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.

@Fluffycloudland77 I used to work with a mother of 6 who worked nights while her dh worked days
What a horrible way to live, both as a couple and as a family.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@Fluffycloudland77* I used to work with a mother of 6 who worked nights while her dh worked days*
What a horrible way to live, both as a couple and as a family.[/quote]
Christ whats horrible about that if it gets you enough money to live?

Life isnt meant to be all ideal and super and doing what we want, some of us have to do what we can to get by for a few years until we don't need childcare.

Well it's not ideal obviously, but its what you do in a needs must situation. It's what people have to do, especially if low paid in high cost areas.

But until we have more info from the OP, it's impossible to say whether this type of solution is necessary, or if it's the case where she's not as frugal as she thinks, and there's considerable slack in the budget that just needs tightening up a little.

And @Moneysavvymam. You need to earn more, its that simple. You need to find something you can do when dh is at home with the kids. Fill supermarket shelves, clean offices at night, whatever. You need more money.

Yep, increase income. DH retrain even.

@Shamsnahar many families are on fixed water costs. As a family of six it’s likely the op is on watersure.

What a horrible way to live, both as a couple and as a family.

What a horrible way to live, both as a couple and as a family.
Posted too soon as I was so aghast! I honestly think this is one of the daftest things I have ever read on here!

What so you suggest? That they sleep on the streets?

@ssd Life isnt meant to be all ideal and super and doing what we want completely agree with that , however having no time as a couple or family time destroys relationships.
Working one day at weekends or a couple of evenings a week is very different to completely opposite shifts.

@SavoyCabbage don’t be ridiculous, it’s hardly neglect your spouse or family or live on the streets!

Anyway, I wonder if the OP will come back to this thread?

As the op hasn't been back, we'll need to assume some stuff. So, assuming there's just one wage coming in and the op and her dh have actively chosen to have 4 children and one wage...
Then, @MyDcAreMarvel , needs must. Of course it would be lovely to be financially fine on one wage and spend evenings and weekends together. Lovely. But, if your outgoings are exceeding your incoming, you need to do something.

@TheTurn0fTheScrew

what icedCoffees said we've lived in a do-er upper for over a decade. We've done some bits, left others, and from what I see locally this is entirely normal outside of MN and Instagram. I'll doubt we'll ever have a renovated house, as by the time everything has been done the first stuff done years ago may well need some work.

Just for more added perspective OP , I have been living in my current property for over ten years and still haven't updated living room and hallway carpets 🤷 bathroom and kitchen needed replaced first and we won't be doing any more. That's life.

I agree with so many others on this thread, price of living has really went up. Looking into another income stream might be the only way.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@SavoyCabbage don’t be ridiculous, it’s hardly neglect your spouse or family or live on the streets![/quote]

What?

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@ssd* Life isnt meant to be all ideal and super and doing what we want* completely agree with that , however having no time as a couple or family time destroys relationships.
Working one day at weekends or a couple of evenings a week is very different to completely opposite shifts.[/quote]
It doesn't destroy relationships

We did it for a while, it was tough and hard going and sometimes lonely but we needed the money we had no choice and that was that.
Now the dcs are young adults, me and dh plod along together fine.

Needs must and all that.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@Fluffycloudland77* I used to work with a mother of 6 who worked nights while her dh worked days*
What a horrible way to live, both as a couple and as a family.[/quote]
Nobody said it was fun.

But how else do you propose the bills get paid? Having four children is expensive and they clearly can't afford to keep living on one income.

@user1493423934

Not possible to get a 2nd job, the cost in childcare would be over double the wage I could get so just no possible.

How about night/weekend when your DH is home? I do a second job 2 hours on Wed and 2 hours on Sunday 7-9pm. Not heaps extra but enough to cover weeks petrol/some groceries.

DH works 60 to 70 hours a week excluding travel time which he does have to stay away for sometimes. There aren't set hours, he goes where he is needed whenever that is, could be 3am could be 3pm. I haven't got a chance in hell of finding work that suits his hours.

I could do something from home. I am quite handy with knitting and sewing and paper crafts but only for homemade gifts for my children. I'm no where near 'side hustle' good.
I have knocked a bit off of Christmas cost with this though.

I know I seem like a lazy cow who just won't get off her arse, but I have no skills and 4 young children who are attached at the hip. I'll be able to work in a few years when the youngest is in nursery or Reception. Until then though we will be a one income family.

I understand the idea of changing the prices on the online selling. I will look at other sites too to improve the chances.
I can't deliver though and I know that puts some people off.

So what is your rough household income? And do you have a large mortgage?

What worked for us was me picking up extra work at the weekends. It was shit though - dp and I never got to spend much time together and the dc were just passed between us. I was tired a lot (so was dp). I worked in healthcare, but I'd imagine there might be retail jobs where you could get weekend shifts too.

It sounds crappy, though, op. I am grateful those years are mainly behind us.

Also - you haven't got no skills. Your experience with your dc will have given you excellent skills in care. Look to see if your local NHS trusts (remember to check for mental health trust as well as physical health) have a nurse bank where you can register as a support worker. You would be able to pick your shifts then (though they will expect you to work at least a couple of shifts a month).

Single parent of 3. I don't recommend you take a job at this stage.

Gosh 60-70 hours a week plus travelling time?! That is crazy. Surely he must be earning a decent amount for that?

@Moneysavvymam

I understand the idea of changing the prices on the online selling. I will look at other sites too to improve the chances. I can't deliver though and I know that puts some people off.

If they want it (i.e. are committed and seriously intend to buy) they will collect. Don't worry. I've never delivered and have sold loads!

Sign up for an online English tutoring site like italki. Some of them have things called "community tutors" which means you don't have to have (or pretend to have) any teaching qualifications. You can just offer an hour's speaking practice for say £5-10 an hour. Many foreign learners are just looking to practice relaxed conversation English.