Help please. outgoings huge

haras_nosirrah

how old are your kids. may be a good idea to involve them and teach them about finance if they are old enough. Maybe sit around the table with those who are old enough and say - this is the income and this is the outgoings - how can we make it fit and invite suggestions from them. I got a job at 13 to pay for my wants (parents covered the needs) - if they are old enough could they get a saturday job to cover their instrument lessons if they want them, buying presents for their friends parties etc.

bertiewhite

MoneyMission wrote: »

Not sure how old your kids are but our local squadron takes newbies from the beginning of the term in which they turn 12.

They've got to be 13, or 12 when starting year 8.

Oakdene

MoneyMission wrote: »

Oooh. Yes. Air Cadets are brilliant. Not sure how old your kids are but our local squadron takes newbies from the beginning of the term in which they turn 12. Or the Army Cadets. Or the Sea Cadets. All excellent options.

Army cadets is free, save for £1 a week for a drink & something to eat. My daughter goes on regular camp weekends & went away with the detachment for 2 weeks for Summer camp where they went to Belgium- which itself only cost £100. All kit is free.

Shashy

You sold your car but kept the coffee machine?!

zippygeorgeandben

bertiewhite wrote: »

That's reminded me - is there a local Air Cadet Squadron in your area?

For £10 per month they will not only teach your kids to play instruments but also to iron a shirt, fly a plane and get them involved in sport.

I would have loved something like this when I was a child. I still feel now as an adult that I don't have some basic skills I would have learnt at scouts/air cadets etc. not to mention being more outgoing and confident.
What great value for money and something I never knew existed.

bertiewhite

Oakdene wrote: »

Army cadets is free, save for £1 a week for a drink & something to eat.

I don't know how they pay for all the kit required for activities then - maybe they apply for grants or hold charity events?

zippygeorgeandben wrote: »

I still feel now as an adult that I don't have some basic skills I would have learnt at scouts/air cadets etc. not to mention being more outgoing and confident.

You can still join as an adult volunteer and learn!!

Oakdene

bertiewhite wrote: »

I don't know how they pay for all the kit required for activities then - maybe they apply for grants or hold charity events?

Possibly, I think each detachment gets a grant from the Army itself to help.

CouponClipper

OP

I've been following since you posted and am still none the wiser about whether you're taking on the advice that's been given about planning. You haven't said how much you need the car but with a large family and pets I imagine it's less of a luxury more of a necessity.

Why then have you now got rid of the car but not taken advice on Xmas/Birthday and other costs that many have rightly pointed out and are luxury's. Your food bill is horrendous! From your post it appears you saw the short term gains from ditching the car rather than the longer term problems it may cause - I hope I'm wrong on this and you have actually thought it through.

I think you need to follow the advice that others have said and actually fill out an SOA and work out where your money is disappearing to. God forbid you couldn't work anymore, it would appear your family would be in some serious trouble financially.

CC

LJB290

Wow - I have never seen such scathing remarks on this forum before.

The poster said that the coffee machine is in CONTRACT and therefore currently not something that can be given up. I have no doubt it will go when the time is up.

There are areas that can be cut back on - these have been stated and now its the family's decision as to whether they take on board the advice and guidance given.
It is entirely their own decision and its no one else's business how they make adjustments.

I am disappointed in the support and understanding offered.

Ilona

LJB290 wrote: »

Wow - I have never seen such scathing remarks on this forum before.

There are areas that can be cut back on - these have been stated and now its the family's decision as to whether they take on board the advice and guidance given.
It is entirely their own decision and its no one else's business how they make adjustments.

I am disappointed in the support and understanding offered.

I don't see any scathing remarks. I see people trying to help by offering ideas of where the OP might make adjustments to their spending to free up some money to pay towards their debts. He asked for help, and invited anyone to pull his outgoings apart and give any advice. This is what has happened.

However, his outgoings do not give the full picture, there isn't enough information there to advise on. He seems reluctant to do a full SOA.

The OP was in a similar situation a year ago, after his first post he didn't return to acknowledge any replies.

Yes it's true that it's the family's decision whether they follow up any suggestions, but I am disappointed that the OP has failed to acknowledge that any of it has been helpful. We offer advice in the hope that it will help the OP, it would be nice to know if any of it has made any difference.

Ilona