I want to stop drowning

debtaghh

That's what I think it's called. I'll get dh to look into it straight away, thanks so much.

debtaghh

Just been thinking about what can I do to help our situation and the one thing I need to do to is cash the money for the food shop as this is what I seem to spend far too much money on. In reality I shouldn't be spending more than £280 a month... not sure if that's doable for a family of 5 to include toiletries etc

enthusiasticsaver

I think what helps most of us keep on top of the food budget is to cut down on top up shops. One main shop a week with meal plan and maybe one top up for fresh stuff midway through the week and just pick up say bread and milk. Keeping snacks to a minimum too seems to help and maybe stop the kids from just helping themselves.

Storm89

You don't really need to do any top ups. Buy enough bread for the week , keep one loaf out then freeze the rest until you need it. Same with milk really just buy what you need for the week. Meal planning is fabulous too. I don't buy snacks but bake a lot. I buy a lot of crisps and lollies etc but my budget isn't quite as tight. Toiletries I buy Aldis cheapest toilet roll the one that looks like it's paper thin and honestly it's fine. I also buy the cheapest bread, it's about 40p a loaf lol.

debtaghh

Hi all,

I've been trying to budget but finding it hard with all this move business. Lots of money is going to be leaving my account in the next couple of weeks which is going to be hard and it's going to leave us with hardly any money. I'm already stressing about getting Xmas spending money together as I just know especially in the new house that we won't be able to save. I'm going to def start cashing out my food shop money as I think I'll monitor it more.

motivated

Hi debtaghhh

I second what storm said about Aldi toilet rolls. They actually seem to last longer in our house than the brand name ones. Morrisons cheapest ones are also good. Very thick rolls and last a lot longer.

Hope your not stressing too much about the overall debt. Easier said than done I know but keep going you will win this battle
M

debtaghh

I buy and love the Aldi toilet paper too, just need to train my lot not to go through so many roles!

enthusiasticsaver

Xmas is not a time to be stressing about money. I am not sure how much you spend on your children but agree between DH and yourself that you wont buy for each other. I think you have already agreed with family you wont buy for them so theoretically you should just have three presents for your children and maybe a stocking with a few inexpensive fillers for each of them. A Christmas dinner and you are sorted. It can be done on a budget if you don't spend on all the stuff like Christmas pantomimes, expensive gifts and crazy food and drink spending and buying presents for every Tom, !!!! and Harry. You have six months to save and hopefully with your new job this will help.

I have noticed on a few diaries people talking about putting Christmas on credit cards this month and I do not really understand that at all especially as it is only June. If you cannot afford to spend £500 or £1000 on Christmas do not do it. Two of your children at least wont care how much you spend and the older one has to understand restrained finances. Set up a small pot and put any spare savings in it but perhaps aim for £50 a month as presumably you have saved nothing so far. Every time you save on food money or sell something put it aside. From the sound of it even finding rent is a stretch so worrying about finding money for Christmas is way down the list in priority. Have you decided against a DMP?

enthusiasticsaver

Can you do the move yourself by renting a van for the day and roping in family to help? That should save on moving costs. Hopefully you will get all your deposit back although I think you said your dad has lent you deposit for the new place so presumably that will go to him.

enthusiasticsaver

Have you actually found a house yet or are you moving in with relatives initially? Presumably that may mean you can use your deposit from the old place as the deposit for the new one.