got my weekly shop with tesco vouchers yesterday, for £30, i dont think my pay is covering my outgoings

[waikikamookau]

but was quite proud that i made a list and crossed some out made another list until it came to the value of the vouchers i had.

i am seriously skint. but a month ago would probably have done my usual shop but put it on a credit card.
i tried to icnrase the credit on my card for christmas but they wouldnt allow it. good for them i spose.
am a very lapsed vegetarian but tbh cant think of any veggie meals. apart from lentil spaghetti
i used to make a mean black eye bean shepehrds pie. but dc didnt like it. so gave up. all my veggie recipes seem to involve a tin of tomatoes.

i have to feed a family of 5, 3 teens.

anyone any further tips on frugal living. really frugal living

[waikikamookau]

Must learn better to say no

[waikikamookau]

thanks minimialist, interesting read.

[MinimalistMommi]

OP how are you getting on?
Here is a post about having little money/Christmas and children.
www.frugalqueen.co.uk/2013/11/debt-repayment-if-you-have-children.html

[keli5325]

co op cashminder is a good basic bank account if you are entering a dmp

[RandomMess]

Are your teens old enough to get paper rounds/babysit/wash cars for pocket money? Perhaps now is the time they learn the true meaning of money!!!! Give them the choice between eating, heating, new clothes, christmas presents and ask them to prioritise?

Once the debt management plan is sorted have you got anything to sell on ebay? Have the teens????

[MinimalistMommi]

The teens should be old enough to understand to be honest and they're going to have to suck it up, now is not the time to be getting further in debt. Have you checked out the mortgage free in three blog I mentioned yet? She's a strong lady and says it how it is, I think she would give you inspiration to stay strong. Try reading her archives. You've made the first very important step by noting all your debts.

[Fluffycloudland77]

You might get a basic account with no overdraft, rejections apparently don't show up on credit ratings.

Halifax might still be offering £100 to switch.

[waikikamookau]

been on stepchange this morning. What a wake up call. Noted all debts. without ignoring any.
they recommended a debt management plan.
can't imagine dc will accept a frugal christmas. but it will have to be the way!
thign is they said to change bank accounts. who would give us a bank account??
are banks fussy?

[prettymess]

And prioritise.
Basics first. Food, rent or mortgage, utilities, warmth, clothes.
Then anything luxury.
Great book is 'Orchids on your budget' by Marjorie Hillis. It is old, but still so good.

[prettymess]

There are so many lovely vegetarian meals. Try things like Cowboy Hotpot and use quorn (buy when on a deal!) or other meat subs for adapting meat dishes to be veggie. Make your own pizza. Get recipe books from the library.

[MinimalistMommi]

Totally agree with SpecialSubject
Christmas is simply one day.
Put it into perspective.
There are lots of 'free' things you can do to get that Christmas magic.
Walking out to see the lights.
Hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Cuddling up on sofa under blankets to watch Xmas films.
Make (cheap) Xmas cookies together etc etc.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Don't forget aviva for house insurance, I got building & contents for £180 (which is what dh was paying just for contents when we rented) but I got £63 back in cashback from topcashback.co.uk.

I got a contents quote from them last year for £75, with cashback that's £12 a year.

[specialsubject]

please please please forget big spend at Christmas. You can get decorations in charity shops or Poundland, so things will look pretty. But please get a hold on it.No presents for adults or teens - they are old enough to understand. Home made stuff for little ones. Tell your family and friends that times are tight and make a 'no presents' pact NOW.

so many already starting to say 'worrying about budgeting for Christmas'. CHRISTMAS DOES NOT MATTER. Roof over your head etc does.

[MinimalistMommi]

Are you able to get to supermarkets an hour before closing? On a Sunday for example?

Just been to local Tesco's and saw the Tesco man was yellow stickering so much stuff, bags of apples for 32p, lots of veg being reduced, pots of fruit for 12p etc. this could help with keeping costs down but I know it's not easy for everyone to be able to there are right time.

Putting Xmas on credit card does not sound good for you right now.

[tintingirl]

I also recommend Stepchange. They have an online tool which is a good place to start. You can include your car, clothes allowance etc as well. Stop using the CC's as it will just keep spiralling out of control.

[RandomMess]

ON these plans they do allow you to run a car and eat and get some new clothes etc. it really may be no where as bad as you think.

[AliceinSlumberland]

Christmas thread

Go through that second post and then if there's anything you want in particular they will help you out.

[waikikamookau]

i know, random. pen and paper at the ready.thanks for your posts.

[RandomMess]

It does sound out of control. The very first thing you need to do is write down all your essential outgoings including tax & insurance for car & something for servicing/repairs etc.

If outgoings strip income then putting more onto your credit card is just delaying the inevitble...

[waikikamookau]

wow thanks

[AliceinSlumberland]

With regards to Christmas have a look at the Christmas bargains thread, if you say what you are after they will help you find it super cheap and there's loads of stocking fillers. ATM there is £160 worth of skincare stuff for £11, £25 worth of Dove bits for £3, loads of stuff for the kids too.

[waikikamookau]

and i plan to put christmas on credit
i know, i know it is wrong. it is a mess.
will be checking out those websites and being better at shopping.

i did btw transfer but of course after a year they wrote to me and followed up with a phone call asking if i wanted to increase my limit, to which i said Yes. stupidly. i wasnt even using that card before

[waikikamookau]

pretty sure we are up to date on benefits.

but how to people pay for repairs to the car for example, and car tax. that is an issue in which case we resort to dreaded credit card.

[JimmyCorkhill]

I second finding out if you are entitled to any benefits. You can have up to £6000 in savings and STILL be awarded housing benefit, so if you are struggling and working you might have a good chance. Also child/working tax credits. You can check if you are eligible/apply online government benefits site

[RandomMess]

If you can promise to cut up the old card then transfer as much debt as possible on to a low interest deal so you can may off more than the minimum on the standard rate one?

If you can't get yourself out of this debt then it is time to seek advice and a repayment plan IMHO.