Serious Question

Both the good mrs and I work full time and bring in reasonable salaries. We have a young daughter and run two vehicles. The only 'luxuries' we have are Sky TV, broadband and we both have mobiles. However, each month we are seriously stretched to the point we just make ends meet. Some months with unexpected bills i.e car repair etc we have to put it on credit cards or I frequently go into the overdraft. Has anyone any miracle ideas or suggestions how we can find a bit of breathing space? And no she won't go on the game!!

 

Internet food shopping. Knocked about 30% of our weekly bill

 

The luxuries... how luxurious are they? Me and my Mr both have mobiles but he spends about £40 a month on contract and I'm pay as you go and spend about £20 over 2 months (still on an old genie sim). Same with Sky, have you got the basic or all the sport and films too? Do you need both vehicles? (We do so I can fully understand the yes on this one). Do you save anything, at all? My Mr thought he couldn't till I persuaded him to put £50 away each month, then we upped it to £100 and he's got a fairy decent bit put away now (by save I mean you have to basically think that you've thrown it down the drain and you can NEVER touch it again unless yours or your daughter's life were at stake).

 

Aldi, will knock even more off.

My mum switched her weekly shop from Morrissons to Aldi, and cut her bill in half.

 

I'm only a young un so I know what it's like to be skint.

If you're both earning resasonable salaries then I would have an in depth look at what you spend every week.Sounds obvious but all the little things throughout the week add up (take aways, nights at the pub, expensive foods etc).

I know this because being at uni with very little money means you have to look at whats going out all the time, every little makes a difference!

 

I got an email from a Nigerian bank earlier this week, could be just the ticket for you. I'm all heart giving this away. Charidee.

 

Yes to both vehicles as you say.

Full Sky package - possible saving here I know.

Both on mobile contracts at £40ish a month. Mine's up for renewal in June so I've already earmarked that to halve.

Don't save really other than loose change into little uns piggy bank!!

 

Take a good look at what you might consider "fixed costs" such as mortgage payments (it's worth shopping around even mid-term into any "fixed term") and your insurance payments - I just saved over $1,000 on my house insurance and car insurance by shopping around and combining them into one provider.

 

I agree with WorsboroughRed, I did a month where I wrote down EVERYTHING I spent each day (even down to 60p on a bar of choc), I couldn't believe how much I spent!! I didn't think I ever bought frivolously but I really did, I bet with a young daughter it's even easier to do that. Also, do you pay for everything on card? If you do withdraw a certain amount each week which is all you want to spend and then don't take anymore out. It's so easy to hand over a card and forget that it's your hard earned cash you are spending.

 

With the sky I'd ring em up and say 'I really love having all the channels but i simply can't afford it anymore unless there is any special deals on'

9 times out of 10 they will offer a cheaper deal just to keep you onboard with all the channels

 

I know a good one!! Lunch, do you buy it or make it? If you both buy it each day for work I bet that's a minimum of £6 between you a day, you could make sandwiches all week for both of you with that. Not terribly exciting I know but the Mr still does fish n chip Friday and I still do Pizza Wednesday so it doesn't have to be everyday.

 

Cars on finance?

 

I like the Sky idea, will get onto that one.

Lunch is a bit hit and miss but yea we do need to plan ahead a bit and take something to work!

 

Both owned outright.

 

Considered downsizing to something more economical, cheaper to run?

 

Do you take the car on lots of little trips to the shop etc? ( I know I do.) Even little trips can make the petrol cost go up.

 

Both motors use about £20-30 a week on diesel and we're both now senior enough for the insurance to be acceptable so I think to change them would actually involve a capital outlay for no purpose. Nice shout though, keep em coming!!

 

Give up work and get on benefits. It seems that working hard, paying your taxes and supporting your own family isn't the best approach to life.

 

In all honesty do you watch all the Sky packages? I'm trying to do a list of savings for you on everything but I don't think I can as I don't know what you currently spend. I think writing out a list for yourself (privately if you want) will really help. It's so easy to think 'that'l only save £20 what's the point' but if you halve your phone contracts, plan ahead what to take for lunch, drop a bit of Sky that you don't watch, shop at a cheaper supermarket/online I reckon you're talking around 100 a month saving minimum.