How do you manage it?

jojogirly

I always wonder - How do other people manage. My hubby is on a relatively good wage for the area and yet we still struggle.

I must spend about £120-£140 feeding us all weekly and there is only 4 of us. Just taking the last two days as an example - I know its not all on food but money just seems to evaporate. I took £40 out the bank, spent £6 on a swimming costume for my daughter swimming lessons, £2 for her to go to Brownies, £15 getting my hair cut, £4.80 at the butcher, £1.80 at the bakery, £5.80 (2 lottery tickets, pack of jelly beans for hubby, pasta, paper for the holiday voucher, an onion) at the Spar, Gave my daughter £1 for a drink, and locker money for swimming pool, and £1.90 on stamps. And its gone.

Does everyone else watch every penny? Am I just not being careful enough? Your thoughts appreciated.

purpleivy

I tried to avoid EVER buying snacks and drinks for the machines at the swimming pool. Wouldn't get dh jelly beans or lottery either.... but I do know what you mean about the ££ just slipping away! £6 sounds good for a cozzie

odds-n-sods

First off, dont' beat yourself up!

Next, get a notebook and write down everything, absolutely everything you buy for a month, a week, whatever. Then you'll see where your money is going and where you can cut back.

Another thing you can do is make up a menu plan, again 1 week at a time is a good start. Then only buy what you need to make those dinners.

Others do what works for them; some dont' menu plan until they get to the store and see what is on special.

Lots of people on here don't buy lottery tickets, or have extra treats for the kids unless it is homemade. Making your own popcorn is cheaper than buying crisps!

Others will have more and better tips, i just lurk here, mostly!

purpleivy

I buy postage stamps 100 at a time which means I never have to go out specially (saves effort and or money), also they have always gone up in price before I finish them (saving money)

odds-n-sods

You could also look at Penny-pincher's weekly meal-planning thread - she is really good at meal-planning on a budget.

Edit: Found it here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=667767

purpleivy

I'm trying, like dd to shop from what I've got, rather than make a meal plan and then hit the shops. THis is still the first week.... and I did get some special offers..... but I'm still trying to run with this concept. I haven't kept track of food spends since dd was about 3 (and she's now 17!). I figure I should know how much I spend on food by the time she goes to uni!

taplady

Make a list of what you've got in your cupboards then plan a menu from that and only buy what you need to make enough meals for the week plus lunches etc. Make a shopping list and stick to it. Thats what i try to do. I spend about £60 a week for 3 adults plus one extra at weekends. That could be a lot lower if I tried harder!;)
I am starting to use the online spending diary to keep track of where it all goes and it is excellent!:T

www.spendingdiary.com

I went shopping today and it is really hard to just stick to the list but I'm getting better!:D

sammy_kaye18

Hi Jojogirl

Firstly Like other have said dont beat yourself up about it.

Secondly, Make a list of your cupboards/fridge/freezer inventory and work round them - you'll be surprised what you find lurking in there.

Thirdly , with the ingredients you have make a rough meal plan - even if you swap days around once its written try adn stick to it as best you can.

Fourthly, do you always give your daughter money for a drink (presuming this is after swimming and not a one off in the shop) would it not save you money to go to poundland/wilkinsons for example and buy a sports bottle and allow her to fill it with water/juice form home. Or make her some homemade treats that she can nibble AFTER swimming rather than going to a vending machine every time???

Fifthly, how about making your own bread - would save money at the bakery, plus you could put the £1.80 aside and save up for the trip to the hairdressers form that - or have a look on your local freecycle for a breadmaker going - the flour and yeast cost little over a pound if your not fussy on ingredients - there are lots of variations and you have nice fresh bread whenever you need it

Sixthly, I wouldnt bother with the lottery either. Its kind of pointless and the chances of winning are very very slim so your effectively throwing money away.

Also jsut want to quickly add that are you buying alot of treats/snacks that you could possibly make at home into your weekly shop??? £120 a week seemed like a fair bit to me,( we are family of two adults, one three year old, one jack russell and three terrapins and we spend about £120 max a month on food and household stuff)

D&DD

Some great really helpful ideas already on here and I must say how much the spending diary helped me out..
It was the first thing I did when I joined here and it really opens your eyes to just where the money goes..:D

moanymoany

Ah Jojogirly, I remember the days when I lived like that - alas all are gone, gone away! We learned that our mortgage wasn't going to be paid by the endowments. Wake up call, LBM, call it what you will, that was it.

We decided to pay the extra £500 a month our deal allowed us - and live off what was left. That is when we found this site and I found the os threads. It wasn't easy, but we were only 2 with no pesterpower.

Now, £250 goes into a Tesco clubcard plus account - double points - and we use that for all our non essential spending. It includes food, petrol and pocket money. We also save at least £50 of it for those unforseen events.

I have completely changed what we eat. It was done slowly but it has been very successful. I got my inspiration and knowledge from this site. My DH tells me that we eat like kings - and for so little! Bless!

As an example I will give a couple of weeks of my January meal plan.

9) Mock Goose

10) Frozen Quiche

11) Frittata

12) Pizza – frozen base

13) Workman’s Goose – breast of lamb

14) Frozen Quiche

15) Dhal Curry and bulgar wheat

16) Homity Pie – frozen pastry

17) Frittata

18) Bacon and Pasta Bake

I collect frugal recipes. It is amazing how many people are turning to frugality as a way of life as a response to what they see as a great money wasting way of life. There is so much help here and out on the web. All pastry and bread is home made.

It's not easy, but it's worth it. You benefit as a family and give such good lessons to your children. Good Luck!!!!!! :j

honeybe21

could you try to find a cheaper hairdressers?that could save a few pennies also