Only food and petrol June - New thread for support

[angel1976]

Hi all,

After the very successful will only spend money on food and petrol thread, someone (QuinnFabray) suggested doing a new thread for June so here it is! I think it's a great support thread and makes me think twice about spending stuff on unnecessary stuff though not completely .

The good news is though that after being overdrawn for two months in a row, May is the first month I'm in the black! So the thread has definitely done something for me though because I was so pleased about how I was doing, I did end up ordering two bargains over the weekend (a half price trunki and also two duvet covers for the boys for less than a tenner).

But now it's back to serious business. I am also running my freezer lower than I have ever seen before! Need a big food shop on Friday. Also buying a Kindle for DH for father's day but have managed more or less to raise the money for that by selling off unwanted stuff and earning amazon vouchers! Good luck all!

Ax

[brightermornings]

Me please. I've not started brilliantly I had to replace my work shoes today. One of the tips had come of the heel earlier in the week I had visions of going tits over arse falling over! I've got a few birthdays this month including my niece's 21st. I'm going to try and meal plan better but I hate cooking so usually end up not sticking to it. I am sick of not having any money and I want some savings instead of worrying something major is going to breakdown and I've no money to fix it.

[angel1976]

Well, on a different note, it looks like we are exchanging on our house tomorrow (fingers crossed!) and completing 1st July so all the more reason we should be saving now!!!!!

Other than lunch today, I spent £1.15 on some make-up sponge wedges as I am doing face-painting for my friend's little girl's party on Saturday. It's the first time I am doing it (have done a couple of faces as fun!) at a party. I'm quite artistic and if I get good at this, it could be a revenue stream for me! I was very good as I was at Superdrug and didn't end up buying any crap toiletries.

[angel1976]

Meant to say 'hi' brightermornings and welcome... :)

[Snuppeline]

I followed the "no spend for May thread" but did not dare chip in. Will try this month thouhg. I ended May spectacularly badly with a huge shop of books (my vice) and some sale clothes for myself. I might take the clothes back... feel very bad about it. I have taken out £100 in cash for fripperies but will not try not to use it. Will also try to do only two big shops for the month, at max £100 each. Which is a lot for three people anyway! Hm...maybe I should try reducing that a bit?

[Snuppeline]

Golly, sorry about the spelling mistakes in the post. And also sorry for not asking if I could join! May I please?

[brightermornings]

I must admit this week has been hard. I don't want to go on a shopping spree or anything but wish my finances were in a better state. I just have to be patient and not spend!!

[angel1976]

Snuppeline This thread is open to anyone, so welcome! My dad always taught me that spending money on good food is never a waste! I always do big shops but I never feel bad as I am very good at using up leftovers or cooking up freeze-able portions so we never go hungry and food is hardly wasted in this house. (And I also make sure I look for bargains!)

brightmornings I've got a couple of things to buy... A kindle for DH but that's already 'paid for' as I sold off a whole lot of stuff to fund it. However, DS1 has been obsessed with having a camera for ages and the one I want to get for him is now half price on amazon and I am so tempted! But what I am going to do is to try and make the money for it by selling stuff I don't want anymore and/or doing paid surveys etc. Been doing them for a while and I am due a amazon voucher soon! :) So maybe you can try flogging some stuff you don't want anymore to 'fund' your shopping? When it's hard to make the money, it makes you think harder about spending it too! :)

[Meglet]

marking my place...

[BitterAndTwistedChoreDodger]

Room for a small one?

I don't really spend money on anything other than essentials but it would be good to keep a record of where my cash is actually going.

[QuinnFabray]

Oh, thanks for starting the thread! I have not spent a penny so far in June. Not even on food, so far. Have arranged to meet friends at the beach later though, and will be hard pushed not to bow to peer pressure and buy the kids an ice cream.

Am eBaying loads, and physically stopping myself from making impulse online purchases. That's my downfall.

