How do I live within a budget?

mummytofour

CCCS did us a budget in Dec but life has changed since then food has gone up and I am so confused. I am just about managing to pay my bills but cant seem to manage my money very well ( this has been ongoing for yrs) DH always makes me feel rubbish when I say we cant have something and I am in a situation where I REALLY need to save some money fast I have loads of plans for the next few months but I need loads of cash to do them. Any tips would be fabby, I am finding the price increases a pain also and find this has really thrown the cccs budget out the window more so and i dont want to pay less to ppl just manage what I do have better.

LilacPixie

What specifics are you struggling with?? Personally i have found some fantastic ways of saving on groceries by visiting the OS board.

I also do slice the pie surverys etc using help from the up your income board.

Horace

I have to live on a very limited budget (JSA at £60 per week). I manage all my bills and ensure that I clear them before I do anything else.

When I go shopping I make a list of what I want and stick to it. Bread can be expensive but I have taken to buying bread when it is reduced and then splitting the loaf and freezing it. I buy meat from the butcher rather than the supermarket because it is cheaper, veg is bought at the greengrocers - as are eggs, because I can pick what I want without having all the packaging associated with supermarkets (plus I don't get much waste). I also use my freezer a lot and have a tendency to buy packs of meat for example my butcher does a pack of 6 NZ lamb chops for £2.99 - and these get frozen.

Any loose change is slung in various empty coffee jars - this soon accummulates.

My chums are amazed as to how well I cope on very little funds but I do it by being careful and buying in bulk when the need arises (loo rolls bought in packs of 16). I also use some of the cheaper supermarkets like Lidl - I buy chicken cordon bleu, ice creams on sticks (similar to Magnum) - 6 for £1.89 - they are tasty and better value than a Magnum.

HTH

Also look on the moneysaving old style board as there are loads of useful tips on there.

Also make £10 a day challenge - this is free money that you would get from coupons, surveys, carboots etc.

chevalier

As far as the budget is concerned I think this will be a common theme with many people. You are on a DMP and it did not take into account nearly 20% rises in fuel bills for example. So I guess you need to do one of two things,
1) earn more money, be it by getting a second job, or doing online surveys, ebaying etc
2) tell your DMP provider that you are struggling and explain why, and ask them to vary the DMP.
The last thing you want to do is to start defaulting on the DMP arrangement, as that is all a creditor needs to start charging you interest and putting on charges again.

By the way what is MR mum? Is it realistic to be saving this whilst you are on the DMP?
regards
chev

Poosmate

Sorry to be harsh but if you are not managing on the budget you have now, how on earth do you think you can save "loads of cash" fast?

I think for a start you should change your plans for the next few months and maybe make them your long term plans.

I don't know how CCCS work but surely if you have the ability to save "loads of cash" on their budget then you should be paying off more to our creditors?

On the flip side, if you are struggling with the budget because of price hikes then you could go back to the CCCS and ask for them to re-evaluate your situation? That way you may get to keep extra money TO USE ON FOOD AND BILLS not to blow on "loads of plans".

Poo

Princess_Jane

The biggest thing that helped me was getting a second job, if that's at all possible.

Also I divide my cash up between three bank accounts - my wages go in one account, which pays my personal bills - mobile phone, credit card etc.

Half of the bills/mortgage leaves this account on payday to a joint acc me and my fella have for house bills/groceries/DIY etc.

The wages from my second job plus £100 from my main account go into a 'pocket money' account which I use for petrol, makeup, rare nights out, haircuts etc.

I only take my pocket money account debit card out with me, which usually only has £100 in, so I can't go buckwild in Topshop, should the impulse come over me.

Planning meals a week ahead helps structure my shopping and the slow cooker is my new BF.

I do a big monthly shop plus fortnightly shops at the butcher's and fruit and veg shops, though I appreciate this might not be practical for a family, as there are just two of us - plus demented cats.

Hope this helps!

Poosmate

Excellent tips Princess Jane - you made me chuckle! lol

Poo

Princess_Jane

Poosmate wrote: »

Excellent tips Princess Jane - you made me chuckle! lol

Poo

Did I? How so?:p

Poosmate

Going buckwild in Topshop! lol

moanymoany

Horace wrote: »

I have to live on a very limited budget (JSA at £60 per week). I manage all my bills and ensure that I clear them before I do anything else.

When I go shopping I make a list of what I want and stick to it. Bread can be expensive but I have taken to buying bread when it is reduced and then splitting the loaf and freezing it. I buy meat from the butcher rather than the supermarket because it is cheaper, veg is bought at the greengrocers - as are eggs, because I can pick what I want without having all the packaging associated with supermarkets (plus I don't get much waste). I also use my freezer a lot and have a tendency to buy packs of meat for example my butcher does a pack of 6 NZ lamb chops for £2.99 - and these get frozen.

Any loose change is slung in various empty coffee jars - this soon accummulates.

My chums are amazed as to how well I cope on very little funds but I do it by being careful and buying in bulk when the need arises (loo rolls bought in packs of 16). I also use some of the cheaper supermarkets like Lidl - I buy chicken cordon bleu, ice creams on sticks (similar to Magnum) - 6 for £1.89 - they are tasty and better value than a Magnum.

HTH

Also look on the moneysaving old style board as there are loads of useful tips on there.

Also make £10 a day challenge - this is free money that you would get from coupons, surveys, carboots etc.

Horace, you've got it spot on. This is how we work with spending. We are saving for retirement and by living this way we have saved so much more than we ever thought we could. The price rises have affected everyone but it is still easy to live on a low budget by adjusting the meal plans and being a bit inventive. My biggest priority is getting the five a day - after that I am very happy getting my protein from eggs and pulses.

What sort of things have you rescued from skips? Have you seen the shabby chic thread, it's really triff?