To ask for your budgeting tips?

[erja]

We are good at budgeting on a whole - but could definitely be better (especially when it comes to cheaper meals, batch cooking, cutting out that extra takeaway!)

I want to start moving towards saving for a mortgage now too, so there's no room for unnecessary spending.

What's everyone's top tips?

I've started keeping all my receipts in my purse and putting what I spend into an Excel sheet every few days. I think seeing where your money goes and seeing what is a realistic amount to spend on things is the best starting point.

There are apps like You need a budget, but I find an Excel sheet just as good.

@BlackCatSleeping that's a good idea. I've been writing down all my buys on a scrapbook for now as it helps me to retain money when I'm completely conscious of what I'm buying.

it's a small offering but when i get a bogof offer i put the money saved to one side.i walk instead of the bus put the fare to one side, down brand shoppong and save the difference, sell on ebay and leave the proceeds on paypal.[our sells will cover our move next year in full] it's only small bits but it adds up and you don't notice you are saving because you would have spent it iyswim

*sorry for typos saving money today by having a bed day as opposed to going shopping and being tempted to buy stuff we probably don't need

I only shop once a week in Aldi. I meal plan and try and use everything I buy. I double up on the amount of at least one meal I cook so there’s always a ‘ready’ meal in the freezer for when I can’t be bothered, such as curry or shepherd’s pie etc. Stops us buying a takeaway. I then allow cash in my purse for the week, just enough for milk and bread. Got my food bills down to £60 week total for 2 adults and 2 teenagers and that’s breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks every day. We eat so much better than ever before

Thank you everyone!

Batch cooking is EASIER IMO.

I only cook 'properly' about twice a week but always cook a vat of it, If I've got the chopping board out I might as well.
You don't need a lot of meat, bulk out meals with loads of veg, tinned tomatoes, tinned pulses & beans. I even dice and throw in cauli/broccoli stalks, breadcrumbs etc. Check the whole fridge & use all veg that 'needs using', I also chuck in the last of pickle & sauce jars for extra flavour eg Branston, tomato relish.
I buy those silver foil takeaway dishes so they go freezer > oven > bin.
Cheap cuts of meat work very well, slow cooked. Beef short ribs, skirt, cheek, feather steak, Osso Bucco, lamb neck or leg shanks, etc.
Try :
Beef stew (with mash, which I also make in bulk & freeze in bags, reheat in microwave)
Morroccan Tagine (with couscous)
Goulash
Spanish chicken (with baked potato)
Curries, serve with rice & Bhaji etc
Slices of leftover roast meat, frozen under gravy, (I also freeze leftover roast potatoes)

That probably sounds awful but honestly is TASTY

Shepherd pie
Lasagne
Bolognese for kids

We stopped buying anything while at work, no lunch or snacks or coffee. All taken from home - we were easy £60 a week between us on that alone.

We also started save the change on our current account with BoS whereby our transactions are rounded up to the nearest £ and the 'change'put into our savings acc. Nearly £30 just in January so far - it will add up as holiday money.

We do 3 shops per month at Aldi and one at Tesco/Asda to pick up branded stuff we need (son has a lot of allergies and often brands are better).

Trying to meal plan but failing miserably so far.

I bought loads of reusable cloths for wiping down the kitchen instead of always buyinh wipes (more cost efficient and better for environment).

There is more but that's what springs to mind.

@Thisonewilldo yes, that's a big one with buying stuff when working. I realised it last week when I spent £10 on a simple lunch and coffee!!! It's a waste really - especially when I pack my toddlers packed lunch and could do one for me!

Agree with all of the above. This is what’s worked for me:

• Excel spreadsheet of all spending for 3 months. We put things into categories and ended up shocked at how much we spend on magazines, coffees and snacks, so stopped/cut down on those.
• Meal plan, make shopping list and stick to it. Don’t buy anything else at the supermarket!
• Packed lunches into work - usually using up leftovers from last night by cooking a bit extra, or making sure I have bought wraps or pitta breads to go with it.
• Buy multipacks of snacks and stop buying the odd chocolate bar or packet of crisps when I pay for petrol. I even keep an emergency chocolate bar in my handbag now!
• check the timer for heating - do you need it in for as long as you do?
• I only buy luxuries in sales (to me, that’s clothes, books, and shoes). The only things I pay full price for are if essentials break and I really can’t wait for a sale as I don’t have a spare, like jeans, work shoes, coat.

