An oldie returns, circumstances are very different

kazwookie

You need figures £ for road tax, hair cuts, presents etc then adjust your SOA

Good luck

RhiBi

My road tax is £30 a year.  I need to start budgeting for those other things, that’s definitely where I’m going wrong!

kazwookie

Maybe go over bank / credit card statement for the last year and see what else you can find you spent money on, ie takeout food coffees, lottery, newspapers, magazines, going out money for your children and such like

RAS

I'd start by identifying some of the fixed items, Christmas, birthdays and car care come round every year and you need something for house maintenance. MoT plus a set of tyres - £500? or £60 per month. Same for the house? With 4 children, you'll be lucky if you're not spending the same on Christmas and birthdays, probably more. Do you ever eat out or go out for the day? How much is one meal as month? Holidays?

Get a standing order set up to pay that lot into a separate account at the beginning of the month. Be clear what it's covering, perhaps with a spreadsheet if you like them. 

And clothes; I assume you buy yours and the younger childrens?

Then take apart a month's bank and credit card statements to see how much s going on "latte habits" and what you are really spending on food and household stuff.

And even if your elder ones are at university, I assume you are subbing their living costs?