New member. Lots of Debt. Help please

Debtslayer

I think when you're budgeting taking out cash is best as long as you def spend it on the things you need food, fuel etc. It's too easy to spend on a card and buy other stuff.
What did your partner spend £15 on? Is he now on board with your budgeting?

EssexHebridean

Writing things down in a notebook is a good idea - why not find an unused A5 size notebook at home (or if you really don't have one, nip into Poundland where they do nifty divided ones for - yes, £1!) and make that your financial notebook? Then you can use it for to-do lists for the MSE stuff, a spending diary, shipping lists, meal plans - whatever is needed really!

If you've got solar panels installed and feeding back then you can definitely knock a lot off that figure you've got in the SOA!

barbiedoll

OP...a spending diary is a must. You won't believe how much cash you are wasting, every time you nip down to the shops. Even buying ice creams for you and your toddler, from the local shop, is so much more expensive than buying them in the supermarket any keeping them in the freezer.

Supermarket clothing was a weak spot of mine. I'd buy a t-shirt or top almost every week. When I sorted out my wardrobe, I had almost 30 t-shirts, some of which still had the tags on. And it's very easy to get carried away with baby clothes too. My son always had loads of stuff that he hardly ever wore.

Unless you have a specific bill to pay, don't draw out £100 at a time. We hardly ever have cash in the house, and I rarely have it in my purse. (we have got a couple of tenners stashed away in case of a takeaway emergency lol!)

It's just a case of changing your old habits, and writing everything down is a good start. Get OH on board, sometimes it needs spelling out....seeing figures in black and white can be very helpful.

enthusiasticsaver

A spending diary and a weekly cash budget is good for grocery shopping if you have a tendency to just constantly dash to the shop to pick up milk then pick up a few other bits as well. Meal planning and going shopping with a list is the way to go.

Lucy5781

sun_city_girl wrote: »

I use cloth sanitary products and a moon cup which saves money but then again thats probably cancelled out by buying contraception

Forgive me for noticing something slightly odd, but why are you paying for contraception? Sexual Health Clinics will always give you free condoms if you'd rather not use hormonal methods.

Either that or look for special offers, especially in Superdrug,try via Amazon for bulk buys or even try Poundland for brand names in older version packaging :cool:

Lxx

adindas

talktalk (phone and internet) £35.
Nowadays people do not actually need a home phone, if they ever used it. You could get TalkTalk Fiber Broadband for about £27. You could even cut it to £20 if you do not need a faster speed.

My phone is £27 his is about £35.
Is it a Handset, with call, text, mobile internet allowance ??
If you could terminate it buy a secondhand phone or good brand Chinese phone with PAYG sim card. You get a reasonably good allowance with three as low as £5.

Gym £21 a month me ?
This is a secondary need so Stop gym membership at all. Walk, Run or Cycle to work if it is doable. Alternatively just a have a small exercise by yourself in the nearest park. IF you have a dog you could do it while walking a dog.

sun_city_girl

Lucy5781 wrote: »

Forgive me for noticing something slightly odd, but why are you paying for contraception? Sexual Health Clinics will always give you free condoms if you'd rather not use hormonal methods.

Either that or look for special offers, especially in Superdrug,try via Amazon for bulk buys or even try Poundland for brand names in older version packaging :cool:

Lxx

We do actually alternate and use pasante condoms (I've always worked places that have free condoms so usually pick up a load) but we both refer Mates that aren't rubbery at all - I usually only buy them on offer but do like to have some in our stash!!

sun_city_girl

barbiedoll wrote: »

OP...a spending diary is a must. You won't believe how much cash you are wasting, every time you nip down to the shops. Even buying ice creams for you and your toddler, from the local shop, is so much more expensive than buying them in the supermarket any keeping them in the freezer.

Supermarket clothing was a weak spot of mine. I'd buy a t-shirt or top almost every week. When I sorted out my wardrobe, I had almost 30 t-shirts, some of which still had the tags on. And it's very easy to get carried away with baby clothes too. My son always had loads of stuff that he hardly ever wore.

Unless you have a specific bill to pay, don't draw out £100 at a time. We hardly ever have cash in the house, and I rarely have it in my purse. (we have got a couple of tenners stashed away in case of a takeaway emergency lol!)

It's just a case of changing your old habits, and writing everything down is a good start. Get OH on board, sometimes it needs spelling out....seeing figures in black and white can be very helpful.

Yes I am bad at buying supermarket clothes for me or toddler! I always get lured to the clothes and home section :-(

EssexHebridean

adindas wrote: »

talktalk (phone and internet) £35.
Nowadays people do not actually need a home phone, if they ever used it. You could get TalkTalk Fiber Broadband for about £27. You could even cut it to £20 if you do not need a faster speed.

My phone is £27 his is about £35.
Is it a Handset, with call, text, mobile internet allowance ??
If you could terminate it buy a secondhand phone or good brand Chinese phone with PAYG sim card. You get a reasonably good allowance with three as low as £5.

Gym £21 a month me ?
This is a secondary need so Stop gym membership at all. Walk, Run or Cycle to work if it is doable. Alternatively just a have a small exercise by yourself in the nearest park. IF you have a dog you could do it while walking a dog.

This is ONLY true where you have absolute cast-iron certainty that your mobile signal is absolutely rock solid - particularly in the household with small children. In spite of not having kids, we retain our landline as our mobile signal at home is flaky at best - the thought of trying to call 999 in an emergency and being unable to do so makes the cost of the landline well worth it!

macman

No landline means no ADSL or FTTC broadband...the bulk of the phone cost is line rental. The only saving you can make is to drop any non-inclusive call packages.