Try the spreadsheets from the Money Matters board in this thread:

SPREADSHEETS for : Debt Control, Budgeting, Mortgages etc

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legalmoneyy_matters/1987219-SPREADSHEETS-for-Debt-Control-Budgeting-Mortgages-etc

I use an app called 'Pocket Expense 6', you input expenditures/incomes manually and it charts/tracks what you've spent/earned. It has a handy function where you can assign a grocery budget (or fuel, or Christmas presents, or anything) for each month and, assuming you input all your spending on groceries as you go along, it shows if you're within or getting close to your max budget.

We used to eat takeaways about 3 nights a week but haven't had any for the past few months.

Typically we'd order in when I couldn't be bothered to cook (DH can barely boil an egg) or had no food in. So we started having really easy food to prepare in for those days instead. The typical one DH knows how to do is instant noodles with a tin of tuna, soy sauce and chilli powder - all things we store in the cupboard. We've saved a fortune in takeaways.

It doesn't have to be the healthiest thing, just something that keeps in the cupboard and can be made in 5 mins. Maybe soup with bread?

I love cooking and batch cook when possible but some evenings I barely have the energy to even boil the kettle!

Also, slow cookers use much less electricity than other kitchen appliances so you save on leccy and have a meal waiting when you get home.

We recently joined Costco and you get some good bargains there eg. 40 loo rolls for £10.

Also I think it’s really worth shopping around for utility suppliers house insurance etc. I think there are some savings to be made.

Ooh yes, forgot to mention the slow cooker. Great for batch cooking, barely uses any electricity, and it’s so nice to come home to a meal that is ready.

I was just about to say about shopping around for gas, electric, broadband, phone deals. And insurance when it comes up for renewal - if you can afford to pay upfront then do so as monthly payments is a lot more in total.

Would have been a long time ago now but when we were saving for a house, I remember not having almost any subscription type services at all. Examples include: Sky or any equivalent for TV, magazines and similar. Now would probably give up any of those in-app subscriptions. Worth checking if mobile phone can be moved to cheaper contracts. There are always cheaper (and better!) options available.

If you have any credit card bills, move to interest free option for X months and pay off.

We also never went out for food etc. I know sounds a bit miserable but needed to buy a house :)

Good luck!

Look in the moneysavingexpert website. Everything you need to know, the first things being changing energy suppliers, go through your direct debits and ask do you need them all, giving up smoking (if applicable), generally how to spend less and even how to increase your income.

Don't take money out with you unless you are going out to buy something specific (e.g. supermarket shop) and only buy the things you've planned to buy.

Remove any saved cards from any online shops you use for impulse purchases and keep the card somewhere that it's sufficiently a pain to go and get that you won't bother.

Both of these will force you to stop spending on unplanned items, and once you've got into the habit of not doing it, you'll keep doing so.

I meal plan each meal except for breakfasts which is just cereal, toast youghurt or briosh. We spend 85 a week for a family of 6 in aldi. Inc nappies and cleaning stuff. We eat really well and have meat most days. We also have loads left over from that in store cupboard and freezer.
Use slow cooker, make enough and freeze what you don't use.
Take packed lunches for work
Don't buy coffee etc it's such a waste or 3 quid for quite a boring drink.
We have a taste care for meals and days out. Use that a lot for cinema too. Saves hal each time.
Put money aside each month for birthdays and Xmas I buy things as I see them on offer or at a good price even if the birthday isn't for a while. I note down a running list and when I get to the allocated spend for that child I stop buying.
Card factory for cards.
Sainsburys dok the bessst uniform I think for yonder kids, use the 25 percent off week and buy it all.
Arms outlet for school shoes.
John Lewis school tights last for years and just don't let holes in them but are quite expensive to buy first time.
Use cash back sites I made 150 last year just doing my normal shopping online.
Parks and country parks for cheap days out take lunch with you.

REmove your card details from ALL online sites - so that buying becomes a faff / a conscious decision

NO MORE SNACKING
I know I normally say that on weight loss threads, but money spent on coffees and cakes and crisps adds up to astounding amounts

I'm budgeting heavily to pay of DHs debt. I've found doing one shop a week and taking the money out in cash before I go has saved me a fortune. Anything I have left is divided up notes go straight into saving change goes in my purse for if I need emergency bread or milk then goes into my change jar for the kids banks at the end of the week.
I've found switching from liquid hand soap to bars has saved me quite a bit as has making my own cleaning spray.

I find withdrawing cash for the week really helpful, all the small card transactions are up and often wasteful. For some reason money feels more real and you can see what you have left.

Living from one salary (if you can) and banking the other at the start of the month.