Hi All... wondering with the cost of living increase etc if you budget, what you're budgeting for weekly spends?
If I take our household income, then take off mortgages, bills, travel costs, car costs, kids clothes costs, childcare costs, long terms savings and short term put aside for holidays etc.... (draws breath) then I have about £265 a week to spend on a family of four for food and fun.
Our weekly shop is on average about £125 a week. Which leaves £140. This needs to cover any clubs and classes my kids do, petty cash, eating out, etc.... (though can't say we do much eating out!)
We have a third kid coming and I will increase it to £305 which isn't a lot but don't think a new baby would take a lot of money to begin with especially as we have all the baby stuff from the previous two!
How do you compare and do you think £265 then £305 is enough? The only thing we could flex really is our put asides for holidays and I don't really want to do that!? I try and plan the last weekend before pay day as cheaper/free activities and that seems to work well, but first time I've really tried to work within a budget before!