Family of 4, paying back £50k in 4 years whilst trying to live eco friendly

jwil

db2016 wrote: »

read through to date,

good luck on journey, with debt etc.

can't say im one for doing much past putting things in recycling, as cash is king for me, and being "eco" usually involves extra expense (of course if there were 2 choices one eco and one not and the same price then eco would win, but at the mo, cash money is the focus).

subb'ed

One of the biggest things we can all do to be eco is just consume less. That is moneysaving. Tinkering with packaging etc is fine, but it's not what's going to have the biggest impact.

Buying less, wasting less, reusing and repairing, taking fewer car journeys, putting a jumper on instead of turning the heating up - all these things save money and have a much bigger impact.

Food waste and textiles are two of the biggest contributors to climate change and environmental issues. Far more than plastic. If we buy fewer clothes, use them for longer (buy them second hand if possible or at least pass them on when you don't want them any more), and waste less food, these will have much bigger impacts.

missymoo81

Ok, so quite a lot of time has passed. I am still trying to be on my eco friendly journey but money is so tight, so I am trying to do what I can whilst trying to save money.

Cat food is now in tins. I recycle as much as I can. I am still using washing powder and fabric conditioner but a lot less and recycle the packaging. I’m packing Roo’s packed lunch in baking paper as I have loads and it can be recycled, rather than clingfilm. I’m trying to buy fruit and veg out of packets as usually the same price anyway. Toilet roll I’m buying the cheapest from China, as after research the mammoth amount that is shipped etc carbon footprint seems to be less.

So this last month has really hit hard with Christmas and everything. As I’m sure it has to most people. But I have realised just how much we are spending.
So I have come up with ways to save. The money we spend on food is an astronomical amount. Hundreds of £s. I’ve worked out with much researching and planning. I can feed us all on £50 a week. Eating very much the same as we do now! So that’s what I’m going to try and do. We have been nipping into the coop often. Which is a huge mistake as we go in for one thing, come out with 6 and it’s cost £25! I need to menu plan and stick to it. I also need to shop in both Lidl and Tesco and do my shop weekly and compare prices.

Other ways I’m saving are:

Not buying OH a sandwich meal deal on tue and wed, as he works the late shift and doesn’t get time to eat hot food, I will be sending him with a packed lunch. The same with the littlies. I work until 1730 on a weds and need to get them changed and ready for beavers by 6, so I end up buying them a meal deal as no time to go home. That’s a saving of £15 a week.

When I take May dancing on a Saturday, I buy a coffee and both smalls some sweets there, equating to around £2.50. So not a huge amount but it all adds up. Instead I took some sweets from home and made a coffee in my to go cup and that was fine.

I need to plan my petrol buying better. It’s sooo much cheaper at Tesco but we have a shell garage around the corner and I run it until empty then have to keep topping up with £10 and £5 at the shell garage. I’m also trying to drive more fuel efficiently.

Not buying clothes for the sake of it! I’m really bad for this. As I spend all of my working days in leggings I think it’s ok to buy them all the time oh and the matching top etc. Well G&mshark has had enough of my money. And I have stopped myself from buying stuff at least 4 times this month!

Not very environmentally friendly but it’s just until they are long enough to not look disgusting. I was treating myself to getting my nails done but having it done every two weeks but taking them off each time so it was £30 for a brand new Set. I’m making this set last a month and will only have infills at £25 so instead of £60 a month it’s £25 and they should be fine after 3 lots to just leave. I know this is a MAJOR indulgence. But I don’t smoke or drink and will be the first thing to go if things get super tight.

I’m not buying books! And I joined the library last year but always took the books back late. That is NOT happening anymore! Else I might as well have just bought them!

Actually getting the clothes out of the washing machine once they’ve been washed rather than leaving them to go all foisty then having to washing them again (and again).
I’ve also got an OCD with clothes smelling nice and realised I was using at least 8 times the amount of fabric conditioner that’s recommended.......... so I have cut that in half. That’s all I’m able to do but I see that as a compromise.

The most amount of money can be saved on the food shop. I think we average at least £500 per month. Which is absolutely ludicrous, no wonder I never have enough money left to pay off the amount I need to on my CC at the end of the month! I want to at least half that.

So yesterday I spent hours trawling through Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets online. I had a £12 off a £60 spend for Sainsbury’s. But I usually shop at Lidl which is much cheaper so I didn’t want to just use it for the sake of it and it still cost more.
So I menu planned and strategically shopped and managed to actually shop well. So managed to get the shopping for £49.16 and I spent another £20 in Tesco but this was on 2-3 weeks worth of cat food along with fabric conditioner and razors and plug Hole unblocker. Not ordinary purchases. So I still have £130 for the next 3 weeks. This can be done!!!!

Meal plan this week is:
Sausage and mash
Spaghetti bolognese
Pasta bolognese
Chicken stew x 2 nights
Fajitas

We’ll have either toast or porridge and bananas for breakfast. Sandwiches or beans/eggs on toast for lunch. With fruit and home made cakes as snacks.

If I think of anymore things I’m doing to save money I’ll let you know! Thanks for reading my ramblings!

missymoo81

Ok so today. Apart from trying to deal with this horrendous sinus infection I need to pack Roos case for his residential tomorrow. I should have done it yesterday but felt so poorly. Need to find the kit list..... I think we’ve got everything. Maybe! Might be a quick dash to Primark for a hoody and a pair of jogging pants. But don’t really want to have to buy anything! Littlies have had bran flakes for breakfast and I’ve made Roo his packed lunch, (May still gets free school meals).
I need to go to the library to take the books back today to not get fined! Also it’s homework day so I need to help Roo with that. I’ve got washing to do. But I’m hoping for a no spend day, fingers crossed I don’t have to go to Primark. Ah just remembered I need petrol..... so no not a NSD. I will go to Tesco and get it though. But I will not buy a costa from the garage no matter how much I want it!
I had a look at my credit score last night. It’s good but not amazing. Really need to work on it.

