Missy’s Surviving the storm so we can dance in the rain.

Bluegreen143

Could you switch to doing a Sunday lunch every second week to save half the cost? 

Cheery_Daff

I use YNAB but wouldn't recommend it necessarily, it can be hard to get your head round to start with, and of course you have to pay for it now which isn't ideal when you're trying to save! 

One thing that might work longer term is trying to get into a position where you're spending last month's money, not this month's. It'll need saving up for a bit though, which is where everyone else's suggestions for food etc come in. The idea is that once you've saved, you transfer this month's money into the current account on the 1st - and then everything else you earn goes into a different account for spending NEXT month. 

That way you know how much you've got to spend each month. 

Would take a bit of working out to get off the starting blocks though.

jwil

We have a separate account for all the bills (excluding food and petrol).  On payday I transfer over the money we need for that, and then ignore it all month.  I don't carry a debit card for the account so can't access the money out and about. All the bills are DD so come out automatically.  We split the grocery bill roughly 50:50 each week.  We fill our own cars as and when needed.

All good suggestions for lunches, another option is to cook extra the night before and take leftovers.  If you really want to do the sunday lunches sometimes, then getting the planning sorted in the week so you aren't buying lunches and dinners on the go will really help with the budgeting.

missymoo81

Thank you @Cheery_Daff and @jwil I really appreciate the suggestions. I do have lots of accounts these are my ‘pots’. I would transfer everything over but it’s all so bitty. I like the idea of spending last months money.
i wonder if I could make that happen. I could def transfer things to different accounts too. I have bank cards for my ‘pots’ I could have a spends one and a shopping one. I have one where the money I owe gets paid to and I transfer straight to OHs account for the mortgage etc. It’s then just the dds from the main account. There must be a way to make it happen…. I will think more on this.

ex has got covid so I now have the children. Which is wonderful but cue me getting no sleep for a while. I’m also working all weekend and all tomorrow evening. I’m just going to have to take them with me. There’s not much else I can do! Hoping food will last the week as wasn’t anticipating them being with me all week either! 

I went shopping but spent the cash I had in my bag but also got step mother a Mother’s Day card and flowers. As had to pop to my dads. So ended up costing me £10 from bank as well. But because it was a small top up shop, next week will be a lot more expansive. Will try and stick to my £40 still. Will put it in Tesco now and see how I go.

Something has at least sunk in today. got back from dads super late for dinner and would have just said let’s get takeaway. But because of my earlier findings. I defrosted some chicken and made a chicken curry. Small steps but a small win at least.

And thanks @bluegr@Bluegreen143 that might work. This weekend will be tricky as working all weekend but with it being Mother’s Day everything will be booked up anyway, but I really don’t want to be cooking a roast after such a long weekend On Mother’s Day too. Hmmm not sure. Might get some bbq food if the weather is good OH can then cook.

Thank you all so much again for reading and giving up your time to post. 

Bluegreen143

In the spring/summer you might not fancy a roast so much, could switch to doing a some barbecued chicken legs & sausages (or just do them in oven!) and salad and baked pots rather than a roast each week?

RelievedSheff

I think we are just a bit odd but even in the summer we still have a Sunday roast dinner 🤣🤣🤣

missymoo81

I used to do that @RelievedSheff I think that’s why I’m so adverse to them now. Ex used to require one every Sunday and I got soooo tired of making them for 2-3 hours and it only taking 2 mins to eat! 

How is everyone today, such a beautiful day again.

RelievedSheff

missymoo81 said:

I used to do that @RelievedSheff I think that’s why I’m so adverse to them now. Ex used to require one every Sunday and I got soooo tired of making them for 2-3 hours and it only taking 2 mins to eat! 

How is everyone today, such a beautiful day again.

2-3 hours?

Mind you we are usually sat having a drink or two in the kitchen while I am cooking ours so time flies by. Never feels like it takes that long to cook!!

missymoo81

RelievedSheff said:

missymoo81 said:

I used to do that @RelievedSheff I think that’s why I’m so adverse to them now. Ex used to require one every Sunday and I got soooo tired of making them for 2-3 hours and it only taking 2 mins to eat! 

How is everyone today, such a beautiful day again.

2-3 hours?

Mind you we are usually sat having a drink or two in the kitchen while I am cooking ours so time flies by. Never feels like it takes that long to cook!!

Ex wanted a full roast, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire’s, roast potatoes, stuffing etc etc. I had no help Either so it took rather a long time and the mess after was super annoying to clean up too! 

CRANKY40

Buying the things for a quick roast would be cheaper. Aunt B's do some very convenient things. There are also meat "joints" in foil trays that take an hour or so to cook. Ready made yorkies are also a thing. If you're going on the T***o app try putting all the things you'd need like roasties in a bag etc on and see what then price difference is?

As Cheery_Daff suggested I work a month ahead as my money comes in from different sources. I move the money that I need for the next month over to my current account on the last day of the current month.