SOA help

FBaby

How old are your children? I agree with the above posts, I find it amazing you have so little child related costs. I only have two and it seems that I have to pay for things for them all the time. When they were little it was presents when they were invited to birthday parties, birthday parties for them, trips for week-ends, about three activities a week and then all the kit then needed for it, then paying for the shows etc...

Now they are teenagers it's mobile phones, transport costs, pocket money, and the unlimited things that they need for school and activities. Then there is them going through their growth spurs and needing adult sizes, so no more cheap clothes on sale at Tesco!

I would say that I spend at least £100 on them for all the extras (just today, had to buy a new swimming suit and goggles for DD and new football trainers for DS who has yet gone up another shoe size. I also had to order GCSE practice books, for DD and give DS £4 to book a tennis court as he wanted to play after school).

Angela84

My children are 10, 5, 3, 1 and 0. Water is low I suppose, we don't have a shower just a bath and I chuck them all in the same water, meany mum!
We have very few birthday invites, and I try to regift often, any unwanted presents go in a box to be dished back out.
My ex husband pays my mobile still, he works for the mobile company and gets a good discount so seems silly to transfer to my name and lose that.
All their clothes are hand me downs, I can't remember the last time I was in a clothes shop!
Diary started today! Popping to the shop for butter and ending up buying a fizzy drink is the kind of thing I need to stop for health and money reasons!
Honestly though guys, I really appreciate the positivity and am feeling very motivated to succeed! Those overdrafts I've been dragging around for over 10yrs!

QueenBeruthiel

No childcare costs? Nursery? Childminder?

enjoyyourshoes

Meal plan for the week, do inventory of for in the house, then do the shopping list. Have a running shopping list on kitchen wall when you run out of something. Only buy whats on list.

On shopping day, do the cooking for the week. Freeze sandwiches for the week as saves money and time. Freeze main courses for the week as same reason. Can benefit from buying in bulk (if shopping list allows)

Compare your weekly shopping till receipt with alternative supermarkets via their on line websites. This will then determine a 'preferable' supermarket.

AnotherJoe

Natwest........................3482......100...... .17
Barclaycard....................2214......50....... .17
Lloyds.........................1558......50....... .0
rbs od.........................1250......0.........16
natwest od.....................1600......0.........16
Total unsecured debts..........10104.....200.......-

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I'd focus on the debts above to get rid.
Start with the OD's (lowest one first) as there are probably monthly charges on those.
Then pick the lowest debt and put spare money to pay that off, then when thats done, the next lowest one and so on.

mumtoomany

Are you entitled to any tax credits now you are on your own? Might be worth checking. Good luck, m2m.