How to cut corners when you already cut all of the corners?

[Moneysavvymam]

Me and DH have been eating into our savings recently. We have just moved so that comes with costs. Bought a few extra takeaways after being knackered from unpacking amd moving, bought a few new things we needed including furniture (all second hand though) so we initially thought that was part and parcel of the move. It costs money.

However now its been a while and the savings are still going down when they should be going back up.

We need to cut costs but we already do the following-
batch cook one pot meals mostly and freeze.
cycle or walk to cut travel costs (no car)
called Internet and got a better deal but they keep putting the price back up despite setting up an 18 month fixed price contract. eye roll.
-buy almost everything second hand
-we already shop at aldi and lidl
-we don't buy stuff for the sake of it anyway its all second hand
-stay in mostly, or local walks no days out for £££
-keep heating off and use electric blankets in winter and jumpers and extra socks

I don't know where else we can save. We were given a couple of hundred from family as a moving in present, it was supposed to go toward a new kitchen or flooring which is bare and unsafe but it just went on bills and now I'm too embarrassed to have people round because we are still living in a fixer upper when I budgeted and planned to have saved enough to have redecorated 80% of the place by now, but in reality I've put off buying a tin of paint because the money is just running away it seems.

oh and we just had a letter saying the gas and electricity is expected to rise in price. And I've noticed I'm spending more and more on food.
Is there anything I have forgotten? We are a family of 6 and I didn't even replace all of the uniform this year because I just couldn't afford it.
We still have about 2 months worth of expenses in savings but its dwindling.

I feel like we should be raking it in because we cut expenses to the bone but I'm struggling to think of where else we can cut. Any advice? I'm sure lots are in the same boat. Thank you for getting this far if you did, I know I'm a rambler when I worry.

@Gilly12345

You are a family of 6, do any pay board? Work more hours? Don’t have any takeaways?

OP says they are small children, so doubt they pay board 😆.

Does your DH actually earn enough to make it worth it if his hours are so restricting that you cant work outside the home at all? It could he consider a change to something with a more reliable working pattern?

4 kids on one income is simply going to be incredibly tight.

Can you sell anything at all? If you have any debts, consolidate them to minimise and interest expense. Dont buy anything on payment plans as those have interest built into the price too.

Could you fit in some training to move towards something home based like childminding where you could bring in more money?

If you have a garden grow some veg, potatoes will grow anywhere. Plant beans up your fence, they freeze great.

Go foraging for berries make jam and infuse gin, great gifts for Christmas. Knit, crochet dishclothes to sell online. Knit scarves to sell, knitted stuff is very popular.

Cleaning job on a night, are they any office blocks near you

Why, why, why have four children in a situation like this? It's utterly mental. I know, I know you can't do anything about it now, what's done is done but honestly. It just baffles me. Totally baffles me.

With you on this one.

Ddot there's no money in knitting. The yarn is expensive, people will barely pay enough to cover your costs, let alone actually pay you for the time you spend.

If you are wanting to sell lots of small items for little money each it is best to take them somewhere to be sold. So keep an eye out for things like any car boot or jumble sales coming up locally, schools often run them, or see what you can arrange with friends. I am part of a local network and we once set up a group swap/sale where we all turned up at one person's house and dumped our stuff out to sell on a table, then went around and browsed each other's. People buy at those kinds of things and if you're disciplined you won't come home with more crap. I often buy children's clothes or toys or books at this kind of thing but I wouldn't buy them from FB because of the hassle involved over such a small transaction.

For things like books, CDs, electronics you can try services like Music Magpie or amazon marketplace. You need to post but that's not too complicated. Vinted is great for children's clothes and you can post most things in an ordinary envelope, which you can buy in bulk on amazon.

Lots of ideas here. Do you have a community repaint near yours, you can get quality paint incredibly cheaply, in many colours, when you are able to and sometimes just a fresh coat of. Paint can really cheer the place up. Or people do give away things on freecycle, rugs etc again helping to cheer up the house and if there is something you need if an appliance is failing always asking if anyone has one to give away

@Fluffycloudland77

That’s a bit unfair, pregnancies happen even with birth control.

Free childcare is the elephant in the room in this country. We need free childcare from 6 weeks in this country for women not to get stuck in the house.

That’s a bit unfair, pregnancies happen even with birth control.

The odd one, not 4.

