Help me spend less

[poppymango]

After rent, bills and credit card payments I have less than £700 to see me through the month of February.

Travel costs alone are around £200, so I need to be super careful with food shops etc. and somehow make a little money on the side if possible.

I can’t fall back on my credit card again or it’ll never get paid off. Please give me your best money saving tips!!

...also side hustle ideas if you have any! I have been selling things on Vinted but not enough really. If I could make an extra £500-£600 this month from something I would be over the moon but I'm running out of things to sell! 😆

Without knowing your full outgoings, it’s going to be difficult to advise how to cut your costs.

Are you a one person household with that income?
Do you have an itemised weekly/monthly budget?
If it's just you, and travel costs are £200 leaving £500 a month for food - that sounds manageable. What else is money spent on?

So, if £200 needs to go on travel, you have £500 to spend on food. Does anything else need to come out of that? Is it just you?

If that's it-food for one person for £500 for the month, that's doable.

I would meal plan now for the month-do some batch cooking.

How big is your household? How much do you usually spend on food? Any dietary restrictions?

At least Feb is a short month - so only 4 weeks of meals to plan.

How much do you have in the freezer? I am in a similar position for February and my main idea is to eat from the freezer / store cupboards this month. Some of the meals may be a bit odd towards the end of February but it should be OK.

Having said that, this is only useful if being a bit short is due to a one off situation (which mine is). Otherwise, I think you need to sit down and go through your budget in detail and see if there are any changes you can make.

Aldi for food shop!

You’re already doing really well just by keeping track of your money, it’s not easy! For food, sticking to simple meals with cheap staples like pasta, rice, beans, and frozen veggies can make a big difference. Make a shopping list and hunt for discounts or store deals; it really adds up. For side money, since you’ve been selling on Vinted, maybe try small gigs like dog walking, babysitting, or quick freelance jobs online like writing, data entry, or tutoring. Even a few hours here and there can help you reach that extra £500–£600. Little changes, bit by bit, can make February a lot less stressful and give you a boost without relying on your credit card.

Which mobile SIM only deal do you have. Smarty have ATM a 80gb with free text and calls for £10 pcm rolling contract with no cancellation fees and free to leave anytime. You can use up to 12gb in Europe too with no charges. How does that compare to your deal OP?