Need to Cut Costs Drastically

squeaky

Look under Shopping in the MEGA Index - there are quite a lot of threads listed under budgets that might give you some ideas. Reminders really, because I think you posted into some of them

[Deleted User]

Squeaky, i have just checked out the MEGA thread, that is brilliant, it must have taken you ages.

Certainly better than doing a search!!

Thank you for your hard work and efforts. I shall be looking there first now rather than asking a question.

Fantastic!!!!

ms_london

Pooky wrote:

Got to pay out for train fares tomorrow to london, and taxi fares as we don't want to use the tube...

As someone who lives in London & would not rather not use the tube, but HAS to in order to get to work, I can appreciate how you might not want to take a tube, or a bus in light of the recent events, but I dont think that should stop you. Of course, your destination might be super close to the station you come into, but it might not be. If you are struggling with ££££ (as we all are), I recommend you take the tube, it makes more sense. I dont think we should stop living our lives just because of some idiots trying to bring London to a stand still. (as someone who lives down the road from where the Tooting "could be terrorists" were living).

Of course, if you really do feel that strongly I do understand.

Ms_London xx

r.mac_2

Moggins - I feel like I am about to preach to the converted as you generally do most things anyway. Sorry to hear things are rubbish this month, but it happens to us alla t some point

Some ideas I though of when I read your initial post
* try the storecupboard challenge (always amazes me what I have hiden away)
* meal plan to the max!
* ebay any school uniforms that the kids have totally grown out of to help fund new ones (if poss)
* try and run a couple of purchases over into next month if poss - i.e. winter coat.
* Do you have any PIN money savings/Christmas account to plunder (just on a temporary basis of course)?
* have a look at the vouchers board for help with shopping costs.
* have you any old course books you no longer need that you could sell?
* Are you with the cheapest utilities supplier? If not, Martins article tells you how to save money and get a bonus for switching (some sites offer cash for switiching over). Worth looking at, even if you don't get the actual cash until next month???

don't want to pry, but does your OH understand the current situation - is there anyway he might be more economical on his weekend away (if poss)?

BTW - I love your free activities and ideas list - a great recommendation to others

And don't forget - we'll all be hear to keep your spirits up!

:wave:

Pooky

ms_london wrote:

As someone who lives in London & would not rather not use the tube, but HAS to in order to get to work, I can appreciate how you might not want to take a tube, or a bus in light of the recent events, but I dont think that should stop you. Of course, your destination might be super close to the station you come into, but it might not be. If you are struggling with ££££ (as we all are), I recommend you take the tube, it makes more sense. I dont think we should stop living our lives just because of some idiots trying to bring London to a stand still. (as someone who lives down the road from where the Tooting "could be terrorists" were living).

Of course, if you really do feel that strongly I do understand.

Ms_London xx

To be honest I've never liked the underground and this gives me a perfect excuse not to use it. I get really panicky being that far underground - it's something that I'm sure is down to a nasty experience when I was younger.....the family running down to the platform to jump on the train and they all got on - I didn't - I was about 8 - completely freaked me out - as you can imagine - I've tried it loads of times since, still get very aggitated and shakey but try not to show it in front of the kids.

And London buses -- don't get me started on them!!! Far to confusing!!

moggins

Thanks r.mac, you've just reminded me that I can steal £50 from the car tax account as dh's car isn't due to be taxed until the end of September and we are now talking about selling both our cars and buying a joint one now he no longer needs his for work.

If I leave the winter coat until the beginning of September there is always a chance XDH might get it if I mention it nicely I always leave the shoes until the last week of the holiday in case their feet have grown.

I do have a number of books and computer games that I could get rid of on e-bay, I'll try to get dh to list some on there tonight.

It had to happen in the month when my freezer and cupboards are empty didn't it? I can't even get out and do a big shop with the kids around

lady_lucan

It may be a bit late, but you could try liftshare.com, freewheelers.co.uk or londonliftshre.com for your London Travel. You'd be surprised at how many people actually advertise on these things, and they'd be glad of help with congestion charge/petrol!

For the more adventurous, there's globalfreeloaders.com for a free room in someone's house when you're away from home!

megsykins

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

Do you have any foreign currency stashed away and forgotten about

Ditto for coppers lying around the place, I've jsut found £35 in coppers, 5ps and 10ps lying around the bedroom :j And not even started on the jar where I put the change OH leaves in pockets!

Can you send the kids to grandparents for the day - they'll get fed and have something to do (It's what I do when I've run out of food - go and see grandma! And mine always makes too much dinner and gives me the rest for the next day [lovegrandmaicon])

Lady_lucan - couchsurfing is another free place to sleep site.

se999

Moggins,

On the thing you said about not needing two cars anymore. We went back to only having one car 18 months ago, we did the sums and realised the odd times we needed two cars we could either use taxis or hire a car. We did have to hire a car for one weekend, and we've not needed taxis. But the savings on depreciation of the capital cost, mot, service, repairs, tyres insurance etc made it an obvious decision. Do your sums, work out how often you need the car, if the sums add up swap to one sooner rather than later, we wish we had. You start saving earlier, and get your cash from selling the car sooner.

Car clubs are also getting popular, if there's one in your area it's worth investigating too if you need a second car a bit more frequently. This is the one where the group either buys/leases a car, or they sometimes have a deal with a rental company. You pay a subscription plus a contribution for each time you use it. We're going to look into this if the circumstances and/or sums change.

Also, are either of the existing cars reliable? We sold the newer but less reliable car of the two, and kept the old reliable volvo which has tons of space, and although we're getting occasional bigger bills[but with it's mileage you can expect some bits to wear out eventually] it's nothing compared to the capital cost of a newer car. Also a newer car isn't always a reliable car, I hate changing cars for that reason.

Best wishes for this months cutbacks

P.S. If you sell do notify insurer's immediately, they normally refund pro rata for complete months insurance unused. Also when negotiating selling price remember you can send the tax disc in for a refund for unused complete months too, we managed to get extra from a dealer for including the tax disc after negotiating the car price.

P.P.S. Taxis will sometimes negotiate special rates if you make a regular booking, e.g. a trip back after a weekly shop. Also local carhire companies will sometimes negotiate special deals & rates for regulars, a friend used to do this.

beachbeth

moggins wrote:

It had to happen in the month when my freezer and cupboards are empty didn't it? I can't even get out and do a big shop with the kids around

Can you not do your shopping by internet and have it delivered? Sainsburys don't charge for delivery on Tue, Wed and Thur and I think the other supermarkets do too. I personally find that I save money doing my shopping online because, after Ive added all my groceries, if I think Ive spent too much, I can just go through and take unnecessary items off to cut the bill down.