SOA How do you reduce this?

redpete

Lottery £12 you never know - and you're very unlikely ever to know (what it's like to win a large amount of money). Stop this and it pays for the TV every month.

The rest goes on ... Schooltrips (how do you tell a 12yr old he can't go the France - you don't, - well, you can, even a 12-yo can understand the cost and value of things.

deliciosa

SAV3R wrote: »

Hi Deliciosa

thanks for your comments

I have increased my work from 3 days x5hrs to 5 days x5hrs recently. I have to work around school hours for my youngest son, during the holidays I still do 3 days due to childcare costs.

Hubbie is reluctant to let 2nd car go, he is within walking distance of work but does sometimes run errands at lunchtime / after work.

Car Loan has approx 2 1/2 yrs to go

Would consider no BT but the reception in our home for mobiles can often be dodgy.

I am trying to do menu plans to reduce the shopping, only started 2 shops ago.

Need to think carefully what can go, seems like I make too many excuses, I know.

Noo, you're doing very well! We all have excuses here, gosh, we LIVE on excuses, that's why most uof us are in debt! So don't worry, tackle one at a time!

If BT has to stay milk it. If nothing else, just get people to call you back on THAT and not on the mobile, that way you are at least saving money for someone else

Can't hubby run errands with your car... I really don't see the need for two cars, if, as you say, his work is within walking distance... Why don't you grab a calculator and try figuring out how much money you would save by selling and not paying on the other car, and then maybe add up how many beers it would (theoretically) buy for hubby and stick it under his nose - this trick is KNOWN to be working!!!! :rotfl:

If you have access to credit and could get a 0% card, why dont you try and shift car loan on it. At least you wouldn't be paying interest...

x x x good luck, please write down what else you spend on (haircuts, every little thing! etc)

deliciosa

ps. you are right, you dont need to cut back on school trips for your 12yo, if you carefully cut back somewhere else - why drag kids into the money problem if it's not necessary

SAV3R

Will definately look into moving current loans for car and laptop.

Didn't know it was possible to cancel aftercare on laptop, I do feel, with hindsight, this is a waste of money. Felt pressured into having it, you are advised so may things can go wrong etc etc..

I'm glad you agree Deliciosa re. the school trip. This is an opportunity for my son that I will never give him. I am afraid to travel abroad.

SAV3R

As requested other Extra spends are as follows;

Clothes / Shoes - £2000 spent overall last year, this included an outfit for a family wedding and suit for hubbie, usually shop at Matalan for kids, yes I have noted this is a lot and have started the restraining.

Gifts - £1450 this is again the total for the year, for birthdays and Xmas. No parties this year, just a friend for T.

Holiday - £1000 this includes £550 for hire of static caravan in Cornwall, petrol, food, etc. We do not seem to spend the quality time with the kids at home and feel we get a lot out of our holidays.

Books / Magazines £190 over yr, we all enjoy reading, I now buy from charity shops where possible and swap with friends.

Kids toys / pocket money - £400 over yr, This does include a trampoline, a good buy as they now spend more time outdoors. I do reward them somtimes when doing chores.

Haircuts - this does need attention, I currently pay £70 to have my hair cut and coloured every 4/5 months. I am considering going back to original colour.

I can identify where I overspend a lot of the time, I just find it hard to stop. LOL

tyllwyd

You've listed 'boys life insurance' - is that really what you mean, that it is just life insurance, or is it some kind of a savings plan?

SAV3R

It is a small life assurance on myself / my husband - the boys get a lump sum paid, plus bonuses when they are 16. I think it is a bit like an endowment. My parents did them when we were kids.

deliciosa

SAV3R wrote: »

As requested other Extra spends are as follows;

Clothes / Shoes - £2000 spent overall last year, this included an outfit for a family wedding and suit for hubbie, usually shop at Matalan for kids, yes I have noted this is a lot and have started the restraining.

Gifts - £1450 this is again the total for the year, for birthdays and Xmas. No parties this year, just a friend for T.

Holiday - £1000 this includes £550 for hire of static caravan in Cornwall, petrol, food, etc. We do not seem to spend the quality time with the kids at home and feel we get a lot out of our holidays.

Books / Magazines £190 over yr, we all enjoy reading, I now buy from charity shops where possible and swap with friends.

Kids toys / pocket money - £400 over yr, This does include a trampoline, a good buy as they now spend more time outdoors. I do reward them somtimes when doing chores.

Haircuts - this does need attention, I currently pay £70 to have my hair cut and coloured every 4/5 months. I am considering going back to original colour.

I can identify where I overspend a lot of the time, I just find it hard to stop. LOL

Books/Magazines: it's a lot, become a member in your local library - it means more books for less (no) money!!!! As for magazines, try to cut back on that, grab free ones or ones with loads of vouchers so that you milk them :cool:

Haircut: 70 per 4-5 months is not that bad, a girl's gotta look pretty. Have you considered goign to supercuts tho?
Gifts: may be able to cut back in there.

boredofbeingathome

redpete wrote: »

Lottery £12 you never know - and you're very unlikely ever to know (what it's like to win a large amount of money). Stop this and it pays for the TV every month.

The rest goes on ... Schooltrips (how do you tell a 12yr old he can't go the France - you don't, - well, you can, even a 12-yo can understand the cost and value of things.

I was wondering about the trip part.now in my childs high school, they were booked on an exchange to france our circumstances changed and we couldn't afford it. I rung the school after much searching of soul and told them, they were great and offered to pay remainder out of funds which had been raised. It felt like we were accepting charity at first but i have always been active in fundraising and so in that way we have contributed to the trip. No-one else knew in the school other than the office- so it could be worth being honest with them and seeing if the school would have funds to cover it.

SAV3R

Hello again :j :j

I thought I'd come back and thank you all for the ideas you gave me a few weeks ago. :T

I have renewed my car ins, checked the policy and taken off the breakdown cover, paid in full to reduce the credit charge. Saving approx £110:T


In process of renewing house ins, shopped around, same cover, paid in full to reduce credit charge. Total saving £150 approx:T


We have also rang about the outstanding debt on the laptop. If we cancel the insurance we will save £124, plus if we pay off in full we will save £121 = £245 total. OH just received offer on current credit card, which we had stopped using for 0% 6 months so I think we will use this.:T


During the last few weeks I have been reading the OS board, I have started menu planning, and am spending less on the food. It is strange, when out shopping I keep asking myself "do I need it, can I live without it? etc". It has enabled me to pay these insurances in full and the bill for my car service. It proves it works.