Large family

[delip]

Hi just wondering how you all manage to budget with large families . We've got 4 children and the older they get the more expensive its becoming we have a good income but don't ever have any money think I need to start budgeting better just don't really know where to start . Any ideas appreciated x

Start by writing down everything coming in then everything going out and see where you can make cut backs from that list?

I've only got 3 (so far) but I guess a good place to start would be your weekly shopping. Do you cook fron scratch, and in bulk? What kind and how much meat do you eat? I find buying a large chicken v cheap and I can get 3 meals out of it (but I imagine this will shrink to 2 meals when they are a bit bigger)
Do your kids have school meals or packed lunches?
How much food are you wasting/ throwing out? I keep and freeze leftovers even if just a small amount and with a few leftovers we can have a 'free' tea now and again.
Are you spending much on snacks- these can be expensive- try making your own?

Anyway I'm sure someone with more kids and more experience will be along soon with more suggestions.

What ages are your kids?

i have 3 full timers(8,6 and4) and 17yo dd that lives mostly at ex p house
meal planning,cooking from scratch(using lots lentils etc)
we have never been too proud to accept offers used clothes or trawling charity shops/car boots occcasionally
i dont drive.walk everywhere
outings tend to be country park based picnics/trips to parks or other green spaces to let of steam and run around
tight that i am i cut my own and the kids hairs(all are long)
we rarely eat out(thats a matter prefering buy something nice and cook and enjoy at home) except if have vouchers for pizza hut(loved by all)
in cold weather trips to local matinees at cinema on a saturday cost £1 each for films around 6months old
we invested in trampoline for the garden and that was a great buy.im struggling to keep them off it even though its covered in snow
i also knit so can make jumpers myself.am learning to sew(but in very early stages) so i can make my own curtains and personalise bedding in kids rooms

p.s 17yo dd isnt fussed about branded stuff(except her beloved dms from ebay) and has no isssue shopping at primark(as most mates at 6th form do anyway).she has never made a fuss over the cost doing things as most her friends are from families of 3 or more(they have naturally tended to verge together!)