We seriously need to sort ourselves out though. DH earns a decent wage, but it all gets eaten up by debt repayments, so that we are struggling to make ends meet each month, and it's a viscious circle of having to use the cards again, for food and petrol.

I know it's our own fault we are in this position, but I'm determined, a month at a time, to change my ways.

[voodoomunkee]

Squeezing myself in, followed in May, trying again in June! Have really cut down on food bills, reinvented some meals and seem to be managing. Definitely noticed that I have a little more spare than usual but have prams and cots to pay for so need to make money stretch even further! Here goes!

[redredruby]

Didn't see the May thread - but fingers crossed for June! Having to be so careful, there is hardly any room for manoeuvre .....anything 'unexpected' such as birthdays / weddings have the potential to cause real problems. I just want to get to the position where there is enough of a cushion that we can absorb these little extras without having to go into the over draft.

[brightermornings]

I've had to spend this weekend buying birthday presents and a fathers day present. I've just got one more for june my niece is 21 and some money in cards then that's it. I also bought some everyday underwear all my wires seem to have come out of my bras recently. Hopefully a no spend this week apart from usual things after school club but that's in my budget. How's everyone else?

[angel1976]

brighter I know what you mean. I had to buy a present for a friend's baby (she had a baby girl last week!) so can't really recycle my boys' unused gifts but I went to TK Maxx and got a really lovely summer outfit for the baby and a little toy for her big sister for less than a tenner. Also did a big shop on Friday and should have enough food (other than top ups!) till we move! I am trying to really scrimp as we will have the removal costs (amongst others!) etc to come... Still, it's been a good weekend so far as went to a birthday party yesterday so no spend and this afternoon, we are going into town to meet some friends so will be spending money but technically food right?

[cornishpasty]

Hi all. I followed the May thread closely as we need to cut our spending and got lots of inspiration from you all.
I'm actually really enjoying the challenge. I get a great feeling of satisfaction when I have a day of not spending or I stick to exactly what's on my shopping list and don't get tempted to buy stuff we dont really need.
The changes I have made are-
Meal planning and looking in cupboards/ freezer to see what we have to use up before buying more food.
Lots of home baking to feed my lot who love cakes. I was spending a fortune on Mr Kipling!
I've changed the way I drive - my dp has always nagged about this so I thought I'd try being not so heavy right footed. Now I'm very gentle on the accelerator without driving around too slowly. It's very satisfying seeing the miles per gallon figure go up.
I don't buy lunch out - I work mornings only, so make sure I now go home and make myself lunch.
I now buy own brand items and some value range products. I've enjoyed looking around and actually checking out prices. For so long now I've just stuck with buying the same makes.
We were on holiday last week so spent more than I would like but now we're home I'm back on track.
I've also set up a spreadsheet to project how much we'll have left at the end of the month.
Sorry that was longer than I expected.
Will hopefully check in again soon.

[brightermornings]

How's everyone doing? I'm not doing to bad. I've earned £30 doing online surverys now. You get giftcards so I've asked for M & S so I get dd's uniform.
I've put more stuff on ebay this week. My online shop is currently at less than £50 but I'm going to buy my fruit and veg at the market.
Does anyone know anywhere cheap for razor blades?

[cornishpasty]

Pleasantly surprised to find £30 in my bank account today from Co-op card payout!
Makes a change from all the outgoings!

[danebury]

This is an interesting thread and so reassuring to read. Quinnfabay, sounds like you and I are in exactly the same situation! For months I did a huge Sainsbury shop with the intention of only then needing fresh stuff and milk. Disaster. Cupboards full of cheap carbs and nothing exciting to stimulate me at dinner time. We have a reasonable amount of disposable - although I was surprised to hear that the amount we have puts us under the poverty line :o - but I don't plan!! We're now down to zero more or less for June, annoyingly, but I'm paid on the 24th and we've got enough.