Suffolk_lass

Well done missymoo81 - for getting back on it and doing so much analysis ahead of conscious spending. It is definitely unconscious spending that causes the problems over here!

Nonnadiluca

Can you renew your library books online? It saves getting a fine and you don't have to go out.

missymoo81

Nonnadiluca wrote: »

Can you renew your library books online? It saves getting a fine and you don't have to go out.

Hey!! Thanks for popping by. I have never done that before I will have to have a look. As as it stands I do actually need to go to Primark after school!!! Some of Roos stuff is at his dads house so I’m a hoody, a fleece and 2 pairs of joggers short!!!!!!! Can do without having to get these! Have set a budget of £15 am hoping that will be enough. Have tried FB etc but no one is selling any locally. The question is do I go to Primark and spend on parking or go to matalan where there is free parking..... which would be cheaper..... or I could go to Tesco/Sainsbury’s and save all of the time and faff but spend more but still get to the library.... it’s a hard call.

missymoo81

In other news. I have managed to cancel a DD for £10 which was for some eating plan that I never used. I need to find my UTR as the accountant has done my books (I’m self employed) and said I am due a small tax refund (probably be about £10) but she can’t file anything until I have the number!! So I will be spending tonight finding it! I will also be spending all evening packing for Roo. OH is in an awful mood as first day back after 2.5 weeks off through illness. He knows things won’t have been done how he likes them and it won’t be as clean as he likes. He won’t be home until at least 1130pm and he’ll be awful company. But I will be the dutiful wife and stay up and make him stew and dumplings. Have sent him off with his packed lunch. Not sure how happy he was about it.

Just thought I’d other ways I’m trying to save. Actually turning the lights off that aren’t being used! I turned off 4 before I left the house for the school run this morning, and the tv has been left on! Also I remembered to take my own bags shopping yesterday. So better for the environment and saved me 80p (it all adds up).
I went and got petrol from Tesco this morning but it took me ten minutes out of my way. So I need to be more organised and get petrol on a Monday when I go shopping as I’m there anyway and no special trips. And that way I can’t be lazy and just call into the expensive Shell Garage. I’ve figured out saving money is a huge lesson in organisation, Which I never realised before! I will get this!

Just going to drink my coffee then get off to do the school run. Thanks so much for popping by.

Eyebright

Found you Missymoo!
Sounds like you've got a plan for getting things sorted to stick to your budget so you can pay off your debts!

I'll follow along and keep you company. Hope Roo enjoys his residential and you don't miss him too much.

EB xx

missymoo81

Thanks for popping over Eyebright. Ok. So I went to Tesco in the end as couldn’t cope with Primark in the city, but managed to get a top and trousers for £12 had to get a few bits of shopping for work but I’ll get that £3 back I also bought OH a box of cherry bakewells to cheer him up. Not in the budget but in the old days I would have gone and got him one from costa at £2. But this way I got 6 for £1. I managed to get to the library and change books on time for the first time ever. Then realised I have 3 at home I’d forgotten. But I was very good and have just downloaded the app and renewed them! I also managed to find my UTR! I’ve packed all of Roo’s case although I still think he may be short of a top and bottom if he has to change his clothes more than once a day. He has spares but not spares for every day but it’s not supposed to rain and 4 sets of clothes for 3 days and 2 nights I think is enough!

Littlies had baked potatoes with cheese and beans for dinner, and stew is currently in the slow cooker for me and OH. I’m sat on my pyjamas drinking tea and eating rich tea biscuits. I need a shower but I’ll have one in a bit. I’m watching midsomer murders.

I’ve been looking at my wages and trying to break them down as to what is going out. It’s very tricky as I’m self employed and don’t always get the same amount and I can’t predict it and it’s changed a lot recently. I get maintenance money for the children which is always the same though. OH has said the business will pay for my fuel so that’s good and OH tries to pay for the food shop. So all good but it’s been hard this month as he has a huge tax bill so I’ve been paying and it’s all dependant on whether I have his bank card or not! We have separate money as it works better. He often pays for after school club and dancing bless him. But I don’t want to assume that. But if so I will put the money I’ve budgeted aside for birthdays and Christmas.

So monthly outgoings

£775 rent and utilities (my half)
£38 sofa
£15 phone
£100 Barclays CC £400 left on this
£80 after school club
£20 littlies swimming
£10 Mays dancing
£100 incidentals (cinema for kids, school trips, extras much like the clothes today)
£10 ITunes
£400 Loan CC payback
£120 Wages to work colleague
£100 Food etc (if OH doesn’t always pay)
£50 car insurance and service etc
£200 savings account (hopefully)

Now I have never split it down like this, not done the whole different pots for things like cars and savings so I think I will put the savings, car stuff, dancing and after school club money’s into a separate account I have that is unused and only use it should I need to. Hopefully this will work. It is really hard to not spend on the small stuff when I’m so used to doing it and get a lot of joy of getting things for OH or the smalls.

missymoo81

From reading the diaries on here I have been motivated to list 5 things on eBay. I’m hoping to make £50, 2 x brand new shoes and other shoes along with a jumper and earrings. So fingers crossed!