Sorry to say OP but absolutely no sympathy. Totally your own doing

I feel your pain, lots of stuff going up in price and it sounds like you are pretty savvy on the budgeting front and managing the outgoings. The only thing I can think of that others are suggesting is finding a way to boost your income. Could you run a business from home that you fit around childcare? Could be home baking? Going rate for a home made birthday cake in my area is £65? Cupcakes for six £25.
Another idea, I read an article about how gift wrapping has become a ‘thing’ where people give you their Xmas stuff and you wrap it all and charge a fee say £2.50 a gift.
Good luck OP, it will pass and you will be remember how tough it was.

@kravestix

Honestly, these threads are so frustrating. Why, why, why have four children in a situation like this? It's utterly mental. I know, I know you can't do anything about it now, what's done is done but honestly. It just baffles me. Totally baffles me. Cos, imo, four is loads. I just honestly don't get it.

I am with you on this one. I just don't get it at all. From what the OP says some of the basic needs aren't being met (unsafe flooring, no new uniforms). Whilst this is not necessarily neglect, judging by the current situation and no end in sight this situation is unlikely to be radically different in 2-3 years time or ever for that matter.

Could you take ironing in? My local launderette charge a fortune!!!

Food, look in the reduced sections and freeze when possible, Asda and Tescos and coop

Gas and electricity, use bare minimum and when it's cold, I wear thermal layers with jumper ect.

Travel is via walking and bicycle

Most items I buy second hand.

I don't drink or smoke so no costs there.

Would it be possible to reduce your family’s mobile phone data packages to their lowest possible (if you’ve not already done so) share data ?
Consider any subscriptions / memberships / cut or reduce kids clubs for a while
‘Stretch’ any recipes with extra vegs / pulses ?
Look at any processed foods / sugar items can often be expensive, cut out fizzy drinks, (dare I say it alcohol ?! Good luck hope you turn the corner on it soon

To all those saying why have 4 kids, maybe they had 3 and the 4th was an accident.

The OPs husband is obviously in a decent wage job, where they could save enough money for a minimum of 2 months wages, I don't think any was expecting the triple wammy for NI hike, gas and electric price hike and the massive amount food has gone up.

Peopl who were on the bread line are now going to be under it and people who were doing okish are now going to be struggling, this is the UK at the moment.

Why would you click on a thread and then get all frothy and pissed off, why not just click away?

It's not like the OP is going to see your post and go "Ah yes you're totally right, I'll just give up three of the kids for adoption"

If you don't want to offer help because you don't think somebody is "deserving" then just don't. Nobody is making you. The judgement on the other hand helps nobody.

Could you do some child minding so you wouldn't have to find childcare for your children whilst working?

The cost of living is rising out of control, so you have my sympathy. However I feel like something's missing? WTF does your husband do that he has to work mad irregular hours and you're still broke. Is he a trainee surgeon or a junior doctor or something? Is your house in Knightsbridge or somewhere else bonkers expensive?

I don't have any additional advice on saving money, but I live in a fixer upper in a really expensive area and it's never occurred to me to be ashamed. I love giving people the tour when they come over and talking about all my plans for the place. I also talk about saving up to get the bathrooms/kitchen done.

Anyway, I've had a lot of luck with our local "buy nothing" group on facebook. Join the one for your nearest really posh area if you want the good stuff. I also use the "Too Good to Go" app a lot - it's good for the environment and helps me stretch a bit between shops.

@Blackcat333

Could you take ironing in? My local launderette charge a fortune!!!

11 pages in, took a while!

Problem is she won't get any money for more than 2 children from Universal Credit or Tax Credit and if husband earns over a certain amount...no child benefit either. It won't be forever ...trust me...things change.....let us know what you have done and what worked.
😢

Buy things/ utility bills through topcashback then you’ll get some extra money for nothing. Bought our life insurance through it this year and got a few hundred pounds x

Hi op, if you have just moved , have you got a mortgage?
If so , you must have put on paper that you could afford the repayments.
So, how much does DH make?
How much is the mortgage?
Is DH spending on a hobby?

You can also fill out surveys online fir high street vouchers if you Google it. Depends how much free time you have though as it can take quite a long time to complete enough surveys to get £10. I used to do it and got the odd £10 here and there.

Keep all receipts to see how much you are spending and where.
Use vouchers where you can only, apps to get discounts available.
Do online surveys for money and use cash back apps.
Skint dad is a great resource.

Food prices have gone up and of course fuel is about to go up even more. Things are stretched but I find we are not so honest and guestimate spending.