How do you manage it?

dorry_2

I have saved loads of money over this year, just by not popping to the shops and I try to get money out of cash machine, at all costs, as soon as I have in my pocket, its gone :eek:

I do a meal plan, then order, everything that we need for the week online through tesco's. There are 3 of us, me, oh and ds2 (11) oh, and the dog. Our bill will come to about £60 a week, including everything, toietries, dog food, my packed lunches or 5 days and wine!!!

Every time you pop to the shops, there is a possibility that you will spend.:D

Primrose

£15 sounds rather expensive for a hair cut. I get mine done in a unisex place (mostly used by men) and they do a good trim and layering for £10. Do you have one nearby who you could try out? Also could your children take bottled water or a thermos flask when they go swimming? All these savings add up. Bulk batch cooking (cook one, and save one for the freezer) will also economise on energy.

purpleivy

:j both gas/electricity AND personal energy, i.e thinking what to have, shopping, making it and doing the clearing up afterwards!,

Primrose wrote: »

£15 sounds rather expensive for a hair cut. I get mine done in a unisex place (mostly used by men) and they do a good trim and layering for £10. Do you have one nearby who you could try out? Also could your children take bottled water or a thermos flask when they go swimming? All these savings add up. Bulk batch cooking (cook one, and save one for the freezer) will also economise on energy.

chocolate.orange_2

I now try to make sure the kids have sweets/snacks with them if going to the cinema or days out anywhere. Most places like they have a captive audience so to speak and their prices reflect this.

I have now started to make sure i have 2 days of dinners in the oven.I am menu planning and sticking to it maybe 5 days out of 7. My cupboards and freezers (2) are both full so i am eating us through them Each week to 10 days i have an online shop delivered for heavy things and my friend picks up any extra other bits i need through the week.

How about a hairdressing college for a cheaper cut ? I have found one near me thats great. Its a private college. Colour and cut and blow dry for £6

odds-n-sods

I think about your kids, just do a slightly blander meal, say spag bol. and add more spices etc. to your + your DH's plates.

Tell them that you can't afford to let them have different meals because if you do, you wont' be able to afford to do fun stuff with them, like swimming, as often.

get them involved with cooking as well - they are more likely to eat what they help cook.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

All good tips on here so thanks for starting the thread OP. I reckon its the time of year when a lot of people are revamping their finances so it will be useful to loads of lurkers too!

With regards to the children, I have always been of the school of thought that says 'eat it or leave it' and my kids tend to eat everything put in front of them now, there's a whole thread devoted to approaches to children at mealtimes but of course its an emotive issue and whats right for one family is not right for another so might be worth discussing together as a family what you all like to eat and do a menu plan accordingly.

Small steps at first as you don't want to put them off the MSE way of life!

Every day is a challenge and its excting to find new ways to save money. Good luck and I hope you save some!

angelavdavis

jojogirly wrote: »

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.

Truth is jojo - I manage probably because I don't have kids. I don't spend money barely at all, however that said:

- I've stopped buying sweets as a rule.
- Only make HM bread/rolls, etc now.
- Don't buy lottery tickets any more.
- Keep strictly to the Grocery challenge
- Have stacks of stamps because I didn't get round to sending any Xmas cards!
- Don't buy newspapers anymore

Boring? perhaps! I pay a fortune for my hair-do though (my big luxury)

jojogirly

Thank you all for your replies. Its useful to know that people dont spend money like I do, I have to admit that some weeks I spend £5 on lottery tickets and wouldnt think twice and yet most people on here dont spend any money at all on them. And the odd chocolate bar and McDonalds for the kids soon add up.

So like suggested I think it is going to be a gradual change. I am just off to look at the spending diary site - It sounds fab. Thanks again

phizzimum

Desperate_Housewife wrote: »

All good tips on here so thanks for starting the thread OP. I reckon its the time of year when a lot of people are revamping their finances so it will be useful to loads of lurkers too!

this lurker agrees!

another way to reduce cost of haircuts is to have a mobile hairdresser come to you, their overheads are so much less.

looby-loo_2

Hi
I thought just the same. When I get my Visa bill I can never believe it's right.

I have made a basic spreadsheet with a page for Jan - Dec.
It has a column for food, petrol, house, me, DH, kids, monthly bills and it calculates the daily, weekly and monthly totals. I'm new to spreadsheets with formula but it's been fun trying and it seem to work.

I don't have a clue how to put it on here

It'll be interesting to see where it all goes.

Good luck with whatever works for you

looby