To think that £200 a week for a family of 4 is doable?

[Bluebridge]

So I've become a sahm due to the cost of/ lack of flexible childcare. We are 2 adults and 2 young dc.

We obviously checked the figures before I became a sahm but some things have changed and now we are left with £200 a week after bills except food. I'm having a panic but this is fine isn't it!?

[Pizzaexpressreview]

we've cut back to a similar amount but what worries me is the things like Mot/saving towards the next car when ours dies/if we want a holiday/ school shoes and uniform/glasses etc has to be saved for out for that pot too.

Also if kids are invited to lots of parties - I've got a pack of generic cards but it's still a fiver each time for a present - petrol really adds up and we've got the kids in sports clubs we've already committed to ... We don't spend much on clothes and have v little but it still adds up, and wellies/sandles/work clothes.

The little things add up quickly and need to come out of the 200.

It doesn't seem a lot more than on benefits when I put it in the calculator which surprised me a lot. Hopefully I will work long term though .

[Pizzaexpressreview]

Swimming costs 13quid for us.

And we have no pensions and according to mn should be saving but hard to do when adjusting to a lower income.

Follow g this thread for ideas though. I'm definitely up for cutting the food bill!

[Viviennemary]

It sounds like enough. But are you factoring in other expenses like birthdays, car repairs, house repairs, vet bills, holidays and so on and so on.

[onemorecakeplease]

That's what we roughly have to live off and honestly, it's really hard work and pretty dull.
By the time I have fuelled the car, done the weekly shop, paid for school lunches, packed lunches, a couple of outings like swimming or events there is nothing left.
I can't save up for holidays, go on great day trips etc.

Fortunately dh sometimes does overtime which we use for emergencies and I have a little side business that can put an extra couple of hundred into the pot.

Without that I would say it's not much fun (but it can obviously be done.)
Fruit is my biggest expense as my dc don't eat sugar/puddings so they go through a billion bananas a week, mangoes, melon, soft fruit etc etc

[lou1221]

We are a family of 5, fortunately not babies anymore, with expense of nappies and formula. We spend roughly between £70-100 a week on food, inc toiletries and washing powder etc. We tend to shop in Aldi, and pretty much meal plan, definitely go with a list. xx

[Pizzaexpressreview]

Onemore - that's what I'm fearing. And we really do have to budget for car needing fixing (old car) and some house stuff will inevitably come up.... Xmas and school shoes in the next few months.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

It will be a lot more doable if you spend some time making your money go as far as possible, treat it as a 'job'. Also if you can shop in cheaper supermarkets and be careful what you buy. Not if your idea of normal basic shopping is organic everything from Waitrose. Eat more veg than fruit and eat what is cheap and in season. For fruit, focus on apples and bananas, not lots of fresh berries and tropical fruit. Also look at canned and frozen. Can you grow your own?

Look at the moneymake over on moneysavingexpert and get their weekly money tips email:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help

Look for opportunities to cut your bills and increase your income. Shop around and look for deals and discounts. Batch cook and have some cheap meals. Don't waste food.

If you aren't particular frugal at the moment, a few savings could really add up and your £200 pw could become £250 pw and it might look a lot easier.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

School lunches are really expensive if you are on a budget and not always that great or worth the money. As an adult I wouldn't pay £2.50 a day for lunch. Take packed lunch and save loads.

[Pizzaexpressreview]

I've just started a cheaper meals thread.

I have time at home due to I'll health so plan to treat it like a job working on reducing costs whereas before we weren't silly but would just shop for what we fancied for dinner and have the odd lunch out.

[Findingdotty]

I agree with the parallel universe comment.

My food budget for 5 (4 adult portions, 1 nearly adult) is £350 a month. Generally pushes to £400 a month with small top ups included. I shop in Waitrose, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Lidl. I don't normally have a problem with Lidl produce going bad quickly. I do look carefully when I chose the fruit and veg though so will chose something else if it looks old.

We don't eat out as a rule but have occasional coffees, lunches.

[Pizzaexpressreview]

Finding - do you do all car expenses/all clothes/ school shoes/presents/birthdays/xmas/ holiday if you have one/ fuel for work/money for school things for under 400 a month too?

If so ace :) I'm hoping to be able to.

[mumeeee]

£200 a week is fine. I feed 3 adults on less than that

[Pizzaexpressreview]

mumee it's not just for food but for everything!!

[Bluebridge]

It's not just feeding us on it though it's everything else.

Realistically holidays abroad and frequent meals out aren't going to happen with 2 toddlers regardless of finances and hopefully this will be temporary until they are in full time school.

@pizza do you have a link to your cheap meals thread please.

[EC22]

Just for food? That's 4x average food costs for a family according to google. I have a family of 6 we try and keep food shop to under £70 per week.

[goose1964]

Actually you can get great bargains in Waitrose if you shop after 6 pm

[Bluebridge]

@ec22 no it's not just for food it's for food and living costs after bills.

I'm making a plan!

[oldlaundbooth]

I'm sure it's been mentioned but The Sun holiday coupons are good for caravans.

Or camping if you're game /have the stuff /fancy a challenge.

[noeffingidea]

pizza yes you can do those things.
Clothes are one thing you can really economise on as a SAHM. Buy only what you need. Supermarkets and charity shops are both cheap.
When my kids were small I used to buy their things from the reduced racks in a bigger size then put them away for the next year.
School shoes I bought from Tesco or shoezone. They were absolutely fine, my kids have never had any problems with their feet.
As for the other expenses, you need to put some money away each week so that you don't accidentally dip into it or mix it up with your food money. In your position I would have 2 savings accounts - one for christmas and birthday presents, one for emergencies and occassional expenses. At least until you get used to your new budget.
You also need a little bit of general spending money during the week - for things like no uniform days, treats for the kids, etc.
Try not to spend money just for the sake of it. As you get used to your new budget you may find you can save a little bit more each week.

[Ttbb]

If it's just food it's doable but things like clothing can become a problem. Obviously lUxuries would be out of the question, it mostly depends on his old your children are-would you be able to find time to grow vegetables, keep chickens, make everything from scratch etc?

[Pizzaexpressreview]

We already camp old - at 24 a night near here that's still 125 for 5 nights. We were thinking we might have to cut that out.

[Pizzaexpressreview]

Blue. I've just started it. Sounds like were in a similar position!!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3013193-Cheap-but-healthy-meals

[noeffingidea]

Be careful of Sun holidays. My son found out they were having to pay out a lot on extras.

[Pizzaexpressreview]

We don't have a garden big enough to grow veg/keep chickens!!

I do think a large house allows a lot of ways to economize (lodgers/growing stuff/ parties at home/chuck in the garden to play.)

[Tazerface]

£200 a week? Do you mean month? Because you genuinely can't be thinking that a family of 4, two of whom being toddlers, is 'tight' on £200 a week?

If you can't budget that for living costs (I'm assuming you mean food, the minimal travel you mention and maybe topping up £20 a week on utilities?) then honestly you need to have a word with yourself. We have £400 a month after bills are paid and that's for 5, all three kids at school plus a part time teenager. We still manage to budget enough for decent birthdays etc.