Saving /minimal spends tips

[SavingEveryLastPenny]

I have been trying to save.
So far we've saved a small amount but since Christmas we've had 2 dcs birthdays and 2 more coming up. But after that i need to be stricter.

So far i have drawn a set amount of cash each week. So if comes to end of the week and no cash then we don't spend. Where as before using debit card meant spending without care.
This has enabled us to save £200, not much but better than nothing.

After bills, kids clubs etc we have £1000 left pm. That has to cover food. But not fuel as that is paid for from work. Which saves us loads!

We don't eat out, take aways used to be weekly. Now monthly /6 weekly.

I meal plan. And buy what's needed.

What things to other people do?

Also we don't buy coffees lunches etc out. Dh takes packed lunches, i wfh. Dcs packed lunches

I'd suggest you need to work out where your £1000 is going. It can't all be on food! (and if it is all on food, I'd look at how you cut down there).

Also, for things like birthdays and other regular but not frequent things, it's useful to put aside some money every week. Then when it comes round you don't end up spending a lot all at once.

I wonder if your drawing cash strategy is actually backfiring. As in, you feel that you can spend all of that money rather than focusing on not spending unless essential.

So the 1000 does inc train and bus travel for 1 dc.
Averages 40pw.
1 kids club which is PAYG. Rest are DD. Monthly
Parking.
100 pw food shop, left roughly 100 pw for extras,. Top up food, toiletries etc etc.
There's 6 of us. 4 adult portion, 2 child. 1 allergies so different food.

Shop in aldi, lidl Tesco

We save 200pm for xmas, birthdays, Easter etc etc already

Sorry also re the cash, that's how weve managed to save. If pay by card i buy literally anything, with cash im buying essentials only and think about what is spent.

I think you've actually got an awful lot of things coming out of the £1,000 - I'd prepare a budget for the year trying to capture all of your incomings and outgoings. The trick is to include as much as you can possibly can, so including everything like presents, haircuts, and MOTs etc. Then for each category of thing, look at the monthly and annual costs, and consider whether each things is worth the cost, and try to get rid of or reduce the cost if possible.