Economising - how to keep it up?

[WhizzPopBang]

Historically I've been awful with money, was in debt for years, had a dreadful spending problem. Tons better in recent years, just about manage to stick within my means but have always enjoyed buying stuff.

So now we've decided to try for 2nd DC in a year or so, and Ive started cutting back our frankly enormous monthly grocery spend, reckon I can save at least £250 a month. Meal planning, freezing home cooked meals, I'm even attempting making stock this morning!

So whilst I'm feeling smug a little bit pleased with my efforts - how do I stick to it?! My past record is flaky to say the least - does it get easier as you see the savings add up? Has anyone else gone from being awful to brilliant?!

I'm flaky with my efforts on budget sticking. I shop when I'm bored. I need nothing this week but you guarantee I'll go food shopping. There's only so much housework you can do without going binky bonky.

Me and my H had quite a lot of debt from when we were younger, bought a house which we couldn't really afford when we were on lower salaries. We've literally paid off about 20k in the last three years by working out our budget depending on H's salary (on commission so varies) and giving ourselves an allowance each month.
We didn't cut our budget to the bone as I knew we wouldn't stick to it but we've now paid everything off. I always knew I had a bit of money each month for spending on whatever I liked and that seemed to work for us.

My tips-

Be realistic about your budget - we could get our food budget down to £50 a week, but it would involve a lot more work than I'm prepared to do. As it is, we spend around £10-£20 more, but feel more comfortable with this.

Budget your spends - like you, I love spending. Now, I write down what I want to buy with a view to saving up for it. There are often times when I look back over my list and cross stuff off because it's actually not needed.

Think of the bigger picture - through being mindful with my spending, we can all afford nice treats as a family. This is something that's in the back of my mind and keeps me going.

Don't waste your money - I try and play a game with myself to see how much I can save. For example, if I have a budget of £10 for a birthday present and get a present I'm happy to give ( this is important) for £7, that an extra £3 in my pocket.

Don't get me wrong, there are times I think 'fuck it', but as I'm good most of the time, it's okay.

How about setting a standing order up to transfer the amount you want to save into a savings account as soon as you get paid every month? Then you are only able to spend what you have left without consciously removing money from your savings account.

my advice would be don't set yourself up to fail by setting unrealistic goals.
As an example if one take away a month would help you stick to a budget for all other food shopping then let yourself have that treat and include it in your budget so you can plan for the extra expense.
If you do overspend don't dwell on it just give yourself another fresh start.
Something that works for me when trying to cut out buying wee extras I don't need is to plan what il buy with the money I save. Last month I had decided that if I could manage to save an extra £50 I would spend it on a picture I found.

I also transfer all the money I need to cover direct debits etc into an saving account so I can't spend it and my balance shows what I really have to spend. I then transfer it back when the bill comes out of my account. (Mobile app banking has really helped me stay on top of things)

We find it helps to use cash.

Withdraw the budget at the beginning of a week - we start our weeks on a friday - and then that's what there is to last.

This is for food/sundries everything else, mortgage/utilities/savings/fuel etc is factored in.

If it's not in my purse I can't spend it. I'm playing a game with myself at the moment to see how much I can have left at the end of the week - that then gets put into a treat pot and about once a month we do something with that money.

It's tough sometimes - but I have the time and inclination to make it work.

I used to be the same, I loved buying stuff. I still really enjoy food shopping weird but I go with a list now. Meal planning and shopping in Aldi / Lidl has made the biggest difference to us as a family. £100 per week down to c. £50 per week.
For me personally it's been swapping high Street shopping for charity shops. I love them! I now have to ration these but not clothes shopping in JL / big stores has saved several hundred a month.

Thanks Ladies - this is all really helpful. I'll definitely put the saved money from the food account into another account, then at least I'll get the satisfaction of seeing it and not the temptation to spend it each month! My newly slashed food budget is still £100 per week, so I think Its realistic to say I should be able to stick to it. We've just been living on expensive convenience food, and lots of little M&S top ups.

I like the idea of challenging myself - and being mindful of the bigger picture. I guess this is the first time I've really wanted something far more than the general crap stuff I've been buying every month. I'm feeling inspired!

Confused I'm a fan of second hand shopping too, ebay especially. But I'm going to think very carefully about what I need and can I justify the expense.

Need to sort out our bank accounts too - we've got three and honestly it's confusing, this has prompted me to have a think what each one is for

I love EBay too - my tip for that is to only use what's in your paypal account from selling other things first - so that way I don't end up completely drowning in stuff and it makes me think what to get rid of before I can get other things in!

Dora that is a good strategy. I have a few things to stick up on EBay today, I will keep the cash in PayPal rather than withdrawing it if they sell. They should do, they're good names. Last month I made £28 on a top I bought at a charity shop for £3, then realised it really wasn't for me.

Make the quick big savings first eg changing where you shop or swapping a sky sub for a freeview box. Once done they can be forgotten about so don't take any extra effort.

Then introduce the day to day changes gradually - take a pack up lunch once a week and then twice a week etc. Same with cooking - ready meals only on days when nobody is at home in time to cook it, then start planning ahead to make and freeze. Then when you are up to speed with day to day cooking - start making your own luxury items.

Find hobbies that can replace the boredom shops - I love reading (library books), changed from a gym to fell running, sewing - I still go around the shops but I am looking at how they are constructed so I can make my own version.

I don't feel as if the changes I have made are a loss because I have replaced them with things I like.

Thanks unescorted, that's a really good way to think about it... I guess if you get a couple of relatively easy, quick 'big wins' sorted you can really feel like you've achieved something without much effort, so you can then start on the things that require a bit more input.

So far I'm really enjoying the planning, cooking and freezing meals, I've always felt really guilty for buying expensive preprepared meals - now I feel virtuous and healthy!

Well done whizz I am trying to meal plan and write all spends. Have dh on board.
This week reducing sky package. Claiming some tax back and changing electric. That's the goal anyway!

We've been meal planning for a month now and it definitely makes a difference. We also shop in the reduced section for meat (or buy in bulk from butcher) and freeze it, then have a list of what we have when we're meal planning.

Shop in wilkos/home bargains/B&M for cleaning products and packets/tins - usually every2-3 weeks.

I've just signed us up to a new cheaper energy deal and saved £40 a month, negotiated a reduction in phone/broadband of £12 a month (& planning on overpaying the mortgage with the difference,but that's just me).

We're writing down how much we spend, or how much we didn't spend and have noticed that we're already £100 better off this month.