Need to Cut Costs Drastically

moggins

The month of August is turning into a disaster for me financially and I need to scrape some money back from somewhere. I've had to pay for DS's things to go away to Scout camp, for his bike to be repaired and for a new cycle helmet thanks to dh locking the old one in the shed. I've had to buy a new computer (which I luckily got for £45) and books I needed for my coursework which cost £67 yesterday because I found I couldn't get them from the Library.

On top of all this DH is due to go away for the weekend at the end of August and will need about £500.

I've already used all my personal spending money and a little over on the pc and books. The children want to go to the carnival and fair and seem to think I can magic the money from thin air.

I've set up a calendar of free events for them to attend and taken food out with us as much as possible. Somehow I need to get to the end of August and have enough money left for 2 pairs of school shoes and a winter coat for DS.

Suggestions anyone?

apprentice_tycoon

Phew - that's a tough month -

Do you have anything to sell? car boot, yard sale (kids stuff?), amazon, ebay, auctions,
Can the kids get some extra spends doing neighbours gardens etc
Do you have any foreign currency stashed away and forgotten about
Can you all go veggie for a while


I'll carry on thinking and come back to this when I have a brainwave

apprentice_tycoon

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

Phew - that's a tough month -

Do you have anything to sell? car boot, yard sale (kids stuff?), amazon, ebay, auctions,
Can the kids get some extra spends doing neighbours gardens etc
Do you have any foreign currency stashed away and forgotten about
Can you all go veggie for a while


I'll carry on thinking and come back to this when I have a brainwave

edit - have you time for some mystery shopping?

moggins

Not really hun, I'm trying to combine keeping two kids occupied with studying over the next four weeks. I did think about doing a bootsale but all of the 'junk' has gone into storage when I decluttered the house before putting it on the market so there isn't much to hand.

I have £127 left out of the food budget and I need to make that last until the end of the month and also find some more old style ways to keep the children amused that won't involve money.

DH has decided that he wants to go to the pictures for his birthday. I've already bought his presents and cards, so it will cost me about £15 on Saturday for his treat. Just need to try and make this £127 stretch as far as it will possibly go so I don't have to take any more out of the bank

Spendless

Cut your grocery bill as much as possible. Menu planner using food you've already got in.

Car boot sale getting kids to help. Depending on their ages they could either go thru toys deciding what they're prepared to sell and/or help you on day. money raised goes to spending money for fair/carnival.

Pooky

Sympathies Moggins - just realised we are in much the same position - things seem to have completely t*ts up this month.

Just been scraping some more stuff together for a bootfair, seems like an instant cash booster.

Got to pay out for train fares tomorrow to london, and taxi fares as we don't want to use the tube, to get little one to her appointment, can't claim any of the fares back as we're not on benifits - nice to know she's getting the best treatment but it's going to cost us best part of £60 (yes I know we don't all need to go - but DH and DD1 want to be there for her)

Do you need to get new school shoes - would their old ones polish up for a few more weeks, or send them back in what ever they've got that fits and if the school challenge you then tell them the situation. School coat -- again - just use last years - or wait a few weeks - won't need it for september anyway.

Anyway of doing a bit of cleaning or ironing for some friends - or offer to do a couple of evening baby sitting for a fee...

Wish I could be of more help...

moggins

Actually Pooky that'sa good point, if DS's shoes still fit him then a good polish and they will probably be okay. It's DD1's first year at school unfortunately so we don't have anything that could be utilised for her as she must have black shoes and she's a pink girl. But you have a point with the coat if the weather is not too bad.

jordylass

moggins wrote:

DH has decided that he wants to go to the pictures for his birthday. I've already bought his presents and cards, so it will cost me about £15 on Saturday for his treat. Just need to try and make this £127 stretch as far as it will possibly go so I don't have to take any more out of the bank

Not sure if you have a UGC near you, but if you go to a sitting before 12 it costs much less than normal, and if you can take him on a Wednesday you can use the 2-4-1 with an orange mobile phone, (if you don't have, do you know anyone who can loan you one). I use mine and my sisters when i go so get two of us in for free.
Obviously sweets/pop from asda

Spendless

moggins wrote:

I have £127 left out of the food budget and I need to make that last until the end of the month and also find some more old style ways to keep the children amused that won't involve money.

(

bike ride, visit to park with picnics. Check out any free activities in yoour area. I took my 5 year old to an activity day at our local museum yesterday, cutting,colouring,sticking, dressing up clothes,treasure hunt was all free. Ours runs on 4 different days in the summer hols, only for 2 hours each session but got him out of house and didn't cost anything.

Pooky

Depending on your attitude towards shoes don't forget to look in asda or woolies, their shoes are normally a good price - ok if you prefer clarkes shoes then could you make a concession for a few weeks and get her something to start school in that would double as "kicking about in the garden" shoes when you could afford the clarkes version?

I've always been lucky that my dd's feet are both average width and have never felt the need to pay out £30odd a pair....DD1 shoes for next term are asda reduced from £11 to £6 and part of my main shop with vouchers so effectivly free.

larmy16

moggins wrote:

Actually Pooky that'sa good point, if DS's shoes still fit him then a good polish and they will probably be okay. It's DD1's first year at school unfortunately so we don't have anything that could be utilised for her as she must have black shoes and she's a pink girl. But you have a point with the coat if the weather is not too bad.

A small bottle of black acrylic paint which dries to a shine can really spruce up a pair of shabby but still wearable shoes. It is also water proof. Get it from art shops and Smiths used to do them? Approximate 99p - 1.15 a bottle. You can have it in store too for a future situation

ps. you can use it to dye shoes also, just need a reasonably steady hand!