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]

Ooh thanks I will look at that .

i vaguely remember a mumsnetter used to produce recipes on a budget - is it that one? (I think she was an academic I just can't remember her name.) I didn't used to worry as much about budgeting but I had noticed shed set up something!!

[Pizzaexpressreview]

Ooh looks interesting. Wasn't one I was thinking of I don't think but will tag to read the blog later. Thankyou.

Was it Boffinmum or similar name that did something? I'm not 100% sure and don't know how to tag to ask her.

[Pizzaexpressreview]

Ah it was. Found it. It's Austerity Housekeeping and it's turned into a book!

[swingofthings]

It comes down to how well you are budgeting. I've seen friends doing very basic budgets concluding they'd be fine. Except that they only counted main items and forgot about all the smaller ones.

They didn't budget forctheir DD starting to be invited to bday parties and paying for presents or her starting swimming lessons and vying stuff like swim bags goggles and again when bag was left behind. Then their garden got hit by a storm, with a tree falling on the fence, needs to repair and cut tree down. Some months later one of their parents became ill and need to go weekly to visit in hospital costing a lot in fuel and parking.

After 2 years they were caught into the vicious circle of only being able to repay minimum CC payment that increased every few months as they then needed to use their CC for every day bills.

I think £200 is okay if it allows for £75-100 a month emergency fund and budget already takes into account costs beyond monthly regular ones.

[Whathaveilost]

So that's £800 a month after bills?mOf course it's doable. Some weeks will cost more than £200 and other weeks cost a lot less. Try and get into the habit of saving then it's not a panic when it's an expensive month.

[Pizzaexpressreview]

austerityhousekeeping.wordpress.com

posting so I can read it and find it later! It's a mn linked blog I think.

[Pizzaexpressreview]

That's my worry Swing. I think it's easy to forget those things an so want to try and build a budget list to cover as much as I can think of. My daughter really wants swimming lessons so I need to see if that's possible.

[noeffingidea]

when you're on a budget insurance is your best friend. I've found the opposite, tbh. Never had insurance, and never needed it either. Saved myself a lot of money by not taking out insurance and extended warranties. The downside is that you need to have savings, or do without things for a certain amount of time until you can afford to repair or replace it.

[Bluebridge]

@dubious has it right, I know we won't starve but i don't want to be struggling every month and living a miserable life tbh.

I didn't mean to offend anyone and I know there are plenty of people living on less money.

I grew up in poverty and seen the drain it had on my parents. I've always been lucky enough to be able to work until recently and never thought I would have to become a sahm.

We can eat well for £70 a week and when we have got used to the new budget we will save whatever we can.

[nonevernotever]

Thanks @Pizzaexpressreview That link looks interesting too. I'm definitely saving a fortune (and finally managing to lose weight) by taking a packed lunch everyday and by keeping real coffee, a Lakeland individual coffee filter thingy and milk at work so that I never need to go near the work canteen or the coffeeshop.

[thebear1]

Food I think is okay, we are doing 9 days self catering and I got everything from scratch from Tesco for £121. Including wine and steak and other treats. It is the other costs I would worry about, uniform, things breaking, gifts etc.

[Oly5]

I actually think wingsabdstrings is right. It's fine when they're toddlers not to have much cash and spend time in the park. When they're teenagers, they want to go to the cinema with friends, eat out, take trips, have a nice pair of trainers. And why ever not? It's part of growing up and being independent and fitting in. It's one reason I always try to keep us on two incomes as much as possible

[Pizzaexpressreview]

I really hope to find some work I had no idea it would be this hard after being a sahm.