To think there’s not much else I can do with this budget.

[Itgetsharder]

My main income is approximately 2600
child benefits 280

So that’s 2860

Rent 1400
Life insurance 84 (which I will be reducing in the new year, I just can’t do it yet)
Internet and phone 52 (again contract is up in Feb, though most deals are similar)
Netflix 15
Disney 11
Bins 23
Apple 20
DS football 25
Electricity 120

Total 1750
Leftover 1110
Amount leftover is to cover food, petrol, other clubs for dc every so often (they are not monthly costs) more like termly and their dad pays half of them too.
I have my DC 50:50 custody but it doesn’t make a huge difference to food costs.
Im not saving a lot and would like to be saving more although I’m getting there.

Theres not much I can cut is there? The dc watch both Disney and Netflix, I watch Netflix and I use Apple Music etc A LOT.

I think you need to make an annual budget and break it down month by month. Its very easy to miss large costs ( like heating oil) because they only occur once or twice a year, same with holidays or birthdays.

For example it could look like:

Rent 1400 x 12
Car tax 600 X 1 (October)
Heating oil 500x 2 (October, March)
Electricity 120 X 12
Summer holiday 2,000 X 1 ( June)
Kid's birthdays 150 X 2 (February, November)
Christmas 300 X 1 (December)

You can see that October will always be an expensive month because there will be recurring bills that are due, but March could be cheap and you could save more in that month.

If you could look back on your spending over the last 12 months you would have a better idea of how much you can actually spend/save each month. It will vary from month to month. Relatively small costs like Disney or Netflix are chicken feed in comparison to a heating oil bill.

I also live in ROI and you'll be getting two energy credits this winter and double children's allowance in December.

Rent is very high, housing costs ideally should be at most 30% of your income. But guessing there's nothing you can do there.

Have another look at the TV subscriptions, lots have a reduced rate with ads. We grew up with ads and I think it helps prevent binge watching.

Hi early I think you're doing very well to save anything at all.

Extra money -
Surveys
eBay
baby sitting on one of your non-DC evening?

I recommend keeping a meal diary for a couple of weeks then costing the meals and having the cheaper ones more often IF you enjoy them as much.

Have you seen the Boots recycling scheme? It's a faff but you basically get a £5 voucher for recycling your empties.

If you haven't done it before Matched Betting still has several hundred worth of sign up offers, you could do them slowly to build up a pot for Christmas.

Double child allowance in November also

Absolutely nothing I can do about that right now, I am in the middle of a separation so I won’t be able to buy until that’s settled and with the state of housing In Ireland I was SO lucky to get the house I’m in! 🙏

Would you qualify for family income supplement?

Unfortunately not, as I have my dc 50:50 and I earn too much too probably.

Don’t qualify for HAP either…

Does your DCs dad have Netflix? Would he let them log in at your house?

Why do you pay life insurance at £80. per month ? Is it necessary ? I agree about giving up disney etc and looking for better deals xx

I agree sad as it is the first thing I'd get rid of is the subscription services.

No he doesn’t, he used to use my login 🙄

Long story it’s actually a joint policy for me and ex dh but I don’t want to change it until the separation is legally effective.

I’m going to get rid of Disney. 🙌

Yes I thought that!

We have Netflix and Disney but don't pay that

I wouldn't get rid of your streaming subscriptions going into winter. Can you account share with any other family members? Or do Netflix for a month or two, then swap over and just have Disney for two months.

Netflix is less if you limit to two screens.
Find someone who has space to let you in their Apple family. I have a friend taking up my 5th spot and we are fully hidden from one another.

That is the cost for two screens. 😩

@RedRobyn2021 my prices are euros and they are the basic packages. The Netflix is for two screens.

I would detail out all your oil, car tax etc. then average hair cuts and shopping as these are also known costs that can be budgeted for each month and see what you’re left with.

@drinas thank you I can definitely try this method and see how it goes get on.

Do you have a spare room for a lodger Monday to Friday? In the UK that can be tax free not sure of the position in Ireland.

Are you sure that you can't get working family payment? The rules say You must have at least one child who normally lives with you or who you support financially. The income limit is around 3350 a month after tax for two children. My rough calculations say that you would get an extra 450 a month and that would go up in January. Definitely look into it.

I can look again but on reading it it implied to me that as we have 50:50 custody i couldn’t apply 😕

I rent so I can’t do that as it would be subletting.

If the house was mine I would for sure! 14k tax free here