How do you get balance?

StayPositive_2

Hi. I'm new to this but wondered if anyone out there could help. Used the Budget Planner as we have about £6500 debt (£4000 connected to our offset mortgage the rest showing up as deficits in our current budget though not overdrawn as use 0% Credit Cards). This has accumalated from Double Glazing few years back, recent large electricals needing replacing (fridge, freezer, dishwasher this year alone), recent car repairs, Eurocamping in France 2 years in a row, and choosing to start having coffees out. Want to clear it as soon as possible but how do you budget? Hubby gets overtime which varies and there can be huge variances in his monthly wage, poor guy has to try and earn £950 a month gross overtime as the mo to break even on our current budget - and when the overtime isn't available for any reason (during company shut down twice a year + when he's on holiday) his basic money barely covers the mortgage and bills so ideally we'd want to put away for this and the large 'one-offs' that always seem to come up. But used the budget planner and budgeting for clearing the debt, 'shut downs' and large electricals we're left with no spending money and still in the red . Where can we make cuts? Don't smoke, only buy wine for xmas + anniversaries, have 4 kids (12, 13+1/2, 15 + neatly 17), total pocket money bill is £20mth (oldest doesn't get any), b'day present budget is £30 each, food £500mth....it all seems a little bleak. What has everyone else done to get balance?

Squirrel29

Your food bill seems very high, I know you have 4 kids but could this be cut back to say £350? Are you claiming all the tax credits etc you are entitled to? xxxx

StayPositive_2

oops -seem to have posted same thread twice! have just put SOA on other one where someone else mentioned the food bill and suggested I check out another thread which is when I found this duplicate! But thanks - am off to search for that thread again now