I've decided £50 per week on food. £140 per month on petrol. (we both have 8 minute commutes). £120 per month on having a drink at the weekend or going out (not eating out). Also next month my highlights are an absolute necessity as the roots are about 3 inches long! But I go to a cheap hairdressers. Plus it's ds' 13th and he wants a graphics card .... when you think ahead without panicking, it feels possible, doesn't it?

[danebury]

PS I didn't mean to grin at my poverty line comment - insensitive - got my emoticons wrong and don't know how to edit on my iPhone. Sorry xx

[angel1976]

Hiya,

I need to come back and hide my head in shame... Been a bit 'careless' with my money lately... On one hand, I am doing really well. Been trying really hard to earn extra money and brighter, I do online surveys too! Got £30 in total now but in different companies and some are still pending, so not getting any 'payment' yet. I also have an extra £200 coming in due to me doing some additional work. Also, I just ordered a Kindle for DH for father's day and got a deal from tesco direct so got additional £15 off the order that I did not expect. Also got the Ocado deal where it's £7.50 cashback on quidco and a code for £20 off when you spend £80 but I just did a big shop last week so now we have food to feed an army! Argh!

I work part-time and was in the office the last two days and went a bit mad on lunch/treats. Nando's, Krispy Kreme donuts, 'posh' yoghurt! I'm usually really good at limiting myself to a £5 a day food spend when I am in the office. Also just ordered a gift card from JL for FIL as a father's day gift. I feel like I'm at the point where I don't care how much I spend anymore iykwim? HELP! :)

Ax

[brightermornings]

Hi Angel DON'T PANIC . You know exactly what you've spent your money on so your not totally out of control.
I've had more presents to buy this weekend so feel like I've been spending too. I got all my fruit and veg from the local market this week. I also got a 2.4kg of vanish from home bargains for 7.99 which I'm really pleased with (sad I know!!).
My freezer is jam packed full so I'm going to try and run it down a bit.
Hope everyone else is ok!

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Can I join too?
Had a good couple of weeks so far but just spent £15 on a toy for DS that he didn't really need. I am selling some of his oldvstuff on eBay so hopefully that'll even it out.

Could somebody linkvto the online surveys please? Thanks

[Allegrogirl]

This is just what I need. Did so well on mat leave but fallen off the wagon since April. I seem to spend more money when I'm working. Too tired to watch the pennies and feeling in need of a treat.

I've totally screwed up this month with a wedding present, moving in present for brother's new flat, an expensive 30th birthday night out and £40 on a top and shoes for said night out. Probably a few other things I should've walked right past.

We had a really good ebay clear out a few months ago but we don't actually waste a lot of money on stuff we don't use so not much left to sell. I'm going to sell my lovely kayak as I'll never get time to paddle. Put it towards the credit card which is creeping up . I've got a couple of rings I never wear. Any tips on selling gold jewellery?

Although I've never been horribly in debt being careful with money doesn't come easy so I think I will start checking in here to motivate myself. Wish me luck.

[angel1976]

Welcome Allegrogirl. You sound just like me! We don't actually waste a lot of money as such and we usually do sell on what we no longer need or want. Just sold a couple of my boys' old bits and freecycled a whole load of stuff as we are moving in 3 weeks! I also barely buy the boy's clothes new... I did just buy a couple of bits off another MNetter as DS1 has suddenly shot up and outgrowing trousers. £8 for two pairs of jeans plus a set (trousers and top) is not bad at all. At least it keeps me from going into the shops! All my father's day presents are done now.

As for gold jewellery, best I have heard is to take it into the local jewellers... Don't fall for any of those cash for gold ads on TV, you get nothing! And good luck! :)

[debtfreeiwish]

hi allegrogirl regarding your gold rings either take to jewellers or try ebay,i'v just sold a few bits of gold on there,put it on at £1 for scrap n just made £86.52 was so suprised at that so i'm well happy today.