what am I spending too much money on?

[beansmum]

After saying on a thread the other day that I wasn't struggling with money I tried to buy lunch out today and my card wasn't acceptedIt was only £12 too

After paying all my bills and rent I have about £395pm left over for me and ds. What do you think is the best way to split this up? Divide by 4 and take that amount out weekly? Split into money for different things eg food, clothes, etc? What should I just stop buying?

Any advice?

do your shopping online. then you can't be tempted by other treats when you are there and it's all added up as you go along so you know exactly how much you are spending. also means you don't use petrol getting there.

instead of buying a chocolate bar every week after church which are shocking at 50p a bar!! make some cookies/biscuits/cakes etc together - much cheaper and if you keep them in an air tight container they last ages.

go to the library for books.

get clothes/toys from ebay, nct, here, car boots, out the paper.

how old is ds? not sure if he is still in nappies but if so try reusables.

had the shock of my life this week when i got my bank statement to realise there was nothing left. I have gone through everything i spend and felt sick when i realised how much i have been wasting on food at petrol stations on my long drive to uni. for a few quid extra i have started picking up some snakcs in tesco, keeping old plastic bottles to make squash in, taking a packed lunch and i invested in some tupperwear which has been really useful!
I found the best thing to do is a) write down everything you spend because it is really interesting and quite supprising and b) make a budget. excell is good for that. I have written down all the money i have soming in and all the money i have going out each month and then looked if i can reduce this. If i stick to mine i will have saved myself £200 a month at least. but ben and jerrys ice cream keeps tempting me so i will just have to see if i have the will power!!!

Charlotte it's ok to allow yourself a treat. And if yours is Ben and Jerry's then enjoy it. Mine is a curry once a month, not takeaway (still can't afford that) but supermarket zap in the microwave. I get three different 'dishes', boil in the bag rice and it lasts me a couple of meals so i make a weekend of it! And that's my treat once a month. Practically no cooking, very little washing up, and a couple of yummy meals from it. Can't wait for next months!

Im no longer a single parent but still on a budget. There's probably nothing much you can do this month, but next month, plan plan plan then the hardest bit is to stick to it.
I actually managed absolutely fine on benefits and managed a night out once a month and yes i smoke (not forgetting my broadband)
I never used any ready meals, everything was made from scratch and ds got salmon at least twice a week with fresh veg every day.
It can be done, you just need to have to be very disciplined.
Me and dp both now work full time, but i still plan and budget, after all I know how cheaply things can be done, and im damned if im going to give my money to the shops when I can spend it on other stuff now.
Good luck!

Oh, gor, Lilacclaire, you've just made me feel like the world's worst mother.

That was a 'shame on me' remark, not a snip at you, honestly

beansmum what broadband package are you on ? most people if they try to leave are offered a lower price as an incentive to stay with them, I did this with orange and get my 'up to' 8mb with wireless for £12.99 per month, its worth a try even if it saves you just a couple of quid each month.

you need this book charlotte!! for the cost of 2 tubs of B&J you can eat yummy ice cream for a fraction of the price!!

hahaha thats hilarious... but i may actually have to buy it now!!! I think im addicted to the stuff. will have to stop when baby is born as i wont have the excuse of being pregnant to fall back on when my niece asks me why i wobble when i walk!
I didnt think i had put that much weight on but on closer inspection... i do wobble when i walk!!!