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Living on 1k a month advice please

263 replies

Debtgalore · 01/08/2020 16:56

Hi MNers, long term poster but name changed as embarrassed.

Due to corona we've had a massive drop in income. We're still very lucky that we have £1,000 a month to live on (but that's significantly less than we're used to). Can we have any advice on how to make it stretch? There's two of us, two 10 year olds and a dog. It'll need to cover all food, petrol for 2 cars (we commute in opposite directions) and everything else.

Using the MSE boards we've made a budget for all our bills, switched energy suppliers, cancelled Sky, etc etc. The thousand is what's left over.

We sometimes shop at Aldi but will do this as our main shop now.

All help appreciated, I'm worried it won't go as far as we need.

Thank you,

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/08/2020 19:20

TrustTheGeneGenie I didn’t say it was a shit life I said it would be Tight and tricky. Enlighten me with what amazing things you can do on the money and the cost?

Takingabreakagain · 01/08/2020 19:21

Martin Lewis has a really useful budget spreadsheet on his website that I've found helpful in the past. I'm not sure what you've included in your essential bills but I found it helps you remember payments that are not just the regular monthly ones - e.g. don't forget house insurance and also car expenses like MOT and tax which you'll maybe need to save an amount each month towards.

Wattagoose90 · 01/08/2020 19:22

Sit down together and budget what you need/call out non negotiables. Willpower and change of mindset will get you through.

Little changes can make huge differences. Batch cooking and freezing can save a small fortune but can take a lot of time to prepare. Buying in bulk can save a few pennies. Limit eating out and takeaways if not already.

Keep utility costs down e.g if you're on a water metre, favour quick showers instead of baths, do the dishes in the sink rather than the dishwasher.

Instead of getting new phones when contracts expire, keep the same device and look at sim only deals.

If you're able to, ear mark x amount of funds for Xmas and birthdays and pop into a separate account so that you're not faced with too much of a shock when the time comes. If the kids are used to very extravagant presents, start getting them used to the idea that it might not be quite as extravagant this year and set some expectations early on.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

HandsOffMyRights · 01/08/2020 19:24

@HandsOffMyRights

I've been where you are after I lost my job. Family of four, kids were 4 at the time.

We cut our cloth accordingly. We had one car anyway, an oldercar.
Holidayed in UK (Sun deals).
No Sky TV, cheap mobile deals
As I wasn't working I could shop about for food deals
Clothing - kept my wardrobe, visited charity.
We had a mortgage, not rent. A small, easy to heat house.

It was do-able. We even had savings.
My earnings had only brought £700 in extra and we had no debt fortunately.

My grear aunt (who had survived the war years on a budget) told me to cut my cloth and that advice has stuck.

Our budget included utilities and petrol too.

Most of us don't have cleaners to begin with, so that may not be an option to drop those luxuries.
In the real eorld, 1k will be enough.

During lockdown we have saved so much on haircuts - we have teens now.

welldonesquirrels · 01/08/2020 19:32

We're not quite in that ballpark but maybe quite close in terms of what we spend. We live quite a hippy/frugal life.

Some things that I think help.

Buying second hand clothes on ebay. You can really save a lot, especially on kids clothes and as a bonus, it's better for the planet.

Reuse and repair things you already have. Buy anything you need second hand, as long as it's realistic to do so.

Fuel economy. Have a look at what you are driving and, if you own your cars, maybe look into whether it would be cheaper to sell what you have and buy or lease a smaller car with better miles to the gallon.

Ditch meat. I don't eat meat for ethical reasons anyway but it's also much cheaper to bulk out meals with lentils than meat, for example.

On that note, avoid convenience food and buy staples and make from scratch instead. Microwave meals, buying lunches and coffees on the go etc add up to massive amounts over time.

Find joy in nature. A picnic, a park visit, a long rambling walk can all bring a lot of fun and joy.

Recreate the pub or restaurant experience at home. A £5 pinot noir from lidl is far nicer than a 14.99 bottle of pub wine and you can still have friends and nibbles in your back garden. Cheaper, nicer alcohol, no taxi fare and no drunk strangers or shit music.

