How much disposable income?

shelovestobuystuff

After just bills,cc,loan repayment mortgage and insurance,council tax,gas and elec,phone and internet we have £200 a month for food and everything else we need so if we are very carefull we break even in a month.Zero disposable income.I have managed a cost-neutral xmas last 2 years and this year will do even better as I am buying less and buying stuff in charity shops too.e.g.etched crystal bonbon dish filled with sweets or cotton wool balls is MIL,s xmas gift this year,it cost £2 in a charity shop but is perfect and beautiful,she will never know it cost so little.
We shop in charity shops for what we can,we dont get any new clothes at all just the kids,we only buy shoes when the ones we are wearing have burst, and get free stuff wherever and whenever possible,use coupons and vouchers and make sure that when we do have to spend money its spent very wisely indeed.We dont have any money leftover or extra but we get whatever we need and manage well.
My next cost-neutral project is our wedding.

searching_me

glen0000- you asked how i cope? well i have 2 saving counts which i put £10 each in aweek one for me and my oh and one for my dd (the dog wants for nothing but attention :rotfl: ) and i dont touch them unless my dd needs clothes and that comes from hers and if its my oh's birthday or an unexpected bill that we cant quiet cover we use some of our savings (its softens the blow ) we dont buy extras and my dds only 5 so to be honest there aint much she "really" needs (although theres alot she wants) ... also i think i have alittle cod im obsessed theres not enough so i make sure theres is and buy about 5 writing pads a year to work out every penny that comes and goes... see i use to live on £60 a week before bills so im used to not having anything and start from there... i set budgets for everything and like the last 2 months due to being ill and in hospital ive had no extra money apart from to cover the bills... but you be suprised what you can live without when you have nothing honestly so i say if you have anything left be greatful not all of us have that hope this help if not im just rambling xxx