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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there’s not much else I can do with this budget.

161 replies

Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:01

My main income is approximately 2600
child benefits 280

So that’s 2860

Rent 1400
Life insurance 84 (which I will be reducing in the new year, I just can’t do it yet)
Internet and phone 52 (again contract is up in Feb, though most deals are similar)
Netflix 15
Disney 11
Bins 23
Apple 20
DS football 25
Electricity 120

Total 1750
Leftover 1110
Amount leftover is to cover food, petrol, other clubs for dc every so often (they are not monthly costs) more like termly and their dad pays half of them too.
I have my DC 50:50 custody but it doesn’t make a huge difference to food costs.
Im not saving a lot and would like to be saving more although I’m getting there.

Theres not much I can cut is there? The dc watch both Disney and Netflix, I watch Netflix and I use Apple Music etc A LOT.

OP posts:
Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:54

I also had to spend €500 for heating oil this month (out of savings!) it’s never ending!

OP posts:
Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:53

Like this month my car needed to be taxed and it needs a service. Next month is insurance. @Wegovypictures not managing to save at all…I’m actually dipping into savings most months which is ridiculous!

OP posts:
Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:52

itwasnevermine · 14/10/2024 14:46

£1100 for food and petrol is a LOT.

But it’s not just for food and petrol it’s for haircuts, birthdays/christmas, money for clubs, car costs(tax and insurance!), holiday clubs, holidays. There’s always something. I know I just need to hunker down and increase my earnings yes.

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 14/10/2024 14:50

itwasnevermine · 14/10/2024 14:46

£1100 for food and petrol is a LOT.

ROI is an expensive place to live

Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:49

Wendysfriend · 14/10/2024 14:31

Eir is the most expensive, I'm with sky and they're always doing special offers for newbies. You can build a package to suit your needs. We get TV, internet, phone we've most things like movies and sport and other apps, they gave us movies free because we took on the sports, so no point saying my cost but you can do a basic package, they also can include Netflix although we do that separately as it's cheaper to go through Netflix itself. Broadband is expensive here but you can build packages with most companies

Wow! Thank you @Wendysfriend ill definitely take a look!!

OP posts:
itwasnevermine · 14/10/2024 14:46

£1100 for food and petrol is a LOT.

xILikeJamx · 14/10/2024 14:39

Maybe have a look and see if your subscriptions could bundled somehow.

Not sure about Ireland, but I got EE full fibre broadband for £30/month. It then entitled me to discounted mobile SIM deals - one of which was £30/month that you could then add 3 subscriptions too. In the options at the time I'm sure was Netflix and Apple.

I went with a cheaper one where I got unlimited data / texts / calls plus Xbox game pass for the kids for £19.99/month. I was already paying the Xbox pass at £14.99/month by itself so like I'm only paying £5/month for my mobile now!

Superworm24 · 14/10/2024 14:39

If you don't want to cut back anymore then the only thing you can do is to look at earning more. You only have your DC half the time. Could you get a second job? The odd evenings?

Wegovypictures · 14/10/2024 14:34

£1100 for food, petrol and kid bits seems lots on the surface but of course it's all relative to number of kids and distance you need to travel. How much of it are you managing to save?

Wendysfriend · 14/10/2024 14:31

Eir is the most expensive, I'm with sky and they're always doing special offers for newbies. You can build a package to suit your needs. We get TV, internet, phone we've most things like movies and sport and other apps, they gave us movies free because we took on the sports, so no point saying my cost but you can do a basic package, they also can include Netflix although we do that separately as it's cheaper to go through Netflix itself. Broadband is expensive here but you can build packages with most companies

Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:30

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 14/10/2024 14:30

Have you checked your UC eligibility OP?

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=8a42fe7d-b41f-45ab-93af-9b6c3e6f070d

I’m in Ireland so unfortunately I can’t do that but it would be great if I could 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:30

Crikeyalmighty · 14/10/2024 14:16

I suspect OP isn't in UK maybe mentioning bins charge?

In Ireland yep ☺️

OP posts:
Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:23

Wendysfriend · 14/10/2024 14:22

I'm in Ireland too. Tesco boost can be used for Disney. I get 3 months free each time I exchange vouchers.

What about 48 for your phone, it's something like 12 euro a month for unlimited internet and phone

Oooh @Wendysfriend thsnk you I’ll look into this with Tesco!

its 52 for my broadband and mobile with eir which I didn’t think was awful but I’ll look around to reduce for sure!

OP posts:
Wendysfriend · 14/10/2024 14:22

I'm in Ireland too. Tesco boost can be used for Disney. I get 3 months free each time I exchange vouchers.

What about 48 for your phone, it's something like 12 euro a month for unlimited internet and phone

Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:22

TinkerTiger · 14/10/2024 14:21

Get rid of apple one. Waste of money. Child rarely uses it and music can be downloaded from YouTube (the old-fashioned way 😉)

Noooo the apple is for me 😂😂 it’s my joy! I love music.

OP posts:
TinkerTiger · 14/10/2024 14:21

Get rid of apple one. Waste of money. Child rarely uses it and music can be downloaded from YouTube (the old-fashioned way 😉)

Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:21

Blushingm · 14/10/2024 14:17

My internet is £49 and includes Disney's and Netflix and EE tv and nowtv

I’ll have a look and see if I can get any deals like that here…thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:20

Dawevi · 14/10/2024 14:16

Apple, Netflix and Disney are luxuries so have to be the first to go if you need to make savings.

I don't understand the bins charge.

Yeah…I should do this. I do watch quite a bit yeah. I don’t go out much at all really, tv is my entertainment. I might ditch the Disney for a while. But DD loves it so I’m hesitant 😬 which is ridiculous I know 🫣

OP posts:
parietal · 14/10/2024 14:19

Look up Prolific for online surveys that pay around £10 per hour.

Original poster
Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:19

Aposterhasnoname · 14/10/2024 14:13

What’s £23 bins? And what’s Apple? I know you said you use Apple Music but that’s not £20 a month.

@Aposterhasnoname It’s Apple one -so it’s music, tv, arcade (which I don’t use but my dc would play on my phone the odd time) and iCloud storage. It’s the cheapest way instead of doing them separately.

yes it’s a bin charge, no council tax here do it’s a private company that I pay. (In Ireland)

OP posts:
Blushingm · 14/10/2024 14:17

My internet is £49 and includes Disney's and Netflix and EE tv and nowtv

Crikeyalmighty · 14/10/2024 14:16

I suspect OP isn't in UK maybe mentioning bins charge?

Dotto · 14/10/2024 14:16

Itgetsharder · 14/10/2024 14:12

It my bin collection charge.

council tax after benefits? I don’t understand this sorry?

Show quote history

Bin collection charge, what bins? Why is it so high? Our garden bin collection charge is £50 per year.

This is why I thought you might be describing your council tax bill as 'bin collection', but this would be around £100 a month, not £23, so wondered if you are in an area that still has council tax benefit instead of Universal Credit.

Dawevi · 14/10/2024 14:16

Apple, Netflix and Disney are luxuries so have to be the first to go if you need to make savings.

I don't understand the bins charge.

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