Similarly, you don't need a gym membership to work out, you can keep fit at home with minimal or no equipment. Resistance bands are great and so is youtube.

Look at all of your outgoings and use a compare the market or similar. Can you save on car insurance? Energy or phone bills? Consolidate loans for lower monthly payments? Ditch subscriptions you're not using?

Have a clear out and use it as a way to make money. You probably won't make a fortune from sticking things on ebay or Facebook marketplace but you never know and it's always nice to declutter and give things a new lease of life elsewhere.

Hope some of this helps. :)

Wester · 01/08/2020 19:34

You should be fine.
Write down a month by month budget, and then financial goals.
My husband in unemployed BC vivid so we are now on £450 after bills, rent etc.

If you are meat eaters I highly recommend somewhere like musclefood- buy in bulk. Likewise gets 5kg bags or rice, pasta, so much cheaper and you will be surprised how long it will last.

One thing I am grateful for is that once my husband finds work we are going to try save 75% of his wages.

Bollss · 01/08/2020 19:37

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

TrustTheGeneGenie I didn’t say it was a shit life I said it would be Tight and tricky. Enlighten me with what amazing things you can do on the money and the cost?
Well we have less disposable income than this, and fair enough only one child at home, but we still have meals out, nice birthdays, Christmas, we usually go abroad once a year... It's not that tight. We also meal plan but we don't eat the most basic stuff every day. We have a nice life.
MidnightCitrus · 01/08/2020 19:41

@Debtgalore

I said in the OP it's leftover AFTER bills. So housing and bills are paid and there's a thousand left.
then thats loads
Lifeisabeach09 · 01/08/2020 19:43

Meal plan, definitely.
Set yourself a food/toiletries/cleaning products/dog food budget: £100 per week
Aldi/Lidl/shopping online so you stick to budget may help
Set a leisure budget
Insurances
Hair cuts/clothes/uniform etc (always put a set amount each month aside for this although August/Sept will be costly)

Just some ideas, OP. HTH.

ivykaty44 · 01/08/2020 19:48

Look at swapping one car to electric if the commute is under 30 miles, it maybe worth looking at trading in both cars for more fuel efficient motors that have cheaper running costs

Haircuts if you go now every 6 weeks stretch to 8 weeks & book each time you go

Turn the heating down in the winter by 1 or 2 degrees and set to come on 20 minutes later and go off 40 minutes early

Set your council tax over 12 months rather than 10

Have friends round for coffee and cake at home, dinner in the garden, it’s cheaper than £25 for a Starbucks or £80 for a pub meal out

Online shopping as other have said or try Aldi for basics and top up at sainsbury. Go with a shopping list, bulk cook and freeze. Use frozen vegetables. Have at least 2 store cupboard food recipes that you can make. Try and shop for enough evening meals for 2 weeks, then every other week just top up for lunches, cakes for coffee at home and an easy meal instead of eating out. We do fish and chips from the freezer and a film.

Join the £10 a day thread

gingerbeerandlemonade · 01/08/2020 19:50

Speaking as someone with £500 left over for food, petrol and everything else for a family of four- you will cope! Meal planning is key.

carly2803 · 01/08/2020 19:52

1k after bills?!

absolutely be fine.

i have just over 1k which has to PAY BILLS AND A MORTGAGE

cut your cloth..!

carly2803 · 01/08/2020 19:52

1k after bills?!

absolutely be fine.

i have just over 1k which has to PAY BILLS AND A MORTGAGE

cut your cloth..!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/08/2020 19:52

TrustTheGeneGenie I’m actually interested, how old is your child? How much is your yearly holiday?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/08/2020 19:54

Look at swapping one car to electric if the commute is under 30 miles, it maybe worth looking at trading in both cars for more fuel efficient motors that have cheaper running costs love middle class comments like this- do you actually know how expensive electric cars are?!

Bollss · 01/08/2020 19:55

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

TrustTheGeneGenie I’m actually interested, how old is your child? How much is your yearly holiday?
  1. Last year it cost without spending money about £500.

