Two thirds of the way there, final hurdle

MERFE

I've cancelled lots of extra little subscribtions that all are adding up, things like netflix, that all seemed like a good idea to sign up to but actually don't really get used. Hopefully be able to make a decent payment at the end of this month. Savings seem to be going up faster than debts paid off, I find it much easier to save, need to prioritise the debt repayment although still on track to be gone before the 0% ends.

MERFE

Oh and hopefully convinced OH to open himself a regular savers in January when he has paid off the £225 he added to the credit card so he can save up for the bigger items he wants in future. I hope it sunk in.

Happierdays

Just popping in to say hI! I can relate to when it's just one of you having their lbm... I'm thinking having a certain amount of monthly"allowance" as you do will be the way forward for us and we have discussed this so it's a start!
Best of luck on your journey

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've just read through your diary and you're doing so well. What is your new full time job? It's not easy being frugal when you have three kids but you're doing a great job.

MERFE

It's in a call centre, nothing fancy but it pays ok. All our bills have gone up since though. I knew I'd spend alot more on petrol but with OH cooking our food bill has gone through the roof. September was over £600 for the month. It was a 5 week month but I know we could have done it for £450 and still ate well. My son has lost his £80 PE kit at school so that needs replacing. He knows where he left it and it isn't in lost property so it's really frustrating, can't see why they can't just wear cheap shorts and a plain t-shirt and the option of the school one if they are playing for the school in competitions. This month is gonna be tight again but we are paying off a trip in the summer to visit family, I just thought we would have a bit more left but it was MIL birthday and we just overspent so I need to be keeping a closer eye, it's so hard with less time. Debts are going down though so have to just keep going. Have saved £150 on OH car insurance renewal and got £50 cashback plus the car passed MOT test with no advisorys so it hasn't all been bad.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've been there with the lost pe kit, it's so expensive to replace :mad:. I'm thankful my three have all left school now.

Can you give OH a meal plan to try and get food costs down?

Your debts are heading in the right direction anyway and that the main thing .

MERFE

I do meal plan for him but he has limited desire to cook and will only cook from scratch if I also write out the recipe, the bigger problem is the snacks they all seem to snack alot more. I should be able to get it down a fair bit, just a bit of extra effort.
I am just glad my son had his old holey trainers in his pe kit and not his brand new ones. It was in a bright blue bag with his name on too. I've ordered new kit but not heard back from the shop so he'll have to keep borrowing the school kit for now.

MERFE

Just updating savings, some of the savings is in HTB Isa but some is regular savers. I'm thinking when the regular savers finish to continue to save half but to use half for repaying the barclaycard.

Spendless

Hi Merfe, I dipped into your thread quite a while ago before you found your job. I was wondering if you would benefit from having a slow cooker, if leaving your DH in charge of cooking is contributing to larger bills. Then either of you could turn on in the morning and a meal ready at night-time.

When are they snacking? Before coming in from school or later after their meal. If it's the latter try a pudding after their meal. Idf it's the former what sort of things are they eating? Just so we can suggest some cheaper alternatives.

Feel your pain with the uniform. Thankfully my eldest is now at college and can wear his own clothes. Youngest's school changed her uniform, £22 for a pair of trousers! Blazer was £25 only because of her size, next size up £32. She now has the least amount of uniform she's had since starting wearing it aged 3, purely because of the cost per item.

MERFE

Thanks spendless, we do have a slow cooker, I do try to make use of it a couple of times a week. The kids mostly eat a ton of fruit, been encouraging them to have carrots lately as well. They eat alot, they have big meals but they aren't big so can't be having too much. For example if youngest goes to breakfast club he will have breakfast and a piece of fruit before he goes then have another breakfast there. I think they eat more because there is more in, since I am trying to go shopping less often I buy more so they eat more and end up having to go shopping again. Still spent more than I wanted this month on food but was £450 so not as bad as Sept.

Uniforms crazy, DD doesn't have the skirt because when they changed they said it would be either a grey skirt or the tartan uniform one then when it came out they said it's only a tartan one. The tartan one is £26 so she wears grey trousers because it's overpriced. Youngest school now looking to change their uniform, he has enough to last till he leaves with having his brothers and sisters old jumpers and polo shirts, would just need to get him new trousers as he outgrows his, so frustrating, hopefully they don't change it.

I've managed to get the kids Christmas presents and youngest birthday presents in sales so got extra in the Christmas savings account. Will probably just keep that saved for next year, middle one needs a new bike still so may need a bit extra for him. Getting everyones passports renewed as well. Not planning to go anywhere yet but would be nice to have one proper family holiday before the kids are too old.