After Advice Please

ArtyJ931

you might want to move this thread to the main board rather than diaries as the most experienced commenters don’t often come to the diaries.

sheenas

there is no mention of transportation costs Unless I missed it. You could get rid of the cleaner and save £130.

joedenise

If your wife insists on having a cleaner then perhaps she should pay for it from her personal money rather than from the joint expenses.

itsthelittlethings

Maybe the wife insists on having a cleaner as she knows that otherwise she'll be doing all the cleaning!

Catscoffeecake

If a cleaner is important then it may be you need to cut back in other places. I think things like car costs should be saved for in a sinking fund not from personal spends. Then look at what you both need personal spends for to see if can be cut back.

How Much longer will they need swimming lessons for? How long have they been doing it? I wonder whether they have enough basic skills that you could instead practice as a family instead.

Do you actually have £300 leftover every month? Because I am going to guess probably not and if not you need to see where it's going.

I would suggest sitting down with your wife and fill in lemon fool statement of account. It will help you budget for things you haven't accounted for and see true picture of debt.

onarollsaver

the problem is my wife works 3 days a week tues wed and Fri and I work Monday to Friday - on the days we are both working we leave the house at 7.30am and don’t get back until 6pm so there is no way around this.

bazdvd

so your wife has 4 full days off a week and you get 2 days off. How do you think other couples manage?

If you are all out of the house it wont be getting dirty or untidy.

Are the kids not in a position to help with chores to earn their activities?

beanielou

The hard reality is though that you can’t afford it. It’s a luxury and not a need.

ellenvan

Was does your wife do on Monday and Thursday that means she can't do any housework then?

Cleaner an absolute luxury if you can't afford it.

x_raphael_xx

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033752#Comment_82033752

Me and my partner (and I assume the majority of the UK) work 40 hour weeks. And we all have to clean on our days off.
Draw up a rota, or share out the chores (I hate dishes but don't mind cleaning the loos etc etc). One throws the vacuum round while the other gets started on dinner.

A cleaner is definitely something you could do without. Pop that extra in the snowball calculator and you will be amazed at how much of a difference it makes