When DSS who is 15 was living with us, it cost us about 2k for the same thing but in school holidays. We had around the same amount of disposable income then but spent more of it on the weekly shop, obviously!

bringbacksideburns · 01/08/2020 19:56

Really bad form to post a thread like this dutlring an international pandemic when people are losing everything.

Only on Mumsnet. FFS.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 01/08/2020 19:58

Asda, lidl and Aldi, cheaper shops ime
Vegetarian is only cheap is you avoid ready meals
Think before you buy
Look at martin Lewis

theneverendinglaundry · 01/08/2020 19:58

OP that is our budget once all bills are paid.

I usually split into 4 and we "pay" ourselves every week.

Planning is key. Unfortunately being on a budget means little spontaneity but you can still eat well as long as you meal plan.

BlueLagoona · 01/08/2020 19:58

£800 after bills and petrol to feed and keep you for a month and you don’t know how to ‘make it stretch?’.

I mean, come on op, really?

You spend less. You budget. You don’t splash out on the things you used to when you had significantly more money.

How people who are apparently capable of earning decent incomes can’t work this out for themselves is beyond me. It’s hardly like you’ll be scrabbling for coppers to feed yourself Hmm

sleepyhead · 01/08/2020 20:02

Shopping wise, drop down a level - e.g. if you buy brands then buy shop own brand, if you buy own brand try budget range.

Some things wont taste the same but you get used to it. If there are brands you dont want to compromise on then make them the exception (Heinz ketchup for me but we've got used to own brand cereal).

Cut out buying alcohol regularly. A bottle for a celebration rather than just to have in.

Meal plan around your budget rather than just buying what you fancy and chucking half of it when it doesnt get eaten. Freeze any fresh meat that you're not planning to use in a couple of days in case something comes up and it goes to waste.

For food budget, try to underspend a bit (£10 a week say) and use that for a treat (takeaway, wine) at the end of the month or add to the Christmas budget

Top slice the budget for Christmas/ inevitable expenses and then try to live within the remaining amount.

AutumnLeavesSeptember · 01/08/2020 20:02

It's all about planning.

So meal planning, buying in bulk, cooking vegetarian food, cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner from scratch. This doesn't have to be totally joyless. Get some recipe books out of the library and if you've got teens get them involved.

Second hand everything! You'd be utterly amazed at the stuff you can get brand new with or with out tags on eBay. Likewise it's worth finding your nearest discount retail park. The one we go to has a Nike and Adidas store with great products but they are less popular/ past season.

Shop for Christmas and birthdays all year round. Keep a running list of pressies and then buy something that is on the list if you see a bargain. Yes, it does take far longer to shop this way.

Make the most of your local amenities. Do you have great outdoors and hiking? Do you have good free museums? Put yourself into all local making lists, eg council, local youth service, museums, galleries, country parks etc. Libraries are great for books obvs. Free fun is still fun.

Maximise any loyalty schemes you use, eg Clubcard points for cinema tickets. Buy presents you know that will give your kids something to eg unlimited cinema card.

Organise swaps with your friends if you have too much of done stuff and not enough of others.

myfavouritefudgecake · 01/08/2020 20:06

Hi OP,

People can be a bit weird about money in here. Your context is your context and learning to adjust is a challenge for anyone.

I do think £1000 a month is very doable though but you might have to shift your mindset a bit.

Having a monzo with "pots" can be very useful when budgeting for a month. So for example, we have pots called: "dog", "groceries", "clothes", "emergency". You could have one for kids supplies too or whatever. You stick to it and don't deviate.

I assume you'll want to save something too so that can be factored in.

FWIW, DH and I would burn through £1000 a month easily if we weren't careful so I do understand.

sleepyhead · 01/08/2020 20:07

Yep Tesco Clubcard is great for cinema tickets. We never go unless it's Cineworld via Clubcard or £4.99 Vue tickets.

Ds's birthday was cinema with mates & back to ours for pizza during our leanest years courtesy of six months clubcard points.

SuckingDownDarjeeling · 01/08/2020 20:08

"Hi MNers, long term poster but name changed as embarrassed."

Sorry, what are you embarrassed about?

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