General Chat

I am another one Muffy, been there, done that and got the t shirt, it is easy to be tempted when you have a card but too easy to go mad with it!
I am sure with all these hints you will soon be back on top, I wish you luck. It is hard but better to deal with it now than let things get worse when your o.h. takes a cut in wages.
If you could cut down on cigs, that would save you a big chunk of cash, so why not give it a real go? Allow yourself so many cigs per day and when they are done, they are done. After a while, cut the amount by one a day, and continue like that till you are smoking none a day. Put the money you save in a seperate account and soon you will have enough to treat the family to a special outing or something nice. Will make the struggle well worth while and your family will have you around a bit longer too, maybe, you will be much healthier.

Good luck, I know how hard it is,
Lizxx

Try the local market for fresh fruit and vegetables .... they are usually cheaper (and fresher) than the supermarkets.

Viv

You know ....Like most of us I spent so many years living to a budget when the kids were little....now I won't....however I have no debt either ? I dont give two hook's about money ...if I havent got my bus fare in my purse to get home from work....so what I can walk......strange isnt it.....

When on an economy drive I write a shopping list round planned meals...it is very tempting to buy offers...but it is only a saving if you need them. How many times do you buy something as it is on offer & it sits in your freezer/fridge/cupboard for weeks.

As has already been suggested, home made soup, is a great filler...I make a large pot...freeze it down in meal size portions.

I have found that the economy chopped tomatoes are just as good in soup or spagetti sauce as the ones that cost 4 times as much. The same with most pasta/rice.

That's great advice Brenda......... up til about a year ago that's exactly what I did......

I need retraining and appreciate your input on this xx

Muffy,
for that £1.58 Caesar wrap,you could have spent £1 more and got a whole chicken!
I got a £2.69 one at week-end.It did 6 hot meals,chicken sandwiches for my o.h and stock for my home made soup.Don't be tempted.
I think you can eat reasonably cheaply if you know the cheaper cuts and how to cook them.
When my daughter and s.i.l turned up unexpectedly I said we've got liver and onions tonight, (lambs liver cost 85p) and I'd got enough for 4,as I would have frozen 2 individual portions for a quick meal.A lot of the kids today would turn their nose up,but it is a nutricious meal,full of iron.They loved it.
Make a budget and don't go over.
My mum had a long tin with compartments in and she put her rent in one and coal money in another,and so on.When you have your commitments sorted ,then you can treat yourself.
Cards are useful,but only use where necessary.
I'm talking to you as I would my daughter,who is a bit like you.
My mother had a saying.......If you have a £1,only spend 19/6d......or spend a bit and save a bit.

Brenda x x

awwwwwwwwww Maddie...........REALLY? *sobs* my inability to roll a fag has held me back all these years !!!!!!! xx

Muffy you can purchase a smart little machine - not one of those plastic roller things but a stainless steele one that hold tobacco rollies and filters all you do is put in filter, baccy and paper close the lid and hey presto a ready rolled fag pops out. You can even store about 20 ready rolled inisde it.

My dad has used them for years and I even got one when I was budgeting - its online you let cigga burn out in ashtray and even if you only smoke them when on your pc you will save a fortune as they go out rather than burn out.

I can post you my little machine if you want :)

Thanks for all the advice........you are quite right.......never shop on an empty stomach........ I did that today and ended up spending £1.58 on a chicken caesar wrap.......... I will make sure I'm full to the brim next time xx

Now .........lots of my friends smoke rollies..............BUT I'm embarassed to say....... I can't roll em!!!!!!!! Wish to god I could as I know there is a MASSIVE difference in price xx

Sorry, see its already been recommended. Change to roll your own that will immediately cut your fag bill to half.

Get the paperless bill and direct debit if your with BT.

Sit down and work out which bills you have to pay each month. Set them up on DD and transfer any left over money to a "spending account" Then withdraw from this account only.

Only pay in cash.

Don't shop for food on an empty stomach.

Haven't read through thread so sorry if repeating others advice but I can recommend www.moneysavingexpert.com.

Muffy it's hard I know brought up six kids on one wage but my life saver was home made soup still make it but buy a bag of frozen veg so it's handy throw a couple of hand-fulls in with an onion potato and stock cube and it turns out really nice
Cornbeef hash is a great saver . Good luck

Norah

ROFLMAO Kay

Done all the rest.............

The crisps are an on going struggle lololol xx

few savers,

cut mobile to payg,,,,,,if on contract ,what you havnt got you cant use,

check your ISP can you get cheaper deal elsewhere,,,

can you cut a better mortgage deal,?

building insurances deals out there,?

this is where you can save the most money,,


and eat less crisps,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,)))

i know what you mean muffy im of the veiw u have children u look after them i am hoping to go back to work when little fella is full time school

but im childcare qualified so ill probly get one in a school and be off when the kids are etc

I would dearly love to go back to work.........I do really miss it. I can find jobs that fit around term time but none that give any leeway for school hols.

I know a lot of other mums are in the same position.

I'll go without what I need to so that I can be about for the girls..........I think I just had a bit of brain storm for the last year !! we made a vow even before we had children that we would look after them between ourselves.....I'd be uncomfortable asking my very willing family and friends to take them on. It's a strange hang up of mine.

I'm waiting for a catering job to turn up at a school locally but they are like gold dust !!!!! xx

i cant say anything

my hubbys just paid mine off

he always does every month lol

soft touch he is

muffy ,look for a little part time job to fit with school,,,,,use that money for inhouse and take that less amout out of bank,,
ask cc com to reduce your limit to something safer,,but youll still have to pay off exsisting @monthly rate,,,,,,,,or how ever you do,

at end of the day.put loose change in a jar or just the 20p,leave for a month and youll have a little suprise,,,,extra food to put in freezer,,then do same again,,,once every 3 months you can then live out of the freezer stuff,,,,,,,,,,
and try and make some meal from scratch,,,tin steak and bit pastry ,you got a pie,,few spuds and its a meal,,,

All my credit card debt will be gone by next week. I've *consolidated* it all . Gutting though it is....... it helps keep down the outgoings.

Now it's the hard part. Cutting back........saying no......and BEHAVING myself xx