much halved what I was spending! I make sure I write a meal plan, check what's in the cupboards and write a list (which I stick to!) So it hasn't really taken any effort to save money, just being aware of what I'm spending is making a big difference to me. I have an envelope in my bag with the food money in so I'm only allowed to spend what's in there (works for me as I do all our shopping). However I do cringe slightly getting this tatty old envelope out my bag at the checkout (and no I wont use a new envelope until the old one is falling apart!)!

I also shop at Lild, and utilise apps on my phone like shopitize, checkoutsmart etc where you get cashback for buying certain items and taking a photo of your receipt. So if I'm going to Tesco to pick up bits I cant get in Lidl, I check what offers are on there and may adapt my meal plan slightly (key is not to buy things you don't actually need!)

Oh and you should womble receipts! Asda do the price guarantee so you can put in the code and possibly get a voucher. My mum texted my a receipt number earlier for one she found - £2.83 voucher! Personally I haven't had any luck yet but I don't shop there often and haven't been a "wombler" long! Or you can collect the clubcard points at Tesco - every little helps!

Hope that helps!

Bobarella

Hi Cake
I also read your other thread. Your relative really didn't come off as being a caring lovely guy...
I have subscribed to your diary now.
My first thought was your council tax seems high. Mine is £136 a month over 10 months so I know I could drop it if we went down to 12 months. Could you do similar?
As you've already said £500 is quite a lot for food but as you have two big children that's going to add money to the bill.
I feed 2 adults and a 6 year old, plus cat on £200 a month although I have set my budget at £180 this month as it's shorter.
But when I had more money or thought I did we used to spend £100 a week on food by buying at farmers markets. We always bought a lot of meat back then. So I have come a long way.
I found the grocery challenge so helpful. I logged £260 my first month which was October and have gone down to what I feel is now the lowest I comfortably can.
Anyway wishing you lots of luck with everything.
bob

twiggy86

You should go and have a great time. Yes be cautious with your spending but don't let having to spend money ruin your time away - or it will all be a complete waste of money! As you said you may not have booked it now but you have so make the most of it!

I know what you mean about feeling low after the initial burst. I felt exactly the same at the start of my debt busting journey. What's the clich! - it's a marathon not a race - or something like that. I find that I've made the decision to be debt free so I want it to happen yesterday! I still go through peaks and troughs but there's always someone (like me!) here to cheer you on!